Dove's Cry The Series

I have been locked in this room all my life. It's not too bad I suppose.

I have a bathroom, a nice bed; it's pretty big and every once and a while the voice from the vent slides books and paper down.

The hardest part of living here is the man. He's loud and very bossy, he is always telling me how to speak, sit, and eat unlike the woman. She's comforting, she says she was just like me and that it gets better.

The woman taught me many things over the years; she has taught me how to bathe and brush my hair and teeth. She also taught me how to dress myself and simple common knowledge.

The woman is very beautiful. She has long curly, black hair that she always wears in a ponytail that falls down her back, and her skin was a beautiful porcelain complexion, and she has big blue eyes filled with kindness, and with an amazing smile almost always plastered onto her face.

She doesn't come by as often anymore, so she must be very busy.

Suddenly I heard a bang from the air vent, the voice must have sent me another gift, I ran over to the vent and slowly opened it.

It was another book; I'm so excited to read it. I whispered a thank you to the voice before reading the cover which read 'The Mocking bird'.

The door knob rattled and I quickly ran to my bed and hid it under the blanket, I sat down before the door opened wide, showing the very drunk, plump, man full of anger; the woman behind him with fear instead of her usual smile.

"Are you stealing things you little bitch?" The man screamed stalking toward me raising his hand.

The woman ran in between us with her arms raised toward him.

"Don't hit her, she's still learning she doesn't know any better," She cried.

"You're right, I should hit you!" He sputtered yelling, and back handed her making her fall in a clump beside me, he pointed his chubby finger at me.

"Next time that will be you," He spat glassy eyed and walked out with a slam of the door behind him.

I went to her side as she slowly got up holding her hand to her face with tears in her eyes, quickly wiping them away.

She placed a hand on her swollen stomach and took a shallow breath.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly.

"Why are you stealing books, if you would have asked I would have brought them down," She said gently.

"Stealing books?" I questioned my lack of understanding.

"Yes, taking them when they aren't yours," The woman replied.

"I haven't, the voice gives them to me. I thought they were gifts," I told her truthfully.

"What voice?" She asked.

I pointed toward the vent, she walked toward the vent and opened it looking through.

"I'm sorry, I would have never taken them if I knew," I looked down in guilt.

"No, it's not your fault, as I said you haven't learned any better." She placed her hand on my head.

I looked at her stomach, and back at her face.

"Are you," Before I finished she nodded with a small smile on her face.

"Yes, I'm pregnant," She said, rubbing her belly.

"How far along are you?" I asked quietly.

"Three months," She sniffled.

"Is that why you haven't been down in a while?" I asked.

"Yes and Alistair wouldn't allow me," she explained.

"why not?" I asked, upset.

"It's because I'm bonding with you," she trailed off.

"Anyway I should be heading back before he does," She says, turning toward the door.

"Wait, am I not allowed to read anymore?" I asked sadly.

"No you can read, I'll get to the bottom of the voice so don't worry, okay?" She asked.

"I don't want anyone in trouble," I said shyly.

"-And no one will, just relax I'll be back when I can," And with that she left, closing the door behind her.

I stood there for a few seconds wondering if I should have kept that to myself.

As if on cue the vent made a soft 'tink', I once again opened the vent and took out a small piece of folded paper. I unfolded it and read quietly 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you in trouble'.

I looked around for a pen, finding one I uncapped it and began to write; 'why are you giving me stolen books?' I capped the pen and folded the paper back up and placed it into the vent and waited.

I heard a grunt as the voice attempted to get the paper, and then I heard the woman's voice.

"Colby, are you giving the girl books, because your father is furious,"

"Can you blame me, Chloe has been down there our whole lives by herself alone!" the voice, I mean 'Colby' replied.

"You gave her a name, Colby you know the rules, you can't have contact with her until-"

"Until she's eighteen, I know and yes I gave her a name she's a human-being mother." He cut her off speaking solemnly.

"I know that, its just your father he-"

"My father can go to hell," Colby replied angrily.

"You shouldn't talk like that," the woman whispered.

"What did that little shit say?" The man 'Alistair' yelled in his drunken rage a bunch of banging from upstairs and a choking sound came through the vent.

Panicked I held my breath covering my mouth to stay silent, I shouldn't be listening to this but my body won't turn away.

"Alistair stop, stop you're going to kill him," The woman screamed.

A loud sound of a body hitting the floor and I heard him gasp for air.

"Colby," I cried silently, as a soft sob left my lips. His voice echoed out through this empty, dark room.

He whispered something I couldn't quite make out.

Colby's p.o.v

Pushing myself off of the cold wooden floor, my throat was tight from where he grabbed me and pinned me to the wall.

My eyesight was blurry from the lack of air to my brain, realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

Is Chloe okay, or did I make things worse?

I picked up my notebook from school and ripped another page and began writing, 'Are you okay?' I folded the piece of paper three times and dropped it down the air vent, then sat on my bed with my head in my hands as I waited for her reply.

Usually I would talk to her normally but I'm worried about her safety.

About five minutes later I looked down and the paper was placed back into the vent.

I forced my arm to go in as far as I could to pick up the paper again, getting out of the vent and sat at my desk with the paper in hand.

I began unfolding the paper to see what she had said. I wonder if she hates me now.

Flattening it out on the desk it read 'I'm fine are you okay Colby?'

I sighed in relief and began writing back, 'if you're okay, then I'm okay.' I folded the paper up again and dropped it back down.

I took a look in my mirror at my slowly bruising neck, guess I won't be going to school for a couple of weeks.

Things like this have been happening more frequently lately; dad gets drunk and ends up beating me and if it's not me, he tries to beat mom and I end up protecting her.

With her being pregnant I'll do everything I can to protect her and Chloe.

Chloe and I haven't officially met but we have talked since I was six, my parents always told me it was an imaginary friend and that I'll grow out of it, so I gave her a name 'Chloe'.

I wonder what she looks like, I bet she's beautiful, she's so sweet even being stuck in a black room alone she worries about others even though my parents wont let her leave or go outside.

Once in a while I'd buy snacks and I'd drop her down when I can and pick up the garbage when she's finished so she doesn't get caught.

I got up and checked if she replied, she did. I once again picked up the note and read it.

'I'm sorry for eavesdropping.'

I wrote back 'I have nothing to hide, especially from you.' I dropped it back down.

I took a deep breath before checking if she answered again. I picked up the paper and it said 'Why not?'

I guess neither mother nor father said anything about the wedding, regardless of her knowing or not I will get her out of here, we will get out together.

Before I could answer Chloe my mother called up "Dinner," I made my way down the spiral stairs towards the kitchen as my many 'Uncles' sat around the very large table.

There is a seating plan around here dad is at the top of the table as mother is at the end, I'm of course placed beside my drunk father; who is getting ready for another gang fight. Which tends to be the talk of the night, I looked at my mom and thanked her for the meal she made tonight.

"Colby, my boy," My father wrapped a sloppy arm around my shoulder.

"Yes dad?" I answered.

"You're on duty tonight, you hear me?" He slobbered.

"Yeah I hear you," I replied nonchalantly.

"Alistair, please don't send him out there I always worry he's going to end up killed," My mother spoke.

"Shut up, Carolyn, it's not your place to say." My father yelled over the table silencing her.

Dinner was chicken casserole with a salad on the side with our choice of dressing.

We ate in the sound of rough housing and yelling like every other night, and after dinner we all went to get ready for tonight.

Our gang was called the gold knife, our name prestige us, all members of the gang had a gold knife engraved with the name of the first person we had ever killed.

Yes, I have one but I'm not proud of it. I want to get away from here as far as possible, mom, Chloe, and me.

It won't be tonight, but it will be soon.

I walked up to my room to get my bag containing my knife and my guns, but before leaving I sat at my desk staring at my note book I opened it again tearing out a page, I began writing.

'I promise to protect you from all harm, I promise your life with me will be nothing to how your life was.

I promise I will love you and treat you with the respect that you deserve but never had, you will never be alone unless you want to be, I bet you have so many questions, and I'm not sure if I have all the answers but I will do my best to give you what you need.

I know this is all sudden and I know you are very confused but do you trust me?'

I folded up the paper and dropped it down into the vent before heading down stairs to meet the others.

I went down to dad's car, no one was there yet so I leaned against it taking a cigarette from the pack, put it to my lips and lit it with the lighter I keep in my jacket. I took a long inhale letting the smoke hit my lungs, and exhaled watching the smoke blow up into the moonlit sky.

I wonder if Chloe would love how refreshing the cool spring air touches her skin.

I wonder if dad had ever put out lit cigarettes against her skin like he had done to me when I was a child, my fingertips found the holes in my skin through my black leather jacket.

The rest of the gang poured out of the house like ants and pooled into their fancy cars, followed by the last.

Dad finally made it to the car and unlocked it, taking the last puff of the cigarette and got into the car, shutting the door behind me.

"Alright old man, where are we heading this time?" I asked with a sigh.

"We are going to the other side of town, kid." Dad replied as we sped out the driveway.

"That's a death mission dad, remember what happened to uncle Rickey, he barely came back alive after getting caught over there, it's irrational." I exclaimed.

"I'm the leader here, what says goes." He said in a stern voice.

"Do you at least have a plan?" I asked.

"Yeah, the plan is we kill every mother fucker in there and take our shit back," He replied.

"So basically you're saying there isn't one." I commented.

"Yup," He said, sighing.

We drove into the dangerous part of town five blocks away from the other gang's base.

I took out my pistol and put in the clip and looked at my dad.

"Let's go I guess," I said, getting out of the truck to meet the others that were waiting.

"Everyone knows what we are doing?" Dad asked and everyone nodded.

"Okay let's go kick some ass," He said walking straight into hell's gates.

We ran in with guns blazing shooting as many people my bullets could reach, and I started picking up what I could find.

I turned around and everyone was gone. "Shit,"

I started running for the door until I heard a bang, and my chest gave out making me hit my knees.

I touched my stomach and all I seen was blood, and that's when I blacked out.

Chloe's P.O.V

Looking at the note Colby gave me for the fifteenth time, I tried to make sense out of it, what did he mean by asking if I trusted him?

All these years I finally know his name, but do I trust him?

I haven't heard from him for a week since and I'm beginning to get worried he was just messing with me for entertainment.

He put the words 'trust' and 'love' in the letter but the fact he didn't come back tells me otherwise.

Then again what if he got caught again and something happened to him, or what if he had just been lying the entire time.

Should I trust a stranger that's so close yet...So far away?

I hid the letter back underneath my mattress and sprawled out onto my bed staring at the ceiling.

As I've said I've been here as long as I can remember, but why?

What is the purpose of me being here, sitting here without having Colby to talk to, I've never felt more alone then I do right now.

I rolled over, my face in my pillow as hot tears fell against my pillow suffocating my sobs.

The woman said this would get better, but it's getting worse and worse. My body quivered with shakes trying to muffle the sound of my heart breaking.

I just wanted to be happy, I pretend or I try to.

The door opened and I wiped my tears as fast as I could sit up seeing who had come in.

It was the woman again who stood in the doorway with a plate of hot spaghetti waiting for me. I couldn't take a step forward. I just sat here staring at her, she came and sat beside me and placed the plate on the floor and turned toward me.

"The voice is my son, Colby. He went out with his father and uncles the other night, but he got hurt and is in the hospital," She spoke quietly.

"Is he okay?" I stuttered.

"He's stable but isn't able to come home quite yet," She explained.

"Will I ever be allowed to see him?" I asked slowly.

"At some point yes, right now, no." She weighed the options.

"Oh, okay." I looked down and disappointment filled my voice.

She patted my head and picked up the cooling plate of pasta and placed it on my lap.

"Go ahead and eat, I'll be back in a couple hours, we will talk more then." She spoke, getting up and heading toward the door.

"Wait, I have a question." I spoke before stopping myself.

She turned back around, "Alright, what's your question?"

"Do I have a name?" I whispered.

"Of course you have a name child," She smiled.

"What is my name?" I asked.

"My son gave you your name. It's Chloe, now I must go, eat your food Chloe." She smiled and left.

Tears ran down my face, so my name really is Chloe, and he meant everything he said.

Here I am second guessing everything and he's lying in the hospital with fatal injuries, how could I be so judgemental?

Yes I trust him, he's the only real person I can trust other than the lady, and as nice as she is her loyalty to the man, Alistair, is no question asked.

I sighed as I picked up the fork and began eating, staring at the book on my bed stand.

The books make the world seem so large, so beautiful. I would love to see the ocean, the great blue sky, the emerald colored trees, and the animals.

I finished eating and placed the plate by the door.

Tired from crying I went and lay down on my bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Dreaming:

I was walking in the silence of a deep forest. I stop and looked around. There were beautiful trees that had deep lush green leafs on them, they rustled in the breeze. I can hear a running creek off in the distance and birds chirping.

I hear a noise in the bushes and as I step closer; a tiny bunny hops out and across the path.

I hear a faint crying but I can't pinpoint where it is coming from.

Suddenly I hear a large bang as my door slams open making me jump up from my slumber.

"Wake up you little bitch," Alistair shouted

I look around and my plates gone and I have a new outfit lying on the chair.

"What's going on?" I wiped my eyes from the sleep left behind.

He came up to me and took me by my hair and threw me across the room.

"I said get up!" He hollered aggressively.

"I-I'm sorry," I cried, picking myself off the floor.

"Get dressed, before I dress you myself," He sneered and threw the clothes that were left on the chair.

"Yes sir," I agreed, turning my back away from him, undressing as he ordered picking up the pastel pink tank top, pulling it over my exposed pale skin, shivering from the cool air from the open door and the only light showing into the dark room making me squint.

"Hurry up, before I change my mind," He growled.

"Right, sorry." I said taking off the pajama pants and pulling up the blue jean shorts that were laid out for me.

Once I was dressed he took me by the wrist and began dragging me out of my room, the only space I've ever known.

I began to panic.

He kept dragging me farther up the stairs. The light was too bright, I couldn't see anything. All I see is white I finally ripped my wrist from his grasp and covered my eyes crumpling to the ground so all the light was gone.

I began crying from fear and when I felt a soft hand on my back I jumped.

"You're okay Chloe, no one is going to hurt you here take these," The woman spoke warmly, passing me something light.

I opened my eyes to this weird plastic invention; I stared at them not knowing what they were.

She took them out of my hand and opened it up and gently placed them on my face, my ears holding them into place, and making everything a shade darker.

"They're sunglasses," She said gently.

I took them half way off; everything was too bright again so I left them on.

My long brunette hair fell down my thin back, and for once I looked around the room.

This room was large with big windows around the back of the room, where the most of the light was coming from.

I got up and walked closer towards the large windows and placed my fingertips on the cold glass, I looked outside and my breath was taken away.

There was lush green grass and a fire pit in the center surrounded by lawn chairs, and a fence surrounded the house. Cars piled up in the dirt driveway, and there were trees far off into the distance as well as beautiful flowers.

But further off into the distance there was a much larger gate that seemed to lock us in.

"You can go outside, if you'd like." She startled me by making me face her.

She walked up to the glass and slid it open as I stared in awe.

"It's a sliding door, and this-" she pointed towards the outside. "Is the backyard,"

"It's really pretty," I said, amazed.

"It will be yours one day," She smiled.

"Don't go too far Carolyn," Alistair mumbled.

The woman, Carolyn, ignored the comment.

I walked outside to the back-yard, the cool air felt cold against my skin making me shiver, but I ignored it and continued to walk out further.

I took a long deep breath of cool air and closed my eyes enjoying the sun against my face, enjoying the breeze I let my head back to face the rays of sun beating onto my face.

Tears began to roll down my cheeks, so this is what freedom feels like.

I looked back at where Carolyn and Alistair stood; I smiled through my tears over my shoulder and said, "Thank you."

Alistair said nothing and just nodded looking away, and Carolyn holding her stomach and smiling.

"Alright it's time to go back inside," Alistair ordered.

I went back without a fight, because now I know that there really is a big world out there, and maybe, just maybe I'll travel it one day.

I walked back down to my room with a wide grin on my face as they once again shut me in the darkness.

I went back to lay down on my vacant bed, and fell back to sleep from the fresh air and beauty on my mind. When Colby gets back I'm going to tell him everything I have seen today.

Holding his letter close to my chest as if that would make him come back faster but common sense tells me otherwise, because that's not how the world works.

I wake up to talk by the vent, it's Carolyn. She sounds worried. I can't help but to try to hear what she's saying.

"Alistair do you think he's really going to be out in 2 days, that's a bit much to ask of him he's hurt very badly?" she questions with a worried tone.

"Well Carolyn he said he's doing much better and wants to come home" Alistair replied hesitantly

"He only said that because he wants to come home and meet Chloe I don't think he's ready," she said frustrated.

I sit up, he's trying to come home early to meet me, and why is Alistair being so calm and nice, I have never heard him like this in all my eighteen years he must really be upset.

"I know that but he will just sign himself out if I don't, and you know it as well as I do he has been waiting years for this day" he said with a large sigh at the end.

"We have to do something. What if they are not ready? I mean for me it took an extra three months before I could leave the room for more than 4 hours at a time," she said, pacing back and forth right above me.

He grunted, then there was a knock and some whispering and then footsteps running out of the room and down the hall.

I followed their footsteps until I couldn't anymore and tried to hear what was going on, but all I got was silence.

Did Colby come home early, will I finally get that answer that I've been waiting for all week?

No, I wouldn't want that. I don't want him messing with his health because of me.

If anything were to happen to him because of me I'm not sure what I'd do.

Also what did they mean when they said he was coming home to meet me, Carolyn said it would take a lot longer before I could meet him, What's really going on.

What else is strange is that Alistair is being nice and respectful for once, maybe it's only towards me?

I put my hand through my tangled brown hair out of frustration.

Colby's P.O.V

Crashing through the door, bandages around my naked shoulders, I know I shouldn't have left the hospital, but I just couldn't let Chloe be here alone.

My parents ran towards me when they heard the commotion, I staggered passed them attempting to get to the couch, coughing up blood on my way there.

"Oh my god Colby, you should have waited a couple more days," My mother said.

"No, No way," I exasperated.

"Today is Chloe's birthday, I want to see her. Where is she?" I panicked.

"She's in the basement-" My mother replied.

I got up to go get her, making my sore body make the distance.

"-Are you sure you want her to see you this way, I mean you're still bleeding for god's sake." My mother called after me.

"I don't care, I made myself a promise and I plan on keeping it no matter the risk," I said reaching the basement.

"Sorry kid, I can't let you do that today." My father called from behind me.

There it was, the monster my father really was, one minute I was standing then there was a sharp pain in the back of my head, I heard my mother scream and the next everything went black.

I woke up an hour later to my whole body being in pain, I groaned in pain sitting up rubbing the back of my head, sticky wet feeling on my fingertips. Figured, its blood bastard cracked my head open.

Shit where's Chloe? I jumped up running to my bedroom door and went to turn the handle and guess what; I'm shit out of luck. It's locked.

I screamed in frustration and kicked the door, it didn't budge.

Then I realized there was one other way to talk to her, I ran to the vent and got as close as I could.

"Chloe, Chloe can you hear me, it's Colby." I called out to her.

I waited a few seconds, I wonder if she's mad at me, maybe she hates me for leaving her, maybe-.

"Colby is that you?" A sweet voice coming from the vent.

"Yes, yes I'm home, are you okay, did anything happen when I was gone?" I asked anxiously.

"Something amazing happened when I went outside; it's beautiful, the green grass, large trees taller than houses and even multi-colored flowers!" She sounded so excited, but also sounded as if she just woke up.

"That sounds amazing, Chloe. I wish I could have been there; it must have been a lot to take in. If you are tired though I can let you rest," I said hoping that she would say 'no let's talk,' or something along those lines, but then again checking the time on the digital clock says it's almost midnight.

"Okay, good night Colby," She said through a yawn.

"Good night, Chloe. I love you," There was no answer just soft snoring, I snickered to myself, she probably didn't hear me, besides she had a long day.

I hissed trying to straighten myself upright, and back to my bed, laying myself out on my bed I took out my phone to text Lucey, we've been best friends since we were kids.

Me: Hey Lucey what's up?

Lucey...

Lucey: Nothing much just worrying about your ass, what the hell happened last I heard was you got shot..

Me: Yeah, I don't really remember much about that night.

Lucey...

Lucey: You need to start taking better care of yourself before you end up dead.

Me: I won't have to worry about that much longer... You remember the plan right?

Lucey...

Lucey: Yeah I remember when are you going to do it?

Me: After I earn Chloe's trust.

Lucey...

Lucey: Oh, right your bride to be or whatever.

Me: I can't wait to finally see her, you think she will still like me when she actually sees me?

Lucey...

Lucey: Of course she will,

Lucey...

Lucey: Anyway I gtg to bed for school tomorrow, are you coming?

Me: I think I'm going to stay home for a while.

Lucey...

Lucey: Alright well goodnight.

Me: Night.

I put my phone on the charger on my bedside table and stared up into the dark silence.

Years ago when I found out Chloe was actually there in my head I promised we would run away one day. I doubt she remembers any of that now but I haven't forgotten it once.

I promised to protect her and that we would be friends forever, after I turned thirteen I began liking her more than a friend, and when I turned fifteen, my mother told me that we were meant to be together and that was her purpose here.

She's been down there by herself for years, and now that we are both eighteen we can finally meet each other.

Although I know my father's plans, he wants us married as fast as we can so he can pass down the one thing I don't want...

The gang, I'm the gang leader's son, so naturally I'm supposed to take over, and from there my son.

I don't want that for my family. No, I will not let my family have a life full of agony, and that's the end of that.

Chloe's P.OV

Stretching with a yawn, I wonder if they will let me out again today.

I won't ask of course but I had so much fun yesterday.

Carolyn came in smiling with a leather jacket, and dark blue jean shorts and a black tank top draped over her arm.

"Alright, let's get you dressed," She said, piling the clothes onto the chair beside me.

She waited until I was dressed and she told me to sit on my bed, she picked up a hair brush and she began to brush the knots out of my hair.

It hurt quite a bit because I haven't brushed my hair in a while, from the top of my head to the tips and back again.

I winced a couple of times from how big the knots were, but after a few minutes my hair was fully brushed out, my dark brunette hair was long enough to touch my waist.

She held my hair underneath and pushed it up in the beginning of a ponytail, and twisted on the top of my head as tight as my head would go and put in elastic in and snapped it into place making me wince.

"Turn and face me." So I did. She began putting mascara on my eyelashes, and red lipstick on my lips, and made me blot it with a piece of toilet paper.

My hair was wild around my face as we got off of the bed and Carolyn smiled, she opened the door and held it for me.

I smiled back before taking a breath and walking back up those stairs into the bright light, I looked back at her wincing and she gave me the sunglasses again, placing them on my face and continuing up.

There are strange; yet beautiful sounds coming from the other room. When I got up to the top of the stairs, I found myself back in the room I was in before with the sliding door and all the windows.

Instead of two people there were three; including Carolyn, Alastair, and someone I don't recognize.

"Hello," I said quietly, feeling shy.

The unrecognizable face looked up, and his eyes went wide.

"Wow," He said in amazement.

I know that voice anywhere and I looked back at him with the same expression.

"Colby," I said breathlessly.

Colby standing looks like he is about 5'8, with broad muscular shoulders underneath the leather jacket that seems to match mine. Caramel brown eyes that illuminate in the sunlight. His sun-kissed skin was bronze from the sun, and lips that look so soft that my lips would melt against his.

What am I saying?

I shouldn't be thinking things like this.

He came closer and my heart raced, my blood ran to my face and I can only guess how red my face is getting.

What should I say? My mind is racing. I don't know what to do.

"You're so beautiful," He said breathlessly and gently wrapped his arms around me, I don't know what he's doing to me, yet it feels nice so I wrapped my own around him back as my head was lightly against his muscular but gentle chest.

I could hear his heart beating fast, I wonder if mine was beating just as hard.

"Alright, can we go now it's time for breakfast," Alastair asked.

"Just a second, dad," Colby said, letting me go.

As soon as his arms dropped my heart dropped but I let him go.

"I have a few thing's for you," Colby said to me.

Confused, I looked at him waiting; he walked around the back of the couch and picked up something that made a loud crackling sound and as he stood up. In his arms were beautiful flowers, they were all different colors; red, blue, orange, and white.

He carried them over and passed them to me, I held out my hands as he placed them in my arms.

"They're so pretty," I squealed and put my nose closer to smell the unique perfume.

"They are called roses," He smiled sweetly.

He had a beautiful smile as much as he; himself was very handsome.

"Okay, enough with the mooshey crap, can we leave now?" Alastair asked irritably.

"Let me put these in some water," Carolyn said sweetly as she took the flowers from me and headed to a different room.

Alastair made an annoyed sigh, as she left.

We all stood in silence as we waited for her to come back.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" She asked, looking around for our answers, we all nodded.

"Okay, Colby Chloe is going to drive with you, I'm going with your father," Carolyn explained.

"Okay mom," Colby agreed, taking my hand and began walking, I followed behind without saying a word.

I'm really nervous for some reason as we walk out the sliding doors out to the many cars in the driveway.

They were all different colors, the sun reflecting off their sleek designs.

We walked over to a blue one and Colby took a set of keys from his leather jacket then pressed a button, the car then made a beeping sound. As we came to the side of the car he opened up the door and waited for me to climb inside.

I got in and sat in the leather seat and looked around, as he closed it again, the color inside of the car is black, but the steering wheel is the same color as the car.

Colby walked around to the other side and sat at the steering wheel closing the door. He took the seat belt and pulled it over his shoulder into the lock until he heard a click, then turned to me and helped me with mine.

"Thank you," I said shyly.

"No problem." He smiled as he took a package out of his jacket and took out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket.

Lighting the end of it taking a long puff, as he put the keys into the ignition, listening to the car come to life abruptly making me jump.

"Are you okay," He asked, exhaling the smoke out the window.

"Y-yes," I stuttered out.

"I want to make you as comfortable as possible so let me know if there's anything you need okay?" Colby asked sweetly as he slowly put his foot on the gas.

"Okay, where are you taking me?" I wondered.

"We are going to the diner for breakfast, it has the best breakfast around here," Colby explained.

At the word breakfast my stomach made a gurgle sound and I blushed.

"Sounds like someone's hungry," He joked, ``I am hungry, and in fact I'm starving.

We began driving up to the gate and waited for it to open, Colby took another toxic inhale as the gates slowly opened with metallic clash.

That's when we continued to drive through the gates onto the concrete roads.

"So Chloe," He paused, taking another puff.

"We need to talk," He said seriously now.

"Okay," I replied wondering if it was about the letter given to me.

"Did you get the letter I left you a week ago?" He asked, exhaling.

"You mean the long one?" I asked looking out the window.

"Yeah that one, I meant everything I said," He said, taking a side glance at me.

"Even when you said you love me?" I asked, looking at him.

"Yes, even when I said I love you," He smiled and threw the cigarette out the window and took my hand and I held it back.

"How do you love someone if we just met?" I asked curiously.

"I love you because I didn't just meet you, I knew who you were, I knew you for you, there was no hiding. The only thing I didn't know is what you looked like, and now that I do I'm falling even more," He explained in a soft yet serious tone.

I blushed again.

"I never thought of it like that," I said honestly.

"What do you think about it now?" He asked calmly.

"I agree, I never really put it together until I heard your name through the air vent, honestly I just thought you were a voice without a face," I said bluntly.

"Ouch," Colby jokes.

"Sorry, I never actually knew," I said honestly.

"Knowing me here, right now, how do you feel about me?" he asked, tensing in the driver's seat one hand on the wheel.

"Hm, good question," I said, pretending to think about it until he got anxious, giggling. I finally let up.

"I can't say I love you, but I do feel something." I said seriously now.

"By that I mean, I was never shown it so I can't tell you for sure, but what I can tell you is that my heart races when you're around, and I get all jittery when you wrap your arms around me for once I felt safe, and happy." I reminisced, Colby held my hand tighter in his.

"I understand what you mean now, you must have been so lonely down there by yourself, I wasn't actually supposed to talk to you until your eighteenth birthday," He explained.

"Why?" I questioned.

"We're here," He said driving into a parking space in front of what he called a diner.

After he parked he turned to me and looked into my eyes.

"Chloe I know you have a lot of questions, and I will answer them when I can, just not in front of them." Colby said seriously.

I nodded, I understood what he meant. It wasn't Carolyn he was talking about. It was his father, he's dangerous. I learned that the hard way when I went through a disobedient phase.

He got out of the car and walked around to my side opening my door, he took my hand helping me out.

That's when Alastair's car drove in next to us abruptly, and the chubby man got out of the car quickly and made a beeline towards the door. Carolyn opened her door, and followed behind him in a huff.

Colby sighed, shrugging it off, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, kissed me on the top of my head, making me jump.

I haven't had this kind of human interaction, it wasn't a bad feeling.

"Sorry, did I go too far?" He asked in a worried tone.

"No I just didn't see it coming," I laughed it off.

"Oh okay," He sighed relieved.

We walked up to the doors Colby opened and held it for me so I thanked him and looked around to where his parents went.

They were sitting in a corner booth as far away from everyone.

Taking Colby's hand once again as I nervously made my way through the diner until we were standing in front of them.

Colby gestured to me to sit in the opposite booth of his parents, taking a breath. I took my place closest to the wall as he sat down next to me, our bodies closer than we were in the car.

Carolyn, who was back to her smiling self, picked up books with food items on them. I'm guessing this is what you call a menu.

She passed them around and then looking at me she said:

"Get anything you want today Chloe,"

I looked at Colby who smiled at me and nodded in permission, I took a look at the menu.

There was a lot of food that was paired with French fries and onion rings.

"You're looking at the lunch menu, they don't serve that yet, here let me show you the breakfast's," Colby smiled.

He took the menu and turned the page at the top where it said 'Breakfast'.

"Oh, thank you," I said kindly.

"Anytime," He laughed sweetly.

Looking back at the menu it had things like French toast, hash browns, pancakes, bacon and eggs.

I wanted something I had never tried before, but I didn't want to ask for too much, so I sat there quietly as everyone discussed what they were getting.

That's when Carolyn looked away from the men and back at me.

"So Chloe, have you picked out what you want?"

"Um, I don't know, I want something I haven't had before but there's three things that sound really good," I said honestly.

"Like what?" She asked.

"Well, French toast sounds good, yet so does bacon and the hash browns," I explained.

A girl in an apron walked up to our table with a large smile on her face, as she looked at Colby, and when he looked up he noticed her and smiled back.

"Lucey, I thought you were going to school today," Colby began talking to the girl with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Yeah I was supposed to but mom was sick today and needed help here," She said with a sigh.

Turning to his parents she decided to finally take their orders.

I felt a pang of jealousy but I didn't want to make it obvious so I just smiled as Carolyn gave her my order.