The Forgotten Child

Chapter 18

Alyson woke up the next day with warmth curled around her. She snuggled deeper into the warmth. Letting Hayden's natural warmth stop any thoughts of death or heartache. She felt him chuckle lightly.

"I know you're awake. And you know we have to get up now," Hayden said the hush of his voice sending shivers through her.

"No, we don't, we can stay here for a little longer," Alyson said her voice muffled.

"As much as I want to, we gotta go. It's almost 3 pm. The elders are expecting a call here soon, I'm sure," Hayden said stealing his delicious warmth from her grip.

"Meanie," Alyson said softly as she sat up. She pushed her hair back and then the memories of Mason's death flashed through her mind again and again. Until she could the air around her get thin and her breathing tight. It was like she was stuck on repeat.

Everything played through her mind her falling from the tree, her slip, Mason's death, the burial, the drive home, the sadness that flowed from the family. It pulled her under drowning her in the memories. It was suffocating, pounding on her. Pulling her deeper and deeper. The light of the sun stolen by the depths. She struggled through the waves.

A rough shake woke her from the memories.

"Alyson!" Hayden spoke firmly. She looked up at him blankly. Her eyes empty.

"Hey, come back. C'mon it's okay," Hayden said his voice comforting. She blinks a few more times trying to push the waves aside.

"S.. sorry. I... I just got lost," Alyson said her words slow and measured. The world around her blurred and sickening. She felt off-kilter. Hayden places his hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him.

"Breathe," His eyes stern and concerned. Alyson took a few deep calming breaths.

"Sorry," Alyson mumbled softly. Hayden said nothing as he pulled away from her. Alyson got dressed quickly and made her way down to the kitchen.

The air there was so thick it almost made her puke. The grief was almost palatable.

"Good morning, Alyson," Sarah said trying the lighten the mood in the room.

"Good morning, Sarah," Alyson said her words sounding as empty as they felt.

"I'd hardly say it's morning," James says his tone sharp.

"I'm sorry, I hadn't realized how late it was," Alyson said taking her seat and grabbing a roll off the table. Sarah's food that had once taste like heaven now tasted like sand in Alyson's mouth.

"When you're finished, we'll start the conference with the elders and report what we learned," James said folding the newspaper he'd been reading up and standing.

"Yes, sir," Alyson said already tired at the mention of having to speak with the elders. Ripped off. another piece of her roll, her body going on autopilot. She looked over at Collins and Dustin bother boys sat quietly like their words had been stolen from them.

Dustin's hands were shaking Alyson didn't know why exactly wither from anger or grief. She noticed they were redder than usual like his hands were stained. It looked like blood was coated all over his hands. Had he showered yet?

Alyson looked at Dustin's face. Had he even slept? He looked like he was struggling too. Alyson wondered if he saw Mason's body every time, he closed his eyes. After all, he was the one who had to kill his own brother. And it was her fault. They both shared the burden one the end one the cause.

Alyson closed her eyes and forced it to stop. She wished there were a mute button for her feelings.

She forced down the rest of the roll and downed a glass of orange juice then stood up. She felt everyone's eyes on her. She hated the way they looked at her like she was some hero who could stop everything. If her life were a story, she wished it would end here.