Isolation - ON HOLD

Chapter one

Cora

    I remember when he was taken from me, the first time. I remember it like it happened yesterday, but it didn't. It happened six years ago. That was the last time I saw him. The last time I heard his voice. The last memory I'd ever have of my brother.

    I was outside in the yard of my huge "American dream" like house. White picket fence, big field for me to play in, a golden retriever by my side. It was peaceful to say the least, calm. That day should have been like every other, except that day was different, it was Lykos's 13th birthday.

We hadn't done much to celebrate my brother's birthday that day, my parents didn't even get him a present. I woke up early to help my mom make him waffles, she had seemed surprisingly normal considering what she was going to do to him that day. My jittery self had decorated his plate with strawberries and whipped cream, plus the candle I had squished in the waffle. I ran down to Lykos's room in the basement and woke him up by singing happy birthday to him while holding up the plate in front of his face, because that's what every 13 year old boy wants to wake up to on his birthday, his annoying little sisters horrible singing and bad breath.

It was around three when it happened. I was in my mothers garden, destroying her plants trying to put together the best birthday bouquet for my brother. What else was a ten year old with no money supposed to get her brother? He was never a huge fan of my flowers, but he knew I loved them so he'd always say "thank you Cora'' and give me a hug.

"What about this Scott?" I asked my large dog, holding up the bundle of colorful flowers. He sniffed the flowers, then me, then turned his head and barked at the opposite side of the garden. "You're right," I giggled, "those purple ones would make this present perfect!" I crawled over to the other side of the garden and started pulling at the flowers, getting dirt under my long pink-painted fingernails in the process.

That's when I heard the screaming, Lykos's screaming.

"Get the hell off of me! Now!" I turned my head and brushed the long blonde hair out of my face as I watched the scene happen right before my eyes. The back door was open, and out came Lykos, my dad, and some other tall stranger dressed in all white. Both the man and my father were holding Lykos's arms. Lykos was yelling, struggling, desperately trying to get away.

Scott started barking, darting towards the man who was holding down my brother. He was tall, dark skinned, and very buff. My little body dropped the flowers and got up to try to catch up with him, wondering what was going on and why everyone was so upset. Scott leaped and bit the man, earning a groan from him while he tried to hold my brother in his place. The man then kicked my dog, Scott whined and limped away.

"Daddy? What are you doing?" I asked when I arrived on the porch.

"Cora! Help me!" Lykos yelled at me, his long hair fell in front of his face, he was sweaty and out of breath. He wore the same thing he was wearing when he woke up, black shorts and a plain blue sweatshirt. That was it, he didn't even have socks or shoes on. It was like they just grabbed him out of his bed.

I didn't know what to do, there wasn't much I could do. I inserted myself in the situation, beginning to smack the man who was trying to drag my brother to the black van that was parked in our driveway.

That's when someone grabbed me by my waist and pulled me away. My mother. She was sobbing as she watched her son being taken away. I didn't try and fight her, I was too confused, too distressed. She had a big black suitcase, I assumed it belonged to Lykos. "Mommy where are they taking him?" I asked, tears forming in my eyes from the stress and cruelty I was watching.

She had tried to yell over Lykos's screaming, "go inside Cora!" I was taken back, she rarely yelled at me. I backed away from her, trying to absorb everything that was happening.