Page 2 of Obsessions of the Heart

Yep, it was going to be a long night.

It wasn't until the lock clicked, and I covered my eyes to protect them from the bright hot light that I knew it was around midday. She must’ve forgot I was in here.

“Rin, Miss V sent me to get you for chores.” I looked up to see Gabe, a boy a few years older than my nine years of age, looking down at me, his dark chocolate eyes laced with pity.

He stuck out his hand, his eyes pleading with me to take it, and I did. This wasn't the time for my usual stubborn I-can-do-it-myself attitude. My legs violently shook from standing all night, ready to collapse at a moment's notice, but then I would have to crawl my way back to the room. Nope. I would take this gangly boy's hand and save myself from further embarrassment.

I shuffled forward and tripped, almost falling to the ground before Gabe’s stick-like arms circled around me. He huffed into my hair, “I don't know why you get yourself into these situations. You know how to keep your head down by now. Being brave and caring is only going to cause more trouble for you.” I clenched my jaw as he looped my arm around his neck and helped me to the girls’ room.

He wasn't wrong. This place taught you that kindness and morality were illusions. Finding and exploiting someone's weakness made sure that you peacefully lived another day, but that always left a sour taste in my mouth. We had a few books that were donated to us, and I’d read every single one several times. In the books, the good guys always won, even if it was hard, even if it was painful, and even if they had to change themselves to make it happen. Afterwards, they would be happy with their family and friends, never having to be alone again.

That’s only in books, Layrin, that voice in my head scolded. Reality is cold and lonely.

But I didn't want it to be that way. Was it so wrong to not want to be alone?

Gabe opened the door to the girls’ room and shuffled forward, but I stopped him. “I can take it from here. I don't want you to get in trouble for coming in here.”

His eyes shifted around before settling back on me with determination. “No one is around. I can help you to your bed at least.” I shrugged. I had tried to help him, but if he wanted to risk it, who was I to refuse him?

As he pulled me forward, my curious tongue got in the way. “So… the new boys. How are they doing?”

His eyes narrowed for a second as he hesitated. Lips pressed into a hard line, he gently sat me down on my bed and spoke in a low, bored tone. “They're new, so Lennon and his buddies are showing them the ropes.”

I snapped my face toward him so fast that he jerked as I asked, “What? You don't mean…” He looked away, rubbing his hands on his pants in feigned indifference.

My hand snapped out, smacking him on the shoulder. “What the hell, Gabe?! You know they’re going to beat them up, then blame the whole thing on them, so Miss Vaughn gives them a nasty punishment!” Since they’d talked back to her last night, I was sure it would be worse than what she would normally do.

I surged to my feet, legs wobbling like a baby deer just learning to walk, but I knew I had to stop them. The princes must be saved.

Gabe grabbed my arm and yanked me back. “What are you doing? You know they’ll hurt you if you get between them!” Fear filled his eyes, and for a second I felt bad for Gabe. Even though he was older, he was scrawnier than the others and had felt the brunt of their torment before, but that wasn't me. I felt fear, sure, because I was a human, but I also couldn't stand by and do nothing. Those beautiful boys didn’t deserve that treatment; no one did.

My eyes landed on a wooden bat next to Kara’s bed, and I snatched it. This would have to do.

I grabbed the rail at the stairs, knowing they would’ve taken them out to the woods. Feeling was coming back into my legs, so I guessed I could be there in five minutes.

“Rin,” Gabe called out behind me, and I paused at his voice. I knew what that tone meant. He wasn't going to come with me. He couldn't. He was going to keep up with the rules of the house.

Blowing out a breath, I called over my shoulder, “I know. Don’t worry about it. I know it's every kid for themselves.”

“Then why are you going for them?” He had a point. To be honest, I really didn’t know. All I could think about was those color-changing eyes, and I knew with certainty that I was going to help them however I could. I wanted to be like the heroines in the books I’d read.

“You better start your chores before Miss Vaughn catches you,” I said as I took one step down, then another. Starting to run as soon as my legs could handle it, leaving Gabe and his fear behind.

It didn’t take long to find them since they always went to the same clearing near the creek. When the creek was overflowing, they would try to drown the new kid. In the summer, they liked to make them run laps until they threw up, refusing to give them water. During the winter, they would bury them in the snow, leaving them to freeze until Miss Vaughn came out to find them.

It was fall now, which meant they were going to round up as many boys as they could then beat the new kids up until they couldn't fight anymore.

As I got closer to the clearing, my legs began to feel normal. Voices came from over by the bushes. “Now, here’s how this is going to go. You're going to be good little bitches. Stay still, take your beatings like men, and we’ll be on our way.”

Lennon’s ugly voice continued. “And if you fight us, well…” His cruel smile came through loud and clear. “That would be my lucky day.” Some of the other boys chuckled, and my anger grew.

Fuck that.

I spied over the bushes, looking for the triplets. Now seeing them in the light, I noticed that even though they looked exactly alike, there were small differences in the way they held themselves. The one on the left wore a lazy smirk, his eyes flicking up like this was annoying. The one on the right was a little ball of anger—clenched hands and teeth, feet in a fight stance, ready to explode at a moment's notice. The center boy was the most interesting. His arms were crossed, eyes roaming each boy, searching. After he assessed the situation, he tilted his chin up. His mind seemingly made up, glaring at them like he was a king on his throne and they were the dirty peasants at his feet.

Lennon had about seven boys with him, enough to overpower the triplets if he needed to. Well, let's make this a little more even. Slowly, I moved around the clearing, silently making my way toward the princes.

“Yeah, we’re not going to take your shit, fuck face,” the angry prince sounded, and I smirked. Good for you.

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