Diminishing of Sanity: Chapters 2-3

Chapter 2

Even after all of the excitement, my siblings still fell asleep. I had put together blankets and pillows and they had made themselves comfortable around the cave. The previously unoccupied close left corner was now filled by my sister and my brothers slept near my books.

It was cold so I went outside and grabbed some logs, sticks, and tree bark. I then started a fire in the fire pit. I was experienced at this and I knew I would not let the fire burn down the cave. Suddenly I remembered, the pets! I looked around, terrified. Luckily, they were all still there but I figured I should probably block the exit so I went back outside and got some dead branches off of the forest floor and sealed the entrance. I also had to figure out a way to keep the pets away from the fire, not that any of them were that stupid, but still. I was about to stand up when I realized how exhausted I was so I just placed large rocks around the fire pit and then grabbed a blanket and a pillow and fell asleep in the rocking chair.

I was awaken by brothers who were quarreling over which of them had kicked the other in the night. My sister had remarkably slept through it.

"Jack! Gage! Stop arguing."

I didn't go outside to check the condition of the neighborhood yet because I already knew what I would find. Ashes. That's all that would be left.

I got some granola bars out and gave them to my brothers. Then I started another fire, for the other had died out during the night. I didn't want to go outside yet. I already knew that once I was out of the forest all I would see was ashes.

"Sisi?"

My sister, who's name is Addison, had waken up.

"Yes, Addy?"

"Where are we?"

"A safe place." I replied.

She said no more, no more questions, nothing at all. I was surprised because she is usually a very curious kid. I didn't bother her though. I didn't want to go into details yet. I didn't even understand exactly what had happened last night. I just know that a fight began and there were murders in the other houses and when I saw all of the houses going up in flame I just knew I had to get us out of there. I didn't know what to do yet, now that we had no home. I thought about getting help from an adult but I had heard about the foster homes for kids without families. I knew that they sometimes separated kids from their siblings. I wouldn't let that happen to us. Our parents were on vacation in Paris and our Uncle was supposed to take care of us but he was one of the people in the fight and I knew, somehow, that he had passed in the brawl. It was up to me now to keep us alive. I convinced myself I would not tell any adults. I didn't need their help. I admit I was a little scared. Actually, no kidding, I was terrified but I wasn't going to let my siblings find out. I had to be brave... for them. Deciding to camp out here, at least for the day, I started to organize the bedding and necessities. I then went outside to look for wood so that we had enough for the day. It had rained two days before and most of the wood wasn't very dry so I had to go really deep into the forest to find some dry sticks and such. I heard a noise up ahead at one point that sounded like voices and I decided to turn another way. By the time I got back to the underground cave my arms were loaded with lumber. I put it all next to the fire. I handed my sister a granola bar and she took it greedily. Jack was looking at the front covers of my books and Gage was sitting by the fire. No one asked what had happened last night... I guess they were all too scared. I started to read a book that I hadn't read in awhile to try to get my mind off of what was going to happen to us. After about an hour I suddenly heard voices outside. I almost jumped out of my skin in terror.

"Shhh!" I put my finger to my lips and my siblings were silent, rigid with fear, eyes wide open. Staring at me as if to say, "what are we going to do?!"

Curiously, the voices sounded to be young. I guessed probably around 13-15 years of age. Around my age. I could make out 3 different voices. I cautiously crawled to the opening and peered out. There were 4 boys and as I had estimated they looked to be about 13 years of age, although one looked slightly older. I had seen two of them playing basketball at a house in my neighborhood but I didn't know them. They were talking about what they were going to eat and where they were going to go. It sounded like they were in the same boat as we were in! I was in the middle of deciding whether to approach them or not when Gage sneezed!

Chapter 3

The boys jumped and looked around wildly, probably still skittish from the fight. I held my breath and hoped that my siblings would too.

"Shhh!" Said the older one when one of the boys opened his mouth to say something.

"Someone's here." He continued. "I know it. Search around boys."

And they started to search. A couple times they came really close to finding us. Then the oldest boy, who seemed as if he was their 'leader' stopped right in front of us. Bent down. He began pulling away the coverage I had put together. I panicked. I just kind of stood there paralyzed in fear. I moved toward the back of the cave along with my siblings.

"Hey guys! I think I found something! Come here!" And they came rushing over. Then I did something stupid but I guess it could also be courageous... I dashed out of the cave and started running hoping they would follow me. One of them started to when the older one stopped him.

"You idiot. She's obviously hiding something. Tristan, Carson, go in the cave." They did as they were told.

I stopped and screamed, "No!"

Then the oldest said to the other, "Get her, Liam!" Liam started to give chase but tripped clumsily on a log and fell on his face.

"Fool! I'll just have to get her myself." That's when I sprinted. I knew I was a fast runner, for I had gotten medals in almost every track and cross-country meet I had ever been to but I wasn't sure I could beat him. He was buff. He had much muscle and he was tall. It was not long before I could hear him only feet behind me. Then, wham! I was tackled to the ground. I struggled with all of my might but knew it would not be enough. His strength was incredible. He held me, pinned to the ground; I couldn't move at all. 

"What's your name? Who are you?" He yelled in my ear. I obstinately yelled, "None of your business! Now lemme' go!"

"Hey! Bryce! We found three little kids in here."

"Are those your friends? Or siblings?" He said to me. Then he continued to his friend, "Bring me some of my dad's old handcuffs."

Before I knew it I had been handcuffed to a nearby tree.

Have you ever been roughly pushed around by a guy. It's awkward, I can tell you that for sure. Especially getting tackled by one. Now that I couldn't go anywhere they asked me again who I was and what my name was. I arrogantly ignored them. Then I asked, "Who are you? How old are you? I'll tell you my name if you all tell me yours."

"Fine." The oldest said, "I'm Bryce and I'm fifteen." Then pointing towards the two I presumed to be the youngest, he said, "That's Liam and Tristan. They are thirteen. And that Carson. He's fourteen. And how about you?"

I sighed and said, "I'm Esmeralda and I'm thirteen. I'll be fourteen in two weeks. I'd appreciate it if you would let me free..."

"We can't let you go until we know we can trust you."

"Why on earth would I not be trustworthy? Is it because of last night? I'm fleeing from that too!"

"Are these your siblings or your friends?" Carson said and surprisingly I found myself blushing.

"They are my siblings. That's Addison and they are Jack and Gage."

The three of them were being held by the Tristan and Liam. "Let them go or I'll kill you!"

Carson stepped forward and crooned, "Ooh! A feisty little girl are you? Challenging us as if you were our leader? Bryce is the oldest so he's in charge. By the way, your little 'not so secret' cave is quite impressive and I helped myself to some of the food in there. Thank You!"

I was so angry I could feel my face going red. Suddenly a gunshot fired and the fear from the previous night came back in a flash. "Liam, Tristan come with me. Let's go see what that's about. Carson, stay here." Bryce said. Carson smiled. As much as hated these boys right now I couldn't help noticing how good looking they were. Especially Carson. They all had that type of hair that isn't long but is long enough to flip around. Bryce had blonde hair and was very muscular, Tristan had brown hair, Liam looked Mexican with medium skin and black hair, and then there's Carson. Carson was also muscular and had brown hair. His eyes were sea green and his smile was gorgeous. I'm obsessing over him aren't I? Oops. I handcuffed to a tree and I can think about is boys! Omg! I need to get control of myself. Carson tied the three kids to another tree and sat down on the dry ground.

Stupidly I said, "I hate you."

He just kind of looked at me, laughed, shook his head, and then began playing with the dirt.