Lucky's (Mis)Fortune: CHAPTER THIRTY

It took me three days to make up my mind. I made a decision and although it was a stupid decision, my gut knew that it was the right one. Being with them, staying here has been the only sign of happiness that I have felt in a long time and selfishly, I didn't want to let that feeling go.

I convinced myself during that time that I could teach myself the things that they know. I am determined to learn to protect myself in exchange for my happiness. Besides, I trusted them when they said that they would protect me and wouldn't let anything happen to me again. The fire in their eyes when they said it was undeniable--someone who wasn't honest doesn't have that look in their eyes.

I step out of my room, my hair wet and my clothes comfortable. I haven't been getting out of my room much since I got permission to be off work for as long as I need and I haven't had any exams yet, studying turning into my only priority.

In the last couple of days, I have not been disturbed by anyone. Food has arrived at my door like clock work at 10AM, 2PM, and 6PM and when I stepped out to go to the art room, no one is in sight.

Things have been so quiet that I am surprised to find everyone in the kitchen at 8AM today.

I ignore the stares of the other employees of the house who were working on the breakfast, not a single word or sound escaping their lips. The only sound were eggs on pans being stirred and the sizzling of bacon.

I walk straight into the dining room, not dwelling on it. There, I find everyone in their designated spots. Mr. Lewis has a newspaper in his hands, a concentrated frown on his face; Ms. Angela was holding her phone, holding it away in a typical motherly way; Khael was on the phone, talking quietly yet angry with whoever was on the other side; Eliott was scrambling through paper, writing things down or putting them inside folders; Aiden was there assisting him, glasses on the bridge of his nose.

I must've been quiet enough that no one noticed I had come in. I stand there for a minute, observing them before I clear my throat, hoping to catch their attention.

At once, everyone looks up at me. I smile sheepishly, feeling shy and embarrassed at having so many gazes on me.

Eliott stands up instantly, shocked. Aiden blinks. Khael hangs up the phone. Ms. Angela smiles warmly. Mr. Lewis closes the newspaper.

"Good morning." I feel stupid as soon as I say it but for a short while, I decide that I want to act like everything is normal. Like things haven't started to get even more complicated than before and that my life is about to change and I still don't know if it will be for better or for worse.

I walk towards my chair next to Mr. Lewis, in front of Aiden but I don't sit down, I just stand behind it. My hands fidget on top of the top rail, trying to get my head to stay up and not look down. Eventually, I fail miserably and instead of looking at everyone I look at my hands.

I decide that if I'm not going to speak, no one else will and that I should appear to be confident with choice that I have made. "I've made a decision."

The sound of glass breaking stops me from continuing. It is distant, coming from the kitchen but everyone's faces turn to be on high alert.

From that moment, chaos ensues. There is an explosion that nearly sends us flying but thankfully isn't big enough to do that. Everyone instantly springs into action, realizing what was going on. They had had their own role but I couldn't hear properly, the sound of gunshots distracting me.

Someone grabs my wrist and drags me away before I can think about what to do.

We go through some sort of door and then we stop walking. It was dark and humid. I couldn't see anything, I could barely feel someone's hand on mine, squeezing tightly in comfort.

"Jordan, I need you to stay with me. I don't know what happened before to make you faint whenever you hear loud noises but please stay with me this time, please." Aiden's pleading voice brought me back from the panic. I was able to hear properly again, it didn't feel like we were underwater.

Things were breaking outside, there were gunshots and screams too. Women were screaming and I only hoped that Ms. Angela wasn't one of them.

I breath shakily and when it gets too heavy, too loud, I cover my mouth with my hand.

"It's okay, they can't hear you," Aiden explains from beside me, his voice quiet.

We couldn't face each other, the space too narrow to do that but his shoulders touching mine was enough to keep me sane.

I flinch at a loud noise but he just squeezes my hand once again.

"When I barely came here, I was scared too. I used to live in a world where things like these weren't even imagined, Jordan. I used to hide in here alone while Eliott and Khael fought." He pauses before adding more, "This doesn't happen often, especially back then but when it did this is where I would come. It's soundproofed and basically invisible to anyone who doesn't know that it is here."

"W- Where is this?"

"A painting to many, a locked door to us."

"Is this you trying to convince me to stay?" There is the smallest hint of amusement in my voice, I let it slip because regardless of the situation, it was still who I could be when I was with him.

He sighs. I can imagine his head hanging down, disappointment. I squeeze his hand. "If I were you I wouldn't want to stay here. I would fly to the other side of the world and never want to be associated with us again. This isn't okay. You didn't choose to be here, Jordan."

"What about you. How did you end up here?"

He takes a second to respond. "I fell in love and I didn't care what that entailed. Back then, I wanted to live an adventurous life. Khael and Eliott happened to come with everything that I wanted and they made me happy. The best yet most disastrous combination ever."

We stay quiet for a long time, listening in on what was happening outside. The sounds and shouting weren't stopping and I couldn't stop myself from getting choked up with anxiety. "I- Aiden. I don't feel well."

"Please stay with me, Jordan."

I remind myself of the decision that I made. I wanted to stay here but I couldn't even get my anxiety under control, how could I do that?

Determined, I squeeze my eyes closed and try to think of relaxing things.

I imagine myself taking a warm shower after being cold.

I imagine myself huddled in a pile of blankets, my favorite Christmas movie playing on a huge TV.

I imagine Aiden, Eliott, and Khael by my side smiling at laughing along with me at the movie. I feel Eliott's arm around me and my head on his shoulder, I see Khael's smile, and Aiden's voice. All of it together got me to stop breathing so loudly and focus on the hand that was against mine instead of anything else.

"I decided that I want to stay, Aiden."

"W- What?" The only thing in his voice was pure shock.

"I can do it, right? I know that you don't believe that right now, especially with the way that I'm acting but I want to stay here, I want to stay with you guys." I'm afraid that you are my last shot at happiness, I don't add.

He stays quiet for a second but I can practically hear the gears in his head turn. "This won't happen again, Jordan, and even if it does you'll be with me, right?"

I smile. "Of course."

Maybe I wasn't the only one that didn't want me to leave. I wasn't the only one that believed in me.