Mated With Five Boys

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them.Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it"- Rabindranath Tagore 

"What are you doing here?"

I quickly looked over, my panic fading.

"Making sure you stay out of trouble? Axel smirked over at me, the light from the flames bouncing off his face.

"I don't need a babysitter.’ I huffed out, looking away from him and at the fire.

"That's debatable."

He grunted.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I asked, slightly offended.

"This place is crawling with Noah's men” He said lowly, his eyes focusing on the ground.

"You were worried about me."

I teased, looking over at him.

"Don't go getting a big head, it's not like we are friends or anything.'' He chuckled which caused his laugh lines to show.

"Right because you haven't spilled your guts yet"

I reminded him, Axel just rolled his eyes in response.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Axel's voice was laced with amusement.

My eyes followed to where Axel was looking and that's when I saw Kina and Rylan irrupting from the darkness the woods, holding hands.

Well that dirty scoundrel, no wonder I couldn't find him! I instantly jumped up to my feet at the sight of Rylan, I need his help with Camila.

If things were different I'd probably be more happy for him and Kina, but this was life or death.

"Woah, Woah, Woah."

Axel jumped up.

"Where are you going?"

He asked standing in front of me, blocking my path.

"Move, I need to talk to Rylan; I stated, trying to step around him but he just moved with me causing me to let out an irritated breath.

"You got me instead."

Axel huffed, his eyes turning into slits.

"I can't tell you! You've got to move, the longer I wait the worse it's going to get."

I wanted to smack his chest but I didn't.

"What are you talking about?"

His eyes searched my face looking for answers.

"Move!"

I hissed, stomping my foot on the dirt.

"Come with me first."

He stated, his eyes holding a mysterious glint.

"I can't"

I couldn't control the whine that escaped my throat.

"Please Mia.’ Axel's eyes bored into mine, his dark irises swirling with different emotions.

I looked over at Rylan and saw him laughing at something Kina had said, her eyes were shining bright with content.

I'll let them have just a few more moments of happiness.

I looked back over at Axel and gave in, I couldn't say no the look on his face.

"Just a few minutes, okay?"

I told him.

He nodded his head in agreement, grabbing my hand and hauling me somewhere into the darkness of the woods.

My hand tingled something that happened often when Axel touched me.

I followed Axel blindly into the tall trees, slapping branches out from my face from time to time.

I could barely see anything with the treetops blocking out most of the moonlight which caused me to stumble on fallen branches.

I now understand why everyone falls in horror movies, they can't freaking see anything.

"Where are we going?"

I asked him.

"We're almost there"

striding effortlessly

not exactly the answer I was

right into his back from the

didn't budge any, he was like

had taken me to another clearing,

to the ledge that was only a few

thinned looking down slightly, keeping a good distance away

I think Axel noticed because he told me

in my own fear, this was way worse than being on that glass walkway in

yanked gently on my hand, sending

"Look up.’ He whispered.

were only trained to look

the sky Angel,’ Axel said

away from the ledge and forced them

of me, my stomach dropping fear suddenly washed

at least a million stars shining above me, the constellations painting the

breathtaking, I've never seen so many stars in my

really star gaze with all city lights but here, in the middle of nowhere, it

use to go outside with your mom and

muttered, staring at

have loved it here; I whispered,

everything.’ He spoke,

wasn't okay.’ I

"But, I forgive you."

over

you to tell me

I finished.

his head looking up from his hands

"Where do I begin?"

He thought out loud.

from the beginning’ I joked, trying to lighten

just gave me a look and

me.’ Axel furrowed his eyebrows,

from what people have told me before I was born my parents

their first house with a baby boy on the way’ Axel laughed

my mom's pregnancy something

one really talked

her: I watched his jaw started clenching and unclenching

me any more,’’ I whispered, I knew how it felt to

relive the

to drugs and alcohol, he felt

look at me without seeing the product of the devil, but I think it

hospital for 3 months after my premature birth and he never came to see me, not once.I only know because my aunt, my mother's sister, was there everyday and she told me when I was older.I lived with my aunt until I was five until she got

his girlfriend at the time, she would feed me and

was old enough to start school, that's when the beatings began.He would get wasted and come home swinging pretty much every night.He would scream at me saying I killed his wife, that I was

would just bring me right back, so I started fighting back.I would punch, kick, bite, and scratch whatever I

taken away from him and put into foster care, I think I was around eight.I was in and out what felt like hundred houses because I was

He shook his head.

treated her like shit, I tried to break her, make her ship me

time since Axel started talking about his past he finally looked up to

and my heart shattered

wrapping my arms around

make him feel better so I just hugged him as hard

his

kinda suffocating

peeling

instantly backing

did enjoy your

to

Stupid Axel.

your mom, cancer

my head agreeing with

what color your skin is, your choice in religion, or the people that need you here on

explained, surprisingly not feeling as emotional as I usually

us before I was born; I told

"That's so fucked"

He said angrily.

make us friends

smiled teasingly, looking over at

friends with you? Never.’ He gave me a dirty look but I

"You're right, that's absurd."

I played along.

silence, my eyes wandered back to the sky, still amazed by the

Camila flooded my thoughts

Camila.’ I rushed out and instantly realized

one who could do

probably gone

"And Angelo."

I put in.

"Why?"

gave me a weird

let out a breath feeling nervous all over again, the sinking was back and stronger

"He hit her Axel,"

my voice

the bruises on her yesterday,’ I told

you tell me

Axel yelled, standing up.

Angelo’s life if anyone from