Chasing Darkness (Sequel to Remember Me)

Part Fourteen

My sister is strong. Much stronger than me. I've known this since we were little kids.

"Sis!!" A small 8-year-old Bennett rushes into his childhood home, calling out for his younger sister with tears and snot streaming down his face, "(Y/N)!!" He throws her bedroom door open, panting for breath while trying to stifle his tears.

You look up from the book you were reading, letting a knowing smile form on your face at his distressed state, "Did those boys take your toy away again?"

He nods, biting his lip to keep himself from crying, "T-they won't give it back!"

"I'll take care of it," You stand from your bed, closing your book shut and throwing it down on the mattress, "Come on," You exit your room with Bennett following closely behind you, wiping his tears dry with the sleeve of his shirt.

Once you're outside, Bennett points out the boys who took his toy magic staff. They're playing around with it, pretending to zap each other and laughing, not even noticing your presence approaching behind them.

"Got you again, stupid!" One of the boys playfully shouts after whacking his friend over the head, "You're not fast enough!!" He sticks his tongue out to mock him.

His friend grabs onto the other side of the toy, pulling it towards him, "It's my turn to play with it!"

"No, it's my toy!"

"Actually, it's Bennett's toy," You say as you grab the middle of the wooden staff and forcefully pull it out of both of their grips. You hold it upright so that the end of the staff touches the ground beneath it, "He's taking it back."

The kid's playful attitude is now nowhere to be found, replaced by obvious looks of anger and annoyance. They glare past you, looking at Bennett who hides behind you.

"He can't even take it back himself?" One kid questions him, letting out a chuckle, "No wonder everyone calls him a dumb crybaby!"

The other boy points at Bennett while laughing, "Yeah, just a dumb crybaby! You make your annoying sister do everything for you!"

Bennett clutches the back of your hand tightly, burying his face in your back as he tries to ignore their harsh comments. Their laughter is cut short when you pick up the staff and spin it around to hit both of them in the face and knock them off of their feet. They both land in the dirt, seemingly even more angry than before.

"Who do you think you are?? You're younger than us so you should respect us!" One of the boys says while pointing to himself with his thumb, "We're gonna teach you a lesson, stupid!"

"Yeah, and your crybaby brother, too!" The other boy stands up first, balling his hands into fists and rushing towards you.

Before he can even get near you, you jab him in the stomach with the staff and send him flying to the ground again. The other little boy attacks from the side but you use your newfound weapon to sweep his legs and trip him up. One of the boys moves to stand back up but you jab him in the forehead with the end of the staff, hitting the other boy in the stomach afterward.

"Apologize to my brother!" You grab Bennett's arm and pull him around to stand in front of you, "Apologize to him before I hit you again!"

The boys are on the verge of tears now, each of them simultaneously saying, "We're sorry! We're sorry!" Over and over again.

Bennett rubs the back of his head nervously, his face flushed from embarrassment, "Um, it's okay. Please don't do that again."

"I hope you both learned your lesson!" You turn to walk away before turning back to face them with an angry look on your face, "And my brother is not a crybaby! He's stronger and smarter than both of you!" You hand the staff back over to Bennett, "Don't you forget it!"