Living As A Fighter by Jordan Wadley, Amy Finley (unputdownable books txt) 📖

"Raychelle!" Tyler's alarmed voice yelled in fright but was abruptly cut off with a horrified scream, I didn't realize it was mine until warm arms embraced me and I was slammed into a warm chest. Tyler. My breaths became rapid, Glenn's face wasn't flashing as frequently as before yet I couldn’t stop myself from quaking with fear. Words could be heard by the owner of the other hands and I clung tighter to my brother in hopes of disappearing.

"It's alright nurse, she just has panic attacks sometimes and she thought I said something else so I'm just going to take her home." Tears streamed down my face, no longer running, but dried against my now sticky face.

"Ty," I barely managed to whisper. I noticed that we had stopped walking but even with the people surrounding us, I couldn’t stop the sudden flow of tears. All my life I'd been scared of what Glenn said and did, I was always scared of what he might do to me but most of all I was completely and utterly terrified of what Glenn may do to Tyler. He was the only family I had left and to lose him too, I don’t know if I could suffer through another sudden death.

Glenn's angry face suddenly appeared around the corner, marching with hatred staring at me and my brother. He was completely livid and it seemed like this time I wouldn't be able to stop him. I shook with terror in Tyler's arms, but he seemed unfazed by Glenn's angry raid, Tyler simply looked past him and continued walking. I screamed in sheer horror when Glenn pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it between Tyler's eyes, the ringing of the gun echoed in my head shattering my heart in pieces as I clung tighter to Tyler.

"Ray what the hell is wrong?" Tyler screamed. I blinked with realization, Glenn no longer stood in front of us with a gun and the halls that Glenn had suddenly appeared from were now as empty as a cemetery. I closed my eyes begging to calm my beating heart, the peaceful feeling I had before I woke to my daily nightmare was now consuming me. Tyler stared at me incomprehensibly but continued to the double doors, ready to meet the person on the other side of the double doors. I wanted to meet who Tyler told about us but my eyes simply wouldn't allow this so they shut down on their own accord and darkness consumed me.

I felt myself slipping from the peaceful darkness I've grown accustomed to, almost everything in my body ached when I managed to turn slightly onto my side. Something ruffled to the left of me, almost immediately freezing me of the pain I felt. My heart pounded like a series of drums going off in my head, the screaming voice in my head told me to run for my life while another part of me wanted to just curl into a ball and cry. I opened my eyes and peeked at the figure next to me, feeling the blood pumping through my veins faster as the moments ticked by. The figure's large form was tucked neatly into a curled position, Tyler, I thought. I felt the tension in my muscles relax almost instantly. Glenn never slept in a fetal position, Tyler, however, did every night when he came to comfort me during my daily nightmares.

I used my shaking arms to push myself up into a sitting position, only to fail miserably.

"I wouldn't try to move for a few more minutes, you're brain is trying to physically relax your tense muscles. Tyler gave you some medicine before he laid you down." At first when the person's voice reached my ears, I could feel myself going into a series of panics. That was until a small blonde female walked through the door, a bright smile plastered on her flawless face. Her big brown eyes gave her an 'I'm innocent' look, however I was still wary of her. "I'm Mia."

A ghost of a smile appeared on my face as I studied Mia, she was shorter than I, but her defined muscles told me she worked out daily. She reminded me of a friend I used to have, the way she smiled and her height brought back memories of the happy days before my momma's death. I saddened just thinking about the recent activities; Glenn growing angry because I stood in front of Tyler, wrapping his hands around my throat, being put in the hospital. Tyler telling someone about us!

Mia must've noticed the sudden change of mood because she rushed over and handed me a glass of water followed by a strange blue looking pill. I looked at her with alert, ready to bolt if she said anything remotely related to Glenn.

"Don't worry, he didn't tell me anything. He came in with you passed out in his arms, Cole told me not to press the matter so I was stuck with making sure I gave you this pill when you woke up. It will relax your tense muscles so you don't strain yourself, your bruises are already patched up with miracle mix so it shouldn't take too long for ‘em to heal up." She smiled encouragingly and placed the pill in my shaky fingers. I threw the pill in my mouth and swallowed quickly before I could think twice.

"Th-" My voice croaked terribly, closing up slightly when I tried to talk. She only smiled and handed me the water.

"You're welcome, you don't have to thank me since I kind of owe you." She said sheepishly. I knew my voice would betray me once again so I could only look at her questioningly, she caught on with a gentle smile. "Tyler asked you for money a couple of days ago, I had to pay for payments for my brother's ticket fines so I went to him. He told me you were saving the money up for a while, but helped me out anyway. Thank you, I really appreciate it."

I finally recognized her from that day she came to the house, asking Tyler some private questions. I'd been saving the money to get my own car because Glenn refused to do so, it took me two years to make the money so I wouldn't have to walk to school everyday. However when Mia came to Tyler practically in tears to get her brother out of jail, I had to help.

FLASHBACK

"Oh my god Lee," Tears streamed down the blonde's face, her mascara smeared under her eyes unattractively while I tried to back out of the living room. She fell to her knees sobbing with hiccups as Tyler tried to comfort her, pity and helplessness filled his deep blue eyes. "I can't do this anymore, I don't have the money! I still haven't paid for my rent. How could he do this to me... again?" Her hoarse voice cracked at the end, her words barely audible.

"It's okay Mimi, we'll help him. I just gotta find some money first okay, maybe I can make a deal with Jared." He suggested. The girl's sobs stopped abruptly and her hands wrapped tightly around Tyler. Maybe they're dating or something, I internally guessed.

"Please don't!" she begged. "I can't lose you too..." Again her voice cracked. I found myself staring at the silver chess on my dresser, the constant sobs of the girl's cries dug a hole deeper into my heart with each hiccup. "I don't want to ever see you around Jared again!" She scolded. I silently creeped over to my silver chess, knocking over my picture frame of me and momma in the process. The girl's cries stopped instantly, as did Tyler's comforting words.

"Raychelle?" Came Tyler's reply.

"No?" I tried, cursing myself for being so stupid. He sighed audibly, almost immediately footsteps were heard down the hall. "What did you hear?" He asked worriedly. His eyes traveled down to the silver chess in my hands, blue eyes staring curiously at the encrypted box in my hands. "What's that?"

"I-I know," I tried, nervously. "Her brother's in trouble." Holding my breath for the moment he might get angry that I was secretly eavesdropping. I didn't wait for his reply, afraid he might get angry with me. I took the silver chess with me and walked into the living room where the blond sat curled into a small ball. Her glass brown eyes looked sad and helpless, staring at the wall, yet staring at nothing. She looked distant and torn from the world, the tears however continued to slowly glide down her pale face.

"Um..." I wandered off uncomfortable.

"Ray-" Tyler began.

"Here, please take this." I pushed the chess into her arms. For a moment she seemed to not comprehend that I was handing her something, until her beautiful brown and innocent eyes travelled down my thin arms and to the the silver chest that was being pressed firmly into her hands. She sucked up the few tears that promised to escape, not being able to help it I wiped the tears away and looked deeply into her eyes. "It's a gift, Tyler told me you needed help."

I could practically feel Tyler's glare in the back of my head but refused to turn to meet his glare. Normally I would, being the stubborn person I am, but I was too busy making a promise with the blonde before me. I looked deeply into her eyes, as she seemed to be searching for something. She opened the tiny box and gasped at the neatly folded bills that aligned the bottom of the box. She looked into my eyes. She was no longer searching for her answer, for she already knew, but her brown eyes showed promise. "Thank you."

She grasped onto my neck for dear life and sobbed into my shoulder, I no longer felt guilt in my heart. The weight I felt every time she cried into my shoulder, was instantly lifted like magic. I smiled, and wrapped my arms around her small frame, even if I didn't like touching people I made an exception. "Thank you." She murmured again.

As I now sat on the warm bed, facing the familiar blond, I could still see the admiration she had for me.

"You're welcome."  I whisper, she notices the recognition in my eyes and smiles brightly.

"You do remember!" She laughs, quieting down when Tyler grumbled and covered his head with a pillow. "Sorry." She whisper-laughs.

"Come," She grabs my hands gently, slightly pulling me from my sitting position. I flinched when she abruptly took off into the kitchen with my hand still in a soft grip. Unlike Glenn, she was soft and gentle when grabbing me. Sure not to hurt me, I appreciated her delicacy but I was slightly upset at the mere concept that she thought I was fragile. After years of dealing with Glenn and his abuse I learned to hide my emotions as if it were a daily routine. "You haven't eaten in two days!"

I look at her baffled, my mouth hanging slightly open. I tugged to a stop, happy that she obliged instead of ignoring my actions like Glenn had the intent to do.

"How long exactly have I been asleep?" I asked,