Page 125 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Where are you going?” She called, more anxious than before.

“I have to go. I’m sorry. I’m not supposed to be here.”

She was hot on my trail, running after me when I slammed the door behind me. Instinctively, I pulled a golden key from my pocket. It was glistening and pristine and fit perfectly into the lock of the door. When I turned the key, a sharp bang shook the doorframe, and an angry snarl ripped through the air.

Moving into the hallway, the smell was familiar. Vanilla candles.

I was in our home in Brooklyn. On the wall hung old pictures, the three of my brothers arm in arm smiling and playing in the mud. Christmases and birthdays were encapsulated on glossy film. One of Luke and Sarah swinging with red popsicles in their hands hung in a blue frame. I smiled, wanting to linger in the hallway with the dim glow of warm-yellow light, but the banging brought my attention back toward the place I needed to go.

I was looking for something . . . someone. I stopped just before I passed a matte-black door.

The basement.

I’d avoided going there at all costs as a kid, but something lured me. I turned the knob, then stared at the darkness awaiting me. There was no light to illuminate the room or the bottom of the steps. With clumsy hands, I found a light switch on the wall and flipped it. Nothing. I hesitated on the first step, fearing the unknown but pushed on, knowing it was the right way. As I descended, a glow radiated from my palms first, then encompassed my whole body.

Two boys huddled into a corner on the concrete floor came into view, and they couldn’t have been older than six.

“Luke,” I said, knowing my brother’s long dirty-blond hair anywhere. He had his arm wrapped around Zach, who also had longer hair tucked behind his ears. “Zach.”

They shrank away from me when I kneeled in front of them.

“What are you guys doing down here?” I asked.

“We can’t get out,” Luke said, his cheeks stained with tears and dirt.

“It’s too dark,” Zach whispered. His attention stayed on the stairs.

“I can help you. I know the way out.”

“No. We can’t. We tried. There isn’t a way,” Luke said.

“I know the way.”

“But She’s out there. She’ll find us.”

“I already took care of it. She won’t bother you anymore.” I stared into Luke’s glistening brown eyes. “You can trust me.”

Zach’s body shook. “Don’t, Luke.”

“Take my hand. I’ll protect you. I promise.”

I reached for his hand, and after a moment, he placed his hand in mine.

A brief flash of light enveloped me. It was brighter than I ever thought possible. Brighter than the whitest light that existed on earth. When it dimmed, I settled on an expanse of glistening blue water and tall mountains. The soft scent of pine and dirt comforted me with nostalgia. It felt . . . safe.

A flash of red caught in my peripheral vision.

“Hi.” Kimberly’s voice was loud and clear next to me, but not louder than her vibrant heartbeat.

I wasted no time bringing my lips to hers to gain the taste of her.

“I had the weirdest dream just now. My brothers . . . they were trapped somewhere.”

“Aaron!” Luke called as Zach and he ran and jumped from the edge of a wooden dock into the crystal-blue lake. Presley followed soon after with a roaring yell.

“Not anymore.” She squeezed my hand. “We won, remember?”

The happiness of it filled my chest, then the relief from it leaked from my eyes.