Chapter 22 [✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧]

The orange juice is cold, swishing in glass as I carefully tread the halls with two bowls, two cups, and two spoons. A tray holds everything together, and I use a sock-foot to push the door open.

I have a face mask on my face. My spine crawled with unease from the idea of entering this room full of snot-tissues and empty throat drops. Hesitation dragging on my ankles, I leaned against the doorway, head against the door. To go inside or not to go inside, such will be the question for approximately thirty seconds.

“Are you two alive?” I clamored into the darkness of the revealed room, the curtains were closed and two limp bodies in separate beds shifted at the sound of my voice.

“Stop joking around. I’m hungry and you’re too loud…” [Ebony] groaned, voice hoarse.

“Onee-san, are those ice cubes?” [Ivory] inquired, soft and raspy.

“Thought the ice might help your sore throat,” I proudly sang. “Be grateful. I could’ve brought pure lemon juice, sweetened it up with way too little honey, and called it a cure.” As a cruel prank. Oh, the sibling life is truly for me!

“Where’s Ma?” [Ebony] rolled onto his back and pulled open the curtain to let in moonlight. “Gods, I don’t think we’re going to the restaurant now. Great.” The shine of the moon brought clearer visibility to the room.

How odd, both twins’ hair colors are too similar. Where are their fluffy ears?

…Fluffy ears?

“Mom’s out getting you two Covid tests,” I slinked forward, careful of spillage, before sitting the tray down between their beds. Within seconds I am retreating to the doorway, breathing as little as possible. The less chance of infection, the better. “I’m not handing this to you directly. Get it yourselves, it’s taking every ounce of my power to be here. Consider yourselves lucky my college winter break is long!”

I doubted the two could stand properly to get their own food, but leaning down and lifting the utensil, bowls and cups should be fine.

“Germaphobe.” Ebony scoffed but his eyes were dazed and glossy.

“I’m not the one bedridden.” May the best person win at good health.

“Thank you, Onee-san,” Ivory politely said. “You didn’t have to bring this to us.”

I rolled a shrug of my shoulders. Honestly, I was just paying them back for the times I was stuck in bed, unable to move due to horrid period cramps. I don’t know when Mom told them cinnamon tea and ginger did well to help with some of the symptoms, but I often woke to a steaming cup of either blend. I knew it was one of the two, because Mom would always deliver the tea in person. For my brothers, the anonymity must be a pride thing.

Pfft, weirdos.

“I’m not touching your dishes, so, better wait until Mom gets back home from her emergency run. I hope she brings Chinese food,” I savor the idea of marinated chicken and other good tasting dishes.

The doorbell rang.

“I’m not getting that,” I bluntly declared from the doorway, dismissing the two flat stares. “It’s not our problem! Like Mom always said, if you’re not expecting guests, let them ring. I’m not answering.” Besides, Mom called when she needed help with bringing the groceries inside. The one at the door is highly likely to be some religious person or salesman.

No, thank you!

The doorbell rang again.

I did not budge from the doorway, and my brothers did not touch their food as we locked challenging eyes at one another.

I don’t care how much they glare, I am not getting the door!

I witnessed Ebony shuffle close to the curtain and peak.

“Who is it?” Ivory rasped from his bed.

“I’m not sure,” Ebony replied, annoyed. “My head keeps pounding. It’s hard to think like this; a man is still at the door.”

Right on cue, another ring came from the doorbell.

“Fine, I’ll go look. From your voice, you make it sound like it’s the cops,” I didn’t want to go, I hated strangers! However, if it was something truly important, like Mom ending up in an accident…I doubted it was the police but who knows?

“I’ll come with,” Ivory stumbled out of bed. He pressed his shoulder against the wall to stand supported.

My throat itched with an apology, I did want to help him along, but his wet cough strangled whatever helpfulness wanted to burst forth. I backed away with quick feet, wide eyes, shoulders raised and fists clenched.

Judging by Ivory’s amused smile, he can understand my position.

My brown skin still burned from the embarrassment.

Ebony continued to peer out the window, frowning. “...I suppose I’ll wait here.”

The door felt further away than usual, how odd, I’ve walked here many times. It’s my house!

Upon glancing back, I see Ivory, breathless, in the hall between the living room and the door entrance. I decided to let him catch his breath, pitying the sickly fellow, and clearing my throat.

“Who is it?” Curt and to the point.

“Princess!” Cheered a voice from so, so long ago, delivering a slow injection of liquid ice into my veins. “It’s your dad!”

I hesitated. The quiet house felt like glass and I felt transparent.

“…Dad?” The title felt unreal, a myth.

“Yes, Princess. Now open the door!” Father said in that merry way of his, with an inflection to his tone.

My fingers curled around the handle in seconds, and while my breaths grew in number, the door was opening before my head could catch up.

No, wait! Too late, Father was before me and smiling widely, picture perfect. His clothes were neat and his facial hair was neat. As if he dressed well to come here.

“I haven’t heard from you in a long time!” I chirped, hands sliding behind my back while a foot lifted to close the door after I stepped outside. “Are you coming back into Mom’s life? I’ve been waiting to know if you’d ever come back…” I offered him a grin, his eyes focused on mine.

“I know, I missed you, Princess. Just know I would never let you grow up without me if I had a choice…Say, where’s your mother? Can I come in?”

A light cough came from behind the door, I hacked into my wrist. “Oh, no, no, she’s out right now. Do you want me to leave a message?”

Father smiled. “No need. Just come with me—I’ll explain everything about what happened on the way. I can talk to your mother later.” His smile remained carefree and patient. “I hope she’ll understand the mistake she made in leaving me behind, but I’ve found you!” Father laughed lightly. “The world is truly a place to find luck!”

“Come with you,” I repeated, taking the second to blink. “Come with you? Like old times?”

Father bobbed his head. “Just us. You used to love pointing out the leaves on the sidewalk.”

I don’t remember that myself and Mom never mentioned it.

Father gave a slow shake of the head. “Or, if you want, we can wait inside for your Mother,”

A spike of disdain and ‘no’ sparked through my heart. “A drive sounds nice!” I turned to the door and opened it slightly. “I’ll be back, Dad! I’m so excited…I expect a chai latte for this! It’s my new favorite drink.” I waited until Father waved me off, and I slipped back inside, clicking the lock shut.

Feeling numb, crossed with frost, I prowled forward, snatching Ivory’s hand, uncaring of how sick he was, and taking him back to the quarantine room. I did not let go of his fingers, my nails digging into his skin. There wasn’t a word of complaint from him, was my face scary?

Ebony looked alert the second I stepped in with Ivory.

Rock in my throat, I straightened up. “Father is here. He’s breaking the restraining order on purpose, we need to call the cops.” I bit my tongue, tasting blood as both brothers stared at me, frozen. “I brought us time but it’s not enough. One of you needs to make the call, and do it quietly. He’s waiting for me, and I can’t let him get suspicious."

Ivory’s hand squeezed my own, he was already shaking his head but I did not risk looking at either of them.

“If I don’t come back in a certain amount of time, he will break in. That cannot happen, neither of you can defend yourselves like this, and if he heckles me into some sort of hostage situation–No. Here’s what we’re doing. Ivory? Help me move Ebony to the closet. Call 911 the second you see me leave with him, okay? Do not play hero, are you two hearing me? He will kill you. I know him, he will kill you.” The words spill like a cursed fairytale forcibly revealing the truth.

Harsh. Fearful. Stern with rulebreakers.

“Why are you so confident?” Ebony snapped, his desperation running lashes of panic along my goosebump skin. “How in the hell are you so confident he’ll do that?”

I am reminded of the days Mom had whispered to her family over the phone about Father’s cruelty. And how her face broke when her siblings tried to tell her she was overreacting, he couldn’t be so inhumane. Mom’s sisters couldn’t be the support, so a little bitty child like me had no other choice but to…!

“Because I’ve lived with him,” I cackled hysterically, covering my mouth to muffle the noise. “He only ever saw Mom as someone to control. To possess as his. I am an extension of that–But you two? You’re a sign that she’s moved on.” I grinned at the two, mouth tasting blood. “He won’t accept that. He’s too controlling. He’s never let go and I’ve seen his violence before.” I breathe in, glaring at the two of them. “Do what I say!”

Ivory swiftly aided me in hauling Ebony over to the closet. Ebony is trembling with a heavy frown, but so is Ivory. I do not try to pacify them.

It feels like I’m in my single digits again, sobbing over a bleeding knee, and growing quiet when Father walked into the room to investigate the source of child sniffling.

More pain is to follow if the agony is addressed, that is my thoughts as I then pushed Ivory into the closet, regardless of his soft cry and thud in hitting the ground.

I did not have much time. I tore into the laundry basket then began pouring the contents over them.

“Stay quiet, make a hole to breathe,” I whispered as I put the basket back in place. I shut the closet door. “Remember. Remember to call, right as we’re gone. Right as,” My words didn’t feel real, like a ramble from an old cassette tape.

I walked away from the shut closet and made it to the bathroom. I snatched my green toothbrush, catching the sight of myself in the mirror.

I am positively quivering. A frightened herbivore about to walk into a field with a known predator, is it possible for this to end like in the books? Can I lure the wolf away before it eats my fellow lamb brothers? Are my wits sharp enough? Is my wool alluring enough? One mistake will throw them into danger.

“Damn it,” I swallowed my tears. “Damn it, damn this,” I splash water, rub my face with a sleeve, and stepped out of the bathroom.

The house is quiet.

In a fit of rage, I turn heel and throw the toothbrush, it bounces hard against the door and strikes my head.

The flare of white-blinding heat rushed over my body. By the time it cools down, so has my mood. Sliding the toothbrush into my pocket, letting it poke out from the side, I walked straight to the entrance with a travel bag.

I threw open the door with a big smile on my face. My stomach dipped but my eyes remained closed in hiding.

“Ready, Dad! I got my stuff! Sorry if I took so long,” I gestured to the toothbrush attached to my hip. “I misplaced this.” I approached him, closing the door and locking it behind me with a click.

“That’s alright, Princess,” Father hummed, his eyes kept traveling to the house. “Let’s go for that ride. You can tell me all about what your mother was up to since I…Was busy in the years.” Father put a hand on my back, pulling me to his side. He leaned in and kissed the top of my forehead.

“Mn, sure!” Why does he feel the need to touch me? I wanted to scratch the skin off with toothpaste, a toothbrush, and water.

I then babble about nonsense as we head into a white car I haven’t seen in years.

Anything to keep Father’s attention off the house.

Even as we begin driving away, I see the curtain of the residence window slightly propped open. Ebony’s side-room, if I had to guess from this distance. Didn’t I tell them to stay put and hidden? Brats, even as grown young adults. I swear, this is why Mom often left me in charge.

ComeBackComeBackComeBack.

It’s for the best. This was the best move at the time.

WhyDidYouDoThat. WhyCouldn’tWeFaceHimTogether?!

Please call 911 as soon as possible. Tell Mom what happened.

Be safe. I will also do my best to stay okay.

Don’tLeaveUsHere! Don’tLeaveLikeThis!

“Tell me how your mother has been doing,” Father began, light and casual as the car continued to drive down the road, away from the house on the hill.

I see trees in the distance of the window, the beginnings of a forest. I think we’re going to drive on the grass very soon.

The world blurred into darkness.