The Hard Way...(Joey)

Laying down in a room with absolute no means of entertainment - let me tell you - is boring as hell. I sigh, turning myself towards the wall, staring at the pictures hanging and the trophies resting on shelves.

I'd have searched this room from the floor to the walls for something useful to own if it wasn't for my body giving out nothing but feverish heat and zero energy.

It hasn't even been my first day awake and I'm having an urge to claw out of my skin in frustration. Not to mention I'm starving.

And if that wasn't enough, my mind was circling around that woman, thinking over and over about the dream, my brain straining to remember her. Her ice blue eyes... they were just like that girl, Charlie.

I rub my eyes, groaning. No, I must have mistaken it. That woman can't be related to her, right? Just because they're eyes were similar, doesn't mean that they're-

There is a sharp sound of the door clicking open, as someone enters inside. I immediately sit up straight, facing myself towards the door, my head spinning with the effort.

I watch as the red head, Emma, gingerly holds a tray, covered with a clothes, making it impossible to see what is inside. But the aroma it brought, was enough to make my mouth drool.

Whatever the hell was inside it, it was definitely delicious. I shift my eyes at the bed i was sitting on, acting like I didn't notice how badly I felt like eating. Emma glances at my direction for a second before, saying, "Dad said, you're supposed to eat this before taking the medicines." She takes out a pack of tablets from underneath the cloth, casually throwing them at my direction. "Two pills if you still feel nausea, but one if you only a fever."

"What happens if I eat three?" I ask, though not interested for an answer.

She frowns, "I don't know." She shrugs, walking towards the door, "Why would you take three anyway?"

I grip hard at the pack of white pills, my face clenched in confusion about whether I should take these or not.

That's when I realize. She's here alone. Just a kid. No one else. No one big enough to stop me from getting the hell out of here.

I clench my fists. All I have to do is push her aside, not too hard but not too weak either, and make a run for it to the door. I can do this. I can get out of here and never look back.

The only problem was, Emma was just about to lock the door. No way am I going to stay here for another day.

Distraction. I need to distract her before she closes the door!

"How long is your Dad planning to keep me locked in here?" I call out at her, somewhat bitterly.

I glare at her, watching her hesitate at the question, leaning against the door as if eager to close it.

"I.. I don't know..?" She cocks her head to the side in thought, mumbling more to herself then me.

"What do you know anyway?" I scoff, "Sounds like your lovely family keeps you away from a lot of information."

Her face grows red, and I can immediately tell that I hit the mark.

"That's not-"

"That's not you business." Says another voice.

A voice I know and am not happy to hear.

Jason.

He scowls at me, before resting his hand on Emma's head and smiling.

"Go on, Em. I'll handle this." He assures her gently.

She gives an uneasy look towards my direction, before nodding and heading out.

Damn it.

Shit. My only chance of escaping and I completely blew it.

I don't even bother to look as Jason enters the room, closing the door behind him.

"So...Uh... Joey, right?" He drags out a chair from the study-table and places it in front of the bed, sitting down with crossed arms. "You and I have a lot of talking to do."

"Do we?" I breathed, my jaw tightening, daring myself to look up.

He raises his eyes brows, leaning closer, "Of course. Considering that you're staying here without having to do anything, yet aren't even nice enough to tell us anything about yourself."

I narrow my eyes at him. Now that I look closely, he doesn't seem like a proper adult. Not even past his early twenties. Aside from this, he looks nervous. As if he'll burst with rage but keeps holding back. In other words, he seems too immature to handle this situation.

"Why do you want me to tell you about myself?" I say, unfazed, "If I remember, your father told me that I don't need to tell you guys anything."

His eyes darken, speaking in a low, threatening voice, "Don't try to act smart. You think I'd seriously let you live here without you telling me who the hell you are?"

"Then by all means, kick me out!" I say, equally grudging, "Or is something stopping me you?" I let myself smirk, "Or should I say 'someone'?"

Jason grips the side of the wooden chair, trying to keep himself from standing up and lunging for my throat, "Shut up!" He hissed, "You think you can stay here forever? You think we're fine with tha-"

"Who said I wanna stay here forever?" I exclaim, motioning out my hands, feeling a burst of adrenaline, "I want to leave this place as much as you want me to!"

"Too bad you're sick..." Jason grins like a shark, "So you'll have to stay for now and answer all my questions."

"What makes you think I'll answer them?" I smile tightly, "Stop wasting your breath."

I draw in a long breath, my eyes shifting over Jason's shoulder to the steaming tray of food. I press my hands on my stomach lightly, trying to forget about the delicious, delicious food. When was the last time I ate? I don't remember, and maybe that's what made me feel even more eager to eat. I ignore whatever Jason kept jabbering about, trying to squint my eyes, wanting to take a peak at what lay beneath the cloth.

My thoughts keep lingering to other troubles as well. A rush of emotions and feelings enveloping me completely. Now that I think about it, a lot of logical questions keep crashing in my mind.

Like for example, where the hell am I going to live? Where the hell will I go? Did I even think this through?

And if I do go somewhere, find a nice home, probably a job for me, who's to say they won't find me? Who's to say he'll stop looking for me?

Miller probably thinks that the first thing I'll do is head to the nearest police station. But I won't do that. I'll be risking my neck if I do. Cause sooner or later, the investigation of it all will lead towards me and my involvement and I can't risk that in the least. Not when I'm finally free.

And I know, I know, I'm selfish and I'm a jerk, a moron and definitely a coward. God, I'm a terrible person and I admit it, I do. But I don't want to be confide inside a four room wall, bars sealing my escape. Not when I've escaped the feeling of being trapped. I swear I'll never let myself feel that suffocation again.

Not again. Not ever...

"-understand me?" Jason's gruff voice drags me away from the dark circling pool of thoughts.

"Hm?"

He grits his teeth, "I said, do you understand me?"

I shrug, "Sure." too lazy listen to whatever speech he had said.

"Ok, so tell me." He says, resting his back against the weak chair.

I scowl. "Tell you what?"

His burning eyes glare at me, "Tell me who the hell you are, damn it."

My jaw works as I think of an answer.

"We don't have all day." He says, exasperated.

I sigh, shaking my head, "I'm not tell you anything. Sorry."

Bloodshot, he stands up, losing all his patience, the chair crashes on the floor with the force, compelling me to jump.

"Fine. The hard way it is." He hisses, storming out and locking the door before I could comprehend what just happened.

The hard way?

What does he mean by that?

I take a long shaky breath, trying to stop my hands from trembling. Not with fear. But with weakness. My stomach begging me to eat.

I glance at the tray, wondering if I should ...

But something about what Jason said made me feel like I shouldn't.

Crap... All I wanted was to eat peacefully.