A S T R A E A
9 years ago.....
It had been three weeks since we ran away from John and Audrey's house. The first two weeks were the hardest since we had nowhere to go and had to sleep on the streets. We were homeless and broke, we had no money, no home. Nothing but each other.
We had to steal food or search in the garbage to find anything to eat. Sometimes, this elderly couple took pity on us and gave us a blanket and some food to get us through the week.
Ezekiel found a...job if you could call it that. He has been street-fighting. I know it is illegal and dangerous, I am not naive. I also know that it is the only way for him to financially support us since no one wants to employ a bunch of eight years old. Zeke is the oldest, he is thirteen hence he feels responsible for us. Elias hasn't uttered a word since everything happened a few weeks ago. Ares and Atlas are constantly being paranoid about everything. I have been flinching every time someone touches me. Zeke hasn't slept in days since he wants to always make sure we are okay.
We were barely surviving
This week we have been staying at a small motel since Zeke has gained enough money.
"Lilo, are you okay?" I asked my brother concerned after seeing his frozen figure
"I-I um, yeah. I am fine" he assured me making me gasp in shock since it was the first time in three weeks since he had talked
"I know, your not Lilo. It is okay not to be okay, you know" I said and then surprised both of us by hugging him. Since I was raped, I hate physical contact with anyone. It was the first time I hugged someone since that day.
Elias first tensed but then relaxed into my embrace "thank you, I love you sissy" he muttered
"I love you too"
We pushed apart when the bedroom's door burst open, my twin brothers came in "come on, it's time to go" Ares informed us, we got up and followed them
We are going with Zeke to a street fight he had tonight. He wasn't fond of the idea of having us there since it was dangerous but we convinced him to let us go. I didn't like the idea of my brother fighting but he had to do it in order for us to survive.
The place we were going to was a warehouse in a small town in Pittsburg. Tonight, was a rainy and cold night, I was glad that we were staying at a motel and not on the street because we would have gotten sick.
We arrived at the big, windowless subterranean warehouse, the scent of alcohol and weed filling the air. The busy crowd, the drunk filthy gangster everywhere
"Hey, guys. Are you ready Zeke?" a voice said from behind us we turned around and saw Derek—Zeke's trainer and manager.
"Yeah, just give me a minute," My brothers said earning a nod from Derek
"You will stay here, don't go anywhere, and don't talk to anyone. Okay?" Zeke told us
"Okay" I smiled at him and my other brother nod in agreement, I kissed his cheek and let him go.
My oldest brother walks in the ring looking fearless. I immediately buried my head in Ares' chest not wanting to witness the fight. I don't like violence and I certainly don't like the idea of my brother getting hurt. I hate seeing Zeke's state after a fight, he would be all bloody and bruised.
The scream of encouragement, the applauds, and the cheers of the public was filling the room. All this loud noise made me flinch. Turning my head a bit, I looked at the crowd, from the corner of my eyes, I noticed a man who seem in his forties gaming at us curiously, I didn't pay him any attention, I stayed still and waited until the fight is over so we can go back to the motel.
After what felt like forever, I felt someone shaking me, I looked up to see Atlas "Zeke won. It ended" he notified me
I sigh in relief and peeked and noticed that there weren't as many people as there were when we first came, the fight ended and Zeke won. He collected the money he won and joined us
"Let's get out of here," Zeke said
"Wait" a voice yelled making us stop in our tracks. Turning our head around we were my by the same man that was staring at us during the fight
"Hey Kiddos" he awkwardly said waving his hand
"Who are you and what do you want?" Zeke stepped in front of us and asked warily
"I'm Carlos Rodriguez and I just wanted to see if you guys are alright" he smile at us genuinely which shocked me
"Look, I don't fucking care who you are or what you won't just leave me and my siblings alone" Zek scoffed before grabbing us and waddled
"Wait, wait...." The man—Carlos followed us "Where are your parents?" He questioned curiously
"None of your fucking business" Zeke glared at him when he mentioned our alleged parents or foster parents
"Please, I promise I won't hurt you. I just wanna help" He begged us
"Why do you wanna help us?" Elias this time asked looking at him skeptically while my twins and I just stayed silent and watched their exchange
"I...I don't know. I don't usually do that but when I saw you I just...I just had this urge to help you" he told us genuinely.
I am not naive by any means, I know not to trust any people and certainly not a random stranger that claims that he wants to help us. But there is something about this man, Carlos, that I couldn't quite pinpoint but I just found myself trusting him for some unknown reason. Maybe I am not as intelligent as I seem to be or maybe that man was actually trustworthy.
Or maybe I just want to believe him because I am yearning for a father figure in my life.
"We ran away from home so we don't have parents. It is just us" Zeke confessed finally giving in.
"I can't leave you guys alone. You are just kids and you don't have to be responsible at such a young age. How about you come with me and you could sleep at my house after you shower and eat? How does that sound?" he suggested looking at us hopefully
"We don't want to intrude"
"Nonsense, I am sure my family will love you" he smiled at us
"And how do I make sure that you won't murder us," Zeke asked skeptically, being cautious because we don't know what that man can do, I mean we just met him and he is offering us a place to stay at. We still need to be wary, we won't let his kindness fool us.
Carlos chuckled amused then proceeded to pull out a knife handing it to Zeke "if I try something don't hesitate to use this. And after seeing what you did to your opponent, I am pretty sure you can kick my ass"
A sudden wave of dizziness hit me, I felt like everything around me was turning around and my head was heavy. Black dots were filling my vision, I heard the faint calls of my name but it didn't take too long until the darkness completely consumed me.
• • •
I felt the warm feeling of the sunlight carrying my skin, I yawned and stretched my arms then rubbed my eyes trying to adjust to the lighting. Once I took a good look around me, I noticed that I was in an unfamiliar room. The room looked like it belonged to a princess. The white walls giving it a lighter ambiance, the large king-sized bed that stood in the middle of the bedroom.
I was more surprised that I actually had a full night of sleep. I haven't slept that much in ages. The bed was extremely comfortable, cozy, and warm. I could stay here forever. But unfortunately, I can't, soon I will be back in the cruel reality of this world.
It was the first time since that day that I was able to close my eyes without imagining John filthy's hands on me. Without feeling his stinky breath on my neck. Without remembering the disgusting taste of his lips on mine.
They are monsters that will forever haunt m mind
I feel like my skin is on fire, it is burning me. I want to peel it off. I feel disgusting. But it wasn't my fault, that's what Zeke said.
It wasn't, right?
A knock on the bedroom's door bought me out of my daze, after I muttered a 'come in' the person who knocked entered. It was the same man who we met at the fight—Carlos, that was his name.
"Hello" he smiled at me "you are up, you have fainted due to dehydration. Let's go, your brothers are downstairs"
I hesitantly nodded and followed him, we stopped went we reached a rustique, large kitchen where my brothers, three other boys, and a woman were sitting. I immediately ran to my brothers and hugged them close, I have never been away from that or sleep alone without any of them next to me, I wasn't used to it. I depended too much on them.
"Hey, little sis," they all said at the same time, making look at them weirdly, "we thought something bad happened to you went you collapsed," Lilo said hugging me tighter
"Princessa, this is my wife Isabella and those are my sons," Carlos said pointing to the beautiful woman standing next to him and then the three boys sitting behind the counter, I assumed that they were already introduced to my brothers
"Hello, little one. I am Isabella but you can call me Isa if you want and I am so happy that you are here" the blond woman exclaimed excitedly while she gazed at me adorningly. She was breathtaking. Her platinum blond hair was natural which surprised me since most of the women with blond hair have dyed them. Her aura was caring, motherly, and loving.
"Hi, I'm Astraea" I introduced myself
"I'm Alejandro, nice to meet you," the oldest one of the boys said
"I'm Mattias, hello. We are gonna have so much fun" The second oldest looking one jumped in enthusiasm
"I'm Santiago" the last one who looked around my age introduced himself
"Well, let's eat breakfast" Isa announced
We all sat around the fancy wooden table. The food was filling every inch of the surface of the table. I haven't seen so much food in my whole life. It was like heaven. Especially since I haven't eaten a proper meal in forever.
Everyone started eating expert my brother and me. We start at the food hesitantly not knowing if we were allowed to eat it.
"Everything's alright? You don't like it? I can make something else" Isa worriedly asked
"No, it is not that. It's just...are we allowed to eat?" Atlas asked frightfully
"Yes...." Isa replied, frowning and looking confused
"Thank you" Elias muttered appreciatively while my other brothers and I just gave them a grateful glance
I picked up the fork but in my trembling hand but as soon as I took it, it fell. My hand has been shaking a lot since I was raped and I know that I should probably go see a doctor but I can't. First, we can't afford it, doctor's visits are expensive and we do have that kind of money right now. Secondly, the doctor will ask questions and then my brothers and I will end up in foster care most likely separated and that can never ever happen.
Carlos raised his hand and I visibly flinched thinking he was about to hit me but he only pick the fork up and put it back on the table. He looked at me in understanding and concern—not pity. He wasn't pitying me. I wasn't just a charity case for him. He cared.
"Let me help you eat" he suggested, smiling reassuringly at me "tomorrow I will take you to the doctor to check out your hand"
"But I...I can't" I refused
He sighed "don't worry, it's our family doctor and he won't ask unnecessary questions. Nothing bad will happen, I promise"
I directed my gaze to Ezekiel silently asking for his permission and when he gave me a small nod I muttered "okay"
After breakfast, Carlos went to his office because he claimed that he had some work he needs to get done. The boys all went to the game room, they wanted me to come with them but I told them that I would prefer to stay back, so they hesitantly left and went to play together. Isa was washing the dishes and baking cookies.
I wanted to go take a look at the beautiful garden I had seen from the windows of the unfamiliar room I had woken up in. I found my way there and I sit down on the grass admiring the nature's magnificence.
There were multi-colored flowers around the garden giving a joyful aura to it. I love it here. It is so peaceful and calm, the only thing you can hear is the sound of the birds singing.
I felt a sudden presence behind me making me more alarmed but I instantly relaxed when I heard the person behind me's voice
"Hi" he simply said
"Hello, Santiago" I shyly replied
He sat next to me " I always wanted a sister" he told me "I don't know you very well, but from what I have seen I know that you are a great person and I assumed that you didn't have an extraordinary childhood. I'm sorry you don't deserve being in pain."
I stayed silent not knowing what to say so he continued "but you deserve a second chance. You deserve to be happy."
"...thank you?" I said or more like awkwardly asked
He chucked "what is your middle name?" he asked curiously
"Gianna. Astraea Gianna"
"Gianna. I like it. So can I call you, Gia? Wait—even if you say no I will still call you that" he grinned
Gia—I like the sound of it
"Okay, only if I can call you Santi. Wait—even if you say no I will still call you that" I retorted, repeating the same words he just said to me in a mocking way
"I wasn't gonna say no anyways. How can I say no to such a cute face like you" he laughed
"Good" I giggled
It felt oddly nice to talk to him—
"Anyways, Dad said to call you. He wants to talk to you and your brothers" he notified me
I nodded, got up, and followed him to where Carlos was. He was sitting in the luxurious living room along with Isa and the rest of the boys
"What is going on?" I hesitantly asked
"Sit down Princessa" Carlos smiled softly at me. I did as he asked me and sit down next to my brothers
"Well, Carlos, the boys and I talked. And since my husband and I can't have any more children and we always wanted more sons and a daughter, we would like to adopt you" Isabella burned out enthusiastically
"What she meant is that you can stay with us for a few months—if you want we won't force you and then if you didn't like your stay here we can help you and buy you a small apartment where you can live together" Carlos explained
I deserve a second chance. I deserve to be happy.
I looked at my brothers who were smiling at me waiting for my response and when I nodded my head grinning we turned to them and smile nodding, that was the only answer they needed to burst out in tears of joy
Little did I know that those people will become the crazy family that I unconditionally love
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I was feeling generous today, so why not give y'all an update. You are welcome.
Since someone asked for a chapter like this, here you go.
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