Chapter 5

"Where’s Zac?" Isaac asked nervously from his position on the couch.

"Ike, you haven’t moved since I left." Taylor laughed, trying to forget why they were so uneasy.

"Where’s Zac?"

"He’s on his way." Taylor said and flopped down beside Isaac. "Ike, this is going to be harder than you realize."

"I know."

"Zac is going to hate us."

"I know."

"Madison is going to hate us."

"I know."

"We’re in big trouble."

"I know."

"Can you say anything besides ‘I know?’"

"I know."

"Ike.."

"I know." Isaac smiled and looked down at the floor. "Sorry."

"S’okay." The door clicked open and Madison and Zac appeared. Madison’s face seemed to glow and she held onto Zac’s hand. Zac was smiling from ear to ear and his eyes seemed to sparkle. Taylor’s heart dropped and a sinking feeling filled his stomach. He sighed. "It shouldn’t have to be like this." He whispered and Isaac elbowed him in the ribs. "Ouch."

"Huh?" Zac asked giving Taylor a bewildered look.

"Um…what Taylor is saying is that we need to talk to you…alone." Isaac interfered, eyeing Zac.

"Oh."

"It’s okay. I’ll go up to my room." Madison replied happily, squeezing Zac’s hand and running up the steps, her footsteps echoing throughout the house.

"We need to talk Zac." Isaac began, once Madison was out of ear shot.

"Look, I’m really sorry for being so late but I didn’t have a watch…"

"It’s not about that."

"Oh…what’s it about?" Zac asked, even more confused.

"Madison’s father was on the News."

"What?"

"He’s looking for her Zac. He looks like a nice man. He’s a lawyer…he wants her home." Isaac explained.

"What?"

"Madison needs to go home." Isaac said softly, not daring to look at Zac.

"No…no…she can’t. You don’t understand!"

"What don’t I understand?" Isaac asked warily, looking up at Taylor who just shrugged.

"She can’t go back. Her father doesn’t love her. He hurts her Ike!" Zac’s voice was filled with panic and his hands were clenched into tight fists by his side.

"Her father has to love her. And keeping her here would get us in serious trouble…it would jeopardize our career!" Isaac shouted, standing up.

"Is that all you care about? Your career?’ Zac spat not believing his ears.

"No, it’s not! Madison is a nice girl! But her father wants her back and that’s his right as a father! We have to go to the Police. No…you…have to go to the police!"

"Uh-uh. No way. I’m not doing that to her. I’m not sending her back…to…him. And you can’t make me!"

"Oh…and that’s so mature Zac!"

"Oh, bite me, Ike!"

"Guys!"

"You better watch it, Zac."

"Is that a threat?"

"Guys! STOP!" Taylor shouted, exasperated. "This is not the way to solve this."

"Oh, and what is the correct way, oh wise one?" Isaac asked, bitterly.

"I don’t know. But I do know that yelling gets us no where."

"He does have a point." Zac said. Isaac sighed and sat back down on the couch.

"What should we do?" Zac asked meekly, rubbing his temples with his hands.

"We have to turn her in Zac…" Isaac said softly.

"I…I can’t do that. I can’t do that to her. He…he abuses her Ike…"

"How do you know that?"

"She…she told me. I can’t send her back."

"But keeping her here is a crime, and it’s also wrong." Taylor spoke up, searching his brothers’ eyes.

"Her father has rights, even if he is a horrible parent. Maybe he’s changed. Maybe he’s realized that what he was doing was wrong and he wants to tell her that." Isaac suggested.

"I hardly doubt it." Zac said dryly.

"You never know though. I know that this is hard, but we can’t keep her here." Taylor sighed and sat down beside Isaac.

"She’ll hate me." Zac whispered, a tear trailing down his face.

"She won’t. It’s not your fault. She has to know that." Isaac’s voice was filled with hope and Zac almost smiled. If only everyone was like his brother. If only he could believe him…but he couldn’t. He knew Madison would hate him, and the reason was really quite simple. In the morning Zac would go to the police and turn her in. He would be the one to bring her back to her father. He would be the one to bring her back to hell…and that was why she would hate him.

Chapter 6
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