Twisted Deceit (Deceit #3)

Chapter 5

I couldn’t help but lift my head up, letting the sun shine down upon my face like it was going to be the very last time I’d ever get to feel its heat. For all I knew, it possibly could be.

Getting fresh air, let alone sunlight, had been far and in between. There were a few things that I sought comfort from, and the warmth of the world was one of those things.

Everything around me dimmed as I just sat there, soaking up the moment for as long as possible. The trees and birds behind the thin sheet of glass didn’t make a huge difference to me. The chirping was still heard, which was probably the point of this area. The benches lining the windows helped make it feel like it really was all outside instead of in the middle of a hospital.

If I had known this place was here, that’s where I’d surely have spent the last few hours instead of in the room and trying to keep the thoughts of the past and future from weighing me down.

The man who had introduced himself as my social worker for the time being shifted, causing his pants to rub against the plastic seating.

Mentally, I grumbled at him for interrupting my moment. Instead, I kept my eyes closed and my chin lifted high. I didn’t care how stupid I looked to others. I’d gladly sleep in this area, if it were an option.

When the man cleared his throat, I slowly dropped my chin and pulled my knees up to my chest with my arms wrapped around them. It was easy to try to make myself feel as small as possible.

I wondered why it couldn’t have been a female who was assigned to me. Sarah was supposed to be here, too, darn it.She had said she’d be here. Of course, the logical part of my brain let me know she had other places to be, other people to help. Maybe even people who really did need assistance.

I loathed being alone with yet another man. It’d been a couple of days of no males near me, and I wanted that to last just a bit longer. Females were at least safe.

“Koda,” he said my name like he was in a hurry and I was just another issue he wanted to push under the rug. Which wasn’t all that surprising. “I understand you haven’t talked since you were admitted. So I’ll make this quick and as painless as possible before your….aunt…shows up.” The way he spoke about my so-called aunt instantly put me on edge. “Without knowing where you came from, or the amount of abuse, your road to recovery isn’t going to be easy, let alone possible.”

“Excuse me?”

I jerked, eyes wide as I spotted a woman who didn’t look all that much older than I was. I blamed that on the fact Icouldn’t see much of her face, since my eyes were drawn to her very colorful clothing. The colors swirled and mixed together as she walked closer.

“No, I think you mean to say that to yourself.” The woman stated, stopping feet in front of the social worker. “Is that really the way you talk to a person who has obviously been through hell and back, more than once?”

“I’m doing my job.”

“Not well.”

That left the social worker with an open mouth, at a loss on what to say. I’d have laughed at the sight, seeing a man being put in his place. But the only thing I could manage was trying to make myself even smaller, eyes flickering between the two as my heart began to beat a bit too quickly in my chest once more.

“He…it’s all true though.”

“You aren’t in charge of my nephew’s wellbeing. You never should be telling someone they can’t recover from something.”

But he had been right. What I went through wasn’t something I would heal from. I knew that deep down. I didn’t see the point in so many people trying to care or help.

I swallowed as the tears started again.

I jerked, my elbow hitting the glass behind me, as the lady knelt down in front of me, keeping a bit of space between us. With her closer, I could see the wrinkles around the edges of her bright eyes, but otherwise she was just as young as I first thought.

I had to blink the tears that wouldn’t stop my vision, long since given up trying to appear normal.

“Hey there, sweetheart.” She shifted enough to put herself between me and the man who was mumbling into his phone angrily. “Koda, right?”

I managed a small, barely there nod. At that little bit of motion, her face broke out with a gentle smile that reached her eyes.

“You probably think I’m some crazy lunatic, which really couldn’t be too far from the truth. But I’m Dawn. Your dad’s stepsister, to be more precise. I met you, like when you were maybe three or four.”

That would explain why I didn’t remember her at all. I didn’t remember my parents, either. I couldn’t recall the last time one of them hugged me, or talked to me. Not that either of those things happened. If at all since I couldn’t remember any of it.

“Your parents were never a fan of me. Well, truthfully, the entire family wasn’t. I’m the odd member, and I’m better off without any of them. But you….when I got that phone call I kn ew in my heart that I had to come. Even if you don’t want to come with me, I totally understand. I’m nothing more than a stranger to you. Which is expected. But it’s what family should do. So, here I am.”

I blinked, tears sort of drying on my face. She was not what I expected, that was for sure.

“You’ll certainly have a long road to recovery, but that’s okay. Nothing I’m not scared of. I have a bedroom that can be all yours. My place is in the country, and I’m mostly the only person out there. Well, across the street is an older couple, and a nice sweet old lady next door. Both of which won’t be a bother to us.”

“He’s not allowed to leave this place with you. Even if he chooses that,” the man huffed, stepping back into focus, and making Dawn stand to her full height.

I sniffed back a laugh. She was tiny standing in front of the man who had definitely already decided to hate me. Yet, her attitude was at least twice his size.

I think I kinda liked her.

“I know the laws. As long as my house passes inspection, I pass a background check, and he agrees to go without me forcing him, Koda can leave with me. And to let you know, I have all that set up already. As long as it’s followed through within thirty days, of course.”

The social worker only huffed, not impressed. I on the other hand was. No one had stood up for me like this before. Not another slave. No adults. I had always had to just go with whatever, agree with whatever, just to hopefully not be hit.

“I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself, Miss. Koda is not stable enough to go anywhere, least of all with you. He needs a stable round the clock care.”

Dawn scoffed, shaking her head.

I needed anything but that. I was more than capable of caring for myself.

Slowly, I slipped away, my feet not making a sound. Neither person saw me, making it even easier. The tears made it hard to see where I was going, but anywhere was better than where two people were fighting over me.

I didn’t care where my feet took me, as long as it was away. Away from the pain. Away from the sorrow. Away from a life I didn’t have.

My choices were already taken from me. It wasn’t going to be any different now.

Sooner or later…well my life really couldn’t get any worse than it already was. A few days away from being a slave boy, being forced to serve, would be coming to an end. I knew it, as did that social worker.

Heck, for all I knew, the social worker was the one that would be taking me back to the hands of a monster. Hands that I would die by.

“Whoa there.” Hands on my shoulders stopped my walking, or marching more like it.

I slowly looked up, meeting Officer Sarah’s worried gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

Considering how many times she’s already seen me cry, everything was wrong. But for now, I waved a hand behind me, hoping she’d somehow understand.

It took her a moment, her eyes bouncing from me to the direction I had come. “Your aunt showed up early, I take it.”

I nodded, forcing a sob to stay down. Falling apart wasn’t the best choice right now. I was already acting insane and unstable. I didn’t need to add to that.

“Alright. Let's get you to your room and I’ll figure out what happened.”

I nodded, letting her gently tug me to her side and guide me to the room, which wasn’t all that far thankfully. Once inside the room, I pulled away, seeking the bed and the fake security it offered.

“Will you be okay while I go try to find your aunt and see what happened?”

I nodded, pulling the scratchy blanket up over my head. Maybe if I could make the world feel smaller, everything would stop spinning and pressing me down.

I wouldn’t be able to keep doing this. Trying to survive. Trying to keep to myself.

I’d be better off if I just gave up.