A/N:
Date 8-11-17

Hey everyone! So I think the quote above is something that Alicia needs to remember. Not just for this chapter, but for her whole quest during this story.

Word Count: 2312

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Chapter 2: Search and Seize Some Answers

My dad sat in tense silence while I stood across from him in front of his desk. He didn't say anything and he didn't have to. The withering look of disapproval said it all.

My dad knew that I knew how this had always gone. He was waiting for me to say something. He wanted me to apologize before he even opened his mouth. But I learned a long time ago that if I did that, it would show him that I felt guilty for something he thought I did. And some of the time I actually didn't do what I was accused of. So he needed to accuse me of something first.

"Where have you been?" My dad asked me, his fingers still locked together and resting on the desk.

I thought back to what Lucy said that she told my parents about my disappearance for my answer. "I stayed at a friend's house."

"Really? Which friend? Because I don't remember ever seeing any of your friends." My dad questioned, tilting his head with a faux curious gaze.

I understood the implication in my dad's words. He didn't believe that I had any friends, and he was right. But I always used that as my excuse when I went out. And after a while, my mom accepted that I would be secretive about my friends. My dad never did believe me.

"Can't you just be happy that I'm home?" I asked my dad coldly, not caring whether or not he liked that I was home. I might be leaving after we find Jake anyway.

My dad smiled bitterly before responding. "I'm sure I could."

I responded by staring indifferently into my dad's unwavering gaze. I refused to show any weakness in front of him.

My dad was the one who broke the stare by studying his hands. That's what he's always done while he thinks.

"Why didn't you come home earlier?" My dad questioned, steering the conversation back to its origin.

My mind raced to come up with a valid reply. I felt stupid for not thinking up answers to these sort of questions before. This interrogation was inevitable.

"I was hurt during the wreck. I fought to distract the attacker while everyone else escaped." I decided to say that much because I remembered my mom mentioning knowing about an attacker on the bus that day.

Any normal parent would have told their child that they were brave for saving everyone and stupid for putting themselves in danger in a situation like that, but my family had obviously never been normal. And that included my dad.

"It doesn't matter how badly you were hurt that day. You should've gone to a hospital or come home. And I know you never went to a hospital because you can't afford that. And nothing comes for free in the world we're living in." My dad said sharply.

My gaze traveled down to my feet in shame because I knew he was right. The only way to get out of this in the least amount of trouble was to act as if I felt bad for leaving. It's not like it was my choice to up and leave my family without warning, but I couldn't exactly tell me family that I'd become a blood sucking monster.

"I didn't think it through. I panicked and I'm sorry. I'm home now." I said, bringing my gaze back up to his, forcing myself to look sorry for something that was in no way my fault.

My dad was silent for a moment, staring at his hands again before continuing. "You don't look like you were hurt. I see no physical injuries."

"Looks can be deceiving." I retorted, hoping to get my dad off my back on this subject.

"The only thing that looks wrong is how pale you are." My dad replies, ignoring what I said and proving my words to be ineffective.

I had to fight the urge to examine my skin. I didn't think I looked that pale. "I got some medical attention and I was told I heal fast because I'm in good shape. I was also told I may have a low body temperature for a few weeks as a side effect." I made up to appease my dad and to hide my vampire symptoms in case anyone else asked. Although nothing had ever appeased him before.

"Well, now that you're home, I have to ground you for leaving for so long. I let your bad behavior go on for years because your mother allowed it, but I am officially cutting you off. You are not allowed to leave this house unless I say so." My dad told me calmly, not sounding angry because he was completely in control. Unlike me.

I clenched my fists at my sides in anger, wishing I could tell him the truth, show him the truth, and see how bad he felt then for blaming me. Because none of this was my fault. I didn't ask to be turned into a vampire, the thing that I hated and feared most in the world. Somehow I had come to terms with that, but it was under strange circumstances.

I forced my eyes to stay open the way they were instead of narrowing furiously at my dad and I made my thoughts dissipate.

"And I need your phone. Now." My dad demanded, narrowing his eyes at me as if I couldn't do anything. As if I was the helpless one here. He couldn't possibly know that I could tear his limbs off before he could blink those gloating eyes...

I directed my thoughts to figuring out an answer for myself, because I certainly didn't plan on maiming my dad, even if he was being cold and unreasonable. "My phone broke in the fight on the bus. That's why I didn't call you guys." I prayed that my mom didn't tell my dad about the phone call I made to her the other day. That would give away the fact that I had a new phone.

"Fine. But still no leaving the house. Now go speak with your mother before she has a heart attack." My dad said, his eyes suddenly softening. "She's been very worried about you. You can't disappear on us again."

At moments like those, I pondered whether or not my dad cared about his family. Sometimes it seemed like he cared about my mom. I've seen his demeanor soften around Jake before too. But he goes soft around all of us at some points, so it's hard to determine his feelings.

I did as my dad said and went to the dining room where I last saw my mom. I dreaded having to eat anything, considering how sick those pancakes were making me, but I felt awful once again for leaving my mom for that long and worrying her.

I had to go reassure her that I was fine, especially since she's so worried about Jake. Which reminded me of the reason I came home.

My mom wasn't in the kitchen and neither was Lucy, so I quickly cleaned up my plate of pancakes and disposed of them. At least I didn't have to eat that and make myself sick, which would worry my mom and Lucy even more.

Then I walked down the hall to my mom's room to see if she was in there. Halfway down the hall I heard voices coming from her room. Stopping outside of her bedroom door, I listened in to her conversation with whoever it was.

"Isn't there anything else you could do? It's my son we're talking about!" My mom exclaimed in dismay.

A small crackling sounding voice responded, informing me that my mom was on the phone with someone. Fortunately, my vampire senses let me hear the other end of the call perfectly when I focused. "I'm sorry ma'am. But like I said before, we have to wait twenty four hours before filing a missing person's report."

My mom let out a short sob before I heard a sound like a slap. She must've put her hand over her mouth. "Thanks anyway." My mom said kindly towards the woman on the phone.

I heard my mom hit a button on her phone, ending the call before she started sniffling like she was trying not to cry. I knocked on the door, wanting to reassure her but not wishing to barge in uninvited and embarrass her further.

The door opened a moment later revealing my mom in a disheveled state. "Alicia. Did you need something?" My mom asked cautiously.

"I need to help you find Jake. What can I do?" I said confidently, ready to do anything to help my mom find my older brother. That was the main reason I left Zane and Ash to come home.

My mom's face lit up like time just reversed and she just received a brand new car for her sixteenth birthday. "It would be great if you could look around town for him. I know he didn't get out much, but he could be-"

I stopped my mom there because she had a deep frown on her face again. "I got it, Mom. I'll go look for him around town. I know my way around."

My mom nodded with a small grateful smile directed at me. She looked proud of me for the first time in a while.

I smiled back for a moment before remembering that I was grounded. "Oh, shoot. Dad said I can't leave the house without his permission."

My mom scowled, making me think she was mad at me. But I quickly realized her disdain was actually for her husband this time. "If he protests you leaving to find your brother I will give him a piece of my mind." My mom declared turning to head for my dad's office.

Pausing in her tracks, my mom turned back to me to add, "You go get ready real quick while I speak with your father."

I hurried to my bedroom and grabbed my backpack. I couldn't have anyone going through it and finding bottles of blood while I was gone. That could not possibly go well. Not that I had that many left. There were only four in my bag because I had to drink the others while going home.

But I also knew my dad wouldn't let me leave the house with my bag because he thought I'd bolt the second I got the chance. So I opened the single window in my room and dropped my backpack outside under the window and out of view of anyone in my room. Since I lived on the second floor of my house, my backpack had quite a fall, but the bushes at the bottom broke its fall. I would get my bag once I left the house.

~*~

Down in the kitchen, my parents were arguing about me. I stopped right before the entrance to the kitchen to listen in on their conversation.

"Aren't you worried she'll run? She did before." My dad hissed out, attempting and not fully succeeding keeping his voice down.

"She had her reasons, Pete. We just have to wait for her to explain herself." My mom argued for me. "I believe she's going to help find her brother."

"Oh yeah?" My dad scoffed. "She never cared about him before."

"Yes she did. You just didn't notice." My mom defended me. "She's cared about all of us. Jake was the one who gave her the cold shoulder. And our family turned sour the night Alicia and Lucy were attacked when they were kids and you didn't believe them. She lost her faith in you."

I could barely believe that my mom payed that much attention to me. She understood me in a way that no one but Lucy did. The thought actually brought tears to my eyes. Blinking them away, I listened into my parents again.

"I wasn't asking you to point out the things you think I've done wrong." My father retorted. "I'm saying she shouldn't leave because I told her she couldn't."

"Then give her permission!" My mom raised her voice furiously. "This is about Jake, not about how you don't trust our daughter."

I decided then was as good a time as any to approach. Clearing my throat loudly, I walked into the kitchen as if I hadn't been listening. "I know this town better than anyone. If he's hiding anywhere near us, I'll be able to find him." I reasoned.

My dad crossed his arms, obviously displeased with the way the argument went. It seemed I'd be getting my way after all. I could tell my dad would cave and let me look for his son.

"Fine. You can look for Jake in town. But you need to be back in a few hours." My dad conceded, unable to pass up the opportunity for someone to find Jake.

I nodded my head curtly before scurrying out the front door. Rounding the side of the house lightning fast, I grabbed my backpack and set off to search for Jake.

I was a bit nervous about even looking for Jake. There was no guarantee that anyone would ever find Jake. Or we may not find him the same way he was before. For all I knew, Jake could be dead somewhere. Storm, the first vampire I'd met and the one who threatened my family, could have come after Jake. But I had to at least look for him. I had to try.