Always

14.1| game week vacation bonding

CARINA

I woke up in the middle of the night.

I thought I heard a scream. Loud and piercing and terrified.

It was 2 a.m. Might've been in my dreams, but I doubted it. I was about to go back to sleep, when I heard something fall. No, not fall. Crash. From the room next door. Alex. I jumped out of my bed faster than I thought was possible. 

Since our doors are interconnected, I barged straight into her room. Others might've heard her too, because Luca came in right after me from his side of the door. Other of my siblings came in right on cue. The house was awake at that moment; people everywhere, noises and shouting, lights flickering on.

Alex didn't seem to notice us, and I guessed she woke up from a nightmare. She was throwing anything and everything in her sight. The room was thrashed. But the worst things were her screams. Tears streamed down her face, her skin pale in darkness. Romeo tried to approach her slowly, but she just threw a glass vase at him. He ducked, and backed up quickly.

Finally, when nothing was left to throw anymore, she slid down the nearest wall and broke down. She hid her face in her hands and her shoulders shook. My heart shattered. It hurt to see her like that.

"Alex, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Ace asked, slowly and cautiously getting near her.

I knew I had to do something. I snapped out of my trance and rushed to her side. I held her and swayed a little. "It's fine." I whispered. "Just breathe. It's okay, I'm here. No one will hurt you."

Alex sobbed into my shoulder as I rubbed her back. Luca tried to approach us, but I shot him a look. Then I looked at my other siblings. They all looked like they wanted to help, but I knew they couldn't.

"I think you guys should go." I said. "But Carina, sweetie, she needs us, all of us." Amara protested. "No." I stated. "But-" Lucas tried again but I interrupted him.

"No. You guys can go." It came out harsher than I intended it to.

Luca looked hurt, but backed away. "Let Luca stay." Alex whispered.

Everyone started scrambling out of the room. Just as he was about to leave, I exclaimed, "Wait! Luca, you can stay." Luca turned around and raised his eyebrows.

'Please' I mouthed. He nodded. I came over and sat down on the other side of Alex.

"It's alright, we're here for you." I whispered 

Luca seemed conflicted on what to do. He reached out to hold her hand, and then pulled it back. He also did not know what to say. He looked at me, helpless. "Can he hold your hand?" I asked Alex, who nodded, her sobs now subsiding. I looked at Luca and nodded. He reached out and held her hand this time.

We didn't say anything after that. We sat there in comfortable silence. After a while, I felt Alex's hand go limp around my shoulders. I looked at her. She had fallen asleep. I turned to tell Luca, and saw that he had fallen asleep too. My legs felt numb now.

"Luca." I whispered. "Luca!"

"Huh?" He looked up at me, his eyes still drooping with sleep. 

"I can't feel my legs anymore! You need to get up."

"Uh, no." He shifted his position, so now his head was on my lap. Alex shifted as well and I could've sworn I saw her smile, but she didn't get up. Instead, she put her other hand around my neck, trapping me. I sighed. 

Now, I know I am their elder sister.

_____

ALEXIS