Hestia House Book One

Chapter Five

~Arynn’s POV~

The next morning I woke up later than everyone else, and could hear the commotion of trying to get things loaded and ready to go. I took a quick shower, pulling my hair into a ponytail before heading downstairs for food. From their conversation yesterday, I knew if I didn’t make a show of eating for Levi and Tom, they would make a production out of having me eat. I knew it made my parent’s happy too, even though I had become accustomed to eating one small meal or a couple of small snacks during the day.

Grabbing a couple of biscuits, I stood at the front door and watched as my dad directed Levi and Tom in loading the boxes and suitcases. They only half listened as they worked, with Tom occasionally sending me goofy faces when my dad’s back was turned. I smiled as I turned and walked back inside, only to see my mom packing a backpack with camping essentials. Seeing my confused face, she sighed and waved for me to sit down. As she worked, she explained to me.

“I have a bad feeling. I got this feeling the morning of the attack on our last pack. I also had it the morning you first turned. I’m not saying that it means anything, but I want to be prepared just in case.” She stopped and locked eyes with me, and the whole room seemed to still as she spoke to me. “If something happens to us, I want you to run Arynn. Take this bag and run as fast and as far as you can. Let Leo find you. Don't confront Sean. Sometimes saving yourself is the wisest option."

My mom stopped, straightened herself, and wiped the tears that had come to her eyes. Her voice was softer as she spoke again.

"I'm sorry dear. I don't know what came over me, but please know that your dad and I love you. You may not be our blood child, but we love you as if you were." She reached over to squeeze my hand, but I pulled away and stood up. I went around the table and hugged my mom for a long moment. There had been times over the years where she had done little things- sending me with an umbrella when the sky was clear, only for a storm to come up unexpectedly; opening a door for my dad before he ran into it; thanking me and dad for the surprise gift, specifically mentioning what it was- and it led me to suspect that she had a little bit of gifted foresight. So my hug was especially long and secure, since it had unnerved her this much. I was nervous now too, but I didn't have a choice except to move forward. After breaking our hug, we both moved away to finish final preparations.

Levi insisted on eating on the road, so by eleven we had the SUV loaded. Staring at the boxes and luggage in the back of the vehicle made me realize how little we had actually been attached. We had one suitcase each and five boxes of other items. Thankfully there was a third row of seating, and my dad had volunteered to sit there with some of the boxes. Mom and I would sit in the middle with Levi and Tom up front. Mom and Dad were already in the vehicle when Levi climbed into the driver's seat. Tom was waiting for me to climb in before getting in himself when I remembered a tin of cookies in the fridge.

"How could you forget the cookies? We HAVE to have the cookies. They will mask the taste of the sandwiches Levi made." Tom sent the joke toward the people in the SUV, getting a sarcastic laugh from Levi and chuckles from my parents. I was still chuckling as I pulled the tin from the fridge and walked back to the front door. Taking a deep, calming breath, full of hope, I opened the front door to walk into my new life. Tom was standing there smiling at me, half the distance to the vehicle, ready to confiscate my cookies, when the SUV exploded behind him.