The Khigir Hunters

17. Monsters

It didn't take long for last period to end, or for Dimitri to find us in the car. He spared one quick glance at me in the passenger seat and opened the door next to me in a quiet gesture for me to move. I looked at Jay who simply shrugged. I groaned and moved to the back seat.

We sat in silence for awhile as Jay started the ignition and sped off. I stared down at my knuckles; they were cracked. The dry winter air always had a tendency to do that, it was so unforgiving. By now the pasta sauce had dried over my shirt... er Jay's sweatshirt. I picked at it silently. Just as I peeled a rather large patch of red off the fabric, rock music filled my ears. I glanced in front of me to see Dimitri answering his phone.

"Yeah?" Dimitri swiftly answered. Jay spared him a single glance, keeping his attention focused on the road. "What happened?" I noticed slight worry in his voice, though he hid it well. "Alright, we'll be there in ten. Jay?" Dimitri shot a glance at his brother. Jay suddenly accelerated the car like our lives depended on it. Tires squealed, I gasped and clutched my seatbelt. My heart beat seemed to speed up with the motor. We went from zero to one hundred real quick. With that Dimitri slid his phone back in his pocket.

"Well?" Jay's gruff voice questioned quietly, his eyes never leaving the road. I barely heard him over the engine.

"Mal jumped the gun as usual." Dimitri sighed. Jumped the gun? Jumped the gun with what? When the two of them said nothing else I decided to speak up.

"Is Malik okay?" I asked, grabbing onto Dimitri's seat and leaning forward a bit. No one answered me or even spared me a glance. "What do you mean by 'jumped the gun'?" I pressed. Silence. I sighed, now becoming frustrated. "Malik-"

"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong, Yulia." Jay interrupted me. My mouth hung open in disbelief. I let go of of Dimitri's seat and returned to my own, taken aback. Jay was just kind to me not ten minutes ago, and now he's the total opposite. I crossed my arms. What was wrong with me caring about my brother? "Mal is fine." Jay finally said, turning towards me for a split second. There was warmth in his emerald eyes, warmth directed at me, but despite it all I wasn't soothed.

I continued to let my mind wander as I looked out the now blurry window. Malik seems like the kind of guy to get in loads of trouble, but not trouble trouble. He seemed too tough for that. I went over the many possibilities my brain could come up with, including the most wildest. We were home before we knew it.

For the first order of business both Dimitri and Jay immediately got out of the car and headed towards the house. I quickly opened the car door and hopped out, nearly tripping over my clumsiness. I threw my backpack over my shoulder hastily and jogged towards the house. They left the door open for me so I shut it. Walking into the brightly lit kitchen, I saw no one, not a single brother in sight.

"Where is everyone?" I murmured softly to myself, setting my backpack on the diner table. I paused in my tracks, straining my ears to hopefully pick up a sound to their whereabouts. Nothing. "Guys?" I called out, walking towards the living room. "Guys?" I scanned the room, noting the empty couches. I sighed exasperatedly, placing my hands on my hips.

"Where could they have gone?" It's not like they would all huddle up stairs in one room... right? I scratched my head. I decided to run up and knock on all the doors to no avail. So far, no one was in the kitchen, living room, or any other room in the house, except for... Oh no.

I began my hesitant descent down the creaking stairs. I determined that they weren't outside, seeing as there was no other exit inside. That only left one other option- the basement. Stepping off the remainder of the staircase, I found myself directly in front of the forbidden room. Why they kept this off limits was still a mystery; surely this wasn't just for 'work' related purposes.