Chapter 6: stars

My face has been red from embarrassment throughout the drive. Why did I have to make such a scene? Curse my female hormones.

A huge wave of relief washes over me as my eyes land on a convenient store by the road. I hand my credit card to Ruby and she quickly buys some pads and diapers for Raelynn. We need a new set of clothes as well. Uncle John lives quite far, I'm not sure we'll be able to get there tonight. I told the boys to get out of the car so I can put on the pad, because apparently there's no bathroom in the convenience store.

How convenient.

I'm so thankful the windows and windshields are tinted or this would've been very awkward. Who am I kidding? Changing in a car is as awkward as it is! Once I'm done everyone hops in and we continue on our journey.

Few hours later and my limbs are shaking, my eyes are dry and barely open and I feel like I'm about to explode from so many bottled emotions. I hear a few yawns behind me and I know I need to find a place for us to get some rest.

The moment my eyes fall on a motel sign I nearly jump out of my seat in joy. Quickly parking the Jeep, I begin to scout out the area. We're basically in the middle of nowhere and the motel looks abandoned. If it gives off dangerous vibes then we're out of here. I can't endanger my family because I'm tired.

The second my foot steps into the motel, I feel nothing more than to grab my siblings and throw them back in the car and drive away as quickly as possible. It is the definition of a typical hunted motel.

The lights are dim and blinking, cobwebs are decorated on every wall with spiders as accessories. There's an eerie silence except the sound of dripping water from a distance.

A sleeping figure catches my eye, or at least I think he's sleeping. I couldn't make out the rise and fall of his chest, his head is on a desk so it's hard to tell whether he's alive or not. My siblings are all hurdled together as I go to check. I didn't want to make any contact with him so I tapped the table near his ear.

I barely had time to bat my eyelashes before a gun is pressed against my forehead. The man I thought might be dead is actually an old and fragile man. But the fact he's holding a weapon that can end my life at the twitch of his finger really makes me rethink my assumption.

It's sad this old man didn't notice that I already had a gun to his weak heart. But he soon realizes and sends me a venomous glare. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm sorry, I thought this was a motel but I can see it's obviously not." I respond in a harsh tone. The man looks genuinely surprised, like he couldn't believe it.

"No one has been here in over five years..." He mumbled to himself. I look around and I'm pretty sure it's been longer than that. I look back at my siblings and find Ranger already asleep while standing.

How is that even possible?

"So will you take the room?" I glance around one last time before heaving a tired sigh.

"Yes."

•

It took a while to get the room cleaned but we did it. Everyone's already asleep apart from Ronan and I. He is sitting on the couch staring at his feet, he's probably lost in thought. Who knows what's going through his mind. He's suffered so much today.

His stormy blue eyes meet my grey ones, I gesture for him to follow me and we walk out of the room. The cold night wind blows our hair and slaps our skin in such a calming my way. My mind goes through the events of today and a stray tear escapes my eye. I look up at the sky as a I recall a childhood memory.

*Flashback*

Ruby's cries could be heard all over the mansion, her loud wails pierce my ears like a thousand needles. My eyes fall on Rolland and Ronan who are sleeping peacefully in their play pens. How can they sleep with such noise?

"Maria, why is she crying so much?" Dad whines as he enters the room, a look of annoyance is plastered on his face.

"Because she's just like her father, always whining and complaining!" Mom snaps.

"I don't! Come on Roxy pie, let's take our business elsewhere." I giggled at my dad's silliness as we left the room. He takes my hand and leads me outside, the stars brightened the sky like little diamonds. I couldn't stop staring at them.

"Daddy! Look at the stars, they're so pwetty," I clap my hands and giggle in delight. Dad looks at them and a small smile stretches his lips.

"Wanna know a secret?" I nod quickly. "When we leave this earth and you're feeling lonely, talk to the stars. I'm always going to answer you through the stars."

I look at him in confusion. "How?"

He gives me a one sided smile that holds so many secrets behind them. "You'll see."

*End of flashback*

Inhaling sharply I let out a shaky breath and say: "what do I do now? What step do I take now? You made sure I was prepared for every situation but not this! Why did you have to leave me, why? We could've all escaped together, you didn't have to fight."

"A king never abandons his empire."

I freeze.

"I'm always going to answer you through the stars."

I exhale when I realize it is Ronan that said that but I felt the same pain from earlier return.

I thought they were....

No. I need to accept this. Mom and dad aren't coming back, they'll never come back.

I'm alone.

"Good night, Roxy. I love you." I'm shocked by Ronan's confession as he goes back to the room. I didn't miss the little smile on his lips as I stared at his retreating back.

Maybe, I'm not alone.

Maybe.