Chapter seven: Lincoln

                                    

                                          
Subconsciously, I was slowly getting used to this place. And it hurt. A part of me felt like I was letting my sisters down by not fighting hard enough to get out of this. I did message Emma again. But she didn't reply. 
I guess she wasn't ready to listen to me. 
Alex tried his best to keep me out of trouble, but I didn't make it easy for him. After all, me and trouble came hand in hand. 
"Leave me alone!" I screamed, slamming my bedroom door. 
He knocked on the door immediately. 
"Lincoln, open up." He said. 
"Go away." 
"Son, open this door." 
"I'm not your son." I growled. 
"What's the matter?" 
I didn't reply, leaning against the door to keep it shut.  
"I'm going to make us both a cup of coffee and you can talk to me about this, alright?" 
He walked downstairs without waiting for an answer and I sank to the floor, resting my head in my arms and wondering why everything always had to be so painful and difficult. 
I brushed away tears that misted in the corner of my eyes and wondered what I was crying for. I didn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I had to stay strong. I had to focus. 
I needed to get back to them somehow. 
Another knock made me blink rapidly to stem any more tears.
"Lincoln, open the door." Alex said, calmly.
"Go away." I growled. "I don't want to talk to you." 
"Tough." 
Silence.
"Are you going to open this door or not?" He asked, his accent gentling his words.
"No." I said. 
He sighed and walked away. A few minutes later, a tiny, gentle electronic voice sounded. One that made me clench my fists in fury. 
"Lincoln? Can you hear me?" He asked. 
"You can get lost." I shouted, fresh anger bubbling. "I have nothing to say to you." 
"Calm down, son. Emma's here." Louis said, softly. "Do you want to talk to her?" 
I didn't reply and there was a sigh before some rustling. 
"Lincoln?" Emma's voice made me soften. "Where are you? Are you coming back soon?" 
I sighed and opened the door reluctantly, Alex held the phone out and I plucked it out of his hand without a word. 
"I'm here, Em." I said gently. 
"Are you coming back?" 
I looked up at Alex who studied me. His eyes softened as he met my glare.
"As soon as possible." I promised, wondering why I was doing so when Alex and Louis and Emily and everyone would do their best to make sure that didn't happen. 
I knew how this worked. 
"What's the matter?" She asked. 
My eyes flicked to Alex again. 
"The world is just pissing me off." I replied. 
She was quiet and I wondered what she was thinking. 
"Promise you're coming back?" She asked again.