CHAPTER4
746 Words
A Sister to Protect
"Don't let anyone in."
I don't like how sharp my voice sounds.
Zara stops halfway to the handle, and her fingers are in the air. Her eyes darted to mine, which were wide and hesitant.
"But someone is knocking—" "I told you not to."
She slowly takes her hand back.
Fine.
I don't think about it and move in front of her, blocking her from the door. My heart is racing too quickly and loudly, as if it's trying to warn me before my head catches up.
The shadow behind the glass is moving.
Still here.
Waiting.
I slowly move closer and stare through the small hole.
There is a guy outside.
Not the one from last night.
Not the same one as previously.
This one looks older. Stay calm. Too laid-back. This is something he does all the time.
He lifts his hand and knocks again.
Very strong.
"Miss Cole," he says through the door. "We know you're in there."
Zara has my arm.
I don't see her.
"Go to the back," I whisper softly. "I don't want to—" "Now."
She thinks about it for a bit, then nods and walks away, her little footfall getting quieter.
I wait till I can't hear her anymore.
After that, I turned around.
The dude hasn't moved.
I say, "What do you want?"
He says, "A conversation." "I don't care."
"That's a shame."
For a moment, he glances past me.
"But this isn't a choice."
A bad cold develops in my chest. "You can't just come here and—" "This isn't your shop."
The words stung a lot.
I don't move. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?"
I grip the door more tightly. "I have papers."
"Us too."
My stomach hurts.
He says, "You should read what people write to you."
The note.
The photo.
The paper. "You've been ignoring things," he says next. "Calls. Notices. In real life.
"I don't owe you anything," I responded. "Not you."
A pause. "Your mum did."
"How does that affect me?" "All of it." "My chest feels tight."
Silence is long.
I don't like the way he says it. As if it has already been decided.
I tell you to go.
He doesn't move.
He doesn't do it; instead, he reaches into his coat.
I am nervous, but he just takes out a thin folder and holds it up.
"You might want this." "I don't."
"I think you do," I say. "Who?" "For her," they say.
My heart feels like it's going to stop.
His eyes go to the back.
Where Zara calls home.
My instincts grew stronger. "Don't," I repeat.
He says, "I don't need to see."
I'm feeling cold.
He says, "You have five days." "Then we take what belongs to us."
"You're not taking anything."
"We already did."
My breath stops. "What do you mean?" "Look at your account."
"No." "You should."
My hand moves anyway.
I pull out my phone.
Start the app.
Wait a second.
Then, nothing.
There's nothing left. "No..." My voice is breaking. "That's not going to happen."
"Think of it as a warning," he says.
"You can't do this."
"We already did."
"That money was for—" "For living?" he cuts in.
His voice stays the same. "Miss Cole, you don't have much time left."
"Amara?" Zara's voice rattles behind me.
I turn around fast.
She is standing there and looks pallid.
"I tried the lights," she says.
"But it's not just us," "I know—"
It seems like my chest is squeezed. "What do you mean?"
She eats. "Everything is wrong. The fridge. The neighbours. Outside too.
I stop.
I turn back to the man slowly.
He is staring at me.
Too carefully.
I add softly, "This isn't just about money." "No," he responds. "It's not."
As the door opens wider, it creaks.
He goes in.
The darkness behind him feels thick.
It seems to be moving too. "This," he says softly, "is a collection."
Zara moves closer to me and grabs my shirt.
I don't move.
I can't do it.
The air feels different now.
Thicker.
Not right. I ask, "What do you want from me?"
He keeps looking at me. "Not you."
My heart is beating quicker.
"What's next?"
He tilts his head to the side a little.
Then it glances away from me again.
This time for a longer time.
And when he speaks, my blood rushes cold.Your sibling.
- Writer
