Chapter Nine

Story Time

Reaching the apartment, the three sigh a deep breath “Lily what was that” Junior snaps, standing face to face with her.

“Junior, take a breath, let her at least put Kyle down” Sammy holds him back.

Taking the chance, Lily puts Kyle down, preparing a bottle for him. “I will explain everything I can- “Lily pauses “though- it’s not much since I have no idea who they were”

The two glance at each other, taking a seat on the sofa. After Lily prepares a bottle, she quickly changes Kyle into bed, and props the bottle up with a wrapped-up towel.

Lily settles herself on the recliner between the apartment door and the sofa. “First, I would like to state I have no idea who those men were, however- “she hesitates, “I caught a sense that somebody was following me” Lily continues gesturing towards the siblings “however when I walked away from you two and Kyle they ignored me and were still on you guys” she ponders “so there is a few things I can assume “one, they were after Sammy”

“What? Me? Why me” Sammy interrupts

“Come on Sammy” Lily’s brows furrow “as unfortunate as it is, this world is not a nice place, and people have a warped sense of what is right and wrong” she insinuates.

“Eww- “Sammy connects what’s being said.

“Although, that doesn't explain why they were trying to take Junior?” Lily’s hand to her chin, looking to the corner “so that would mean that they were either after one or even the both of you” Lily pauses, before gazing at the siblings “I don’t usually pry however- “ Lily shrugs “this is getting dangerous” she explains, leaning her elbows on her knees “if I was even a little distracted from paying attention something much worse could have happened” her usual soft gaze now a stern stare “you two need to tell me what is going on” her words sounding off as an order instead of a question.

The two fall quiet for quite some time before Lily stands up “it seems that I need to earn some of your trust before you tell me anything” Lily frowns “but- there is a saying that I live by” she takes a step towards the bathroom “trust is a two-way street” she states, closing the bathroom door.

“What do we do Junior” Sammy whispers “do we tell her we have talents and that people who our parents were after are now after us?”

Junior ponders “yes and no” he shifts “we tell her our parents discovered that some people were doing bad things, and they had to go into hiding” he thinks aloud “and that is why our mom asked a person that she barely even knew in a different state to watch her kids” Junior concludes “Speaking of which, if we are here with no leads to this place how did they find it?” he wonders aloud.

“It’s probably a tracker” Sammy slips in “a talent that one needs vigorous training to master” she explains “if one masters it to its full potential they could essentially teleport right to us” her voice a shiver “however since they didn’t pop right in front of us they must be only to the point of our vicinity” she sighs “that also means if we aren’t careful they could find us here” she glimpse over toward the bathroom door, that swings open with hum of the toilet.

“Um- “Sammy squeaks “Lily- “

Junior holds his hand out toward his quivering sister. “We are being hunted”

The small sentence resounds in Lily “What?” her gaze frazzled in confusion “care to elaborate Junior”

“Our parents discovered something they shouldn’t have and now people are after them” Junior further explains “we are just collateral for our parents to save if we are ever taken”

“So basically, those men see you as bait for your parents” Lily simplifies, sighing an exasperated breath “I don’t know if I am relieved or mortified”

The two siblings share a perplexed expression “if you two are ever taken, God forbid- they need to keep you alive and most cases unharmed if they want your parents to come for you” She continues “however- if you two were ever captured there is no telling if they will respect that you kids are just that- kids - who knows they might just leave you barely breathing” she sighs without thinking “well, now that I know I can do a better job helping you guys”

“yo- you’re not mad” the two ask

“Well, I cannot say I’m not mad” Lily breaths out “but- its not like its your fault and I cannot just leave you two to fend for yourselves when you guys are in danger”

Junior and Sammy struggle and fail to swallow the tears they have been holding in. The weeps lead Lily to wearily smirk as she leans in, wrapping the two in her arms. After a good hour of the two bawling on Lily’s shoulder’s, they had finally drifted to sleep on the sofa.

“geez” Lily mutters, taking a step away from the two “what am I going to do” she ponders, think up a plan “Kyle will be going home tomorrow so he will be safe” she glances over to the couch “but- what am I going to do with these two” she sighs “I need to clear my head” taking a seat at the desk, she props open her laptop she opens a new word document “I have completely lost my thought process on that last one” she sighs in disbelief, before staring at the empty page, she stretches her arms up in the air, bouncing her head side to side, before linking her fingers and bending her arms behind her neck.  

“Hmm- fantasy- escape- action- siblings- action fantasy- annoying situ- AH!” her eyes brighten, as her fingers type away.

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“Timmy what are you thinking?! We must get out before they see us” The girl squeaks from a slight distance

“Shh- Sarah don’t worry, I al-most g-ot it!” The young boy’s tone sounds strained

Just then I feel something grab at me, swing me side to side before I feel lifted.

“That is what you took you so long?” the girl’s disappointment apparent.

“Yeah! You have no idea how useful this thing is” while the boy excitement is overflowing.

“So, what is it?” her tone questions

“it’s an ancient relic- I heard it used to be called a smart- a smartphone” the boy’s finger taps a button on the side.

Um wrong button kid

“mhmm” the girl’s pout reflects into my screen. “It’s not doing anything though”

“ah- h-hold on I probably clicked the wrong button” the boy fumbles clicking another button on the side.

Same button kid just lowering the volume now

Before the girl could retort again the boy quickly clicked the last button

“FLASH!”

“Woah” the two share an expression of awe.

“DO~DO~” the automatic powered on song plays

“What else does it do?” the girl tries touching the screen, in other words, my face.

This is something I never thought I would experience! Please don’t tap to hard!

“SLAM!

Ouch! I said not to hard! What am I? a bug!

“Woah careful Sarah! These things are delicate!”

Thank you, little boy, don’t let that sledgehammer near me

“tap”

Now it’s too soft I didn’t feel anything, did you even touch me?

“Ugh! This thing doesn’t work Timmy!” the girl grumbles quietly “just toss it grab something else”

“Hey not so fast!” The boy, named Timmy hold me close, away from the little girl “Sarah, let’s just get out of here first and see what this thing can do first”

“Humph” the girl’s pout reflects in my camera “whatever, if you say so”

The boy quickly and roughly shoves me into his back pocket, as the pocket is spacey, I bounce about side to side.

UGH! I never knew I took phones for granted before now! Uh- we stopped.

The panting of the kids can be faintly heard through the fabric.

“Hurry take it out I want to see what it can do”

Come on! I might be a phone, but do you have to call me like that

A few more taps leading the boy to find the phone app.

Kid unless you have another phone that app is useless, oh! He went into the web? Well considering the service isn’t connected or should I say can’t be connected that app is also usele- HUH! It works?

“Hmm this looks to be something you can put words in? like a book but we don’t know how to read!” The boy frowns “I wanted to look up Duke Greenyard though”

“Why him? He wants to adopt us” the girl tilts her head “isn’t that a good thing, we can escape that awful orphanage”

“I just don’t know, he seems off to me, I just wish somebody anybody would tell me about Duke Walter Greenyard”

“SEARCHING RESULTS FOR DUKE WALTER GREENYARD”

“WOAH!”

Ouch! That hurt kid! How could you just throw me like that? Ah! Wait I did just wonder if I would know a character like that but to think I could talk aloud! This is kind of cool.

“SEARCH RESULT FOR DUKE WALTER GREENYARD IS A CHARACTER OF THE NOVEL SUMMER’S GUARD”

“U-um,” the kids, inch closer to see my results

The girl squeaks “Timmy we can’t read”

These kids are so needy

“Um maybe we have to ask it questions so it can tell us” The boy picks me up “hello miss phone what is summer’s guard about”

“SUMMER’S GUARD IS ABOUT A YOUNG GIRL THAT FINDS OUT THAT HER BROTHER’S DEATH IS NOT AN ACCIDENT BUT IN FACT A MURDER TO RUIN HER HOUSE’S HONOR IN ORDER TO BRING HONOR BACK TO HER BROTHER’S GOOD NAME SHE SEEKS THE TRUTH AND ALONG THE WAY SHE FIGHTS MONSTERS, MAKES AS MANY ENEMIES AS ALLIES, AND TO TOP IT OFF SHE STRUGGLES WITH LOVE”

The boy begins “Eh- it sounds kind of gr-“

“Romantic!” the girl finishes

“Anyway, miss phone what kind of character is Duke Walter Greenyard”

“DUKE WALTER GREENYARD IS ONE OF MANY VILLAINS DESIGNED TO THWART THE MAIN CHARACTER’S GOALS”

The two gasp, as the boy reflects an expression of anger, his two lips part.

“And what is the main character’s name” his tone a little shaken

“SUMMER GREENYARD”