Chapter 6

In the morning while Harper and the kids were eating, Jess said, " A boy reported being saved by Blood Archer. He asked their name and they gave him the name Blood Archer. He described that they wore a hood and used a bow and arrow. " "Why didn't they stand up for the kid in person?" Harper asked. "Apparently it was in one of those terrible neighborhoods," Jess informed her. " The one where they killed that kid?" Xavier asked. "No, this is a different one." "Okay, enough talk about this Archer guy. We need to go to school, Jane are you sure you can go to school?" Harper asked. "Mom she said she's fine," Jess intervened. They began to leave. "Thanks," Jane whispered to Jess, Jess smiled.

Jane and Jess were in the hallway. "Thanks, I know you don't want to lie, but I have to be somewhere," Jane told Jess, as she put her hand on Jess's shoulder. "Don't worry, if anything happens I'll text you." "Okay," Jane said, then left. Jane got into Evan's car and he began driving. "So they didn't ditch you?" He asked. "Weird right, I'm still expecting them to just want me gone for good." "Maybe you'll finally be able to stay," they both chuckled. "They're making me go to therapy," Jane told him. He started laughing so hard he had to stop the car. "Yeah, I know," Jane said. Once he was able to calm down he continued driving. "Is this it?" Evan asked and Jane knew exactly what he meant. He had been referring to the family she was currently living with. He wanted to know if they were going to be her family. "No, you know I don't want or need a family. All that sappy fantasy family thing isn't real, at least not for us," she told him. She didn't even want to think about she had more important things to do. 

Jane received a text from Jess. "I know it bothers you but can I know?" Evan asked, wanting to know who texted her but knowing it would bother her if someone knew too much about her. "It's Jess, the daughter of that family," she told him while texting Jess back. "Oh, you're close with her?" He asked surprised, he assumed that Jane didn't like all the family members. "We text." They had arrived, and Evan parked the car at a distance. "Is that him?" he asked. 

The reason Jane had to leave the house was to track and follow Dato for any evidence they could use against him. She asked Evan to pick her up and for that, she had to meet him at the school. Jane didn't want him to find her or go to the house. She asked Jess to help her get to school and sneak off. Now she just had to keep an eye on Dato until it was the last period. That way she would have enough time to return and not be seen in Evan's car. 

"Yeah that's him," she confirmed. She also told Evan that she needed to find some dirt on him. Of course, he didn't question it and joined her. Both watched as he walked down the sidewalk. After a few hours, nothing out of the ordinary happened, they even followed him into stores, with disguises of course. "It's been hours and we've got nothing on this guy," Evan stated. "Yeah, I've got pictures of him and the places he went into. In case it helps," Jane said. She received a message from Jess, telling her that Harper found out she'd been ditching school. "Hunts over, we need to get back," Jane told Evan. "Text from Jess?" "Yeah." "Of course," he whispered but Jane still heard it. 

Evan had dropped Jane off about a block away in case Harper was outside waiting for her. She arrived and unsurprisingly Harper was waiting for her in the parking lot next to her car. Harper opened the passenger door and said," We're going to talk when we get home." Jane got in and Harper entered the driver's side. They drove home in silence, when they arrived Jane was expecting Harper to ignore what she found out. However, it took Jane by surprise when she heard Harper ask," Why?" Harper took a deep breath. "Why are you so much trouble?" Jane was perplexed and unsure how to respond. After a few seconds of silence, Harper asked," What happened with the drugs?" "What?" Jane asked. "Jess told me to ask you when I'm ready. I think I'm finally ready to hear it," Harper explained. "You're not, you're never going to be ready. Not even for the short version," Jane told her. Harper waited for her to continue and she did. "I was a lab rat for a few months. They used drugs, as many as they could get. Not all at once, but many different ones," Jane told her. Harper was not expecting that. "Is this what you told Jess?" "It was a little more detailed but yeah basically," Jane told her. "I'm going to need some time to process that," she told Jane, then got out of the car and went into the house. Jane just followed her in.

Jane was in her bedroom talking on the phone with Officer Lenny about the evidence. Jane had sent him the picture, of Dato's locations for the past few days. Even though there had been gaps in his schedule there was no solid proof. Officer Lenny assured her she would do all he could, and Jane did the same. 

Meanwhile, downstairs Xavier and Jess had arrived home. Xavier went directly to his room. Jess however went to speak with Harper, and she found her in the kitchen. "Go to your room," Harper told her. "What did you tell her?" Jess asked. "She was right, I wasn't ready for that. I finally asked, and she told me." Harper was still shocked with many more conflicted emotions. "How could anyone do that to a kid," Harper almost started crying. Jess walked up to her and embraced her. Sure Jess didn't have this big of a reaction but she felt exactly how Harper felt. They both wanted to help Jane but didn't know how to. They care about her but it seems like the closer they get to her the more they realize that they are further and further away. 

Later that day Jane was at the doctor's ready to finally be able to take the arm sling off. Harper brought her and Jess insisted on joining them. Not like she hadn't taken it off before but now it wouldn't be temporary. "Okay, looks like you are all good to go. You can officially take your sling off," the doctor told Jane. "Ready to go?" Harper asked. However, Jane excused herself to go to the restroom. Jane leaned over the sink and began coughing. She started sweating as well, it felt worse than her most recent withdrawal side effect. She had no clue what this could be, she was worried but she had to make sure no one else knew. After she was able to stop coughing and sweating she left. 

On the ride, Harper and Jess were in the front seats singing their hearts out, while on their way home. Jane received a phone call, she then asked Harper to stop at the police station. It had been Evan calling from the police station. He had been detained and called Jane to help bail him out. When he was released Jane asked him how he was caught and with what. "Selling drugs, it was only a few ounces," he told her. "Well, now we have a problem." "What?" "I'm here with Harper and Jess, they're outside," she warned him. "I'll call an Uber." "Great." Jane was starting to walk away when she heard Evan. "Wait, why don't I meet them?" She looked at him as if he was insane. "Well think about it. Since you might be with them for a while why don't they just meet me now," he explained. Jane thought about it for a moment. "You know I hate mixing street life with foster families, but maybe this one will be different." He smiled and they both walked to the car. 

Jess is visibly worried and Harper knows it. "What's wrong?" Harper finally asked. "Who do you think the friend she's bailing out is?" "You know we can't push her to tell us anything," Harper reminded her. "No, what if….what if they take her from us?" Jess said, worried Jane may not want anything to do with her. "What do you mean?" Harper asked. "Well, what if she gets reminded of how her life used to be and she reverts to her old self," Jess explained. "Then we'll have to regain her trust. She has been through things no kid should," she reminded her daughter. "I know," Jess whispered as she saw Jane come out. They noticed someone was walking behind her. 

When Jane reached the car she asked if they could give Evan a lift. Harper agreed, the car ride was silent. An awkward silence, no one knew what to say or how to act, except Jane. She didn't want to talk, she wanted silence. 

After dropping Evan off both Harper and Jess asked questions about him. Harper wanted to know the type of company Jane kept in touch with. While Jess wanted to make sure he wasn't taking her away from them. Jane stayed silent and refused to start or continue unnecessary conversation. She was exhausted and drowsy, and yet she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep for long at night. Her body was beginning to give out. It had been a while since she felt like this. 

Later at night, Jane had agreed to watch a movie with Jess. Jane however was struggling to keep her eyes open. "This movie is so…" Jane told Jess. "You don't like romance movies? I love them," Jess asked. "I don't remember seeing a movie before." "That explains why you never watch TV." "Is this what all movies are like?" Jane asked. "Well, some but there are different types of genres. In fact, I think you would probably like action or horror movies. It all depends on your taste. I like romance movies because they tell a story and show you that love can beat anything," she explained. "That isn't true, love is a fantasy made up by people who can't see reality," Jane said. Jess looked at her for a second before asking. "Do you really believe that?" Jane looked at her eyes. She saw something, a glow in her eyes. Jane decided to drop the topic and continue watching the movie, and Jess did the same. 

After a few more minutes of watching the movie, Jess felt something on her shoulder. She looked over to see Jane leaning on her shoulder. She wasn't making any noise, Jess waved her hand in front of Jane to ensure she was asleep. When Jane didn't move or say anything she gently placed Jane's head on her lap. This was the very first time Jess had seen Jane asleep. She thought that Jane looked peaceful sleeping. She didn't seem on edge with her guard up. For the first time, she seemed to be a normal kid. Jess started gently stroking her hair. After a while, she had also fallen asleep. 

Xavier was meant to keep an eye on Jane during school, however, he ignored what his mother told him and instead was with his friends. Jess was the one following and keeping Jane in check. Jess had very few friends at school, for the most part, she would be on her own. Now she was constantly with Jane. 

They were both walking down the hallway when one of Xavier's friends walked up to them. "Hey there, you're new here right?" He asked. "So?" Jane asked. "Why don't I take you out, teach you how things are around here?" Jane was already over this douchebag. "Actually she can't…." he interrupted Jess. "I was talking to the pretty one, thank you," something in Jane broke. All she knew was that she wanted to hurt him, put him in his place. She pushed him to the lockers and put her left forearm against his chest. Causing him to be slightly unable to breathe. Everyone else watched in shock as he struggled to push her off. "What's your problem?" He asked, pissed. "Frankly I'm offended that you didn't call her pretty. Also your disrespect," Jane told him. Jess was surprised but had to calm the situation. "Jane don't," she warned her. "Come on he was just messing around," Xavier jumped in. "So am I," Jane said as she slightly pressed further on his chest, causing him to grunt from the pain. "Not helping," Jess told Xavier. "Then call your guard dog off," Xavier told Jess and Jane pulled him off the lockers and back to them. "SHUT UP," Jess and his friends told him. They were terrified at what unfolded in front of them. Jane had overpowered their strongest friend so easily, none of them dared to help. Looking at her eyes only made it worse, they could see she was capable of seriously hurting them without hesitation. "Listen Jane, you need to stop. You want to know why I don't fight back, because they are not worth it. Sure it may feel great to get back at them but they are just stuck-up teenage boys who don't know anything yet. So please listen to me when I tell you they aren't worth it," Jess was able to talk her out of it. Jane released him and stepped back. He fell to the floor and his friends rushed over. Once he stood up he told Jane. "You'll pay for that," his friends held him back and Jane stepped forward. Jess grabbed her arm and he and his friends walked away. Jane turned to Jess and asked, "Are you okay?" Jane asked. Jess hugged Jane and said, "I should be asking you that." Jane wasn't sure what was happening, but she didn't push her away.