There were very select few things that Lola McCall hated more than being in middle school. Her brother turning into a semi-homicidal furry once a month?
...Still better than school.
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With the birth of Lola McCall came a subtle shift in the universe. Unseen dominoes toppled over, creating a future twisted in shape like a shitty mall pretzel. Fate pulled strings delicately as events fell into place all with a single cry from an infant that was just a bit too small. Nurses and doctors bustled around the mother they knew well, wringing their hands over the premature birth and unaware of the lives that had just been changed.
Still, ignorance is bliss. And so after weeks of monitoring and care at the hospital, the young girl and her mother were sent home to a sweet boy and struggling father.
⬤ ☾ ⬤
Giggles filled the warm home as little feet pattered after one another. A grubby hand extended out to tap her shoulder and she shrieked in disappointment, whirling around to see Scott beaming at her proudly. "You're it," he declared with a slight lisp from his missing front tooth. Before a scowl could twist her tiny face, they both heard a door slam down the hall.
Anger and pride was instantly forgotten as the two gremlins shared a curious look. "Tú primero," she tried to babble. Judging from the way he pouted, the message got through.
The two inched forward carefully and the sound of faint arguing gradually grew louder. Scott fidgeted uncomfortably but pressed on, making sure Lola was behind him securely. Soon they could make out the furious words despite the obvious half-hearted effort to keep the conversation quiet. "...Mami?" He called out hesitantly.
Inside the room, the argument cut off abruptly before the door was wretched open. Towering above the two children stood a father reeking of a familiar stench that often permeated the house. "Get back to your room," Rafael growled as he took a clumsy step forward. His hand roughly grabbed at Scott's arm while the other went to reach out for Lola.
"No!" The boy shrieked, batting away the limb heading towards his sister. Her soft whimpers sent a rush of fear and some odd need to act through him and he began to flail wildly. Neither boy nor man noticed how the stairs drew near until Scott finally broke free, only to tumble down the wooden steps violently.
It was terrifying to see how he had been moving so fiercely less than a second ago yet now laid still as the scary garden gnome their neighbor had. Lola peered down at him with watery eyes. "¿Maño?"
As she crouched frozen in place, she paid no mind to the screeching of her mother behind her. The demands for Rafael to leave fell on deaf ears, along with the wailings of ambulances and someone sobbing. And through it all, Scott was silent and unmoving.
