When the Blood Runs Dry

Chapter 2

 Heart racing, lungs burning, Wolfgang ran. Knowing he would fail, Wolfgang still tried his hardest. Knowing he could not beat his sister with speed, he would have to use his wits, come up with a strategy. Being only 10, Wolfgang didn't have the brain functionality of adults, so his ideas weren't the greatest. He decided he would cut her off by running through the bush on his left.

Amelia made a quick ninety degree turn to the left, just beyond the bushes, just as Wolfgang had planned. He pushed forward and made a leap over the bush. Landing with a loud thud, he went to keep going. That's when he noticed his pants were caught.

Realizing too late, he fell and banged his head on the ground. Amelia turned when she heard the thud; surprised, she had to hold in her laughter, she could tell he was in pain. Wolfgang slumped his head, there he was, hanging with his pants pulled halfway down and his backside gleaming in the morning rays of sunlight.

"You-" she emphasized the word 'you', "aren't wearing any underwear!" She flew into a fit of giggles, and pointed at him.

Still groggy Wolfgang lifted his head and glared at his sister, stopping immediately, she lifted her hands to her mouth and called for their mother.

"Uh, my underwear got pulled down with my pants, by the way." He said, while lifting his arms and attempting to pull up his pants. After about thirty seconds he realized it was no use and he just used his hands to cover his backside.

Running outside their mother finally arrived, her beautiful red hair thrown into a ponytail. Amelia got her red hair and beauty from her mother. The three looked a lot alike; although, Wolfgang got his dark hair from his father.

"Took you long enough!" Wolfgang said. Eva, their mother, raised her hand to her mouth in an amused manner. Eyes squinted in the morning sun, she walked over to unhook his pants from the bush. Grabbing his legs, she set them down gently.

"What in the world were you two doing?" She asked, while dusting the dirt off Wolfgang.

"We're playing tag!" Amelia yelled excitedly, jumping up and down.

"We were." Wolfgang corrected while rubbing his face. He pulled up his pants even higher and walked into the house. Grabbing a juice box, he sat on the couch, threw his feet up unto the coffee table and turned on the TV.

As he was surfing through the channels Amelia walked in the house pouting. She crossed her arms and stared intently at Wolfgang.

"We didn't finished playing tag!" She cried as she threw her hands up in the air. Wolfgang ignored her and quietly sipped his juice box as he went through the channels.

Amelia huffed and plopped down the couch. Wolfgang kept going through the channels until he hit Nickelodeon, stopping for a moment, he observed the show that was playing; after a moment he changed it, uninterested.

"No!" Amelia whined, pointing at the television, "Go back!"

"I want to watch Cartoon Network!" Wolfgang yelled back, "And stop whining!"

"Please?" Amelia tried again, giving him the puppy dog eyes. Wolfgang had always been a sucker for Amelia. The family had always been a loving one; always caring for and loving each other.

Wolfgang sighed and rolled his head while turning the channel back. Reaching over he patted Amelia on the head. She laughed and swatted his hand away while muttering, "I'm not a dog!"

Every about five minutes Wolfgang would butt in his usual 'this is stupid!' or 'they're stupid!', but he endured it; he just loved his sister that much.

At about 5:30 there father arrived abruptly though the doors, anger clearly in his face. He stomped right into the kitchen where he knew Eva would be. He started to rant about stuff Wolfgang didn't understand, money, drugs - someone drove off without paying.

Wolfgang's father owned a car shop on the east side of the city. That was the bum side of the city; so, stories like these were told on a regular basis.

"They just drove away without paying! Just like that!" Wolfgang's father explained, "it's the drugs, Eva! They're messing with the kids' these days brains!"

Wolfgang's dad stomped out of the kitchen and offered a 'hi kids' to Wolfgang and Amelia but before he exited through the frame of the hallway door he stopped and turned toward his children, "Don't you guys ever do drugs, ok? It messes with you're brains! Promise me!"

"We promise." Amelia and Wolfgang said at the same time. Wolfgang looked at his sister, just after his father had exited the scene, and rolled his eyes. Amelia giggled and crossed her eyes.