From the corner of my eye, I saw Mr Hinchcliffe's head drop into his hands and heard a sigh escape his lips.

“Jassy, you're hurting me. Can I get down now?”

Shit! I had forgotten that I was holding Damien so tightly. Hey, I guess it was my subconscious wanting to protect him.

“Sure sweetie, I’m sorry.” I said sweetly, placing him back on his feet.

It was then that I noticed my hands were shaking, probably with worry. I’m not sure what emotions were flooding through me but they were all colliding together, making my head spin slightly.

“Jas, are you okay?” I heard Mr Hinchcliffe ask from my side and I nodded in reply, grabbing onto the top of his arm to support myself.

“Thank you, Detectives. I’ll be sure to let you know if anything else happens. Damien, why don't you go and find your Uncle Simon, tell him that your sister is here?”

I watched as everything went in slow motion, everyone doing as my aunt said. Damien ran off elsewhere in the house to look for Simon and the detectives left, looking at me sympathetically as they passed by. I don't think my mind was quite processing what was going on, nothing seemed to be clicking in my brain. I barely paid enough attention to hear Mr Hinchcliffe acknowledge the detectives quietly by their first names before they left. I barely did, but I heard him.

“Marie, what's happened?” I heard Mr Hinchcliffe ask my Aunt politely.

She motioned for us to follow her into the living room but I couldn't seem to move, just stand there and watch them both walk ahead of me. Marc turned his head toward me, a questioning look on his face.

“Jasmine, are you sure you're okay? Come with us.”

I shook my head, not knowing what to say. I felt numb, numb with fear and worry. Those were the two prominent emotions, the two that were jumping out at me and overclouding the others.

“I...yes, I’m fine. I think...I don't know. I’m going to find Damien.”

I brushed passed the awaiting Marc and my Aunt and headed to my Uncle's study, the place I knew Simon would be with Damien. As I passed them I swear I heard my Aunt mutter something about me being in denial and Marc agree. Oh, whatever.

I walked into my Uncle's study and smiled at the sight of Damien and Simon playing on the computer, Dames laughing at something my Uncle was pointing at. I coughed politely to let them know I was here.

“Jasmine!” Simon exclaimed as he lifted Damien off of his lap and walked towards me. “How has my favourite Niece been?! Wow, you've grown so much since we last saw you!”

I returned the tight hug that he embraced me with, smiling as I did so. Thoughts of the previous events were forgotten as I chatted with my Uncle and Damien about what they had been up to and how school was going for Damien.

“Jassy! I painted you a picture at school, want to see it?” Damien asked as he grinned, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.

“Sure baby, go get it for me and I’ll take it home.”

Damien had been and gone by the time I had even finished my sentence! Boy, that kid has speed! I couldn't help but laugh when he returned.

“Look!” He exclaimed, thrusting a piece of paper in my face. It was an explosion of colour, literally. Every colour you could ever imagine was splashed on black paper, it looked pretty damn awesome for a seven year old!

“Sweeeeet! Damien, this is awesome! I’m definitely going to put this up in my bedroom back home!”

He giggled in reply before stopping abruptly and clicking his fingers like he just remembered something. He's a smart kid.

“Oh! That man and Auntie Marie told me to tell you to go to the living room.”

“Oh. Okay baby, I’ll see you soon, okay?” I ruffled his hair as I headed to the door, the feelings of worry and upset washing over me once again. I managed to forget about the previous events while I was with Damien but now I had to face up to them. Man up, Jasmine!”

“Jassy?” Damien called just as I was about to leave the room. I turned to him and smiled.

“What's up, Dames?” I asked, curious as to what he would call me back for.

“Please stay for a while. I don't want you to go home yet.” I saw a small frown appear on his lips, upset clear in his eyes.

“I'm not rushing off, darling. I’m here for a while. I just need to go talk to Auntie, okay?”

I smiled at his nod and turned out of the room. The walk to the lounge seemed to take forever...it was only like, what? Thirty seconds? I don't know.

By now I was at the end of the hall, only a few steps away from the living room door. I walked slowly, trying to put off the inevitable. I could hear them talking now so I slowed down even more, knowing what lie ahead of me. I wasn't looking forward to this at all.

“Honestly, Marcus! I have no idea why you were even friends with him in the first place. He was always a vile man.”

That was my aunts voice talking, using Marc's full name. Huh? How did she even know that? Even I didn't know that and she'd only just met him! Her tone was scolding and disappointed, like a mother would use to tell off her child.

“He wasn't so much a friend, Marie, more a co-worker.” Marc replied, sounding annoyed.

“Friend, co-worker...I don't know how this whole gang system works! It's all the same to me. You don't strike me as being the type of person to have...worked with a man like John. You're too thoughtful and caring for such a disgusting job.”

...What? W-what...? I hope to God I am hearing this wrong right now. I came to a stop outside the door and strained my ears, egar to hear more.

“I know, I know! I was young, I was defenceless and they had things against me. I had no choice but to work with John. As much as I disapproved, I didn't really have a choice.”

“People always have a choice, Marc, and you were stupid. Speaking of stupid, I sent Damien to go get Jas over 10 minutes ago. I’ll go get her, explain why the detectives were here.”

“Okay. Marie? Don't mention me and the gang to Jas, she doesn't know.”

I heard my Aunt tsk in reply. “Do you think I’m stupid, Marc?”

I heard her getting up from her place on the couch, I could even hear her footsteps coming towards the door...but I couldn't move. I knew I should hide or make it out like I was just arriving, but I couldn't. I was frozen to the spot, shock now the dominative emotion. The worry? That was overshadowed now, shock was all I could feel.

I saw the door open and my Aunt Marie appear in front of it, the small smile dropping from her face immediately as she saw me stood there. In it's place, a shocked 'o' shape. Marc was perched on the sofa behind her and he choked on his drink, possible whisky or brandy, when he saw me.

“H-how long have you been there, darling?” My Aunt asked, her voice too sweet for my liking. How could she sound so friendly when she had been keeping secrets from me?! The secret that my English Literature teacher used to be in a gang with my Step-Dad! The Step-Dad who killed my mother! Oh, DAMN!

“Long enough.” Was my short reply.

“Shit.” I heard her mutter quietly, shaking her head and still staring at me. She never cursed. Well, if ever there was a time to start cursing I guess it was now!

I could feel anger slowly begin to run through my veins and, soon enough, the shock was all gone. I was seeing red. All I could feel was pure anger and hatred, pure hatred for this man that had led me on to believe he cared for me. Hatred for this woman who said she would always be here to look after my family. Just, PURE hatred!

“Jas...” Marc began, lifting himself up from his place on the couch.

I couldn't control myself, I had never felt this way before. I didn't know what was happening but suddenly, my feelings took over and I had no control over my actions. It's like my brain had turned itself off and was letting my heart do everything. No rational thinking was going on whatsoever.

“You bastard...you COMPLETE BASTARD!” I screamed as I launched myself towards him, jumping on him and tackling him to the sofa. I began throwing my fists at him manically, ignoring when he blocked every single shot. I just carried on.

“YOU TRAITOR! YOU DISGUSTING, VILE, HORRIBLE MAN! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I FUCKING HATE YOU!” I screamed.

“Jasmine! Stop it Let me explain!” He tried to speak to me but I shook my head furiously. What did he have to explain?! Nothing, nothing at all could make me forgive him for this!

“SHUT UP! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!” I screamed at the top of my voice, jumping off of him as I felt tears free falling down my cheeks.

I pushed my aunt away violently when she came towards me to hug me. I didn't want her anywhere near me, either. She was as disgusting as him, keeping this from me!

“Jassy, what're you doing?” I heard a small voice ask from behind me.

Shit! Damien! I replied without looking at him, keeping my back turned. I didn't want him to see his sister so upset.

“Damien, baby...” I began in a shaky voice. I took a deep breath, trying to level it out. “Go up to your room or go see Simon. Me, Marc and Auntie are having an adult chat.”

“Okay...love you sissy, don't cry.”

Were his last words before I heard his footsteps padding away down the hall. That kid was amazing. I was hoping he wouldn't notice the upset in my voice but he's smarter than I give him credit for.

“Jasmine, just let me explain.” Marc tried again but I shook my head violently, backing towards the door.

“What could you possibly have to explain? You're a liar. A disgusting liar. I can't believe I chose you to be the one person I trusted since my mother died...you, of all people.”

I saw him wince when I said that, I knew that I had hit him where it hurt right then. I carried on.

“Keep away from me, got it? And my brother.”

Then, I turned to my Auntie.

“Damien won't be in your care for much longer, trust me. You're as bad as him. I hate you both, I never want to see either of you again.”

“Jasmine, baby. You can't take Damien anywhere, his care is with us.”

I shook my head and ran out of the room, sobbing loudly as tears still fell from my eyes. Instead of leaving the house, I headed upstairs and to Damien's room. I have no choice now, this is what I have to do.

I knocked on the door twice before peeking my head around the door. I could see Damien laying tummy down on his bed, reading a Spiderman comic. He smiled up at me when he saw me and I walked into his room, closing the door behind me. The little boy didn't say anything, just came up to me and wrapped his arms around my legs in a cuddle. I leaned down and picked him up, holding him tightly to my chest.

“Damien, baby...” I started, whispering.

“Love you, sissy.” He cut in, his voice muffled because his head was resting in the crook of my neck.

“I love you too, baby. But I need you to do something for me. I need you to pack your favourite clothes and toys in a bag, sweetheart, we're going away for a while.”

I had no other choice. This is all I could do, I needed him to be safe.

/* hope you like! :) im tired right now so i cba making the authors note all punctuated and stuff.

im going to see forever the sickest kids this weekend with glamour of the kill, and saw breathe carolina with tek-one and tyler mae last week . it was amazing. all im going to say is that kyle recognised us from 2 years ago, pointed us out in the crowd and kissed me.

hehe.

anyway, hope you like this chapter. bizarre twist, right?! dont make assumptions though. please<3

check out ItBeMe, she sent me a sweet message about inspiring her to write and her story sounds awesome. go :)

peace, love and all time low. <3 /*