AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’d gotten home by three and had showered immediately, even though I had taken a shower right before work as well. I didn’t know if I would ever feel clean again. The smell of that room seemed to linger on my skin. I couldn’t tell if I actually smelled like that or if my memories of the tunnel were too vivid.
I’d thrown away the clothes I’d worn when I was captured, along with what I’d worn this morning when we’d gone into the tunnels again. I didn’t want any physical reminders of that place.
Although my raw wrists would be a painful, tangible reminder for a while. But that couldn’t be helped. At least they were covered with bandages so I couldn’t see the damage.
“Aria!” Marie slammed open my door.
I should have been annoyed, but I smiled, grateful for the bit of normalcy. My sisters would never respect my privacy.
“Dad is getting dinner and wants to know what you want. He’s getting Chinese food for me and Mom, Mexican for Bella and Ava, and burgers for himself.” Marie sauntered into my room and sat at the foot of my bed.
“You guys are making Dad go to three places?” I asked with a shake of my head, although it was very typical for my family. I think Dad figured it was better than dealing with the complaining. Oh, the joys of four daughters.
“He chose burgers. He could have gone to two if it weren’t for his choice,” Marie said with a shrug, bouncing on my bed. I felt a little motion sick.
“Quit that,” I said, playfully swiping at her and knowing she’d easily dodge me. In a house of trained fighters like ours, you couldn’t land a lazy hit.
Marie jumped off of my bed. “So?” she asked as she started for the door, showing she had absolutely no patience for me. It was much better than the kid gloves the rest of my family had been handling me with.
They must have known I appreciated Marie’s brusque personality and so they’d sent her in as the messenger.
“I’m not hungry,” I said.
Marie shrugged. “Your loss,” she replied flippantly as she left the room, leaving the door open.
“Marie!” I yelled after her, but she wasn’t coming back and I was too lazy to get up and close the door.
“You were supposed to make her get something to eat,” I heard Bella reprimand Marie.
“Force her? Yeah, have you met Aria?” Marie asked.
I smiled. At least my sisters knew better than to try to push me around.
“Don’t,” I heard my mom say. “If she’s hungry, we’ll get something later.”
I was guessing Bella had been about to come and force me since Marie had failed.
My sisters and I each had distinct roles when tragedy befell our family. I was cheerful, ignoring that anything was wrong. Also, I cleaned. Our house was never cleaner than when we were enduring the worst because I’d inherited that trait from my mom. Ava was a worrier. She thought of every worst-case scenario and collapsed into her fears. The only way to pull her out was with training. She seemed to be at her best when she was punching something—or better yet, someone. Bella was a doer. She wanted to get in and fix everything, even if that upset everyone. And then there was Marie, the girl who never cared. Although, if my mom was to be believed, she had seemed concerned up until I was found. But after she’d hugged me and made sure I wasn’t dead, she went back to being her apathetic self. I wondered if other families, normal ones who didn’t have a cousin murdered, knew how each member acted during a tragedy.
Sounds of life drifted back to my room as my family moved on with their evening. Someone had turned on a reality TV show that my mom kept saying was garbage, but I knew she’d be watching when she thought no one was looking.
My dad left to get the food and I heard his car rumble down the driveway. Why did he insist on keeping that hunk of junk? It broke down every other week. Maybe that was why—it gave him a good excuse to spend a couple of days a month in the garage.
“I’ll be in the gym!” Ava called out, warning everyone that we could find her in the workout arena my dad had built in our backyard. It had started as a shed with a couple of punching bags, but over the years it had expanded to a full-on fitness center complete with a grappling mat and cardio and weight machines. Although the original punching bags were still featured.
On her way to punch something. Hopefully that would make her feel better soon.
After that I only heard the sounds of arguing on the television. It sounded like a doozy and part of me wanted to wander into the living room to watch with my sisters and mom. But it wasn’t worth having to deal with human interaction.
It was one thing to go into work and deal with the pitying looks from my team. I knew they didn’t mean for me to see them, but they were easy to read on their faces. Shai was a little better about hiding hers, but the fact that any concern showed on her face at all was alarming. Shai was akin to a statue when it came to showcasing her emotions, at least on a normal day. But I guessed today wasn’t a normal day. And I got it. If the situation was reversed, I’d be acting the exact same way. But I hated being the focus of all the sympathy.
I’d assured them all that I was just fine and I was looking forward to the time off Susie was giving us. Of course, if Ella got a lead at the hospital, we’d be back on the case. But if there were no urgent leads Susie wanted us all to rest. It was standard protocol for working an all-night shift like we just had, but it still stung. I didn’t like feeling as though I needed to be babied.
I was so sick of all of it. I just wanted to be treated normally, even though I didn’t feel normal. I felt . . . nothing. Other than that nightmare, it was almost like I was hollow.
I grabbed my phone to play a mindless game, but as I started to open the app, a text showed up.
Meet me outside.
