Chapter 1: The Boy Who Wasn't Allowed to Eat
“Kid, shouldn’t you be home?””
The biker's question made me stop wiping the counter.
It was 11:47 p.m. My hands smelled like industrial cleaner, old coffee, and grease. My knees hurt from standing all evening, and my stomach had been growling so loudly that I was afraid someone would hear it.
I looked up at the enormous man standing on the other side of the counter.
He wore a black leather vest covered in patches. His gray beard reached almost to his chest, and his arms were thick enough to make the sleeves of his shirt look painfully small.
Behind him, several other bikers were entering the truck-stop diner.
I opened my mouth.
Before I could answer, a familiar voice exploded from the kitchen.
"He eats under my roof. He works.""
Curtis.
My stepfather appeared carrying a metal clipboard. His face was already twisted with irritation.
"Get back to cleaning, Noah.""
The biker didn't move.
"How old are you, son?""
"Eleven," I whispered.
Curtis slammed the clipboard onto the counter.
"He's old enough to understand that nothing in this world comes free.""
The biker looked at Curtis, then at me.
Something changed in his expression.
"I'm Ray," he said quietly.
"What's your name?""
"Noah.""
"Nice to meet you, Noah.""
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then a waitress named Denise approached with a plate.
She had worked at the diner for three years. She was one of the few adults who sometimes looked at me like I was actually a child.
On the plate was a cheeseburger, a handful of fries, and a small cup of ketchup.
"Here you go, sweetheart," she said.
"I made an extra.""
My fingers trembled.
I hadn't eaten since lunch.
I reached for the burger.
Curtis snatched the plate away.
"Who told you he could have this?""
Denise frowned.
"I did. He's been working since six.""
"Then he should finish his work.""
"He's a child, Curtis.""
Curtis leaned toward her.
"And you're a waitress. Remember your job.""
He carried the plate into the kitchen and placed it on top of the refrigerator.
I lowered my eyes.
"I haven't eaten since lunch," I whispered.
Curtis turned around.
"You eat when the work is done.""
Ray slowly placed his helmet on the counter.
"Let the kid eat.""
Curtis laughed.
"Mind your own business, old man.""
"I am.""
"Then sit down and order something.""
Ray stepped closer.
"I just did. A burger for the boy.""
Curtis shoved him in the chest.
The sound of the impact seemed louder than it should have been.
Ray took one step backward.
Then he shoved Curtis right back.
Curtis stumbled into a chair.
Metal legs screeched across the tiled floor.
Within seconds, every biker in the diner was standing.
Three moved between Curtis and me. Another stepped beside Denise. The youngest-looking biker quietly picked up his phone.
Curtis looked around and realized he was suddenly outnumbered.
"You people have no idea who you're dealing with!""
Ray didn't raise his voice.
"Then help me understand.""
He turned toward me.
"Where's your mother, Noah?""
My throat tightened.
"She's dead.""
The diner's noise disappeared.
Ray's expression softened.
"I'm sorry, son. When did that happen?""
"Two years ago.""
Curtis immediately interrupted.
"I've been raising him alone ever since. His mother passed, and I've done everything for that boy.""
Ray looked at him.
"Then why is he working here at midnight?""
"He's learning responsibility.""
I stared at the floor.
There was something I wanted to say.
Something I had promised myself I would never tell anyone.
But Ray had asked about my mother.
And nobody had asked about her in a very long time.
"That's not what you tell everybody," I whispered.
Curtis turned sharply.
"What?""
I swallowed.
"You told everyone I live with Aunt Sarah.""
The silence that followed was different.
Even Denise stopped moving.
Ray looked between us.
"Who's Aunt Sarah?""
"My mom's sister," I answered.
"Curtis tells people she lives in another state and takes care of me.""
Curtis grabbed my shoulder.
"That's enough.""
Ray immediately stepped forward.
"Take your hand off him.""
Curtis released me.
I continued before I lost my courage.
"I haven't been to school in six months.""
Denise covered her mouth.
Ray's jaw tightened.
"Six months?""
I nodded.
"He says school costs too much. He says I have to help him until we get caught up.""
"Where do you sleep?"" Ray asked.
I looked toward the kitchen.
Curtis stepped between us.
"He's tired. He's confused. We're leaving.""
"No," I said.
It was the first time I'd spoken loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Curtis froze.
I pointed toward the hallway behind the kitchen.
"I sleep in the storage room.""
Ray followed my finger.
"There's a bed back there?""
I shook my head.
"Just a mattress. Sometimes the freezer makes a noise all night.""
Denise began crying.
Ray looked like someone had just punched him.
"Does anybody else live here?""
I didn't answer immediately.
Because that was the part Curtis couldn't afford for them to discover.
My little sister was eight years old.
Her name was Lily.
And she was behind the locked door at the end of the kitchen hallway.
But Curtis didn't know that I had already figured out where he kept the spare key.
Or that I had heard him talking to someone about the wooden box our mother left us.
I took a breath.
"My mom left me something before she died.""
Curtis's face went pale.
"Noah. Stop.""
"She left a box.""
Ray looked at me.
"What kind of box?""
"Wooden. With a little silver lock.""
"Where is it?""
"Curtis has been looking for the key.""
Curtis rushed toward me.
Ray stepped into his path.
"Don't take another step.""
I lowered my voice.
"Mom told me never to let him open it.""
Ray studied my face.
"What's inside?""
"I don't know.""
A sudden metallic bang came from behind the kitchen.
Everyone turned.
Another bang followed.
Then a small voice called out.
"Noah?""
My eyes filled with tears.
Ray looked toward the hallway.
"Is someone back there?""
Curtis shouted, "He's lying!""
But I couldn't look away from the locked door.
"My little sister.""
Denise whispered, "Your sister?""
"She's eight.""
Ray stared at Curtis.
"Why is an eight-year-old girl locked in there?""
I wiped my face with my sleeve.
Then I looked directly at the man who had controlled every breath I took for two years.
"Because she knows where Mom hid the key.""
Curtis lunged toward me.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!""
Two bikers caught his arms.
And from behind the locked door, Lily began screaming.
"NOAH! HE'S COMING BACK!""
Ray turned toward the hallway.
"Nobody touches those children.""
May you like
But then I heard Curtis say something that made my blood run cold.
"If you open that door, you'll regret what you find.""
