Page 4 of Dylan
My mind made up, I grab my phone off the nightstand and begin to look for flights to New York. I become frustrated when I can’t find a flight going to New York anytime soon.
I don’t want to risk sitting around in an airport. I change plans and begin to look for flights leaving as soon as possible. San Diego seems to be where we’re headed. Theo once got into some shit there or something with some guys he tries to avoid.
He never goes to tournaments there. I can go there and fly under the radar for a bit. He’s certainly not coming there after me.
From what I can tell, he’s scared shitless of whoever is there. In fact, he stays away from California, period. This family has always had red flags. Once the flight is booked, I gently shake Ciarán awake.
“Cee-Cee?” he says sleepily.
“Hey, buddy, I need you to do me a favor. As quiet as you can, grab your bag and pack as much as you can. Take anything you need. We’re not coming back,” I whisper.
His eyes light up and he nods. I watch as he rushes from his bed and begins to pack. I sigh in relief.
He wants out of here as bad as I do. I look at the time. Theo should be passed out drunk by now. However, I do need to handle one more thing before Sean comes in for the night.
“Keep packing. I have something I need to get. You have five minutes,” I say and rush from the room.
We’re finally going to be free. This was never our home.
***
“Mommy, where are we going?”I say as I sit in the back of the car.
Ciarán is in his car seat, crying. I try to get him to quiet down for Mommy, but he won’t settle. I think he senses something is wrong too.
“We have to leave. I need to get you to?—”
“Mommy, look out,” I scream and unfasten my seat belt quickly.
As fast as I can, I fling my body over Ciarán’s in his car seat.
I pop up from my sleep with my heart pounding. I’m drenched in sweat like always. It’s the same thing almost every night.
For years, I’ve been having the same dream. However, as the cool air of the air conditioning blows down on my wet skin and soaked shirt, I remember I’m not in the small room I shared with my little brother.
Not that there aren’t enough rooms in the house for me and Ciarán to have our own. The room I was told used to be mine before my mother’s death, Lily uses as a closet. Even after she moved out, I wasn’t allowed to have that room or her old one.
Ciarán is ten and I’m nineteen. My little brother shouldn’t have to share a room with me. I’ve done my best to divide the tight space for us both to have some privacy.
Not that we’ll have to worry about that any longer. I meant what I said. I’m done with that fucked-up family.
I lift the hood on my hoodie over my head and tighten the drawstrings. I need to change my shirt, but I didn’t have time to pack a lot. I don’t want to waste an outfit.
My chest feels heavy as I begin to wake and the reality of that dream sets in. There’s a deep ache in my heart. I know I lost so much more than my mother, but I can’t remember what all that was.
My head hurts as I try to remember anything from before that accident. The doctors said I was lucky to survive. My mother wasn’t as lucky.
Ciarán and I lost her in that accident. My little brother was only a baby when we lost our mother. My brain begins to clear, and I look over to my little brother as he sits in the seat next to me.
He’s sound asleep. At ten, he shouldn’t have a care in the world. I wouldn’t have ripped him from the security of Theo’s home if that were the case.
My shoulders sag and I frown. This all seemed like such a good idea a few hours ago as I told him to pack a bag after I booked our plane tickets. I had to dip into my savings to get us both on this flight.
Now, I don’t know what I’ve gotten us into. We’re headed to San Diego and have no place to stay. I have no job lined up and if I’m honest with myself, I don’t have a plan either.
If I can find the underground rings around San Diego, then I can at least make money in those. Yup, I’ve become one of the desperate. I’m small, but once in the ring, I leave no doubt that I belong.
People underestimate me; that’s why Theo loved having me as a fighter. Bets are made before I step in the ring. At first glance, those who don’t know better bet against me.
