I burst through a set of clear doors that led outside and slid to a stop. I didn't know where to go from here. I couldn't tell which direction Jack's house would be. I didn't even know where I was. I'd been unconscious when I was brought here.
I whirled around, taking in the building I'd just come out of. It was covered in beige bricks and was two stories high. It didn't look like a normal doctors office though, which confused me. Who really were these people?
I heard shouting and saw Eva and Jaycee open the doors I'd just come through.
I turned and broke into a run again, not knowing or caring where I was going. I entered the woods and I just hoped I was going at least somewhat towards my house.
Instead, a few moments later, the woods thinned and I found myself in the front yard of a mansion. Literally.
It was by far the biggest house I'd seen, standing what appeared to be three stories tall — although I'm sure there was more I couldn't see from here. The exterior walls were partially a cobblestone pattern and partially painted pale yellow. The roof matched the color of the cobblestone and big windows covered a lot of the spacing. The yard was adorned with bush gardens and a tile stone path that led from the circular driveway to the set of the double doors. I wasn't one hundred percent sure if this was the front of the massive house, or the back, but based on the circle drive I was standing next to, it appeared to be the front. Either way, it was absolutely beautiful.
I was so caught up in the house I was staring at that I didn't realize someone caught up to me. An arm wrapped around my waist and I nearly had a heart attack.
"Eirenae, what are you doing? You shouldn't be running like that."
I looked up to find Scary Guy standing there and holding me to him. Sparks danced around where his arm brushed against mine as I grappled with it in fear as I tried to get him off of me.
"What were you running from?"
I shook my head. I wasn't running from anything, I was running to something. I needed my box!
I fought and squirmed, trying to get out of his incredibly strong grip, but it was useless. He was way stronger than me.
Finally slumping against him, I burst into tears. I was exhausted, stressed, confused, and scared. This was how my body was dealing with everything. Great, just what I needed.
He immediately softened and moved his hands to my shoulders, turning me around gently so I that was facing him. He pulled me into a hug, a hug that made me feel safe, warm, and comfort. Something I haven't felt in a while. And honestly, that scared me more than him grabbing me in the first place, just in a completely different way.
After a few long moments, he pulled back and took out his phone, going to the notes app. "Tell me what's wrong." He told me softly, handing me the device.
I took it and carefully typed the word box.
"Box?" He asked, obviously puzzled. "What do you mean?"
So I typed: My box. At home. It's important.
"Oh!" He said, "if that's what's making you so upset right now, why don't I go get it for you. Would you like that?"
I thought for a moment. I would like the box back. I needed that box. However, I felt like I should go with, to make sure it's in my hands and nothing happens to it. He didn't know what exactly he's getting, what it looked like, what was inside that was so important to me.
As if he could read my mind, his voice deepened protectively. "Don't think about coming with. You need to rest, and while I don't know what you've been going through, I know going back there is not a good idea." He tilted my chin up so I met his eyes again.
I stared at them for a long moment, noticing they were dark green and held command. But the power was gentle as they absorbed my blue ones. From his eyes alone, I knew he had authority here, not with me necessarily, but in general, in that massive house over there.
When I finally blinked, I stopped hesitating and conceded. He was right. It wasn't safe for me to go back there. Honestly now that he mentioned that, I was concerned for his safety! I took a breath, reminded myself that it would be fine and if he went it was better than me. Nodding, I let my fingers run across the keyboard: It's in my closet.
He grinned, and the emeralds behind his eyelashes brightened, showing less power and more compassion. What frightened me that first time I met him, now intrigued me in a way I didn't understand. I was suddenly frightened at my own thoughts: I could stare in his eyes all day.
"Okay. I'll get it for you." He snapped my mind back to where we were by kissing my forehead and rushing off, leaving me stunned, standing there with conflicted feelings for what just happened.
A second later, Eva and Jaycee came out of the woods. "We saw what happened. He'll be back, with your box, I promise." Jaycee told me. "Why don't you come inside with us, though. I'll show you where you can sleep." I hesitated, and as if she read my mind continued, "we won't go back to the doctor's, okay? We live in that house right there." She pointed to the mansion behind me and I widened my eyes. They lived there?
She took my hand and we started walking across the lawn. My eyes traveled over every inch of space we covered and passed by, leaving me in awe again. I imagine in the spring and summer, the bush and tree garden would look absolutely magnificent, but some of the bushes had already started losing their leaves and several of them were half barren.
Jaycee guided me across the stone driveway, following the curve around the little tree that was planted in the center. We followed the path to the porch, which was raised two steps and held up a balcony with four pillars. I reached out to touch one of the columns as we passed, impressed with the design and the smoothness of the material. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Eva holding in a giggle. Who could blame me, though? I'd never seen, let alone touched or walked on, anything like this! I craned my head to look up at the porch ceiling, eyeing every little detail. I didn't even notice Jaycee had swung one of the big wooden doors open and was waiting patiently for me to step inside.
Almost immediately, I was tackled to the ground by two small figures. I grunted, stunned in place and fighting the wave of pain that hit me with the fall and the weight of the children. But the pressure disappeared almost as soon as it arrived. Tiny squeals echoed in the vast entryway and Eva helped me back onto my feet.
"You okay?" Eva asked me, her tone heavy with concern. I nodded once, even though I hurt, it was manageable and she needn't worry.
"Jay Jay, let me go!" A voice protested, and I was shocked to find it familiar. Jaycee had an arm wrapped around each child, holding them back as I caught my breath. "Hey, you're the girl from the park! That was looking for the horses!"
That's right! The kids that knocked me over were the twin girls I met the other day; that's why her voice was familiar! I gave her a tiny wave and Jaycee released her grip on them.
They came back over to me, slowly this time. "What's your name?" The outspoken one asked me.
"Eirenae." Eva answered for me. "Her name is Eirenae."
"Hi, Eirenae." The other one said softly. I brightened my smile as she gave me her name. "I'm Autumn."
"I'm Amber!" The first one piped in. Ah yes, I remember their mother telling me that at the park.
Eva crouched down next to Amber. "Listen closely. You can't just barrel into her like that, alright? She was hurt and she's trying to heal; she doesn't need you two to make it worse."
Amber widened her eyes and her twin seemed to stop breathing a moment. "Hurt?" She looked at my cast covered arm with big blue eyes, reminding me of an owl, her voice became as little as she was. "I'm sorry Eirenae if we hurt you."
Ugh, they were adorable, and there was no way I was upset at them! Carefully, I crouched down to her height and pulled her into a hug. Autumn joined by placing her own little arms on both of us. I beamed, instantly feeling better because of these two.
Eventually Jaycee shooed them off to go find their mom and then took my hand. "Sorry about the twins, that can be a little much sometimes." I just smiled, wishing I could tell her that I thought they were so sweet and not a bother at all. "You'll get used to them though, and don't be afraid to turn them down if they ask to play; they need to know to accept it when someone says 'No.'"
"She kinda has to get used to them." Eva added. What did that mean?
We reached the top of the first flight of stairs and I was out of breath. Goodness, this was miserable. I didn't want to blame the twins for anything, but that fall made everything so much worse.
"Almost there. One more set." Jaycee encouraged softly. I nodded and let them start again, this time slower.
This pace let me take in the decor, admiring whoever chose it, as we climbed the last few steps. The house was truly beautiful and I still couldn't believe all my friends lived there.
"Here we are!" Eva announced as we came to a stop at a door that looked identical to the other ones we'd passed down this hallway. Jaycee opened the door and I was hit with Scary Guy's smell, alerting me this was his room. It wasn't a bad smell, it just most definitely belonged to him. It's comforting. I noticed, and then corrected myself. What? No, that's weird.
"This is Kota's room, but he won't mind if you sleep here until we set up your room."
I tilted my head, confused. Wouldn't he want his bed when he came back? I felt like I was intruding in his personal space. The girls could tell I didn't feel comfortable, because they immediately started to reassure me that it was fine.
In the end, I was so tired, I decided I didn't care where I ended up, as long as I could sleep. And that's exactly what I did.