Empty Eyes Ch. 4 - Time for A New Life

   ' "Lainey!" Her father roared, his footsteps thudding down the hallway. Lainey crawled underneath her bed and watched the door closely. She jumped when it busted open and her dad's work boots came into view. They paced around her room, stopping at the closet and at her computer desk. She covered her mouth when her dads shoes apporached her bed. His knees touched the floor and Lainey started scooting further back towards the wall. "There you are..." He grunted, ripping the bed away from the wall, leaving her out in the open. "Daddy please, don't!" Lainey cried as he gripped her arm and yanked her off the floor. ' Lainey gasped and looked around the dark, hospital room. She sighed, sweat glistening on her forehead. Laying back against the pillow, she raised her hand and moved the hair from her face. She looked at the bandage covering half the inside of her arm. There was a thin red line from the blood underneath it. Lainey's eyes filled with tears and she hid her face in her hands.

    Aaron handed his ticket to the lady behind the glass and entered the steel gate. It was dark and the field was lit up. The stands were crowded and the football team was already on the field. "Aaron!" Frankie called out, waving his hand in the air. Aaron saw Frankie, Davin, Tracy and McKinsley. "Hey guys." He smiled, walking over. "Bout' time you show up." Frankie patted his back. Aaron looked out on the field. A blonde cheerleader, slightly resembling Lainey was jumping around and smiling. He couldn't help but smile, because Lainey definatly wouldnt be one of those cheerleaders. She would probably be the only girl on the football team, showing him and all the other guys up. Why can't he stop thinking about her lately? She's been gone.. for 6 years now. Does she even remember him? Does she think about him the way he thinks about her?

   "Lainey?" The pig face man poked his head in the room. She sighed, "You can come in..." He slightly nodded and walked over, the door closing behind him. "Let me guess..." Lainey sat up, "This is the part where you tell me I'm too unstable for you and your wife to handle..."  He frowned, " Actually..." "Can you just save yourself the trouble? I've heard it one too many times..." She muttered, crossing her arms. The pig face man cleared his throat, sitting in the chair next to her, "Actually, if you'll let me finish... we still want you to come home with us... but only if you're willing." Lainey stared blankly, "What?..." The pig faced man smiled, "Let me introduce myself since we weren't actually introduced, my name is Mr. Whitman but you can call me John." Lainey still remained silent, in shock at what she was hearing. His wife had walked in on yet another failed suicide attempt and they WANT her to still come home with them?  "What's the catch?" She softly asked. John grimaced, "No catch, we're not like that.. we don't trick our children." "You have other children?" Lainey asked, her heart skipping a beat. "We did..." John explained, "Our daughter... she was about your age when she passed..." "How?" Lainey bluntly asked. He sighed, "Car accident...she didn't even make it to the hospital." Lainey sighed, "I'm sorry to hear that..." John slightly nodded, "Thank you...my wife, Meredith... she still isn't quite over it yet." "How long ago?" Lainey asked. John sat back, "Two years ago?" "....So... am I supost to replace her?" Lainey asked, looking up at him in the dim light of the hospital room. He frowned, "No, not at all... we don't expect you to replace her at all."  Lainey slightly nodded, "I'll go..."