Chapter 3

Around six am the next day, Alessandra, Jesus and Rafita were packing as quietly as they could.  They didn’t want to wake the Wes from their slumber.  Using hand signals, they communicated silently as they briskly double-checked they hadn’t left anything.  Looking forlornly around the small room, Aless felt her eyes get hot.  It seemed so empty without Kay and her stuff in it. After their disagreement, Kayla refused to sleep in the same room as Aless.  Slipping down the stairs as quietly, the three felt their hearts lay heavy in their chest as they knew they would probably never see this place again. 

“Nothing lasts forever,” Alessandra reminded herself.

Her eyes roved over the small diner, taking in the booths, tables, and dining bar.  Her mind flooded with memories. 

“Where do you think you are going?” a sad voice slipped in.

Aless knew without turning around it was Merry Wes.  Madame Wes was standing in her bathrobe at the foot of the stairs, her eyes dark with concern.  Relieved, Aless saw that Madame didn’t appear mad, just concerned.

“Nowhere, Mistress Wes. We are just going for a walk,” Alessandra lied kindly.

“You are a terrible liar, Aless,” Mistress Wes smiled mournfully. 

“I know.”

“Did you expect we wouldn’t notice something was wrong?”

“No.”

“You were going to leave without saying goodbye?”

“We just were trying to be considerate.”

“You don’t give any notice of leaving when you are supposed to be my employees.”

“Madame Wes…”

“I know, Aless.  I just wish you trusted us more to tell us what is going on.  I’m not mad but I’m worried.  I’m not a fool.  I know you’re running from something or someone. I don’t know anything for sure, but I know you are all in some kind of trouble.”

“Mistress Wes, please don’t ask things you don’t want to know about.”

“I wasn’t asking.  I respect your choice to be secretive.  I am sure you have your reasons, but I hope you realize that this town and this family care about you.”

“We know.”

“Just remember you should always say goodbye to people because you never know what may happen.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Madame Wes hugged Rafita tight to her as she wrapped her other arm around Jesus.  Her heart ached for the children.  Though she didn’t know what was going on, she knew it was serious.  Merry Wes knew that she grew up privileged.  She had been born and grew up in this small town and would most likely die there.  The worst that happened in their town was someone hit their wife or children and then the town dealt with them.  Yet that didn’t make Merry ignorant of the troubles of the world.  She had seen the odd shape of Alessandra’s wrist, which had healed but always rested at a slightly odd angle.  all the children had scars on their wrists and ankles.  They reminded her of the scars she had seen on dogs who had been chained up too long. 

While Merry hugged the brother and sister tight, Kayla slipped into the room.  She was dressed to travel, her body tired from lack of sleep.  It hadn’t been until late in the night that Kay had been convinced to travel with her friends.  Kay hoped she wasn’t making a mistake.  Madame Wes looked up and smiled.  It hadn’t escaped her attention that Kayla had not intended to leave with her friends.  It caused Madame Wes to be torn because she liked having them around, but she hated the idea of the friends splitting up.  Kayla had a tendency of being blind to anything outside her world and, if the rest knew something was wrong, something had to be wrong.  Moving away from Rafita and Jesus, Madame Wes hugged Kayla.

“I’m glad you are going to keep your friends safe,” Mistress Wes whispered to her, hugging her tight. 

Madame Wes knew Kayla was flaky and self-absorbed, but she had a good heart under it all.  She was a neglected child with some serious personal conflicts who just need time to grow up.  Kayla sniffed, wanting to never let go.  Aside from the attention, Kay secretly didn’t want to leave because she felt like Merry Wes and her husband were the parents she never had. They were loving and kind and they rarely fought.  Kay wanted that family. 

Alessandra watched in silence. Her nerves were slightly abetted by the presence of Kay.  In her gut, Aless just knew that if Kayla stayed behind something bad would happen.  Breathing deeply, Aless felt as if things would slowly work out again.  Her neck ached for a moment, but it passed. 

Breaking away from Kayla, Madame Wes approached Aless and put her arms around the girl.  It hurt her the most that Aless was leaving, not because she would miss Aless the most or that Aless was more like a daughter than Kayla, but rather because Aless was the most in danger.  Alessandra was a strong girl in Merry Wes’s eyes, but a little too strong.  She never talked or complained about the events and problems in her life.  Even after being attacked, Aless kept her mouth shut about the events and the nightmares that she was having.  Merry knew the girl had nightmares because ever since Aless arrived, she had cried out in her sleep.  No one but Merry heard Aless’s cries.  Everyone else was a deep sleeper, but Merry had always had difficulty sleeping through the night.  If she woke and hear Aless’s crying her sleep, Merry would sit outside her door until the girl finally rested easily.  Only then did Merry return to bed. It worried her.  If Aless didn’t get help, she was going to snap on someone or something.  No human could take so much pressure and secrets. 

Aless hugged Merry Wes tight, breathing her warm smell for the last time.  Merry made Alessandra sad.  She made her miss her mother and grandmother. Aless didn’t like having to admit she was lonely at home, even after all this time away from it.  It hurt too much to admit she felt abandoned by her father.  It was one reason she was partly glad to be leaving the Wes’s home.  Though their home was happy and safe, it hurt her to be there. It brought back too many memories.   

With the goodbyes said, the group headed out.  The town slept as they carefully tracked through town.  Picturesque was all Alessandra could think as they soaked in their surroundings a final time.  Kayla sniffled silently as she fought the urge to turn around and run back to the diner.  It wasn’t fair.  It just wasn’t fair.  Why did happen to them? They weren’t bad people.  What had they done wrong?

Sensing her friend’s grief, Aless slowed her pace until she was next to Kay.  Gently, Aless slid her hand into Kay’s.  For a moment, Kay considered pulling her hand free, but, as soon as she looked into Aless’s big moon eyes, the idea vanished.  Aless may not say it, yet Kay knew she understood.  Only Aless ever understood Kay. 

In front of them, Rafita held Jesus’s hand too, attempting to comfort her brother since she knew he was struggling a lot more with leaving than she was.  All Rafita thought of was their mama.  She wanted to be home again in her mama’s soft embrace, inhaling the smell of bread.  That was what kept her going even though she felt tired and scared. 

“The Deity won’t let anything bad happen to us,” she reminded herself for the tenth time that week.  “The Deity loves us.  It won’t let anything bad happen.”

They walked for twenty minutes before reaching the train station that rested between the town and the next one over.  The station echoed as they entered.  The only person there was the half-asleep ticket operator.  Despite her young age, the ticket operator looked old and tired.  Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep and there were small spit-up stains on her shirt from her newborn baby that she hadn’t even noticed as she had dressed that morning.  Mumbling a morning to the kids, she sold the tickets, not even questioning why four young children were traveling alone so early in the morning.  It wouldn’t be for days until she realized that something had been wrong with the situation. 

Without incident, the group boarded the train and sat down for a long ride.  The train would take them to the capital of the South-Central region, which was only 57 miles from Jesus and Rafita’s hometown of Corsicana.  The train trip would only take two days, stops included.   

Making themselves comfortable, they sat and didn’t talk.  The emotional and physical drain of the day so far made them tired and unwilling to force conversation.  It didn’t take long for the lulling motion of the train to rock them to sleep.  They all slept fitfully, each wrestling with their own fears. 

Jesus dreamed he was running.  Running fast in darkness.  The only thing his senses could pick up was someone crying for him.  Rafita’s voice called from somewhere for his help.  His heart pounded in his chest as he searched, switching between running and walking.  The darkness pressed in on him as his eyes squinted into the darkness.  He knew he had to find her.  She was his sister and he had to protect her.  Finally, he had an idea of where to go.  Starting forward, his heart began to steady as confidence replaced his insecurities.  Yet just as he felt that he was within moments of finding Rafita another voice called out to him.

“Jesus,” the voice whispered.

The voice wasn’t pleading or scared like Rafita’s, but sad and lonely. Stopping Jesus glanced around, still unable to see.  The voice made his mind itch as if he knew it but couldn’t place it.  Rafita called his name again and he went to take a step when the voice spoke again.

“Jesus, are you really my friend?”

The voice sounded so sweet and tender and most importantly lonely.  Jesus felt as if his head was snapping from side to side, torn between the two voices.  Slowly images appeared in the darkness.  Rafita was only a few feet in front of him, wearing the clothes she had on when they were taken. Jesus called out her name and she held out a hand to him.  Then the other voice repeated his name.  Turning slowly Jesus saw Alessandra standing behind him, her eyes strong and steady.  She didn’t speak. She just stared at him. Her eyes were a mix of kind and accusing. Swallowing hard, Jesus had to turn from her accusing eyes. Unspoken guilt wiggled up from deep inside him. A guilt he had managed to suppress so far during their trip, but guilt that he knew he was going to have to face when they got home. Yet as he went to turn awaym her voice reverberated around him, despite her lips not moving.  

“I thought you were my friend, Jesus,” her voice said. 

“I am, Aless,” Jesus whispered.

He took a step towards her, her unblinking eyes fixed on him. A lump lodged itself in his throat.  All he wished was for her to take those accusing, sad eyes off him. He didn't have a choice before...he hadn't known her before....

“A friend wouldn’t be doing what you are doing,” her voice said.

“What am I doing? Aless, you are my friend. My best friend…” Jesus stammered, ignoring his pricking conscious. 

“Jesus!” Rafita cried loudly.

Spinning around, Jesus saw Rafita sinking into the darkness.

“Rafita!” he called out.

He couldn’t move.  His body seemed stuck as if something was holding him there.  On his back, he could feel Aless’s accusing eyes. Sliding his gaze back to Aless, Jesus saw her standing there silently and calmly, the darkness wrapping around her.

“Jesus, help me!” Rafita wept. “I’m scared.”

Jesus felt his heart stutter; guilt forced him to look into Aless’s condemning stare as his mind begged for him to make a decision.  Aless or Rafita. His mind was screaming in confusion and stress.  Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder.  Swiveling his head to see the source of the hand, Jesus found that no one was touching him.  Instead, he only saw that Aless was smiling kindly at him, acceptance and sorrow in her gaze.

“It’s okay, Jesus, save your sister,” she smiled.

Her eyes shone out of the enveloping darkness like two Sǐwáng Moon on a starless night. Suddenly, his legs were free, and he stumbled forward, wrapping his arms around Rafita.  They both wept for a moment in relief.  Straightening, Jesus turned to thank Aless when an icy chill down his back.  Aless was still technically there, but her body was engulfed in the darkness and only her face was visible. Darkness slithered around her face like fingers, pulling her backward.  In defiance, Aless’s eyes continued to shine with tender understanding.  

“It’s okay,” her face whispered.  “I forgive you. You did the right thing.  It’s okay.”

Then Alessandra disappeared.  Jesus stood with Rafita as the darkness faded, having taken its prize, and suddenly they were home, their mother standing on the front step waiting for them.