Kindred Spirits

Chapter One: The Bowen House

AMELIA

When I get home, there is no movement in the house, which means dad's asleep. I let the door click quietly behind me, slip off my shoes and tiptoe into the house in just my socks.

Since no one is in the kitchen, I peek into the fridge looking for anything to satiate my hunger, but to no avail.

My stomach cries out unhappily. Someone has to go shopping.

I shut the fridge door to come face-to-face with my grumpy older sister, Madison. She's not pleased, but there's still a hint of joy in her face from knowing that she can reprimand me.

"You've been home for not even two minutes and you're raiding the fridge already? It's no wonder we have no food in this house."

She's been telling me off since I was born. She probably thinks it's her duty, since no one else will.

I roll my eyes, pushing past her. "I'll go to the shops."

"And buy food? What, are you making money at school now?"

"No, but—"

"When I was your age, I didn't have a choice. It was either school or living on the streets. Even Josefine, that airhead, has her priorities straight."

My sweaty hands ball into fists. "Don't attack Josie like that."

"Don't talk back to me like that. You don't deserve the respect you get. When was the last time you thought about me? About dad? About mom—"

"Don't."

I drop my gaze, feeling hot tears threatening to spill down my face. Madison really knows how to stir me up.

"You live under this roof, you eat food and you wear clothes bought with someone else's hard-earned money," she lists aimlessly.

Before I can retaliate, the front door clicks open, and Josie enters with her usual smile. Being the middle child, she often plays the mediator.

She tosses me a chocolate bar, something of a rarity in this household. I can see Madison trying to stand her ground, throwing me a disappointed look as I bite into the sweet.

"You're a leech," Madison hisses.

"Well, since you're so educated, what am I supposed to do?"

"Pull your weight."

"Hey," Josie interjects. "She has a right to education."

"We have the right to live," Madison grumbles.

"Exactly. I'm glad we settled that," Josie smiles, tossing her a chocolate bar. "Now, aren't you late for a shift?"