She was the bane of my existence and the source of all my pain.

The root of all evil.

It was only fate that we would meet again. On this, solemn day.

“Nii-san wake up!”

My eyes flung open and my head slammed into something hard.

“Owww” said someone to my left.

Light pierced my eyes throwing me into a daze and causing me to hiss like a viper as I assumed a defensive turtle stance. My blanket draped over me, like a cape.

“You DARE disturb my slumber?!” I spoke, taunting whoever would do such a thing. “Answer me!”

“Jeez” said a delicate voice. “You’re not a vampire and Mum says we have to leave.”

Ah, the cruel fate of a lonesome soul such as I, banished to this mortal plane of existence. Why me, oh merciful one, why must I, a lone soldier-

Whoosh

My blanket abandoned me.

“Nii-san you baka! If you don’t get ready to leave you won’t get any breakfast. We’re leaving early today remember?”

I uncurled from my defensive formation, scanning my surroundings for the subject of my interrogation. Long wavy black hair and a pair of light gray eyes. It was none other than my sister- Ruri.

“Are you even listening to me?”

My eyes locked onto the blanket held within her hands.

“Even my own blood betrays me. How pitiful.” I said, shaking my head left to right. “Apologize now and I may show you mercy.”

Ruri rolled her eyes and let out a breath.

“Oh my god…” she said, in an undertone, rolling my blanket into a ball and standing up. Just as she was about to walk out the door she stopped. “Oh, here’s your blanket.”

With all the might she could muster the blanket now turned projectile impacted my cranium, knocking me into the hard surface behind me.

“MUM NII-SAN’S BEING A BAKA!”

Ruri was vigilant enough to seal my room, lest I seek vengeance behind her back.

Knock knock

On instinct I answered. “Who’s there?”

My door immediately swung open revealing the face of my mother. Short black hair with two gray eyes, unsurprisingly similar features to Ruri, considering this is the person Ruri inherited her genes from.

“Ryu stop fooling around! You know we’re leaving early. I want you showered, dressed and downstairs in the next fifteen minutes. Okay?”

I opened my mouth-

“That wasn’t a question now hurry up.”

My door shut itself again and I took a deep breath.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. I got up and yawned while bending my back backwards, squezing the last bits of sleep out of me. My closet was bare except for the only outfit left, light blue shorts and a yellow shirt. Of course le obligatory undergarment was present as well, I like a little breeze but I’m not a fan of just letting it all hang. Gotta have that support.

I swiped my few pieces of fabric and bathed myself in some glorious adam’s ale.

***

I checked my watch as I came down the stairs. Eleven minutes, bitch please, only plebs need fifteen. I headed for the kitchen, seeking to replenish my energy reserves.

“You look like shrek,” said Ruri, seated at the dining table nibbling on toast.

“So you must be donkey,” I said with a smirk.

Ruri looked at me deadpan, silently challenging me to the most primitive of duels. Our eyes locked and I took a seat opposite her.

The room became an anechoic chamber, each bite into Ruri’s toast thundering in my ears, the beat of my fingers on hard wood a melody of war. Ruri licked her lips, and I tightened my gaze. The sound of our breaths pounded in my ears, each breath battling to drown out the last.

“This is nothing for me.” I said.

Ruri held her deadpan expression, and having finished licking the last bits of breakfast from her lips she sat back in her chair.

“You know you’re not gonna get to eat in the car Nii-chan.”

I could vaguely see her lips curve into a smile. This demon had drawn me right into her master plan. Evil to the bone.

“I will end-”

The front door flew open letting in a gust of wind and my mother wearing a warm ruby jacket.

“Alright we’re leaving!”

***

Sitting in the back of my kindred’s humble red hatchback, I swallowed my spit. This automobile was crammed full of everything and anything we could stuff into its exiguous periphery.

Yet, and I swear this is all Ruri’s doing, not a single box carried any sustenance.

“Are we there yet?” said Ruri, in the front seat.

“Stop being so cliche,” I replied.

“It’ll be another 3 hours until we get on the highway,” said my materfamilias.

Through the pellucid aperture to my sinistral I laid my eyes on the landscape moving before me. A field of copy paste homes. Hypnotized by the blurs of color zipping by, my mind faded into a shallow slumber.

Bump

Fuck off I’m asleep.

BUMP

My cranium kissed the roof and I - “Goddammit” - not so silently cursed the road and my mother's driving.

“Shhh.”

Mama hushed me.

“Ruri’s still sleeping.”

I briefly looked to the front passenger seat.

“Out like a light,” I muttered.

“Ryu.”

My head froze and my eyes flicked left.

“Yeah?”

“Take care of your sister, okay?”

I exhaled.

“Ohh, yeah sure.”

“I’m serious Ryu.”

Oh, you just know someone’s serious when they tell you and tag your name onto the end of it.

“Kathleen.” I cleared my throat. My Mother’s maiden name tasted weird. “Is it necessary that we repeat this conversation?”

“I’m your Mum, listen to me.”

“Yes Ma’am!”

“Now you will check up on your sister every week, you will answer my calls, and you will not get into trouble, understood?”

“Alright.” My reply was automatic.

Mum was having none of that shit. “Ryu.”

“Okay! I’ll answer your calls and be a good boy.”

“And?”

I loaded my lungs with air in preparation.

“Why do I have to check on her?”

I gave my mother a short pause, continuing just around the time I could hear her begin to form a reply.

“Do you not trust your own daughter?”

My lips came together into a smirk. I rarely spoke back to my Mum, but this time my freedom was on the line. Stand my ground for another hour or two and I can ignore Ruri for the rest of my free life.

“Things can happen, I just want you two to look out for eachother.”

I muted myself, lest I ruin my plan. Silence is all my mother needs to hear.

The car swerved left for a moment.

Wow, don’t forget you’re driving, I got too many things to do before I die!

But the plan was working. My silence reinforced that nothing more needed to be said. The decision was made.

I took note of the time. 1 hour and 47 minutes to freedom.