Home Alone
Page 9
16
All Fall Down
In an alarming turn, more and more children between the age of six and ten are being given up to the state. All of them have one thing in common, they can shift and neither parent can. Parents are declaring they are unable to handle the children now that they are shifting and they are terminating their parental rights freely. What does this mean for the future of these children? ~TNN News Special
The figure in the door ducked and came up holding a weapon. “What the hell?” A muffled voice said. He couldn’t hear it clearly because his ears rang from the sound of firing the gun.
Charley started to hyperventilate as the figure came in, the bullet having obviously missed. He scrambled for the gun but knocked it further away.
“Charley? Is that you? It’s me, Sergeant Anne Holich.”
He froze looking at her as she came more fully into the kitchen, already putting the gun away.
“Charley?”
A crack of thunder split the air and Charley lost it, dropping to the floor and bursting into tears. “I can’t do this, I can’t keep us all safe. I got Jamie hurt and then I almost shot you.” He just sobbed, letting out all the worry and stress. Even as strong arms came around him and pulled him close he couldn’t quit crying.
“It’s okay. Is Jessi here?” He tried to nod but his head was clogged with snot, and tears, and fear he couldn’t figure out how to express.
“I’m here,” Jessi’s voice answered so he didn’t have to.
“Oh child, we have been so worried about you two.” Charley felt her reach out and pull Jessi close and she started sobbing, wailing softly.
“I want my momma back.”
“I know. I want her back too.”
At that Charley gave himself over to the tears, not even trying to stop, just leaning into an adult and let her take his weight.
He didn’t know how long they sat on the floor of the kitchen with Anne holding both of them as they cried but after an eternity of crying, he felt better. He sniffed hard and looked up at her. “Is Jamie okay?”
“Yes. A little smoke inhalation and a nasty broken arm, but everyone is taking good care of him. Carina is worried to death about you two.”
“Sorry,” sniffed Jessi and Charley felt her burrow in a little deeper.
Anne rocked both of them. “It’s okay. I’m just really glad you are safe.”
They sat like that a while more and the thunder and lightning didn’t seem as scary.
“I’m glad I didn’t shoot you.” Charley kept his head tucked tight against her body, not wanting to see her face.
Her arm tightened for a second. “I’m glad you didn’t too. Why did you get the gun?” There wasn’t any anger in her voice but even if there had been, Charley figured he deserved it.
“I got scared and thought the men in black were coming back for us.” He admitted waiting for her to blow up at him.
“Ah. That would scare me too. But no, I think you are safe.” She took a deep breath and Charley spoke before she could.
“I’ll go with the man from the services. I’ll stay with a family. I won’t cause any problems.” The words tumbled out of his mouth in a stream that tripped over each other he talked so fast.
“Charley,” her voice held something he couldn’t understand as she pulled him to him in a hold so tight it hurt. He leaned into it, enjoying the hurt cause it meant she had a hold of him in a good way. “How would you like to go home to Carina? Jamie should get out of the hospital tomorrow.”
He looked up at her, not understanding. “I don’t have to go with that man?”
“No.” Her voice flat and unmoving. “I wish you had trusted us a bit more but I do understand why you ran. Carina and I raked him up one side and down the other for a long time after you three disappeared. We rushed through some paperwork and Carina is registered as an emergency foster parent.”
~Yes!~ Jessi’s voice in his head and she grabbed him tight, making everything seem much better. He sagged a bit.
“That being said, at least she has power. Why don’t you guys go pack a bag and this time don’t escape out the window?”
Charley barked out a sound that maybe he meant to be a laugh. He really didn’t know. Pulling away from her warm strong arms he trudged to his room with Jessi trailing. Neither spoke but he could sense her relief through their link. It didn’t take long to dump out his wet clothes and load it full of some dry clean clothes. Walking back out Anne stood there talking on her cell phone.
“Yes, I have them both. Wet, scared, and tired but they are fine. No, Carina, they are fine. We are headed that way. Why don’t you order some pizzas and I’ll have them there in a bit? Okay, sounds good.” He watched her but in the shadows he couldn’t tell. It sounded like she really did talk to Carina.
Trust her. You don’t have a choice.
His head sagged a bit at the thought. He trudged towards her then raised his head. “Did I totally destroy JD’s house?”
“Did we,” interjected Jessi, her lower lip out. “I made it way worse.”
Anne sighed. “It is pretty damaged but not destroyed. I think he might be crashing here for a while though.” She glanced at her watch. “Come on, it’s almost six. Let’s head back to Toni’s and get you two fed.”
She didn’t sound mad. I’d be mad. JD is going hate me.
His dejected thoughts followed him to the door.
“I parked outside the garage, so you’ll need to dash to the door.”
Before he could answer a jangling sound filled the room. All three of them paused, looking around. Bright light filled the room pouring out of McKenna’s cell phone.
“McKenna’s phone,” he gasped the word out as he stared at the phone.
Before he could move Anne had strode over and answered the phone, clicking speaker so they could all hear it.
“McKenna Largo’s phone.”’
“This is Toni Diaz, Anne is that you?”
Anne started to respond, but Jessi beat her to it, rushing over to her and all but climbing up the woman to get to the phone.
“Momma?”
“Jessi,” the word a gasp of relief and love and Charley thought he might cry again.
“Is Charley there? Is everyone okay?” McKenna voice came through
He felt his legs give out as he heard her voice. Anne answered for him since he couldn’t.
“Charley is here too. Everyone is fine. What happened?”
“They’re okay?” the joy in McKenna’s voice wrapped around him like the best blanket ever and he closed his eyes, past the ability to speak. “It’s been eventful, but we’re coming home.”
That was all he needed to hear. His mom was coming home.
Authors Note:
I hope you enjoyed the second novella in the Kaylid Chronicles. These novellas will fill in stories about the characters, things going on alongside the main stories and other places that might be of interest. Visit my website at www.badashpublishing.com to sign up for my newsletter and find out about the next books coming out in this series.
If you haven’t already read my other books you can get them by these links.
Kaylid Chronicles Book 1: No Choice
Kaylid Chronicles Novella 1: New Games
Kaylid Chronicles Books 2: Commander
Kaylid Chronicles Novella 3: Decisions
Kaylid Chronicles Book 3: Incoming
Will be out soon.
Happy reading!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mel Todd has three cats, none of which can turn into a form with opposable thumbs, which is good. If they could do that they wouldn’t need her anymore. While writing and starting her empire, she decided creating her own worlds was less work than ruling this one.
k with friends