Chapter 5: Home

Roi's Pov:

As I drove frantically down the road I heard my phone buzz which was blaringly loud. I looked at the screen and decided to decline the call. I didn't want to talk to anyone from my old life. I didn't need to be caught either. In fact the only person I called was Anna and thank the lord she answered.

"Where have you been?! We were worried sick." She yelped as I pushed past a red light.

"Anna it took me a little while longer than I had hoped. But don't worry. I found him. Now I'm coming back to the apartment. How are the kids?"

"They're fine. They made it. Just be careful. We think that someone is lurking outside of the building."

"If they are there they have another thing coming. Give me an hour, you and Lyle stay inside the apartment until I get there."

"Yes boss lady." I chuckled and hung up. I stopped at the light and made a trip that had taken me nearly a day before in an hour and a half. I parked the car and laid low. I moved across the floor of the car and loaded up. I put a silencer on the gun and focused on my live wire self. Then I got out and locked the car door. I saw two men walking back from a coffee shop and I watched them closely. They each planted themselves on either side of the building entryway and I saw them take a walky talky out. They spoke into them and I slowly made my way around the car and towards the building. I walked right past them but I knew better. I made myself an open target.

"Anything?" I rounded the corner and listened and waited.

"We got one. Walked straight past us. Didn't even recognize us."

"Where are you?"

"Rose street. Amberville. Subject 0003745 reporting." The other said.

"Should we move in now?"

"No, the boss is sending a troop over to diffuse the situation. Stand down." I made a move and readied my gun.

"Affirmi-" The bullet went straight through his head and when his partner showed up I got him to. We had to move now. I didn't wait to hear the rest. I ran inside the complex and up the stairs. I went to our door and hurriedly banged on it.

"Who is it?"

"Let me in, Anna!" I yelled. I heard the bolts click and the door opened up. I hugged her and took in a deep breath.

"We have to go."

"What?"

"They know we're here. They spotted me. We have to leave now!" I ordered.

"Roi?"

"Lyle we have to go."

"But you just got back. You need to rest."

"I can rest when we save our asses. They're closing in on our location, Lyle. We have to move."

"Alright. We're moving."

"Thank you." I hugged him and he kissed my forehead. I felt a tug on my sweater and I looked at Ben.

"Misshu." He said.

"I missed you too baby. Remember that big house I was telling you about?" He nodded his little head.

"We're going. Don't you like that? It's all ready for us." Ben smiled at me.

"Come on go get your things. Stuff it all in your bag." I said and Ben ran to his room. I went to mine and grabbed my boxes. I took them downstairs and placed them into the lobby. Lyle followed me and so did Anna. Soon we had all of our things downstairs. We moved quickly and packed them into our cars. Once Eloise and Ben were situated in mine, Anna, Lyle and I all said our goodbyes and we were off right as those admin buggies surrounded themselves outside of our building with the police.

I was driving for a long time and so far the drive had been smooth. Lyle and Anna have notified me that they stopped at a motel for the night in Georgetown. Meanwhile I, pushing back my tiredness decided that I needed to keep going. It was dangerous. But with Ben and Eloise I was willing to take that risk. The home was anything but done. Apparently Lyle was fixing up an abandoned farm with a big mansion at the other end. It was about 20 acres of land. I tried to make Lyle call back the man and get us something smaller but Lyle wouldn't hear it. He showed me the location and the information and the last person to own it and I decided to shut my trap. We had enough money to pay for the workload and enough money to keep it up especially since we have been going ham on the independent missions. But I've honestly been thinking about a different path.

I know this sounds silly and it's even more risky than the work we were doing now but I wanted to build something steady. I wanted to build a business. Now Lyle and Anna said that now was not the time and we need to stick to what we know. But I think I can move in that direction. I had personal talents and interests and if I'm smart enough I can make some revenue from it.

I veered off the road and up the dirt of the hill until I got onto smooth terrain. The car bumped about from the pebbles that paved the pathway. But it was nothing I couldn't handle. I came out on the other side of the quiet highway and cut across to a gas station. I parked the car and then went inside the gas station store. I got some things for the kids and a coffee for myself. Then I paid for my gas and was able to fill up my tank. When I had gotten my money's worth, I got in my car and took a deep breath. I drank my coffee and waited a moment for it to kick in before I turned on the engine and drove off. I was close but I needed gas if I was going to do anything anytime soon and I wasn't getting it in the morning. I was going to sleep in for the first time in my life.

As I was driving on the road my phone blared again and I pulled over to answer and to turn it on speaker.

"Yes Lyle?"

"Hey are you almost there? Did you make it?" He asked.

"Almost there. You said there was a small security house near what would be my home yeah?"

"Yeah. The construction manager said you can crash there. Has a bathroom kitchen, the works."

"Alright thanks Lyle. I'll call you later. You and Anna sleep well."

"Okay shoot us a text when you guys get there."

"Alright. Bye." I hung up and then pulled onto the road.

It took me one more hour but I finally found the car pathway. I had driven amongst trees and overgrown pastures for a long time. But it was when I was going to stop my car and sleep on the dirt road that I saw a house a few miles up ahead with the lights on.

I drove with a new fervor and something I haven't felt before which was desperation for safety and some rest. I pulled up to the house and parked my car. It was small and wasn't much but it was fixed up and would work for me just fine. I didn't need that big of a house being made. But Lyle insists. Because the property is so big Lyle had it made so that we can use some of the space. He took the main mansion on the property up front. Anna was over the hill and my house would eventually be all the way on the other side of the property. Really deep into it. For safety reasons. We would eventually revamp the farm as a means to lessen contact with the outside world and then from there we would build on to our legacy. According to Lyle he chose this place because we had the money and because of all of the benefits we can reap and sow from it. We can make this place safe. It was going to take time however. Lots of time. In about a month from now the main mansion would be our base until the other houses were built. Even though I don't think it necessary the mansion on the property was more than enough space for us to spread out and have time. But I can see how dividing and conquering the land would be good for us. We weren't going to give it to a stranger and we would each make use of our own plots. Lyle wanted to live. It was clear from when he showed us the blueprints and the pictures and he wanted to go big and comfy.

I texted the number of the construction manager and he walked out of the home. I met him at the bottom of the small set of stairs outside.

"You, Rowey?"

"Roi. Like R-o-y, Roy." I said. He smiled at me and held out a hand. He wore a v-neck and bomber jacket along with some construction boots.

"Well it's nice to meet you Roi. I'm Dean. I've been instructed by Lyle to keep you here."

"I'm sorry for interfering like this but as of right now I don't have any other place to go."

"Believe me we understand." He reinforced his hand and I shook my head. I touched it and I felt the tingles shoot up my arm. He nodded his head and I raised an eyebrow. There are more of us than I thought. Although I suppose we are small in number still. I was still a bit on edge however only because I didn't know who was sticking to the rules and who was reanimated by the administration, for the purpose of hunting us three down. But if Lyle trusted him, I suppose it's alright.

"Thanks."

"Well let's get you settled in yes? You look like you can use some rest."

"Uh. Yeah thanks." Dean helped me with my things and then gave me the keys to the small house. I thanked him and watched him drive off. Once I was all alone, I brought the kids into the house and put them straight to bed. I know I should probably feed them but I can't deny them their sleep. Once I had them covered and in bed. I kissed them both goodnight and I closed the door. I felt my phone buzz and I was honestly tired of it ringing. I looked at the number and I shook my head and declined the call. While I was knocked out I had gotten over 200 messages. Most of them came from my pregnant sister. I put my voicemail on and went towards the second bedroom in the house.

"Why didn't you tell me Roi? I thought I was the closest person you had. Why didn't you?"

"Roi, I know my last message wasn't nice. I don't really understand why things are this way. But I told them that I wanted you to live. I have that control right? It should be okay for you to come home. Please call me back." I got a short shower and pulled on a pair of panties as the messages played on. I pulled an oversized shirt out of the box and got into my bed pulling the shirt over me. I turned off the lights and came back into the room.

"Roi, please answer. I'm so worried about you. It's been a month and you haven't called me back. What about your niece? You wouldn't want to miss the birth right? Just answer the phone!"

"Mom's called the police. This entire thing is getting out of hand. We want you to come home." The messages from Ria kept going and all I could do is listen to my ex-twin beg me to pick up the phone and call her. But I wasn't stupid. I didn't want to be found and Ria needs to understand that.

The next day I got dressed and started to make a very simple breakfast. All I had was cereal and some milk so it would have to do. I got the kids washed and dressed and then I sat them down for breakfast. I gave Eloise some apple sauce that I put in the fridge. After that was done I sat Ben down and really tried to explain to him and make him understand why we have been moving a lot as of lately.

"Roi's trying as best as she can to give you and Eloise the best life as possible. I know we've been moving around a lot lately with Uncle Lyle and Aunty Anna, but I want you to know that we are doing our best okay?"

"Okay mommy." He said and gave me a hug. I didn't even realize I was crying until he gave me a hug. Then it registered what he said.

"Say that again." He looked at me and shook his head.

"No sad Mommy. Be happy." He said with a serious face on.

"Mommy's not sad, baby. Mommy's not sad." I chuckled and kissed his face. Then I wiped my tears.

"Why mommy cwying?"

"These are happy tears baby boy. Very happy tears."

"You cwy when you happy?"

"Sometimes. It's not all the time."

"Okay Mommy. No cwy now." He said anyways and I laughed.

"Mommy won't cry anymore. Now let's go explore for a bit. Once Uncle Lyle and Aunt Anna come we have to come back inside."

"Okay Mommy." I put on Eloise's coat and her shoes and then I sat her with her favorite stuffed animal and helped Ben. I bundled him up and then walked outside. Ben and Eloise were beautiful children. They both had light brown skin and blue-green eyes and black curly hair. They both had dimples in their cheeks and rosy pink lips.

As soon as Ben hit the ground he ran over to the leaves and flopped in them. I laughed and sat on the step with Eloise who was content in the few toys I had for her. Shoot I even got the ball from the car and let the two play together. Ben gently rolled the ball towards Eloise and Eloise would laugh, give a small little shake of her body and she would push the ball away from her. Most of the time it wasn't towards Ben but he liked playing fetch, I guess.

I even had some fun and eventually Anna and Lyle's cars pulled up. I grabbed Eloise off the front yard and let her look at the leaf in her hand.

"Ben!" Ben ran over from the tree and towards me.

"Say hi to your Uncle and Aunty!" I cheered. Lyle stepped out and Ben ran straight to him.

"Hey Benny! Can I get a hug and kiss!?" Lyle cheered. Benjamin gave him his hug and kiss and then Anna joined him.

"You look happy Roi." Lyle said and Eloise went to him dropping her leaf on the ground.

"I feel a bit better, since I got here Lyle."

"Anna and I were thinking about the independent assassin thing."

"I get it. It's what we do. What we know? I'm not having an argument."

"No Roi, let me finish."

"I know you expressed doing something else and after a talk last night we want to work towards having more regular lives. So it's not going to stop as of now because of income. But we can set some things up. It actually might be better for us."

"Serious?" I asked.

"Yeah. You've been doing a lot for us through this whole thing and we can try. We decided we can try." Anna spoke and I hugged them both.

"You don't have to but-"

"Roi. It's for the safety of our little family and if others of us, which is more than we thought can have semi- normal lives then so can we." Lyle said and wiped my cheek.

"Thanks guys."

"Thank you Roi. Now help with the groceries before the ice cream melts." I laughed at Anna and went over to her Camry. I popped the trunk and grabbed a few grocery bags. Lyle and Anna followed me inside and they helped me to put the food away and I even made dinner. For once things started to feel like they were getting better and hopefully this large place can become a home. A real home.