𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒆 | ✔

2 | There's More

SHE WATCHED THEM from the other end of the table. Sharing a side hug, Auntie was huddled close with Eliott as they looked through his photo album. 

It had been a year since it happened and she was beginning to accept that this was how things were; her little brother was the most loved. Maybe, even, the only loved. 

Lottie rose from the table with a definite sigh, backpack over her shoulders, and trudged to the basement. As she stomped down the steps, their laughter echoed from above until she shut the door behind her. In the next moment, she flipped on the switch and the room came to life. 

It was spacious, this basement, but the boxes piled up against every wall used to make her feel contained. Only recently did she adjust to these conditions. 

To the right was her brothers' personal area, a mini tv set in the back corner. Before it was a blue chair with his wireless PlayStation controller. Meanwhile, his bed was at the other end, perpendicular to the staircase. Littered over every surface was junk, ranging from a variety of candy wrappers to the spoiled cup of milk beside his bed on the floor. 

To the left, however, was her side. While he had a tv set, she had a three-shelved bookcase in her way back, more suited for her, with a pink chair beside it. Like him, her bed was perpendicular to the staircase. But in contrast to his space, hers was neat. Every surface had been dusted and wiped clean, all trash thrown away. 

At the end of the day, they were their own person. And neither could do anything about it. 

Lottie sniffled, making her way for the chair. "If only our uncle was still alive," she mumbled, "then maybe things would be okay."

As Lottie plopped down, she eyed the spoiled milk, scowling. It wasn't as obvious before they moved here. But ever since that fire, she had seen it for how it was: she would never be good enough for her aunt. 

"Looks like I'm all alone again, but that's how it's always been." She wiped at her wet face. "And that's how it will always be."

-

Lottie wandered around the house as she sipped on her morning tea. It was 6:30 am, the day only beginning to break, but she had finally given up: two hours was all she was going to get. 

"After work, you can make up for it," she said, halfheartedly nodding. "Or maybe you can drink caffeinated-" At this, the woman paused, looking down at her cup. Instead of her usual decaffeinated tea, she could have given herself some energy. Well, too late now.

Lottie strolled over to her kitchen window, which gave an overview of the backyard. Her roped hammock still as can be, it looked loose on one side, ready to come apart. "Well, winter's coming soon anyway." She blew on her tea and sipped again, but then something caught her attention. 

Muddy fingerprints were smeared across the bottom of the window, now smudged and faded. 

This meant Penny was right. 

Lottie paled, at a standstill, only to jolt when she heard a sudden clatter. Her cup of tea had met the floor, breaking to pieces. She looked down at the mess, barely composed, then slowly stepped over to the backyard door. 

Well, if it wasn't you, who was it?

Her neighbor's words echoed in her mind, mocking her. "Should I really go out there?" she asked herself, shifting on her feet. But then she gripped the knob, twisting it. "I'm not a child anymore."

Lottie searched the yard with a careful eye when she stiffened. A trail of faint footsteps snuck in from the front and disappeared round the back bushes that parted their homes. She took a moment, then hurried inside for a knife. On the off-chance they hadn't left, she wanted to be more prepared than last night. 

The woman crept forward, knife held high. When at the tall-standing bushes, she readied herself before looking out into her neighbor's yard. That was when she locked eyes with Penny, who abrupted from the plastic chair in the back of her home. 

"Charlotte?" Penny asked, inching closer. "Is that you?"

Lottie forced a laugh, at a loss for words. "I'm sorry for startling you." Then, after a few steps, she miscalculated her foot, falling straight forward. 

"You didn't just startle me!" she snapped. "I've been out here all night, waiting for them to come back. I thought you were them!"

"You mean to tell me... that you didn't even go to bed?" Lottie was now on her knees, wiping herself off. "Even if that's true, why would you be out here? Wouldn't you want to be inside?"

Penny huffed and nodded at the item beside her chair. "I've got bug spray, so I didn't come unprepared." She looked back to her, then at her hand. "I see you've got a little something yourself."

"The knife's... just a precautionary measure." Lottie mustered a smile and a chuckle. "I just found some more footprints today and... some muddy fingerprints on my window. But, as before, I think they're long gone." Not that I checked the front yard. 

"Maybe that's from last night?" Penny asked gently.

"No," Lottie said, slowly managing upright. "Before going to bed last night, I checked all my windows. Those fingerprints are new, but... let's just be glad they're gone."

Penny shifted, then spat at the ground. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'll report them if they come back. I'm too old to deal with this."

The woman nodded stiffly, considering. "I must go to work soon, unfortunately. I'm strapped for money as it is, so I can't take today off. Just listen and call the police if need be."

"You know," Penny began, "I found new fingerprints too."

Lottie didn't bother hiding her shock. "I'm sorr-"

"When you're gone, I'll ask around. Maybe there are others in the neighborhood too; maybe we're not the only ones."

The woman looked to her feet, then back at her. "I'll be back in twelve hours. See you later, Penny."

"Oh, and Lottie?"

"Yes?"

The woman gave a crooked smile. "Be careful out there. You always were clumsy, so watch your step." Then she winked, ushering her away. "Go on, I'll see you later."

"Bye, Penny."

Hey there! If you see any errors, I'd love to know. Anyway, as before, I appreciate any who have read this far.

With this said, it's time for another random question! If you'd like to skip this, go ahead: Do you prefer smooth roads or bumpy roads?

Okay, I'm joking. This is the real question: Are you more of a reader or a writer?

Well, I wish you all the best and God bless. <3