Page 25 of Apathy
When I managed to find my phone, while climbing up the hill, and once we reached the area where we had some reception, he was the first person I called. I knew he was in Seattle, busy with school, but I didn’t know who else to call.
Dad was in New York, attending a funeral of an old friend, and Mom… I wasn’t gonna go there.
I all but jumped from the ambulance, throwing myself at him. Without missing a beat, he caught me, turning us away from the officer that still stood there, gaping at Dylan.
The familiar scent of cinnamon and apples wafted through my nose, calming all of my senses. Dylan felt like home and everything good in this world.
“You’re here,” I mumbled against his chest, my voice muffled. I clung to him, and I couldn’t care less. I wanted him to hold me forever and take away the monsters trying to crawl into my mind. I wanted to forget Megan’s face, those lifeless eyes, the questions the police had asked me and the cold that clung to my bones.
My brother always kept the darkness at bay, shielding me from everything and everyone that wanted to hurt me.
“Are you okay, Little One?” he asked against my hair, cradling my head to his chest.
“Ms. Blackwood,” the officer started again.
When my brother turned around, his icy tone slithered through the air. “I said, you’re done here.”
“But—”
“She’s a minor. Do I have to report you for questioning her without a guardian present with her?”
“No, not at—”
“Good.” He dismissed him before he could utter another word. “We’re going home.”
“But—”
“I said no,” he gritted. “It is a very simple word. No. My sister is freezing, in case you haven’t noticed. After what she saw, she needs to rest. How would you feel if you were in her skin right now?”
“I-I didn’t,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You didn’t mean to be caught.” Dylan pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to the officer. “If you have any other questions, you can reach me or our lawyer. Whatever suits you best.”
He stroked my hair, again ignoring the officer, and as soon as his hand landed on my head, my breathing calmed down, and the thundering of my heart silenced, leaving behind just the soft thud against my chest.
“Let’s go home, Little One. You need to get out of those clothes, and you need to eat.”
“I’m not hungry.” I buried my face deeper into his chest, hiding my face from him. “I just want to sleep.”
“Okay.” He chuckled. “Then we’ll just sleep. Come on.” He moved away from me and took my hand. “My car is close by.”
“What about Lauren?”
“I’m taking both of you home.”
A smile spread over my face, momentarily pushing the horror I had experienced to the back of my mind. There was a certain kind of comfort in knowing that someone out there cared about you, and that they came when you called.
“I think she’s in shock,” I murmured, looking at Lauren. “I tried calling her parents, but they didn’t answer.”
“It’s okay.” Dylan put me down and walked toward Lauren, who kept staring at the spot on the ground. “Lauren?” he carefully asked. “Let’s go home.”
“I can still see it… her and her eyes.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “She looked so scared, terrified.”
“I know,” Dylan answered.
Officer Dick walked away as Dylan took a hold of Lauren’s arm and started pulling her up.
“You’re gonna be okay,” he started, reassuring her as tears cascaded over her cheeks.
