"Can you walk?" Asked Alyssa.

Eli nodded, deciding he'd talked enough for now.

He shifted under the sheets, which had a surprisingly stern tuck, and pulled the covers off of him. He swung his legs around so that they were hanging off the bed and stood up.

"So far so good." He thought.

He took a step forward and then the room started swirling and spinning around violently. He lost his balance and fell over, bolts of pain shooting throughout his head.

Alyssa, who had been the closest to him, managed to catch him just in time as he fell and slowly helped lower him to the floor.

"Are you alright?" She asked, very concerned.

“Yes, I'm fi-" he started before stopping abruptly.

He put a hand over his mouth and spun around so that he was on all fours like a dog and vomited violently onto the floor.

"Oh Dammit!" Said Silas loudly, none too pleased by what just happened.

"It's alright Silas, he couldn't help it. It's not his fault." Rebecca responded to him softly.

"He at least could've done it in the trash can."

“He didn't look like he had the chance to dear."

"He still should've-" Silas began again before stopping and thinking about it.

Rebecca was right, it wasn't his fault, he couldn't control his body's sudden reaction.

He sighed, "Well I guess you're right."

He looked back over at Eli and much to his surprise Alyssa was squatting down next to him rubbing his back.

He glared his eyes and clenched his fist for a moment.

"Calm down, calm down. He's not gonna hurt her." He thought to himself as he took a deep breath.

Rebecca, seeing his reaction, let out a small chuckle and smiled.

"There he goes again being a dad."

"Easy now." Alyssa was saying to Eli, "Deep breaths, try and see if you can sit up slowly."

Eli was breathing heavily, his shoulders were heaving and his arms were starting to shake from supporting himself up through the violent vomiting.

"I-I'll try." He managed to spit out between breaths.

“Damn concussion" he thought.

Slowly, he began to inch back to a sitting position, the shaking had mostly subsided along with the uncontrollable heaving.

"She's still touching me," he thought to himself.

"It feels nice"

“So soft"

"So caring and gentle"

“Just like when she used to do it"

He moved forward at the thought of her and pulled his arms tight against his body, gripping his upper arm and shirt as he did.

"Is everything okay Eli?" Alyssa asked softly, placing her hand on his back as she did.

She looked over to where her parents had been standing for guidance, only they weren't there to give it to her.

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"They must've gone to get rags to clean this up." She thought.

Alyssa turned her attention back to Eli and when she brought her eyes back to him she noticed something.

He was shaking.

Softly at first, but slowly growing more intense.

“What should I do?" She asked herself.

He moved his hand up to his face and wiped away a tear before it ever had the chance to flow down his face.

“How could you let them do that to her!" His subconscious screamed at him.

"She trusted you"

“You promised to keep her safe"

"You failed her"

"You lied to her"

"You let her down"

"Everything that happened to her is your fault"

"You caused it"

"You couldn't keep her safe"

He started shaking harder now, his breathing getting heavier and faster. Becoming more ragged with each passing moment.

"E… Eli, is everything alright?" Alyssa asked, trying to repress the panic in her voice. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it your head?"

Her voice cut through the barricade trapping him in his own mind, the voices and memories began to subside and he slowly went back to normal, the shaking and breathing gone.

Unfortunately his head pain wasn't. A sharp pain washed across him from temple to temple and he had no choice but to groan in pain.

"Oh thank God. He seems to be okay now." Alyssa thought to herself, eyes showing no visible signs of being watery like they felt.

She lowered her hand down to her side and placed it in her lap.

"I'm fine." He finally responded.

"I need to leave soon"

“It took us forever but we finally found a good rag to clean that mess up with. Sorry it took so long." Rebecca said cheerfully while entering the room.

"Where's Dad?" Alyssa asked.

"Your brother just got back as we were coming back in the house so he's helping him unload."

"Brother!" Eli thought instinctively.

Rebecca started walking over to where Eli was still sitting and bent over to start cleaning up the mess.

Once Rebecca finished cleaning Eli tried to stand up again, with the help of Alyssa, and held onto the nightstand while he slowly regained his balance. Eventually once the dizziness went away as much as it could he began walking forward slowly, still being supported by Alyssa.

"I'm gonna go get dinner started."

"Okay mom, I'll be up to help shortly."

Rebecca took off ahead.

After what felt like eternity for Eli, him and Alyssa finally made it to the stairs that led up to the main floor of the house.

Thankfully there was a handrail for him to hold onto as he struggled up the stairs.

Just as they approached the final step Alyssa leaned her face in close to Eli and whispered softly, "Don't worry, I won't tell them about what happened."

He was relieved and surprised to hear those words.

Yet he still remained silent.

The house was nothing special. Hardwood floors lined all the hallways, kitchen, and dining room. Once finely polished but now only dirty and tarnished. The living room had grey carpet spotted with stains. The walls all a faded white, lined with pictures, and one expertly crafted china cabinet filled to the brim.

Alyssa sat Eli down at the table, which was covered by tablecloth that was stained just like the carpet, and went to go help her mother finish dinner.

It was about 20 minutes later that Silas finally returned back into the house, followed closely behind by his son, who was both eager and weary to meet the new stranger his dad brought home.

“Well I'll be damned, you made it up the stairs." Silas said with a hearty chuckle.

Eli looked over at him

"This is my son Sebastian." Silas continued.

Eli said nothing.

Sebastian studied Eli for a moment, he had the same light brown hair as his father, he got his height too. His face had the same kind of grace and smoothness as his mother. He was also starting to show the beginning stages of lack of food, just like his sister and mother as well.

"Nice to meet you." Sebastian said, "I hear you saved my old man's life here twice. Thank you for that."

"Thank you?" Eli thought while still remaining silent.

"He's had a long day Sebastian, but don't worry, he'll chat your ear off tomorrow." Silas said with a chuckle again, "Now let's go wash up, supper's gonna be ready soon."

Dinner was a simple one.

Sebastian had caught a rabbit earlier in the day so Rebecca made it into a mini stew with some carrots and potatoes. There were no seasonings left so it had a bland taste, but it was still a nice hot meal that would fill their bellies and keep them alive.

"I can't even remember the last time I ate like this." Eli thought.

“How long has it been?"

"How long have I been going on like this"

“Where did they even find vegetables?"

He hadn't eaten since before his fall and he felt like he was starving, yet he forced himself to eat slowly to not upset his stomach.

Or his head.

"Thanks for the meal hunny, it was delicious as always." Silas said.

"Yea thanks mom!" Alyssa and Sebastian both said.

They sat at the table for a little bit after eating, talking amongst one another.

Eli remained silent.

"Well I think it's time to turn in everyone." Silas began, "Eli, I'll help you down to your room."

They managed to make it down to the room without another vomiting accident, Eli was even able to walk faster now that he was getting used to his injury.

"There's something I wanna talk to you about tomorrow kid."

"You could just ask me now." Eli responded.

"No no. You've had a long day and it can wait til tomorrow, just get some rest now."

"It'll have to be early then, I don't plan on staying here long tomorrow." Eli said plainly.

"I'm sure you don't." Silas paused and let out a sigh, "I'm gonna head back up now, sleep well."

He got up and started walking towards the door.

"Don't forget to lock it on your way out." Eli said from back on the bed.

Silas grinned and closed the door behind him, locking it as he did.

"Such an interesting kid" He thought.