❛she's a shell of the person she once was.❜
prologue

       darkness enveloped the dimly lit room. Her brown eyes watered at the pictures that littered her grey and black room, questions roaming through her head as she thought one in particular.

How could I let this happen? 

"Lia, open the door." Lance knocked softly against the mahogany wood. Aliana looked at the door, before gnawing on the side of her cheek and looking back out the window. "This isn't what Max would've wanted." He muttered, frustratedly. 

"Don't you tell me what Max would've wanted, Lance!" She snapped, her anger flowing out. Her fingers shaking as she clasped her thick hair in her fingers. Lance finally was able to pick the lock, and the door was pushed open. "Get out, I don't want to talk." She barked, not even looking at her elder brother.          

Lance ignored her, off course. Instead, he took a couple steps forward and sits down on the end that was not occupied on the windowsill. "I'm not leaving you alone, Lia." He whispered, reaching out to touch her shoulder. 

She took a shaky breath in. Aliana turned around, before reaching out. "Promise me you won't leave." She whispered, her voice breaking in the middle of her sentence. Lance looked at her with sympathetic eyes. 

He reached out towards her, before pulling her between his legs and her face pressed against his chest. "I'm not going to leave you Lia." He whispered, as she shook ▬ cupping the back of her head. "promise."

As her crying started to calm down, and her breathing started to even out. Alec appeared at the door, with a grim face ▬ noticing his sister, heartbroken. Lance realised she had fallen asleep, and he sighed. "What is it?" He inquired, noticing the grim look. 

"We just found Max's body." He gulped, and Lance clenched his jaw together as he looked down at his sisters sleeping form. "We'll find them, Lance ▬ but right now, we need to be here for her." He instructed, and Lance nodded.

Lance tried to move so he could pick Aliana up, but she was pushing him fully down onto the cushions. "Alec, a little help?" He whined, and Alec smirked before pushing himself off the wall; walking towards his younger brother and sister. 

He wrapped his arms around her stomach, before flipping her over so she rested fully into his arms. He picked her up, pulling her knees around his arms and then walking towards her grey bed ▬ pulling the covers back and placing her on the comforter. 

Lance came to a stand still beside Aliana, before reaching forward and brushing a brown hair away from her face. "He was her brother too, we have to be careful." Lance whispered, and Alec hummed in agreement. 

"Is she alright?" A raspy voice asked from the doorframe, and the two brothers turned to find Cody leaning where Alec once was. Lance ignored the question, and walked towards him and pulled him into a hug. 

"Where the hell have you been?" Alec questioned, as Cody slowly wrapped his arms around the shorter male. Cody rolled his eyes, a sad smile tugging at his lips as his eyes floated towards Aliana's sleeping figure. 

"Trying to make sure that her kidnappers don't track her back here." He whispered. Alec sighed in relief, before pressing a kiss against Aliana's forehead and brushing back her hair. Lance clasped his hand on Cody's shoulder before walking out. 

"Thank you, Cody." Alec muttered, as he walked towards his best friend. "You've been a good help, especially with your girlfriend." He teased, and his eyebrows rose in shock. "You didn't think I didn't know?" He hummed, and Cody clenched his jaw. 

"Alec." He spoke, and he shook his head. 

"You make her happy, that's all that matters." He affirmed, but took a threatening step forward. "But mark my words, if you do anything to hurt her. I will kill you ▬ even if you are my best friend." He warned. 

Cody looked alarmed, as Alec chuckled and walked out. Once the door was shut, Cody silently pulled his shirt off, and climbed in beside Aliana; the brunette haired girl shuffled. "Cod?" She whispered. 

He quickly shushed her, by whispering. "Yes baby, I'm here. Now go back to sleep." She smiled, lightly ▬ finally, and wriggled around in his arms before humming contently. Cody sighed, before finally pressing his lips against her forehead.