2- Come with me

A few years later...

I stared at the school gate as the students crowded outside in groups before they headed home.

The memories made me sick. It had been a while since I was back in San Fernando but the disgusting feeling in the pit of my stomach was still there.

I had friends here and once upon a time I used to wear the same uniform but the vague memories were a compilation of nothing but nightmares. Mike had me followed, that I was sure. He couldn't respect privacy.

My eyes followed the faces in search of Jake's. It had been five years since I last saw him and I was scared I wouldn't recognize my little brother. My heart raced against my chest at the thought. Blood called blood, of course, I'd know him.

It felt like ages and for a moment thought that I was given the wrong direction. Scattered groups started disappearing until the place was half deserted.

I turned in the radio to drown the suffocation and the nerves. My hand started sweating so I turned on the A.C. What if Jake didn't want to see me? I had no fault, I assured myself. It wasn't my fault for all of it to happen.

I rested my head on the wheel and took deep breaths. I was scared. I could feel the hot deep breaths on my hands.

Sun was setting and it had been hours since classes were over. What if Mike kept him locked? Paranoia settled in me. No, it couldn't be. I was assured that he was as free as Mike permitted. Not that it was much.

When I finally gave up and turned the ignition to leave, a group of three students strolled out. But there was no Jake.

There was a girl with black hair cropped to cover one eye. She paused to look back and smiled at the boy running toward her.

My heart stopped. It wasn't the Jake I remembered. His coal-black hair was cut short.  It reminded me of the last time I held him and cured his awful wound. I had saved him, I smiled.

"I thought you weren't coming," the girl laughed as she hooked her arms with his.

The sleeves of his uniform were folded on both sides and the soft smile he gave her had a hint of pain. I knew him so well that I realized the fear in those eyes to reach home.

He didn't want to go there, that's why he was taking so long.

"Jug," he shrugged. "Missed me?"

The girl punched him lightly and smiled as they walked faster to make it to the pair of boys.

My heart raced faster. I realized I had no power to stand and run to him to ask him forgiveness so I sat there as their silhouettes became smaller down the road. The echo of their loud laughter woke me from my reverie.

My phone rang and I answered it on the first ring.

"Everything's clear," came the voice through the speaker.

To the sign, I turned the ignition and drove slowly behind them until I was near.

"Jump in," I spoke when the group paused at my arrival.

Everyone lowered a little to get a glimpse of the person behind the wheel. Jake froze on spot but recomposed his posture immediately.

There was a groan from the back of his throat and he slowly moved on. I drove behind him and said again. "Jake! Jump in!"

The girl pulled his arm. "Whose that?"

"My sister," he said matter-of-fact, but he didn't stop. The other two boys continued studying the car as they walked behind. They were enjoying the view.

"I swear, if you don't get in, I will knock you out and take you anyway."

He halted and turned to me. He didn't meet my eyes. He was hesitant at first but after assuring the girl that everything was going to be alright, he got in.

I pressed the gas and drove us away. We passed the house at a speed that I tried not to glance at.

"Hey! I live there." He pointed back at the blur vision.

"You don't anymore."

"What do you mean I don't? I have spent my life there, I don't want to be kidnapped by my own sister. "

I didn't reply and continued our journey.

"Jessica, I said stop! I am not leaving."

My heart made a loud thud, so to his command, I started pulling my feet away. The car slowly stopped.

" I am sorry I came five years later Jake but I won't leave you there to serve as the monster's punching bag."

"You have no right to walk into my life as you please, Jessica."

"I came back," I replied

"Oh! I didn't realize that a week was meant to be an entire five years."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I knew he was going to bring it up.

"It's complicated."

"I am complicated? Maybe that's why you decided to leave and start a new life without me."

"I haven't started any new life."

"What a beautiful car then. Did you work for it?" he replied sarcastically.

"If you let me explain, I will. But first, we need to leave this town before Mike follows us."

"He won't. We lost him."

I gave him a chuckle. He didn't realize how dangerous Mike was.

"It was nice meeting you Jess, but honestly, I don't need you anymore. I am not the little boy you left behind. I have built a life the way I am supposed to."

He reached for the handle but I was faster to lock the door.

"Let me go. I am not in the mood to fight with you."

"Hey! I can see those eyes. I know them very well. I have lived like that for a long time and I remember how you used to look at me when you needed help."

"I fucking said I don't need you! Go live your fancy life."

"Go on, scream at me!" I shouted back.

He was the Jake I remembered. The one who wouldn't keep his mouth shut if he was feeling something. I wasn't used to the silent treatment. Not from him.

"Fuck off! Open the goddamn door, Jessica!"

"I am not Jessica!"

His eyes immediately turned to me. "What did you say?"

"I am not Jessica. At least not in the paper." I reached over the dashboard and pulled out my passport. "It's Amanda."

He was perplexed as he studied the picture. "This is bullshit."

"That's me. I swear I will tell you why and how. Just agree to come with me, Jake. You don't have to live that life anymore."

There was a long silence. "Mike must be pissed right now. It's past my curfew. "

"Jake," I pleaded.

"Take me home."

I let out a sniff as my heart broke.

"I don't want to know why you changed everything. I know you didn't want me and found me as a burden, that's all I have to know."

I shook my head in disapproval but didn't say anything. If I opened my mouth, I knew I'd cry.

It wasn't my fault. It was Mike's. All the time it had been him ruining our lives. I wondered why mom wouldn't leave him. If she was waiting for his redemption, she was going to die waiting for it.

I turned around and started heading back. It was a place I didn't want to see anymore. It was the devil's cave.

I gazed at him and then at the house. It was shabby on the outside. The grass was high and the front fence was already falling. The lights were on and miraculously it was silent. Maybe Mike wasn't here yet.

"Mom gave me this. She wanted you to have a better life." I said extending him a necklace. It was the one she usually wore which had the picture of the three of us. Jake was still a baby, I was a kid, and there was no Mike yet.

"How did you get this?"

"I met with her this morning. It's her Friday remember? She goes to the market weekly. "

Again, there was silence.

"I am sorry I took so long but God knows I tried my best to come back. I love you alright? If you ever need something, call me on this number." I pulled a card from my back pocket and handed it to him.

He just stared at it longer.

"Why wouldn't she come?"

"She still thinks Mike is a good man."

"I don't have anything on me," he commented.

"It doesn't matter. We can start new. We have enough money to do whatever we want now."

"We?"

I blushed. "Long story."

"Yeah, I forgot. It's complicated."

I ruffled his hair one last time and pulled him closer to kiss him. "I truly missed you."

"I missed you too. I was scared," he confessed. His voice broke at the end of the sentence.

My heart hurt. He didn't deserve any of this.

"We need to make one last stop before we leave." He whispered pulling back.

I sobbed in excitement. "You mean you are coming?"

"Don't you want me anymore?"

I rolled my eyes and gave him a quick embrace.  I cleaned my eyes before starting the car. "Stop talking shit."

As I waited for Jake in the car, I called my guard Gabe. "He is coming. He hasn't forgiven me yet but he is coming."

"Where are you? Mike is heading home. Please tell me you are out of San Fernando."

"We had a little detour. Have the men inform his movements. I don't need any bulldog behind."

"Copy that. Give Sebastian a call. He plans to fly over if you don't report to him. "

"Will do. Got to go. We are leaving. By dawn, we will be in San Monica's."

"Noted."

I cut the call and saw Jake jump in the car with a sad frown on his face.

"Your girl?" I asked intrigued.

"Best friend," he muttered before turning to look out the window and giving me the silent treatment once more.