Adriana
Groggily, I let my eyes slowly adjust. My pulse pounds relentlessly against my skull, ears ringing painfully. Despite being well rested physically, mentally, I feel completely drained.
Slowly, I attempt to sit up, groaning as pain shoots up my already stiff neck. I am still on the couch, half a chocolate chip muffin still clutched loosely in my hand. I sigh, knowing that with my luck, the chocolate has most likely made a mess of my hand as well as everything in it's immediate vicinity. Just wonderful.
Squinting, I glance up to see Becca sat cross legged on the floor, a large book in her lap. Her head leans against the wall as she snores softly, unaware of the now wakened presence in the room. I giggle, seeing a spot of drool by her mouth. Only she could sleep like that.
"Your awake?" I jolt, my back suddenly rigid as my heart palpitates in my chest, only to speed up further once I realise who the voice belongs to. In the doorway stands Becca's 21 year old brother and my crush since forever, Alec. His mop of blonde hair swoops just over his blue eyes, giving him that 'just woke up' look that guys always seem to pull off. I can't seem to stop myself from ogling his cheek bones, then his jawline. God, that jawline. He leans against the doorframe, his broad, moderately muscled shoulders relaxed. It's obvious that he regularly works out. There is a clear bulge of muscle on his arms though not too much as he still looks slender. A black t-shirt fits snugly on his torso, not doing much to hide the vague outline of the abs that lurk underneath. Trailing my eyes back up to his face, I notice that the corner of his mouth is turned up in a knowing, slightly cocky smirk, effectively snapping me out of my trance. There's no doubt that I have liked him for years, but I don't want him to know that. Not that the heat crawling up my neck is helping me in hiding that fact. Subtly clearing my throat, I attempt to pull myself together, at least enough to answer him.
Or I would if I could remember the damn question.
"Um... Huh?" Great. Blood almost instantaneously floods up to my cheeks as he chuckles. Quickly, my eyes find a rather interesting paint chip to inspect.
"Doesn't matter," he chuckles again, pushing off of the doorframe and sitting next to me on the couch. Gently, he takes the muffin from my hand, tossing it into the woven bin in the corner. The breath I didn't know I'd been holding releases itself; my hands are somehow miraculously chocolate free, and so is everything in the surrounding area. Keeping my gaze on my already chipped nails as I pick at them awkwardly, I hear him sigh. "You know, I really don't get how she can sleep like that."
Lifting my head, I shift my gaze over to Becca. At some point, she fell back, her dirty-blonde hair splayed out underneath her head as it lay haphazardly on the floor. The book has slid off of her lap, and somehow she is still cross legged, her feet squished under the opposite legs, which cannot be comfortable at all. She lets out an almighty snore, a loud, rumbling gurgle emanating from the back of her throat as more drool trickles down her pale cheek. Unconsciously, she brings up her hand to wipe her mouth, groaning as she does so. The sight makes me chuckle, remembering all the sleepovers we used to have. She'd always fall asleep first, so Alec and I would draw mustaches on her or put whipped cream on her nose. There was one time where we put popcorn in her belly button, only for her to eat it anyway when she woke up, claiming that it is wrong to 'waste food'. Suddenly, I feel a stupidly huge, probably ugly grin coming on, and as I glance over at Alec, I can tell he remembers it too.
Shifting towards me, Alec smiles. "You need anything? Painkillers maybe?" My stomach dropped. The current issue, temporarily forgotten, fades back into reality, bringing a frown to my face as I think about my own sister. His smile drops slightly, pity glowing in his normally bright blue eyes as his posture becomes uncomfortable. I had thought that he only knew about me being thrown out and hurt, but his apparent change in demeanor causes me to assume otherwise. "I'm sorry Ria."
I inhale a deep breath. "Do you know?" He doesn't answer immediately, fidgeting almost nervously with his fingers on his lap.
He raises his gaze to look me directly in the eye. "Know what?"
So maybe he doesn't know. Of course he wouldn't. Edmund would never have let Emily's disappearance get out now, not after he hurt me and kicked me out. It would be too suspicious, with a high possibility of ruining his perfect reputation. He'd do anything to protect his public image.
"You guys alright?"
Simultaneously, we both look towards Becca, who now lies face up as she stretches her arms and legs, arching her back in the process. She turns to face us with a questioning expression when she sees our identical uncomfortable stances.
Alec is the first to respond, clearing his throat and attempting to relax his tense shoulders. "Yeah, I was just asking Ria if she needed anything."
She pushes herself up into a sitting position, giving me a once over. She wears an expression of disgust as she does so, eyeing my injuries, her gaze lingering on my swollen and throbbing cheek. "Jeez Ria. You look like shit."
Sighing, I shake my head. "Thanks. I didn't know."
"Just pointing out the facts girly. How about I get some pills for you and then you can tell us what happened, yeah?" She asks, sending me a friendly wink before standing and walking across the room.
"Yeah. Sounds good."
*****
"So wait, Ed did all this? What the hell for?!" Becca slams her fork down on the kitchen table, her blue eyes darkening as a scowl finds it's way to her lips. All the time that we've been eating, my insides have been stuck in a permanent turmoil of non-stop emotions and thoughts, debating whether or not to tell them about Emily. If Edmund hasn't said anything yet, clearly it would mean trouble for me and potentially Emily if people find out. I know that someone should go to the police for help, yet I haven't quite worked out how to get around the whole issue with Edmund. I don't want the police knowing what he did to me yet. It would only make complications, setting back the most important thing; finding my sister. We might not always get along, but without her constant whining and pointless complaining, things don't feel right.
Deciding that I have known these two long enough to trust them, I tell them everything. About Emily, about Edmund slapping me the night before she disappeared, and about the chemically scented rag Diana and I found in her room. They each listen intently, Becca a little moreso, her fists clenching on the table and her remaining dessert forgotten while Alec's still remains untouched. I warn them not to say anything about it to anyone yet, making sure that they both know I have more thinking to do beforehand. They each hesitate to agree, Alec's jaw clenching as he mulls over everything I have mentioned, but eventually they comply with my wishes, understanding why I still need a little time.
Once I finish talking, I inspect the both of them, watching their reactions unfold. Becca is plain fuming, glaring murderously at her dessert with her knife clutched so tightly her knuckles are turning white. It's obvious that her control hangs on by a thread, the tight fists of her hands quaking ever so slightly. Anger seeps into her irises, causing them to appear unnaturally dark - almost purple? - in the limited lighting. Alec on the other hand has not stopped fidgeting with his fingers, not once looking up from his still as of yet untouched food. I understand that the idea of keeping my injuries away from others makes them both uncomfortable, but I need him to get over his protective side. I'll live. Emily is more important right now.
Noticing him clench his jaw again, I reach over the table, placing my hand gently on top of his to get his attention. "You ok?"
He sighs, lifting his other hand and running it through his ruffled hair. "I guess. I just hope he knows he's gonna lose his balls if he touches you again." I giggle, drawing my hand back onto my lap while noticing Becca's grimace.
"What balls?" She asks, with a completely serious, slightly disgusted expression. "He'd have to be a man to have 'em."
"True. A man who hits a woman is no man." Taking a swig of water, Alec again runs his hand through his hair, messing it up and giving off a now more reflexed aura.
"No brother. That's where your wrong." We both turn to Becca expectantly, silently questioning her disagreement. "Well you can't be expected not to slap a bitch all the time."
I laugh softly. She has a point. Then again, it's probably because she also has had to deal with one of Alec's ex girlfriends that he couldn't seem to get rid of himself. I'm not sure exactly what happened between them, but I recall seeing her stagger out of their house with a black eye and a split lip before getting into the car of what appeared to be another boyfriend. Protectiveness has always been a family trait for them.
Placing down her knife, Becca clears her throat and stands, taking my painkillers from the countertop and tossing them to me. "Time for more. You can have water or there's iced tea in the fridge if you want some." I nod, standing up myself and handing her my plate as she clears the table around Alec, who seems to have just noticed the presence of his now cold dessert.
Stepping around him, I make my way to the fridge with the box of tablets in my hand. Opening it up, I notice that it is filled with multiple black flasks and bottles, with no indication of what is what. There was a few earlier, but I don't recall there being so many, and I couldn't see their contents through them. Sighing, I turn back to Alec, not wanting to open up multiple bottles repeatedly. "Which one's the iced tea in?"
Abruptly, he gets up, his cutlery clattering on his plate as he nearly knocks over his chair. He hurries over to the fridge and pushes me gently out of the way, reaching up and pulling out a small, light green pitcher before handing it to me and shutting the fridge door a little to forcibly. Sending me a quick smile, he quickly sits back down, picking up his cutlery and continues eating, as if he didn't stop in the first place. His shoulders appear tense again, his back and neck completely rigid. I hope he's not still uncomfortable with what I've asked of them.
*****
Unknown
"What are you doing!"
Sighing, I turn to my previous accomplice, my patience running on a tight leash. He glares towards the girl in my arms as I clutch onto her. "What?"
Judgmentally, he crosses his arms, his quivering posture and clenching fists betraying his act of confidence as he tenses up in uncertainty. "We are supposed to take her to the boss."
Ignoring the hoarse voice, I turn, twisting the door handle carefully.
"Hey! Where are you going?" He grabs hold of my arm.
Growling, I kick him in the groin and follow it up with one in the stomach, pushing him back so that he lands heavily on the tiled floor. "You can tell the fucker whatever you want, leach. Just be sure to give him my regards when he shows up."
And with that, I take my leave, the girl locked firmly in my grasp.