**Georgia’s POV
"Georgia." Ethan’s voice echoed through my dream of the butterfly garden pulling from my sleep. "Hey, sleepy head. I need you to get up."
"It’s not nice to wake a young lady up from her beauty sleep..." I mumbled, rubbing my eyes, yawning.
"Alright, my precious eight-year-old young lady. Get up now, for ."
I felt Ethan rubbing my head, and I protested, "Hey! Don’t ruin my braids!"
As my eyes fluttered open, they were t by his blue eyes. I sighed like a grown-up–those trouble making blue eyes! Those teenage girls always talked about how striking they were, and I had heard enough of it!
Yes, I got it, my big brother was one of the best looking guys in the pack, and being his sister had lots of perks—I got candies, cute hair pins, and even free make-up from those teenage girls.
However, I also had to answer their endless questions, such as, "What’s his favorite color?" or, "What food does he like?" or, "What kind of girls are Ethan’s type?" and so on. I had to make them believe their best source of news was so that they wouldn’t go to ask my brother’s best friend. I didn’t like them bothering Tally!
But now wasn’t the ti for to think about those things, because I was finally awake enough to see Ethan’s face clearly. I could tell how serious his expression was even though the room was dimly lit.
"What happened, Ethan?" I asked as I sat up. "Did you get into a fight with him again?"
’Him’ ant my father, because I knew Ethan didn’t like calling him "Dad," and when I had the choice, I would avoid calling him that.
I didn’t understand why, but Soren was the only one who could be spared from his beatings...
Then I noticed that there was blood on Ethan’s shirt that hadn’t been there when I went to sleep.
Every ti he got upset at Ethan, he would always hit him. I didn’t like it when he hit Ethan, but Mommy would tell to go to my room. I wasn’t allowed to be there when Ethan was in trouble.
There were one or two tis when I’d peeked through the door when I was really young; I’d seen so much blood that I was worried that Ethan would never get up again.
Glancing down, Ethan stared at the blood and shook his head. "No, I’m fine, Peach."
"Don’t call that. I’m not a peach," I said, scrunching my nose at the detest for the nickna.
"All right, young lady," Ethan chuckled. "Can you do sothing for ?"
My big brother had a task for ? Oh yay!
"Of course!" I was ready to listen attentively.
"I want you to close your eyes for , and I don’t want you to open them until I tell you, okay? Can you do that?"
I nodded solemnly, giving him my promise, and closed my eyes.
Then I was scooped up and carried out of my bed by a pair of strong arms. Startled, I opened my eyes and saw my brother looking down at , raising his brow.
"Okay, okay. I won’t look."
Closing my eyes again, he held tight against him and started walking out of my room. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I could hear the soft whimpers of people around us and the muffled voices of others.
"Ethan?" I asked, keeping my eyes closed. "What’s going on?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, Peach. I am going to give you to Talon. And he is going to take you to his house to sleep over with Vicky—"
Tally’s house?
Tally’s house!
I would have a sleepover at Tally’s house! That was good news, however...
Normally, I would be over the moon to do a sleepover at Tally’s house, but tonight seed a bit abnormal.
"I don’t want to go." I shook my head. "Why can’t I stay with you?"
He sighed. "Just do as I say, okay? I promise in the morning I will be there for pancakes. It’s Sunday, and their mama always makes pancakes. Rember?"
I did rember, and a giggle escaped thinking about the extra powdered sugar she always put on mine. "That’s a deal."
"Talon," Ethan’s voice said firmly. "Take care of her."
"Yes, Ethan."
I smiled as soon as I heard Tally’s voice.
I loved his voice. Once in a while, when he ca over to hang out with my brother, he would read a story, and I normally would doze into sleep in his soothing tone...
"Tally!" I tried to reach out to touch his face as he took from Ethan. Once I found myself in his arms, I buried my head into his chest. He felt warr than my brother.
I could tell from the fading footsteps that my brother had run away. It was just Tally and . "I’m a little scared..." I said.
"It’s going to be alright," he said to console and gently patted my back.
I sniffed and nodded. My eyes were still closed, but I knew we had left our house. It was a little chilly outside, but I wasn’t cold in his arms.
Silence filled the surrounding area. It was like we were the only two people left in the whole world. A few monts passed, with my eyes closed, and I couldn’t help but feel scared again. It was eerily quiet. So sll spread in the air... a tallic sll.
"Tally?"
"I’m here." He cradled even tighter within his chest, seemingly wanting to make warr.
"Are you okay?" I asked. I kept my eyes closed because that was what I had promised Ethan, but I finally figured out what I was slling. It was the sll of blood. "Are you injured? Does it hurt?"
He didn’t respond right away this ti. "I’m okay, don’t worry," he said finally.
I liked Tally, a lot. He was just as good looking as my brother, but he usually had a warm smile on his face. When he had ti, he would play gas with , sotis even bring flowers. I didn’t want him to get hurt.
He said nothing as he continued walking. His house wasn’t very close to ours; it would take a little bit to get there.
"Tally, where is Ethan? Do Mommy and Dad know? If they don’t..."
If they didn’t know and found out I’d left the house in the middle of the night, I’d get punished, and so would Ethan. He’d be punished even more.
The last ti dad hit , I fell on the ground... then I seed to have slept for a few days. I rembered when I woke up, both Ethan and Tally had tears in their eyes. I’d never seen either of them cry before, let alone both at the sa ti.
The question seed to catch Talon off guard. He didn’t answer, but he asked , "Georgia, can I ask you sothing?"
It wasn’t often that Tally said my na. His tone made think it was important. I wished I could open my eyes, but I’d given Ethan my word...
"Tally, of course! What is it?"
He took a deep breath and said, "Ethan... your brother, he needed to do sothing that had to be done. If you don’t understand, that’s okay, but please rember, he loves you, and he would never do anything to intentionally hurt you."
"Of course I know that! Ethan doesn’t smile much, but I know he’s a good brother!"
He said, "I’m glad to hear that."
My words had made Tally smile. I couldn’t see, but I just knew it.
I pondered for a mont and asked, "Is soone going to try to hurt ? Is that why I have to stay at your house?"
"Not exactly," Talon sighed. "But don’t worry, kiddo. You’ll be okay."
"I’m a young lady, not a kiddo!" I protested again. Why did everyone treat like a child? I was a good warrior. I was able to take down so of the ten-year-old boys!
He chuckled. "All right, young lady Peach." His tone was much lighter now. "You’ve done quite well with your task. I’m impressed."
He was referring to keeping my eyes closed.
"I’m a lady of my word!" I said proudly.
"I see that. Great job!" he complinted.
We entered his house; I knew it because it was brighter around us. He brought upstairs and finally laid down on a bed.
"Now, keep those beautiful eyes closed and go back to sleep," he said.
But I heard angry howls from a distance and so loud noises that sounded quite chaotic. "Tally, are you sure everything is alright?"
"Yes, Peach, everything is alright." To assure , he added, "I’m here to protect you."
"Do you promise, Tally?" I asked and I raised my pinky. "Do you?"
He didn’t hook his pinky around mine. After a short mont, he said, "Give your index finger, Peach."
I was confused but I did as he said.
"It’s going to pinch a little, okay?"
I nodded bravely. Then I felt cold tal pricking the tip of my finger. A cry escaped my lips, but only for a mont until he placed his finger against mine. I knew he must have also pricked his own.
Then I heard his voice. Calmly and solemnly he said, "I will protect you until my last breath, Georgia. No matter what."
***
The next morning, I woke up, and the sll of pancakes and bacon filled my nose.
"Co on, Georgia!" Vicky exclaid from the open doorway. "Mama said breakfast is ready!"
"Vicky, I can’t open my eyes yet!" I still rembered my promise.
Then I heard a low chuckle while my forehead was being rubbed by soone. "Now you can."
"Ethan!" I squealed as I opened my eyes and jumped up to give him a hug. "You made it!"
He was freshly cleaned, and he smiled, pulled off him. "I told you I would be here. Good job! I’m proud of you. Now, go eat."
"Yay!" Scrambling to my feet, I ran out of the guest bedroom and climbed up at the table next to Vicky. Her mama placed food in front of .
It didn’t take long for the backdoor to open, and Tally walked in.
He exchanged a look with Ethan and shook his head. They didn’t say much.
I munched on my pancake and said, "This is so delicious! I could eat this everyday!"
Vicky’s mama smiled. "Then Georgia, how about you stay here with us for a while? I’ll make you pancakes every morning."
My eyes widened. "Really...? I can stay here?!"
Vicky’s mama nodded with a smile and I turned around to give Vicky a big hug.
"Are Mommy and Dad okay with this?" I asked, just to be sure.
I saw Ethan’s eyes turn cold.
"Georgia, your mommy and dad won’t be around for a while..." Vicky’s mama said.
I nodded. "What about Soren?" Realization set in that I hadn’t seen Soren. "Will Soren co here too?"
A look passed between the grown-ups in the room.
"He is at ho. He didn’t want to co."
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