Page 15 of Petals of Blue: Part Two
"Has anyone talked to Levi and Kevin today?" I ask the guys, sucking all the light from their expressions.
"Yeah," Roman answers. "They've enlisted all their buddies and coworkers to keep an eye out for Blue. The girls, Bethany, Dakota, and Janine have put out missing person signs."
Jared nods and adds his own information. "My sister and parents called their friends who live outside of Chicago as well to watch for Blue. There's a high probability she's not in the city anymore, so we need to spread the word as far as possible."
"Is that smart?" Declan wonders, standing from mylap to pace. "What if putting a spotlight on Blue just makes this asshole speed up his plans?"
Bile bubbles in my throat, but I swallow it down. "This is the only thing we reallycando, D. It's a risk, but so isnotdoing anything."
"Felix is right." Roman stares down at the table and picks at the crumbs he spilled. "What else can we do? There has to be more."
"A SEARCH PARTY!" Violet screams, sprinting through the hallway with her phone raised above her head.
My heart immediately starts pounding in response to her frantic breaths and wild eyes. I'm on my feet before I fully register what I'm doing.
Violet doesn't stop until she's slamming her phone into my chest. I swear she's barely getting any oxygen to her lungs with how fast she's breathing.
"He messaged! It's a clue! Read it! We have to start a search party!" Violet pushes me again, urging me to read whatever is on her phone.
I'm fucking terrified to see what's on there, but I have to face this. For Blue. For Violet. For all of us.
The message from an unknown account reads:"Their precious Petal will die with the rest of them."
Eleven
BLUE
“Shh, just breathe, V."
The small, trembling bundle tucked against me on my lap heaves for another wobbly inhale. I nod silently and continue rubbing circles on Violet's back.
She's only ten, so I can't be mad at her for the terrified whimpers that threaten to draw attention to us. I was the exact same way at her age when Linda would host some fucked up party.
The difference is I didn't have anyone to hold me and help calm the terror in my veins. "I'm here, Violet. It will be okay." And it will be. For her, I'll stand between her and any drugged-up fucker who might find us hidden away in this moldy ass closet.
Maybe I should have called the cops when I was a teenager and really started understanding how messed up living with Aunt Linda was. I was worried about losing the onlynormalI knew.
Now, even in my early twenties, I'm scared shitless toeven have the police near us. If they knew what Violet was subjected to here, she would be taken from me in a heartbeat.
Does that make me selfish?
A tear rolls down my cheek at the sheer torrent of emotions battering against my heart and mind. I've heard horror stories about foster care, so all I can imagine is Violet shaking in a different closet all alone with nobody watching out for her.
At least with me under Linda's roof, Violet has a shield—me. I'll gladly take the brunt of Linda's scathing remarks and unwanted advances from older men.
More tears fall as I recall the last and only man who entered my bedroom when I was asleep. It's been a while since that specific guy, but the awful feeling of having to drag my lopsided dresser in front of Violet’s and my bedroom door will never fade. Others have tested my door, but they've never made it further than that.
As is normal after seven at night, our shared dresser is in front of our door, and we're hiding in our tiny closet. Rarely do we need to hide completely, but when the arguing penetrates our dreams, we huddle close and as far away from the threats as possible.
"Erica?"
"Yeah, baby?" My voice is rough and wobbly, but hiding my emotions all day, every day, is tiring and incredibly difficult. At some point, Violet will need to learn that adults struggle too.
She sniffles, then whispers in a trembling tone that breaks me. "I'm scared."
I have to squeeze my eyes shut and clench my jaw to stopthe sob from breaking through. Being a role model and a protector was not on my bingo card.Ever.
I've been in survival mode for as long as I can remember, and for the past few years now, I've sacrificed myself in ways I never thought I would be capable of.
