After Nick had found me, I was taken into the house. There, I was cleaned off and fed. I was given sanitary water. I will never forget how after two week on the streets even that frigid shower felt like heaven.

The color gradually returned to my face and lips, and I my strength also began to return. Nick pulled me aside one day. This was before I was part of the family, before I called him Uncle.

He led me out into the hallway

"Lena, I care about you. It is only a blessing I was able to find you and keep you safe."

"I will never be able to thank you enough." I admitted.

Nick looked uneasy, "You understand this is a family, do you not Lena?"

I nodded. "Of course. You told me when you saved me."

"Follow me," he instructed and I did.

He went through the winding tunnels and stopped at a door. I had not gotten used to the cool, dark, damp, and my skin puckered with goose bumps. We reached a grey steel door and Nick stopped. "This is my room." He said. He swung open the door. Much unlike the rest of the house, Nick's room was spacious and lavish. It was warm and inviting.

"Come on in."

I stepped in and he followed behind me. He pulled up two chairs facing each other. "Have a seat." He offered with a smile. I sat down.

"Lena, what is the most important part of family? What keeps family together?" He ask sitting across from me.

He was looking straight into my eyes and it made my stomach churn. "Uhm, love?" I asked.

Nick chuckled. "Very nice try, but no. Not quite. No, Lena, what makes family is blood. Blood ties family together, people would otherwise would be strangers are connected by blood. It is a connection that can never be broken once made. It is the oldest connection that humans know. It is the strongest connection that could ever be made." He took my hand in his. "Lena, I want you to be a part of this family."

I sat in silence, not quiet understanding what he was saying. "I would like that too," I admitted softly.

Nick gave me a sympathetic look

"Lena, I adore you. I wouldn't have saved you if I didn't see the endless potential in you. From the time I saw you, I thought you would be an excellent addition to this family." He said gently. "But we do have rules here. Certain regulations. Certain rituals to keep this family together…. I am sure you understand."

I stayed silent and furrowed my brow.

Nick continued. "Do you understand? This family stays together because of blood my sweet girl. It is blood, blood out. I am asking you to be a part of this family. It is not easy, but I will make it worth it. I can make sure you are never hungry of homeless again. It is your choice. Understand this, that after this offer, I cannot treat you specially. Only family lives in this house. We clear?"

I swallowed. All the pieces came together. The gangs of Old Chicago used the term "blood in, blood out." It was an initiation. I didn't trust this. It unsettled something at my core.

Then again…. The feeling of starving, freezing down to my bones, being soaking wet, feeling hopeless, those are things that are hard to forget. I could never go back to that. I couldn't, I wouldn't do it again. I did not think I could live through it, even if I could, I did not want to.

I looked straight into his eyes and did let the gaze go. While I was not convinced about any of this, how bad could someone that selflessly saves a stranger be? That is what he did. He saved me. Nick saved my life.

I squeezed his hand. "I want in. I want to be a part of this family."

He squeezed my hand happily and jumped up. "I will make all the arrangements!"

I stood up too and smiled weakly. I was going to have a family. Nick gave me a quick, but tight hug, and left the room.

All the preparations were made, and it was decided that I was to meet in the main practice room to face another family member- someone named Jayce.

Nick cared about privacy, so it was just me and Jayce. I waited in the room for a about ten minutes before Jayce entered.

He was tall, almost a head taller than me and incredibly muscular. He had light grey eyes and a blonde cut. He looked good.

"Uhm h-hi." I stuttered nervously.

He gave me a stony look and his face didn't change. He made his way toward me in a few fast and graceful strides. Jayce grabbed my elbows and pinned them to me sides and picked me up. I couldn't move.

"Do even you know what you are doing?" He hissed through his teeth.

"I- I- I" I spluttered.

He pulled me closer to his face. "Do you?" He tightened his grip on my elbows. "You do not belong here you foolish girl. You need to run. Leave now and never come back." He dropped me swiftly and I landed on the floor painfully.

I growled and kicked out my foot, knocking him off balance. He stumbled and his face contorted angrily, a flush crept into his cheeks. I knew I was in trouble. I tried to crawl away bit he was too fast. He grabbed me by the shoulder and stood me up. My knees were shaking.

"You aren't going to run, are you?" he asked.

"I don't run!" I spat back at him.

He backhanded me across my face hard. I felt anger and panic rise up in me. I swung out at him, but he caught my wrist and twisted my arm back. I yelped in pain. He didn't smile, his frown deepened, and he released my arm.

"C'mon! Don't play with me! Get it over with!" I shouted at him.

He landed punch in my stomach. I let out a grunt and doubled over. He hit my back and I collapsed. Jayce crouched over beside me.

"Don't get up." He whispered in my ear.

I snarled and elbowed him in the chest. He gasped, and I rolled out of the way and got back to my feet. I help my abdomen and tried to catch my breath.

Jayce leapt to his feet, and landed another blow.

It went on for what seemed like eternity. Finally, I could no longer move, let alone stand up. I couldn't even cry in pain. Jayce had an unreadable expression on his face. It was an expression I haven't again seen to this day. He shook his head and turned away from me.

The door clicked open and I heard footsteps approach. I stiffened expecting more blows.

"Shh" hushed a calm voice. "You're ok now. I'm Simon; I am going to take care of you." I felt him wrap me in a warm blanket and pick me up. It hurt to be moved at all, but I was in no condition to walk. As Simon and I headed toward the door I caught sight of Jayce through my bruised and swollen eyes. I felt fury and hatred burn in my chest.

No matter what happened, I would never forgive Jayce.