They stayed at the bottom of the staircase, talking about the diversity of their lives. After they had sold Jarad, things became a lot better for their family. They were able to live comfortably and start their own business, even give Evie an education. The only problem was that they stopped at high school. College was much too expensive for them to continue, especially since the standard of living there was costly. The only option was to get in through scholarship by paying for an application form and taking the exam. An option her parents were reluctant to take so she decided to get a job to pay for it.
As for Jarad...well, as chaotic as his life was, there wasn't much to say. It had been an endless cycle of wake up, train, get experimented on, go on missions, train, train again, sleep and repeat. Not a lot going for him there.
The time felt too short as the night continued to darken- a sign that she should get home.
Jarad offered to escort her there and she didn't object, the reunited siblings basking in the comfortable silence as they walked side by side.
They stood a feet away from the house, staring at the warm glow the lights gave off on the porch.
"...you could come in, you know." Evie offered quietly, sneaking in a glance.
"No." Jarad replied a bit too harshly. A tiny part of him always felt bitter that his parents had given him up. What would he even say? How would they react? How would _he_ react?
He cleared his throat, noting to soften his voice. "No. It would bring... complications." Feeling a hand slip into his, he gazed at his sister who gave him a soft smile.
"I understand. Will I see you again?" She inquired in a hopeful tone.
"Yes. I'm not leaving you out of my sight again." He ruffled her hair, ignoring her protests.
Evie waved at him and smiled at him again before entering her home.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" She announced, throwing her bag on the couch and going into the kitchen. There, her parents were already seated at the dining table, plates filled but uneaten with worry in their eyes.
It changed when they laid eyes on her, relief shown on their faces.
"You're finally home!" The chair screeched as her mom stood up and embraced. Instinctively, she hugs back, the motherly warmth emanating from her making her smile and sigh in comfort. In a second, her face changes to one of pain as her mother pinches her cheeks with intensity.
Evie lets out little yelps as she rested her arms on her mother's hands, patting them lightly. "Mom! Mom, please!"
"Do you know how worried your father and I have been, young lady? It's two hours past your closing time! Where have you been?!" The older woman inquired angrily.
Evie opened her mouth only to close it again. "I was... I was out." She uttered lamely.
"Out? Out where?"
"I was... talking to someone," Evie admitted, averting her mother's sharp gaze.
"Talking to someone? Who? A friend?" her father chimed in, his voice tinged with concern.
Evie hesitated, unsure how to explain. Her parents had never spoken about Jarad since the day he was taken. It was as though they'd buried the memory of him, along with their guilt, under the comfort of their newfound life.
"Just... someone I met recently," she said vaguely.
Her mother narrowed her eyes, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "Evie, you're not a child anymore. You can't just disappear without a word. This isn't like you. Is something going on?"
Evie forced a smile and shook her head. "No, Mom. I promise it's nothing to worry about. I just lost track of time, that's all."
Her father leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. "Alright. But please, let us know next time. We trust you, Evie, but it's dangerous out there."
"I will," she promised, feeling a pang of guilt for hiding the truth.
Later that night, as she lay in bed, her thoughts drifted back to Jarad. It was surreal seeing him again, after so many years of believing she'd never get the chance. He looked so different—taller, stronger, and harder in every sense of the word. But behind that stoic exterior, she saw glimpses of the brother she remembered.
Her mind replayed his parting words: "I'm not leaving you out of my sight again."
A sense of both comfort and unease settled over her. Comfort, because she knew she wasn't alone anymore. Unease, because she couldn't ignore the tension in his voice when he mentioned their parents.
---
Meanwhile, Jarad watched the house from the shadows. He wasn't sure why he stayed—curiosity, perhaps, or the faint hope of understanding the family who had traded him away for a better life.
He could see their silhouettes through the windows, moving about in the warm glow of the living room. His parents looked older now, lines of age and worry etched on their faces. They laughed at something Evie said, the sound muffled but unmistakably happy.
It made his chest tighten. A small, irrational part of him had hoped they would be miserable without him. That they would regret their decision every day. But seeing them now, it was clear they had moved on, built a new life without him.
Jarad turned away, his fists clenching. He shouldn't have stayed.
---
The next few days passed in a blur for Evie. She went to work, smiled at her customers, and went through the motions, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She kept expecting Jarad to appear out of nowhere, to step out of the shadows like he had that night.
And then, one evening, he did.
She was walking home after her shift when she felt someone fall into step beside her.
"You're quiet today," Jarad remarked.
Evie nearly jumped but quickly recovered, a grin spreading across her face. "You're getting good at sneaking up on me."
"I've had practice," he replied dryly.
They walked in silence for a moment, the city lights casting long shadows on the pavement.
"Have you... thought about what I said?" Evie asked hesitantly.
Jarad didn't answer right away. His jaw tightened, and she could see the conflict in his eyes.
"I don't belong there, Evie," he said finally. "That house, those people... They're not my family anymore."
"That's not true," she protested. "They still talk about you, you know. Not often, but they do. They regret what happened. They just—"
"They made their choice," Jarad interrupted, his voice cold. "And so did I. My life is... different now. I can't go back to what was."
Evie stopped walking and grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. "I get it. You're angry, and you have every right to be. But you're still my brother, Jarad. And whether you like it or not, they're still our parents. Don't you think they deserve a chance to explain?"
Jarad stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, he sighed and looked away.
"I'll think about it," he muttered.
It wasn't the answer Evie wanted, but it was a start.
---
That night, as Jarad sat alone in the abandoned building he called home, he thought about Evie's words. Memories he had buried long ago began to resurface—his mother's laughter, his father's stern but kind voice, the way Evie used to cling to him whenever she was scared.
Maybe it was time to stop running.
But if he did, what would he even say?