Insanity Chapter 11

“Don’t worry we’re almost there,” Xavier said, holding me in his arms, as the three of us walked down a dark alley that I’ve never been through before.

It had been an hour since we left, and I couldn’t help but feel anxious. This was the first time in my life that Mal wasn’t going to be there with me. Having Jessica with me eased my anxiety a bit, but it just didn’t feel right.

“Are you sure that Gerald will be alright with using this safe house?” Jessica asked Xavier.

“It’ll be fine,” Xavier said back to her. “Once I have the two of you situated, I’ll make sure that he understands the reason. Besides the two of you need to be kept safe for the time being.”

“You mean she needs to be kept safe,” Jessica said to my surprise she knew my secret as well.

“I’m guessing that it was only a matter of time before you figured it out,” Xavier said to her with a sigh. “So, when was it?”

“From the first day that you brought Cal and Mal to live with us,” she said confidently. “Malik despite being the same age as me isn’t that bright. Though that being said I doubt most guys would have noticed. It takes a girl to recognize another girl dressed as a guy. Besides you did the same thing to me, so I knew the signs.

“Well, it’s better that you know now since you’ll be talking care of her for a while,” Xavier said to her.

“I’m assuming that’s why you asked me to come along in the first place,” she said, looking at me with a warm smile. “Though I want answers. I know that you were unwilling to tell Mal about the truth, but if you want me to help than I need to know. Plus you know that I would never tell him a thing.”

“I promise that I’ll explain everything to you soon, but for now we should get the two of you situated since we just arrived,” he said, pointing to what looked like an abandoned factory. “It might not look like much on the outside, but it’s defiantly the best place to keep the two of you safe for now,” he said as we made our way inside.

Once inside he set me down on the ground and walked over to some old machine. I saw him slowly start to pull the machine out towards him to reveal that there was a patch of false floor under it.

Xavier lift the false floor off to revel a set of doors and then entered what looked like a six-digit combination into the lock that sealed the doors shut. Seconds later he took the lock off and then pulled the doors open.

“This way,” he said motioning for us to follow after him, as he made his way into the room beneath the floors.

Jessica held out her hand and I took it as fast as I could. She then led me down the stairs and into a room that looked like it belonged in the upper levels. High end furniture, carpeted rugs, and bright lights which lit up the entire room. Plus the air actually smelled cleaner down here.

“Fancy,” Jessica said as she looked around the place as well. “What is this where Gerald keeps his more personal objects?” she asked picking up what looked like a gold flower vase in her hands.

“It’s one of his more refurbished safe house’s,” Xavier said to us. Through all the jobs that we have done together over the years, he’s always kept a few things for himself. This is where they go. Just remember while you’re here to try and not break anything. Gerald would charge me a hefty few to pay him back for any of this stuff.”

“Fine, we’ll be careful, right Cal?” Jessica asked me and I nodded my head yes.

“That’s good, now Cal can you go pick yourself a bedroom over there?” Xavier asked while pointing into the directions of the bedrooms. I need to talk with Jessica for a bit, and I wouldn’t want to bore you with our grown-up conversation.

“Okay,” I said before making my way over to where he was pointing. Seconds later I made it to what looked like six rooms, but when I cheeked inside of them I notice that they were all the same on the inside. Though after searching some more I found a seventh room that had books on every wall.

This looked like a study of some sorts. I had always wanted to read books by myself, but I wasn’t very good at it yet. I understood a few words, but most of the time I came across words that I didn’t know.

Mal and the others seemed fine with this, but I always wanted to read more. I still remember the fairy tails that my mother told me when she was still around. As she spoke it was as if an entire word was opening up to me. I hope that one day I’ll be able to read the stories that she once read to me. I had to tell Xavier about this room. I wonder if I ask nicely he’ll let me sleep here.

After a few minutes of looking around in the study I left and decided to make my way back to Xavier and Jessica. Though as I got close I could hear them still talking so I hid behind the nearest wall to not interrupt them, but at the same time I was also eavesdropping on their conversation.

“I understand that you need to keep her here to keep her safe,” Jessica said. “But does that mean that she’s not allowed to know the truth?”

“This is the only way to keep the both of them safe,” Xavier said to her.

“It’s only a matter of time before Mal figures this out for himself,” Jessica said. “You of all people should know that when it comes to Cal he doesn’t mess around. It would be better for you to tell them the truth. If you don’t they might hate you forever.”

“I’m fine with that,” Xavier said in a depressed tone. “As long as they’re safe I’ll be fine.”

“How can you be fine when the secret you’re hiding from them is tearing you apart!” Jessica said almost shouting. “You need to tell her the truth, the truth about their parents.”