FOR THE LOVE OF DAHLIA

I am drenched, terrified, bewildered and half starved. My stomach makes a very annoying noise reminding it's owner that it hadn't had food. I scowl with frustration at myself damn my stomach-it just won't behave,and damn John for leaving us alone. I clutch Malory my little sister's hand closer where are my parents?

John Jesus! I move my dirty hands to my hair out of habit,I have short curly hair that sometimes looked too much for my smaller face. John where was he? My fifteen year old brother had gone outside when he heard father screams he had immediately woken Malory and I, and had transferred us to father study, the glass is a one way glass only we inside could see others outside.

'Eva' Malory calls my name in her rasping soar throat voice. 'Where is everyone,I am so startled.'

I  glance at her with eyes surprisingly dry. I give her a big smile when all I really want to do is wail. 'John is bringing them.'

She is trembling,I have no idea if it is because of what I said. Suddenly, someone starts pounding the glass and my heart instantly  jumps to my mouth.

'Eva open the door,it's me.' I  shift to the door snappily smoothing the path. Livy walks in holding a child and at her right side my cousin Quinn.

Mother  is a family woman and loves having people around, Livy is my Father's sister,when their parents deserted her and her child, Mother had instantly insisted she come stay with us. Livy is a very tall woman with plump lips,bright eyes and a face you would definitely remember in a room full of people.

'Where are my parents' If someone doesn't reply I would squeal  for real.

'We need to get out of here Eva,we are not save here.' I observe Sarah when she speaks. She is a petite woman with long straight hair she had been able to stay at Livy's back unnoticed. Sarah had come into our home in quest of shelter she had been heavily pregnant,dazed,and wrecked my mother in her good nature had welcomed her in.

'Did you say leave?my parents and brother are out there and you want us to leave.' I shift to the door but she stops me.

'It's unsafe outside.'

'I need to find my brother Sarah. Mama has been nice to you,I am surprised you are proposing we flit.' I haven't the foggiest idea of our situation,and being clueless terrifies me. I hug her firmly and start sobbing. 'Please bring them to me.'

Sarah turns facing Livy when they  remain calm I push ahead to the door but Sarah is faster. 'No Eva,you can't go outside.'

'Then bring them to me,you love John as much as I do,you cannot leave him outside.' I  howl,something I have never done to an older person. The room is silent and the only sound is my heart beating madly in my chest.

'Take my baby Eva, I will go outside.'

No Sarah that is reckless.,you need to stay here.'

Sarah had conceived yesterday,I would never forget holding her small hands in my much bigger ones- it had been fun murmuring words of encouragement while mother and Livy kept screaming push.

'It's okay Livy I will be cautious. Promise me Eva,you will take my baby out of here as soon as you figure out it is unsafe. Please take care of my child, promise me you would take care of her even if I don't return.' She hands over the sleeping child to me,she looks at her baby and smiles.

For some reasons,her smile I love and fondly anticipate appeared so different,her face I always professed was too perfect looked older and tired. She faces livy and mutters unintelligible words.

'What is happening outside.' I say to the air. My first priority right now is finding my parents and ensuring John is okay. I am too stunned to be bothered  that Sarah had just asked me to take care of her child like a mother on her death bed. 'Livy please tell me why we need to flit,why did Sarah sound like we might never see her again?why would I need to take care of her child when she is still alive.'

She neglects me again I am miffed now,if no one would speak,I would go find answers myself. For the third time I shift to the door but  Livy beat me to it our eyes meet and I grasp for the first time since her entrance that she was sobbing.

'Get back here Robert.' she only called me that when she was infuriated.

''No I need to find my parents and then John,I need to know what the hell is going on here.' The thought of John out there on his own made me sick.

'Please listen to me Eva'. she yanks me away from the door I hit her careful of the baby I'm holding. I move fast to the door and immediately halt,my hand freezing on the handle. I see my mother and a man beside her. My mother puts perfection to shame,unlike mine,her hair is brown,and very long she has a small mouth that fits her perfect face,her eyes are so blue it made me think of the sea. Mother loves piercing her ears one for each of her mind blowing success,she has five piercings on each lobe. I always told her it made her look fierce and powerful. She is a gorgeous and intelligent woman who even sick looked gamine.