Chapter One

A Chapter by Breanna

Meeting Brenna, Silas, and Addicus.

Chapter One

Rolling over, I involuntarily reached a hand out searching for the tiny, warm body on the other side of the bed, but only felt my cold white sheets. I sat up as my eyes searched my room for a small boy. My brother.

My room was a good size. It wasn’t very big, but it fit the necessities. The walls were a dull gray and the room had a white trim. My sheets were white and I had blue and purple pillows because my brother didn’t want the room to be too girly. There was a tall closet on the right wall that held clothes, shoes, winter jackets, and books. There also was a white bookshelf and bureau. I should be able to see him from where I was at all times.

“Silas,” I called out in a whisper. I heard a faint whimper come from under the bed. I climbed off the bed and pulled up the covers so I could see under the bed. There he was, huddled in the back corner on the floor under the bed.

“Silas, what are you doing under here? You should be sleeping.”

He shook his head at me and crawled into my arms. “Brenna, I heard something come from your closet and I got scared, but then it left and I don’t know where it went and I knew you’d wake up eventually.”

I ruffled his hair and hugged him. “Aren’t you a little old to be worrying about the boogieman? Most eight year olds sleep in their own bed, you know.”

He hugged me back and said, “Yeah, but most eight year olds have their own room too.”

I frowned at him and stood up. No, he didn't have his own room. We lived on our own because our mother had passed away and our dad was never really in the picture, as much as he tried to force himself on us. I paid for the apartment with the money our mom had left us as well as me working part time after school at a local coffee shop.

I threw him on the bed and he laughed and got under the covers as I climbed onto the bed. “I did my best. You know I did.”

He cuddle into my side and kissed my cheek. “I know you did. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, Bren.” He laid his head down on my shoulder and was back asleep within minutes.

I looked around the dark room, searching for whatever it was that Silas had seen earlier. I glanced over at the clock that flashed "2.08am" in bright red, block lettes. I stayed up for a few more minutes watching and waiting, but finally sleep won the battle and my mind went into a dream.

I looked into my fathers eyes and he looked angry. “Brenna-Lynn.”

I winced at his tone and said, “Yes, father.”

He glared at me. “Why are you sheltering Silas? He needs to be training. He needs to be getting prepared to go into battle. You’re holding him back, Brenna. He has to come home with me.”

“No. You are not taking him away from me. He doesn’t even know you. Neither of us do. For you to think that you’re just going to come and tear us apart is crazy.” I was so angry. He had no right. He wasn’t part of this family.

“You think you can stop me? Let me ask you something. Why did you tell him to forget his incident with your closet? You know who it was. He should have known, Brenna. He should have been able to protect himself, but you are holding him back. Not me. You.”

Now I was fuming. “I am not holding him back. I’m giving him a life! A life filled with love, hope, and stability instead of fear, and loss, and running. I’ve given him a home. A hell of a lot more than you’ve ever given him.”

“Stability,” He scoffed, “He needs to train. You shouldn’t be doting over unneeded things like ‘stability’. With you’re shabby apartment and your worthless job. And, your schooling. The schooling you’re both getting here means nothing in our home.”

“It’s not our home!” I screamed and ripped myself out my dream.

I sat up in the bed, breathing heavy and sweaty. I looked over and saw Silas still sleeping and rolled out of bed. I shuffled into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My dark brown, almost black, hair was sticking up in several directions as I straightened it. I cut it a few months back so it only just reached my chin now. I put mascara on and went back into the room. I sighed, realizing that Silas was still sleeping and pulled on a pair of pants that were a size too small and a shirt that was a size too big.

There was a knock at the door to my apartment and I already knew who is was as I opened the door and saw my best friend standing there. His light brown hair was pushed up like he'd been running his hands through it.

“Bren!” Addicus yelled as his soft blue eyes sparkled and hugged me around my waist and picking me up off the floor.

I hit his shoulder and said, “Shhh! Silas is still sleeping.”

He dropped me on my feet and chuckled. “It’s a little late for that. Seems my favorite guy is awake.”

“Addy? Why are you always here?” Silas said as he rubbed his eyes.

“Hey, buddy. Nice to see you too.” Addicus grabbed Silas up in a huge hug then flipped him upside down. I watched as my little brother punched my best friend in the stomach. At the most, it probably tickled Addicus.

“All right, you guys. Break it up.” I grabbed Silas and put him on his feet. “Go get ready for school. Get dressed, brush your teeth and your hair. We’ll grab a muffin on the way there.”

“Okay,” He groaned and shuffled away, shooting Addicus a look that said “I’ll be back for you”. I laughed and walked into the kitchen. Addicus followed me as I washed dishes from the night before.

He leaned against the counter and watched me for a few moments before breathing heavily and taking the plate out of my hands. “Let me do it.” I glared at him, but didn’t object. I started a pot of coffee and sat at the small round table in the middle of the room.

When Addicus was done, he came and sat across from me. “You look exhausted, Brenna.”

I involuntarily pushed my hair out of my face. “Silas woke up again. I don’t know how to help him sleep. I’ve tried calming tea, weird ocean wave CDs, rubbing his back, even personally singing to him. The only thing that seems to help in my singing and even that only gives him an hour more of sleep before he’s up again.”

“Try giving him a book to read before he sleeps. That makes my eyes tired at night and eventually the only thing I’m thinking about is sleep.”

I nodded and got up to pour some coffee into my thermos. “I’ll try it. I’ll try anything.”

"He'll be okay, Bren."

I shrugged off his worried look as Silas came bounding around the corner. As I took in what he was wearing, he spoke in a rush, "I know that superman cape is a bit much, but you never know when someone could need saving and I have to be prepared."

Addicus let out a small laugh and Silas' head whipped to his face to glare at him. Addicus just held up his hands and said, "I have nothing against it, bud. I'm just saying that superman usually makes it a little less noticeable."

Silas shrugged. "I don't care if people know."

"Silas, you can save people without the cape, you know," I said.

He looked at his feet like he hadn't thought of that. "Yeah, I guess so." He ran back to his room and then came back without the cape.

Addicus clapped his hands loudly and looked at both of us. "You guys ready?"

I nodded and grabbed my book bag then reached out for Silas' hand. He immediately took hold of it and we walked out of the apartment.

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