People started surrounding and aiming their guns at us. We were completely outnumbered.
"This round of hide-and-seek is sadly over, but the next round is starting...right now!"
We heard a fit of hysterical laughter before she announced.
"Are you rea...
He's still standing there, guarding the door. It's been an hour since the fight between the twins and he hasn't moved from his place since. My room's opposite Diamond's but I usually stay at hers.
I was about to move away when I heard a faint knock on her door and her soft voice coming from inside, "Kris?"
He turned around, "Yes, kitty?"
"I'm hungry..." her voice so angelic sounding, I almost forgot she's human and not an angel. I saw Kris smile (smile!) before placing his hand on the cream-colored door, "What do you want to eat?"
"Anything."
"I'll go get you something, kitty."
He made sure he had the door locked and put the key in his pocket before heading down the stairs. I walked to her door and knocked, "Diamond."
"Zach?"
"I'm here, I'll find a way to unlock this, alright?"
"No, it's okay. I think I can get Kris to open the door," she didn't sound sure about this and she's always sure when it comes to her brothers.
I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and started to panic, "Diamond, Kris is coming," I took out a note I had written when I saw Kryst being locked in by her brother, "Take this."
I slid the note underneath the door and quickly ran into my room when I saw that he was at the midpoint of the stairs.
I heard her door open and some talking before it closed. My phone that was on my table rang and I walked over to pick it up and answered it without looking at the contact.
"Hello?"
"Zach, why aren't you in class?" Ben asked and I sighed, "I have something going on."
"Is this about Kryst?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, well, tell her I said hi."
I looked at the screen before putting it back by my ear, "Okay."
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Maybe."
I heard him sigh on the other line, "Then, bye."
I hung up and placed my phone back on the desk.
"Crystal Undead," I called out and my AI floated to me from my closet. I didn't have the weapons room like Diamond, so my AI just stayed in the closet or on my desk.
"Yes, Zachary?"
***
KRISTOPHER
Do I feel bad? Yes.
Do I want to let her out? Yes.
Do I know there's a chance I'll hurt her? Yes.
Then what the hell am I doing locking her in her room? I don't know.
It was a compulsive decision to keep her in there. I wanted to let her out, but I feel as if I don't want to. I've made a pact with myself to not fight in my head anymore, but it's my sister in there.
I heard a faint tap on the door and turned around, "Kitty?"
"Kris, can you please...let me out?"
I don't want to. This is the only way I could keep her safe. I sighed and tapped my finger on the door, "I'm sorry kitty. I can't."
"Why not?"
That's a great question. Why not?
"Because I don't want you hurt."
Even though my voice said that my body betrayed me as I took out the key from my pocket and slid it into the lock, turning it and unlocking the door. Krystal looked up to meet my eyes before throwing herself on me.
I caught her immediately and felt something wet on my neck. I heard her soft sobs and my heart broke.
I caused this.
"Kitty, I'm so sorry. For everything."
She continued to weep and I felt like someone was tearing me apart. This girl, my sister, I caused her pain.
What the hell was I thinking?
I wanted to walk back into her room so I could sit her on her bed but she started to thrash in my hold, "No! Please don't! Please...don't lock me in again..."
I backed out and rubbed her back softly, "I won't, never again. I promise you, kitty."
Her cries started to die down and her grip around my neck loosened. I let her stand before bending down to swoop her in my arms. I brought her to the third-floor living room on the right of the marble stairs and placed her on the couch.
"I'm truly sorry, kitty."
I know no amount of apology is going to make her forgive me any time soon, but at least it'll make me feel better to know she knows how sorry I am.
"I heard you and KT...fighting this morning..."
My face paled. How much did she hear?
"What are you keeping from me?" she looked up with her puffy red eyes and I shook my head, "Nothing important."
"It must be important enough to cause a fight between you," she said, looking back down at her lap and twiddling her thumbs together. It killed me to lie to her, but I didn't want her to find out this soon, not until I had help.
"Nothing you need to be concerned about, kitty."
"When will you tell me? We never hid secrets, right?" her voice cracked at the end and I looked down guiltily.
She doesn't deserve this.
I vowed to never hurt her, and I ended up doing just that. I don't deserve her forgiveness, I don't deserve her sisterly love, I don't deserve her.
"Kris?"
My eyes snapped up to meet hers and her eyes held warmth under the layer of tears as she stared at me, "I know you think whatever you're going to tell me will hurt me, but I'm not that little six-year-old anymore. You can tell me."
She was determined to know what's going on, but how can I know she won't run if I tell her?
Thank you for choosing to read RON. Follow me (@lephantomsoh) on Instagram to get sneak peeks and random snippets of things.
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