Embracing the Beast Within

Chapter 02: Lightning

"Where’s your brother?" Mom asked. She just got home from work with Dad.

"He said he'd be at his friend’s," I answered boredly as I lay on our couch.

Since the day Parker brought Elias and his twin brother here, they have not come back yet. Elias was probably still embarrassed by what his twin did to me, so instead, they invited Parker to their house.

"It’s already six o’clock," Mom said. "Call him and tell him to go home now," she added.

"He’s not answering," I said when I called Parker’s phone twice and he wasn't picking it up.

And my mom, as a natural born hysterical, said, "Go to his friend's house now and pick him up."

I snorted, "Mom, Parker is already sixteen, and he’s just five houses away from ours. Let him come home on his own will."

Mom turned to me, hands on both of her hips, brows arching. "Olivia Margarette, do I have to repeat myself to you?" she said, calling my full name.

Knowing my mother very well and what might happen if I didn’t listen to her, I immediately stood and walked to our door to pick up my sixteen-year-old brother from his play date at our neighbors' house.

Oh, I can’t wait to leave for university soon!

"Oh, god, it’s raining," I said as I stepped outside our door. "I'm going to kill you, Parker, for making me do this," I uttered, took out an umbrella, and started walking to Elias’ house.

Elias’ house, like Parker said, was five houses away from ours. It was located at the end of the street, near the forest. It only took me five minutes to reach their house, and now I am standing in front of the porch, trying to call Parker again, so I would not need to ring their doorbell.

"Jesus, Parker! Why is your phone always useless when it’s needed?" I uttered when Parker still had not picked up his phone. I stepped on their porch and was about to ring the doorbell when the door suddenly opened.

"Oh, hi! I was looking for Parker. Is he still there?" I said when Sebastian opened their door and stood in front of me.

"He’s inside," he answered, And like the other day, his tone is still cold and distant, and his facial expression looked annoyed.

I nodded and smiled awkwardly. I would really kill Parker for putting me in this situation. "He’s not answering his phone, and our mom is already looking for him. Can you tell him I’m here to pick him up? I said, emphasizing the last words.

But instead of answering what I expected him to say, he instead said, "Get in."

I shook my head. "I’ll just wait here. Just please tell him I’m here.

"It’s raining hard," he said, looking behind me, and indeed, the rain poured so hard.

"Right," I said with a sigh.

"Come in," Sebastian said, opening the door wider for me to get in.

I was forced to leave and get in. "Thanks," I said as I stood beside him.

"This way," he said, leading me inside.

I followed, and I realized that what Parker told me the other day was true! The house looks haunted on the outside, but the inside is absolutely amazing. The interior of their house is a combination of modern and traditional styles, from the way it's designed to the furniture and appliances they have.

"Olivia, you’re here!" Elias greeted me the moment he saw me coming into their living room. He stood and went to me, looking behind me. "Did he throw some attitude again?" he whispered, and I already knew what he meant.

I smiled and pointed at my brother, who was so engrossed in playing on the PS5. He didn’t even glance at me. "I’m picking him up," I said. "And no, he was nice," I answered his question.

"Thank God. He was just really going through something the other day," he said.

"I told you, it was nothing. Stop bothering yourself about it," I said, glancing behind me. Sebastian isn’t there anymore. "Parker." I called my brother, whose full attention is on his game, and when he still didn’t hear me, I turned back to Elias and smiled. "Excuse me," I said, reaching for the pillow resting on their couch and throwing it to Parker.

"Liv!" Parker said, standing up. "What are you doing here?"

I arched my brow and answered, "Picking you up."

"Picking me up? What am I, five?" he replied, chuckling while shaking his head.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, tell that to mom," I said. "We’ll go home now," I said, turning to Elias.

"It’s still raining hard," Sebastian butted in. He passed behind me and headed straight to the couch.

"He’s right, Liv. Let’s just stay until the rain stops," Parker commented.

"Tell that to our mom," I repeated.

"Okay," he said, and he immediately grabbed his phone. He even glanced at me upon seeing the number of missed calls he got from me. I just rolled my eyes at him. "Mom said okay," he then said.

Doubtful, I took out my phone as well and sent a message to Mom. Mom, it’s raining so hard. Can we stay here until the rain stops? I texted.

[Okay. I’ll have your dad pick you up from there after thirty minutes if the rain still hasn't stopped, she replied.

"Alright. Dad will come pick us up if the rain has not stopped yet in thirty minutes," I said.

"I told you, right?" Parker said before going back to playing.

"If it stops in ten minutes, we have to go home," I said.

"It will not stop any sooner," Sebastian butted in again.

"He’s right. The rain might have taken at least an hour to stop," Elias confirmed. "But while it’s raining and you have thirty minutes to stay, would you like to play with us or do you want me to tour you around?"

"Our house isn’t a museum, Elias," Sebastian said, brows furrowed.

"It’s okay, Elias. I’ll just sit and wait until we can go home," I said instead.

I know where I should stand.

"You sure? I heard you’re taking up architecture for college. You can roam around our house to see inspiration?" Elias said, and I immediately turned to Parker, squinting my eyes.

"I told you not to tell her that," Parker said.

Elias chuckled and said, "Oh, my bad."

I just shook my head and didn’t say anything. Elias then led me to sit. I followed and sat at the side, far from Sebastian.

"I’ll get you something to eat," Elias said, and before I could stop him, he had already turned his back and left. And when he came back, he was already holding a tray with a slice of cake and orange juice on it. "Here," he said.

"Thanks," I said as I accepted the food. "Is that all you do when he’s here?" I couldn't help but ask, pointing at their TV screen.

"Most of the time, yes," Elias answered.

"How about the rest?

"We play outside," he said, pointing from their ceiling to the floor window.

"In the forest? What game do you play there?" I asked.

"Hide and seek?" Elias said, and my brows automatically creased. "Kidding. We haunt," he added.

"Haunt? With Parker?" I asked again, shocked. "What animal do you haunt there?"

"Animal?" Sebastian commented in a low voice, but it still reached my ears.

I turned to him, my brows creased even more, but Elias said that my attention went back to him immediately.

"Bunnies and deer," he said.

"With Parker? You’ve done that with him?"

"Once. We haunt bunnies," Elias answered, and my eyes widened even more.

"Jesus!" I blurted.

"You’re overreacting, Liv, Parker said as he continuously played.

"I’m not— I was cut off by a sharp lightning bolt that lit the whole living room, and a loud thunder followed. "Oh, sh*t!" I blurted as I slid down the couch to sit on the floor, my hands on both my ears and eyes closed.

"Liv!" Parker went to me immediately, helping me to cover my ears using both hands, his body covering the view of the window. "It’s okay," he whispered to me.

"Is she scared of thunder?" Elias asked.

"Lightning," Parker answered, still covering my ears. "We have to go home now," Parker added.

Then, the whole living room suddenly went dark as the curtains of the window closed. Sebastian pulled it closed.

Elias nodded and said, "I’ll drive you home."

"It’s still pouring, Elias," I heard Sebastian say, stopping his twin brother.

"It’s okay, guys. I’ll just call dad to pick us up," Parker said, and he started calling our father.