Shadow-Land by Heather Parsons (best books to read for teens .txt) 📕

Half expecting everyone to come down the stairs and welcome her home. Just like Travis had reappeared, she wanted so badly for her parents and brother to too.

Slowly walking around the downstairs and touching everything she could. Just to get the memory of those days back. The good memories to help her through. The tears that fell now were just that tears. There was no meaning behind them just memories of the past. No fears were haunting her now at least not where she was at the moment.

Making it around the bottom half of the house, finally she stood at the bottom of the stairs. Remembering exactly what happened up there and why she's always scared to go up. This time was different, she needed to get over this and move on. This house can't always scare her. Sierra held her breath and climbed one step at a time. The second story was starting to come into view and all she saw the second story. Nothing held any interest for her. Someone else had cleaned up here and left it they way it had been before.

Releasing her breath when her foot touched the top stair and looking down the hall. Her room as much as she wanted to go there didn't hold any interest. Simon's room how ever did. There were answers in there, she was sure of it. Walking up to the door she stopped. Placing one hand on the door itself, she felt the need to just stand here. Just for a minute and feel. Opening it she peeked in. Childish yes but after living with him for so long, she found it hard to break the habit. Almost lifting her hand to knock.

"Sierra he's not here. Just open it." She said to herself, laughing a little to ease off the tension. Pushing the door opened and seeing everything that made her brother who he was. His clothes still sorted out on his bed and his shoes placed at the end of it. Just as if he was going on a date and wanted it to be ready. This made her smile but quickly it faded. Knowing he'd never wear this outfit and never go on that date. She would never see his smiling face again. Making her break down in tears was not what she had planned on doing. But she couldn't reign them in either. Still standing in the doorway to his room, she hadn't been able to force herself to walk in. Sitting on the floor in front of his room and cried. These tears were traders, falling at will for no reason.

Being so lost in sorrow that when someone knocked on the door, she jumped back. Standing up she running down the stairs. Making it to the door in a matter of seconds. She should have looked before opening it but she wanted no, she needed someone else with her now. Sierra couldn't face being in this house alone any longer.

"I just thought that.... Are you okay?" Travis asked when she ran into his arms. Almost knocking both of them to the ground. She felt stupid and ashamed for acting this way.

Backing away from him she doesn't want to explain why that just happened. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. What were you saying?" Sierra said wiping the tears away. His arms were still around her while she shook uncontrollably. That was the only reason she could think of to why he was still holding her.

"I just thought that maybe you'd like some company. My dad says this house can be very uncomfortable for you and suggested that I come and be with you." He looked into her eyes trying to see if he could remember something.

"That's very kind but I'm fine. Really. You knocking on the door just spooked me that's all. And your dad knows me to well but he shouldn't have asked you to come. You can go back and tell him I'm fine and will be back when I'm finished." She said looking down at the ground. His face held to many memories of the two of them being together for her to look at right now.

"Ah..Miss Michael. Are you ready to get the paperwork done with?" The lawyer asked from behind Travis. He didn't make a sound when he walked up behind them. Still being in his arms made her forget about the lawyer coming over.

"Yes I am. Won't you come in." Sierra said and stood to the side so he could do just that.

"Will Mr. Williams be joining us?" He asked after he'd walked in.

She looked up at him this time and almost regretted it. As his eyes met hers again she'd forgotten the question and didn't answer. "I just come by to see Miss. Michael but I must be on my way now." Travis replied starring back into her eyes. When he broke eye contact with her, she turned to the lawyer and almost broke down again.

"Thank you for coming over." She whispered not bothering to turn around and look at him. Regretting doing that she looked back at Travis one last time and saw something in his eyes she thought she would never see again but quickly it too was lost. He waved to her then ran for his car. Watching him drive away from her re-broke her heart all over again. Shutting the door she turned towards the lawyer and starred at him. He wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than he could afford but the smile he had was something else. It didn't hold long when she showed him to the kitchen where they could do the paperwork.

He sat with ease and dug through his briefcase for the paperwork. When he finally pulled them out Sierra was shocked. Along with the paperwork from her parents he also brought out paperwork from Simon's will. She didn't even know Simon had a will.

"Miss. Michael I need you to read both of the packets and after I will tell you where to sign and that's it. We'll be done." The lawyer said, pushing the paperwork over to her.

She started reading and soon was lost in it. It didn't say much that she didn't already know at least the paperwork from her parents. Her father showed her one evening every piece of paperwork that said what they owned. The properties and stocks. Now the paperwork from Simon was a different story. There were so many things she didn't know about him and the things he left her brought tears. After signing everything, the lawyer left. Sitting at the table she didn't feel the need to walk him to the door. All she wanted to do was cry. Simon left her everything, and by everything she means. He had a house and a business that she didn't even know about. That now she owned. The business was a music business, a recording studio. Pushing the paperwork aside because she didn't want to look at it anymore. It was too much to take right now.

Her memories were now flooding every thought and she couldn't find her way past them. She had thought so poorly of her brother when he didn't even deserve it. He didn't deserve anything that happened to him.

Reaching for the phone, she wanted to talk to someone. It's an automatic response to dial Travis so she didn't even know that is what she did until he answered.

"Hello." He said calmly.

"I'm sorry for calling, I just needed to talk to someone. I can't be here anymore. Please come pick me up." She cried while sitting in the corner, holding herself together.

"I'll be right there. Sierra are you okay?" He said concerned.

"I can't believe I thought I could do this by myself. I can't be in this house anymore, please hurry." She sobbed.

"I'm outside now. Just don't hung up until I see you." He said in a rushed voice. This phone was her lifeline and she couldn't see letting go of it. Nothing would make her do that.

The door flew opened at the same time that nothing she was talking about happened. Ulrey jumped out in front of her, scaring the crap out of her and making her scream. "Sierra I told you he can't be around you any longer. Why are you doing this? Do you want to cause him more problems?" He asked with his face inches from hers.

"Don't touch me!" Sierra screamed when he reached out to grab her. Just within inches of touching her skin, Travis appeared. He saw Ulrey standing over her and this brought out the rage he'd held in. Being trapped between the wall and Ulrey's body she couldn't see a way out without touching him. Something she didn't want to touch him.

"Get your hands off her!" Travis screamed. He made his movement towards them very precise. Closing in on them and every movement he made, Ulrey made one too. But his movements were closer to her instead of moving further away.

"I warned you Sierra. Now you'll have to watch him suffer." Ulrey spoke with venom. She definitely didn't want that happening. If he touched him then she would be the one to suffer. Looking between them she quickly made up her mind. Taking her fear level to a new degree.

"No I'll do what you ask just please don't hurt him." She pleaded reaching out to touch his arm. Not knowing what exactly would happen when she did this but it couldn't hurt as badly as the other option. Pain shot across Travis' face when she had said this. But what he didn't understand is his life meant everything to her even if he didn't remember her, she still remembered him.

"Sierra don't. You don't know what he's capable of. Please for me, don't touch him." Travis pleaded with her. His eyes showed a sadness she couldn't explain.

"I know what he's capable of and that's why I'm doing this. I can't watch you get hurt again. The last time was hard enough. I can't go through that again. I'm sorry but it's the only way." She finally reached out and touched his arm. Waiting for something bad to happen. But nothing did. Ulrey wasn't in his world to make things happen the way he wanted. He was in hers and she knew it. Seeing the frustration on his face when she took her hand back. "See it's fine. He can't hurt me." She spoke to soon.

Ulrey moved away from her and towards Travis. This didn't sit well with her, picking herself up off the ground and standing between them. "You can't protect him