It whispered in the air, droplets of rain splattered on my face, the wind intense and fierce rustling tree leaves.

I moaned in pain, scooting to the tree trunk, resting against it. I swallowed hard, my side aching, and touched my forehead. Blood smudged on my fingers tips, and I noticed rips in my jean jacket. Blood seeped into the fabric and my stomach churned.

Trey lived in an apartment with three roommates, a few blocks away from the University of Cincinnati. An hour and half away.

My stepfather was dead. My mom is missing. I had no phone. I had no money. I likely looked like road kill. The fuck did I do wrong to deserve this crap?

I walked along the road, trudging towards the gas station a few miles ahead, dazed and anxious. I made sure to pull my hood over my head, to keep people from recognizing me. I hadn't made it far from the place I jumped from the car, stumbling and pausing when pain ravaged my side.

It took me another twenty five minutes to reach the gas station, aching and feeling faint. I crept up behind an oak tree, using it for cover.

The gas station was old and dingy. I knew my mom and Jed came here to get their gas and anything else they needed if they didn't want to go to a grocery in town. I waited, trying to come up with a plan.

I needed to get to my brother, Trey.

An old Ford pulled up to the gas pumps, spitting out a puff of smoke from the muffler. The truck was the definition of rust bucket.

I watched as the driver got out, a middle aged man with dark hair and scruff on his face. He wore a heavy plaid shirt and jeans, his work boots untied. I studied him, watching as he stumbled around the truck, filling it with gas. Seconds later, he reached into his shirt pocket and took a cigarette out of its package. He slipped it between his lips and lit it.

"Dumbass," I muttered. In that moment, I knew what I had to do and this guy seemed like an ass, I wouldn't feel guilty about anything that happened within the next five minutes.

The man finished filling the gas tank and closed the cap. He threw his cigarette butt to the pavement, stomping on it with his boot, and stumbled inside.

I moved quickly - well, as quick as I could after falling down a ten foot embankment, for the truck. I hobbled along the side, crouching, hoping the man or the attendant didn't see me. 

Opening the drivers door, the stench of cigarette smoke and alcohol rolled out. I coughed, the smell blind siding me for a second before I slid into the seat, closing the door, and glanced down.

I managed to smirk despite the unbearable pain, the idiot left his keys in the ignition. I started it up, looking out the passengers window, seeing the man in the gas station, paying and talking with the attendant. He must have felt my stare, because he glanced up, doing a double take, before yelling.

Time to hit the road, I thought, gunning the engine and stepped in the pedal. The truck lurched forward and I drove like a bat out of hell, glancing up into the rear view mirror. The man was yelling profanities, shaking his fist at me.

Soon, the gas station faded from my sight and I got onto the highway, passing the signs that read Cincinnati, 70 miles. I blasted the radio to drown out my thoughts.

I just hope she's okay.

+++

"Trey ... your sister is here," Chester stated, a panicked whisper, "and she's ... she's not okay."

On the other end, I heard my brothers muffled voice. It had taken me almost two hours to reach my brother, between morning traffic and the fact I'd got lost. Twice. I ditched the truck I had stolen a few blocks away, not knowing it the man had called the police or not, and cut through backyards and alleyways to reach my brothers apartment complex.

My injuries were bad and my entire body was shutting down. I needed to stay away until Trey got back, I needed to tell him what happened ... about Jed, about our mom.

"Stop, stop," I mumbled, pinching the back of my hand. I couldn't think about that right now but no matter how much I tried, my mind flashed back to Jed in a pool of his own blood, his eyes staring up at me, dead.

"No ... something is wrong. You need to come back, there's blood all over her." Chester had noticed something terribly wrong after opening the apartment door and he called Kelly, their roommate to help, while he phoned Trey.

I glanced down, stumbling, dried blood covering my hands.

"Come sit down, you're freezing and ... god, the blood. Is it your?" Kelly guided me towards the couch, calling for Jude. I ignored her, my focus turning to my hands. So much blood on my hands. "Can you tell me what happened, Tarryn?" She was kind and I liked her, though I'd met her only a few times.

"I need to talk to Trey," I repeated as Kelly forced me to sit down on the ripped couch. She crouched down in front of me, her eyes wide as she studied the gashes on my arms and hands.

"Jude, we need your help," she screamed and I shied back at her loudness. "Shit, I'm sorry, Tee."

Footsteps came from the hallway, another boy appearing. He had tomato red hair and grey eyes. "Jeez, woman. Can't a guy nap in peace?" He asked, rubbing his eyes. "Hey, Tarryn, what- woah, shit what the fuck happened?"

I looked away at his outburst, aware he made a beeline for the two of us. Jude knelt down in front of me, studying the mess that was myself. "Tee, what the fuck happened?" He demanded, but I couldn't answer.

I just need to talk to my brother.

"She won't answer," she said. "I think she's in shock."

"Okay ... where's Trey?"

"On his way," Chester said, making me startle.

"Kell, grab the first aid from under the sink," Jude said, and he reached up and gripped my chin. Kelly disappeared from my sight, and Jude forced me to look at him, though I realized he was studying my pupils and the cut above my eyebrow.

I was somewhat aware of Jude and Kelly trying to clean my cuts, but I kept flinching and shaking. Chester tried to coax the events of today out of me, but I couldn't speak. I'm so tired. I kept imagining Jed's lifeless eyes, his blood oozing around him.

Dead. I can't believe he's dead.

I don't know how long it took for Trey to get here, but it felt like eternity. Though, eventually, I heard the front door open and my heart eased a bit.

Trey appeared at my side, taking a deep breath. "Oh God," he mumbled, "you're hurt. Tarryn, what happened? You can tell me, bub."

I shook my head, glancing at Chester and Kelly behind him.

"You can trust them," he said, taking my hands in his.

I shook my head again. "No ... no, I can't."

"It's okay ... Chester and I will go over to Jayden's," Kelly said. "We'll be next door if you need anything." She disappeared and out of the corner of my eye. The two of them left the apartment, leaving Jude and my brother.

"Do you want me to leave too?" Jude asked, softly. I trusted Jude, he was cousin, my fathers nephew, and like another brother.

"N-no, you can s-stay."

Trey sighed, nodding. "Bubba, please, please tell me. Did someone hurt you?"

I choked on a sob. "No ... it's Jed."

My brother's eyes widened, confused. "Did he ... did he hurt you?"

"No. He's, he's, he's dead."

"What?" My brother whispered, shocked. "What are you talking about, Tarryn?"

"Someone killed him, someone shot him. In the kitchen ... there's blood, blood all around him."

"Oh God," Jude murmured, running a hand through his hair.

"And mom? What about Mom?" Trey demanded, holding onto my wrists.

Tears leaked down my cheeks. "Gone. She made me jump out of the car, at the Callaghan Bend." I took a deep, painful breath. Trey waited for me to continue. "Its, its how I got hurt. Someone was chasing us, Trey. And now I don't know where she is," I cried, out of breath. My brother didn't question me, he knew I'd never ever joke about this.

"Fuck. Fuck, this is ... we need to go," my brother said.

I felt nauseous and the room swayed. "Mom said to come to you," I said, feeling faint.

"Good ... hey, bub, stay with me, okay?" He said, reaching up to touch my cheek. "Tarryn, I'm gonna pick you up, I'm sorry if it hurts." My brother had me in his arms before I could protest, and I pushed my head into his chest. He moved quick, my head bouncing with each step. Jude ran ahead of us. We left the apartment and down the staircase to the parking lot.

"Jude, man, you don't need to do this," my brother said, tucking me into the backseat of his Hunchback. "I don't want you to get in the middle of this."

"We're family, Trey. I'm not leaving your side."

Trey slid into the backseat with me, pulling me to lean on him. "Okay. We need to get to our dad," he said, seeming to have some sort of plan in mind. He looked down at me, eyes softening. "Stay awake, okay? We're gonna get you help, just stay awake."

I managed to nod though I could feel myself slipping farther and farther away with each passing moment.

+++

"Tarryn, wake up, bubs."

Familiar voices floated around me, pulling me towards them. My eyelids stuck together like glue and I struggled to pry my eyes open.

Carson, my oldest brother, hovered, sitting on the bed next to me. I blinked, taking in his frazzled expression. His green eyes were clouded with worry, dark hair disheveled. "Hi bubba," he murmured, smiling, "how are you feeling?"

"I don't know ... everything hurts," I mumbled, blinking.

"You've got a concussion and the wound on your head is deep. I stitched it while you were out cold."

"Oh, uh, thanks. Where's Trey? Where's dad?" I tried to sit up. "I need to talk to dad." I managed to push myself into a sitting position but Carson gripped my shoulders, easing me back down into the pillows.

"Woah, woah, take it easy. He's coming. He'll be here in like, twenty minutes."

"Carson ... he's dead," I said, tearing up. "He was murdered and now mom -"

"I know, I know," he whispered, holding my hand. "We'll figure it out, okay?"

I felt a wave of nausea crash over me and my vision blurred.

"How did this happen?" Skyler asked, my second oldest brother.

"She jumped from a car," Trey said, echoing from the hallway.

"For fuck sakes, she could have been killed."

"Tarryn, hey, are you with me?" Carson snapped his fingers in my face but I didn't feel so good suddenly. "Tarryn!"

My mind became foggy, and my head lulled to the side as world crumbled around me and soon, an eerie nothingness swept over me.

+++

hey guys ... fun fact, besides charlie, my family calls me bub. i love it and wouldn't change it for the world.

anywho, i hope you liked this chapter. what are your thoughts and predictions? what happened to Gilbert, Tarryn's cat? do you think her mother is okay?

thank you for reading, honestly it means the a lot. stay safe and lots of love - charlie 🧡