Page 24 of Wed
Kacey gestured to the house and started slowly toward the window. Once they were just below the window, they paused to listen again.
"We can leave. I know places we can stay. I've lived on the streets before. Once Eric is back, we'll pack up and go," a young male voice said.
"Eric won't be able to leave right away. He'll be hurt. We have to wait until he's better and by then, one of us will be hurting again," another male replied. "We heal faster than Eric. He's too young."
"We can't leave without him. He'll die here if we leave him."
"Can't we tell someone what he's doing to us?"
"Who? No one cares. They'll just move us, and the next place could be worse."
Xander didn't have to be told what was happening to the boys. He'd seen it too many times. They had to get the boys out of there and to someplace safe. He glanced at Kacey and mouthed, "we're rescuing all of them."
Kacey nodded, then stood up straight so he could see in the window. "Don't scream, Lenora sent us to help you." His voice was barely a whisper, but the boys heard him. They both stopped talking and there was a small gasp from inside.
Xander stood as well. "Lenora asked us to find Andy and bring him to her so he's safe."
A small boy peered out the screen. "You have my sister?"
"She's at my house with some friends. She's safe. Are you Andy?" Xander asked.
The boy nodded. "They told me I'd never see her again."
"They wanted it to be that way, but your sister was smart and escaped. We're helping her. She knew you might not trust us so she said to say she told us about Mr. Bunny and Ms. Sunshine."
The boy glanced back at his friend. "It's true. Lenora did send them. Only Mom and Dad knew about Bunny and Sunshine."
"You have to take me too. And help Eric. The man has Eric right now. He's…" The boy that now stood beside Andy at the window shook his head and looked ashamed. "He's hurting him."
"Who else is in the house?" Kacey asked.
"Just Eric and the foster dad," the older boy told them.
"Lenora said there was another girl." Xander glanced around, making sure the neighborhood was still dark.
"They took her today. A police officer came and took her. The same one who took Lenora." Andy had tears in his eyes that glistened in the faint moonlight.
Xander glanced at Kacey. "Get these two out. I'm going in to deal with the foster parent and get Eric."
"I'm not leaving you here alone," Kacey hissed.
"Get the kids safe. That's what matters. I'll be okay here. I'll find a way back to the house with Eric after." Xander could hotwire a car if he had to.
"Not happening. I'll take the boys to the others and then come back for you and Eric. You know Noam won't leave without both of us." Kacey looked at the kids. "Boys, you're going to climb out and come with me."
"Wait, I have to grab something." The older of the two boys moved away from the window.
"Only grab what you can easily carry," Xander told them as he took his knife and cut the screen. "Move back so I can get in."
Andy stepped away from the window.
Xander hefted himself up and inside the window headfirst, using his hands to brace on the floor as he worked his way inside. He made little noise, but every sound seemed to echo through the small home. He stood, glancing around the room. There were two bunk beds and one small dresser, but not much else. "How old is Eric?"
"Four or five." Andy was stuffing his things in a small bag.
"And the foster parents are both in there with him?"
"No, the foster mother only comes during the day. She never stays at night. It's just Jerome, the foster father. He…" The older boy looked pained. "He takes one of us to his room every night. It's the first time he's taken Eric. I'd thought he was too little."
