The Flame Inside Her

Chapter 5: It's Now in The Light...

(Third-Person pov)

Serina sat at the dining table with Daisy's mother beginning to explain half of what's fully going on, "my parents don't live here anymore they moved out 2 years ago when I was 15, they keep paying for the bills while I have a job to pay for food that's why you never see them. I can do whatever I want here but I choose to keep this house clean and party free unlike normal teenagers for my little brother, either way, I don't like partying like normal teenagers so it doesn't matter on that" Daisy's mother sat there listening intently almost gasping out loud when Serina mentioned what her parents did.

"That's horrible dear! No parent should ever do that to their child or children! It's not right!" Serina looked away "you won't be able to tell them that anyway there long gone they haven't visited us in 2 years what makes a difference if they start now?" Daisy's mother didn't know what to say about that, so she stayed quiet as Serina continued "I learned how to fight a while back before my parents left so I could defend myself if anything were to happen and my parents weren't around to protect us. I still went to school afterward going to my trainer to continue my training, but after an incident that happened involving my brother I immediately stopped, I haven't gone back since. That was the guy you met before when your husband showed up at my house, he trained me to become strong and he's the only one who knew I had a little brother and helped me when the incident happened."

"I'm not going to tell you what happened during that time for I do not wish to share it, but I will tell you it was not a happy time and why I chose to stay away from fighting and focus on my school and work making sure my brother goes to school and or eats, taking care of him as I've always done" after Serina's explanation Daisy's mother had no words to say. It was difficult to take all in. Daisy's mother took a deep breath before letting out a deep sigh "I'm...so sorry you had to go through something like so young, no one should, but if you need I can start working and help you with the food situation and if need be I can take over the bills I don't mind it's the least I can do for what you're doing for me and my daughter."

Serina shook her head, "don't worry I will continue working like I normally do and feed my little brother, but if you want to work for you and your daughter that's completely fine as long as you keep your spaces clean" Serina got up to fix something to eat, but before she did she turned back around to Daisy's mother "oh, and the police would like to speak with you about your husband, it's already been arranged since he got arrested, just let the police know when your ready to talk" Serina left it at that leaving Daisy's mother in her thoughts processing everything she was just told.

~~~

Another week has gone by between going to school and going to work Serina found it very hard to get used to the fact that there are two new guests in the house living with her and her little brother Zack, she didn't like the feeling but didn't like backing out of her promises that she's made either. Serina sighed walking into her job-ready to clock in when someone got her attention "hey Serina" she sighed, turning to one of her old acquaintances "what do you want Titan?" Titan, he's a pretty buff man weighing almost 300 pounds most of that was muscle, he had dark brown hair with eyes to match.

"Just wanted to check in on yeah, the gang and I agreed that we didn't want to all come back again since it would cause too much attention to you and us, but I wanted to talk to you about something if that's okay?" Serina thought she's been sighing too much as she did so again "look, I can't talk right now I'm heading into work and I've never been late, you can talk to me afterward." He nodded walking away from the Diner as I began my shift.

~~~

Tonight had been a boring night like usual. After I clocked out I walked around the corner where I knew Titan would be waiting "I hope you weren't standing here the entire time waiting for me Titan, that is creepy you know" he chuckled "nothing can ever get past you that's for sure, but yeah I ended up standing here since I couldn't get what I wanted to talk to you about off my mind" I sighed as Titan began walking with me, "what is it?" "I want you to join back with us" I immediately stopped turned to Titan with a glare "I will not."

"Why not?! You still are the best person for the job as well as Reaper, but having you as the boss we got more things done than with what Reaper does! I'm not saying he's a bad boss but even he has mentioned before that your more qualified to be our boss!" I pinched the bridge of my nose before turning to him as he looked at me with a desperate expression "I already told you I'm not doing it anymore because of a reason" "and what reason is that? You said it wasn't because of us but I feel like it is, I may be older than you and acting like a child right now, but rumors are going around about you and I don't want to believe any of them until I talk to you! What's going on?"

I didn't want to tell him, I didn't want to tell anyone what's going on because it could jeopardize the safety of my brother again, but that look...and the way he was saying it I felt like I could trust him, I mean, I know I can trust him, but...flashes of that night popped in my head. I shook my head looking away from Titan "most of the reason I left was not because of you guys that parts true, but the main reason I left was because of my little brother" he looked confused for a moment "you have a younger brother?" I nodded my gaze still not looking at him "I'm the only one taking care of my brother and that's why I have a job so I can put food on the table for him and make sure he goes to school, when I got involved with you guys a long time ago I had a goal in mind that I could make a better life for him and me, but something happened that changed that..."

I could tell Titan was intently listening on what I was saying, I guess now is the time to tell him... "the one job that we had that day I was doing my part as you guys were doing yours, I got a call from Reaper letting me know someone had somehow broken into my house where my little brother was sick at home for the day... I raced home as fast as I could, but the time I got there...my brother was so badly injured I didn't think he would make it" I couldn't help it as tears brimmed my eyes a few escaping down my cheeks. "I got him to the hospital in time, they told me they had to do surgery on him that he was extremely lucky when I got there otherwise he wouldn't have made it...I swore to myself as I swore to my brother I would never do that kind of life ever again since it almost got him killed...my parents didn't give a damn when I called them to tell them all they did was pay for the surgery and treatment and that was it."

I didn't hear anything from Titans end so when I raised my head to look at him, he had a shocked look on his face "i...didn't know that was the reason why you left, I wish you would have told us we would have helped you in any way" he lowered his head at that "I know, but I made Reaper promise to not let you guys know let alone come into this part of town ever again, but since I took in a mother and daughter who was being abused by their loved one I made a promise to the daughter that I would protect her and her father showed up thinking he could take them back by force, flashes of my brother came into my head of that night thinking I was going to lose my brother again...thankfully he was still outside when I got there."

Titan rubbed the back of his head "I'm sorry" I raised an eyebrow at him "why would you be sorry?" He shook his head "after you vanished we wanted to come to look for you to ask you why you left us, and even wonder if you would come back to us, but it seems your on a greater mission then the rest of us could imagine so, I'll leave you alone from now we won't bother you anymore Serina, that, I promise" I shook my head "don't worry Titan you can still be in contact with me, but my answer on becoming your boss again?" He looked at me almost hopeful "I will never become again" his face dropped.

"I swore to my brother I would never go back and I keep my promises you know that Titan, everyone there knows that, but if you still want to keep in contact with me you can, but just keep it on the down-low from now on" he nodded his head still a little down that I rejected his offer. "Can we at least help you?" I looked at him confused "help me? How?" He cleared his throat rubbing the back of his head nervously "well, since you say your only working for food for your little brother and you maybe me and the gang can help you with keeping food in the house, it's the least we can do."

I sighed but thought the offer would work and I could quit my job and spend more time with Zack as he's always begging me to do. I thought about it for a moment before knowing my answer "yeah I guess that could work, just let me continue working for another week before you do, so I at least have enough money to get Zack a present, it's his birthday in two weeks" Titan nodded his head excitedly "of course boss! Uh, I mean Serina ''I shook my head with a tiny smile on my face "good night Titan, I'll see you later."

I walked the rest of the way home with a more, lighter heart then I did before. Maybe this could help my brother and me. I just hope it doesn't end as it did before.