Never Ending

~11~

I open the door a crack, prepared to see Gianna's face. What welcomes me is the brooding back of someone I know too well, looming over Gianna as she does a drawing. I fling the door inwards, my smile gone.

How does he know about her? What does he want? On impact with the wall, the door makes a resounding boom, alerting the two of my presence. There can't be a bigger contrast as Gianna beams at me and August glares.

I walk to Gianna protectively. Securing her to my chest, I look levelly at my brother demanding that he leaves immediately with my eyes. Flippantly, he disregards my demands. Instead, he advances to touch Gianna's hand. Instinctively, I slap it away. On seeing this exchange, Gianna leaves my arms and goes to hold his hand.

"Auggy told me that he is your brother." She says jovially. The fact that she calls him Auggy is not the most shocking thing there is, the fact that August cared enough to befriend a human, more over a child, is more than a red flag that he has bad things in store.

"He is." I answer tensely.

August looks at Gianna with a smile that may be passed off as doating but in truth is menacing. "And as siblings we care about each other deeply. I'll make sure she doesn't get lonely when you're gone." he says so frigidly, I lose it. How dare he say that to Gianna? She is only a child!

In a fit of rage, I get up and forcefully push his wheelchair away from Gianna, making him lose balance. He settles back in the chair and tries to stop me but I have him out of the door before he can resist much.

"What do you want?" I say looking him straight in the eyes. I was fine with his games but coming to Gianna is crossing a line.

"Nothing." he chuckles dismissively.

"I know you want something, say it and leave us alone." My voice, though low, is sharp as ice.

His countenance morphs into one of disdain. He looks at me with annoyance. "Return the files you took." he says coldly.

For a second, I am thrown off balance by the accusation, I didn't think he would catch on so quickly. "What files?" I ask after regaining my composure.

"Tara, I want those files in three days, if not you are never seeing Gianna again, permanently." he utters the threat nonchalantly.

I am lost for words how one second he is demanding his files, in the most childish ways, and the next he has me under his clutches with threats I doubt he is jesting about.

"You're not getting the files, and Gianna is not going anywhere either." I reply resolutely. A couple passing by glares at me for talking to him so coldly. I wish I could yell at them that despite that he is in a wheelchair he is the most malicious person I've ever met. This kind of front is what always got him out of trouble and the reason he hates me so much.

He scoffs a short laugh. "Don't be naive, you don't need to feign bravery with me, I know you're weak and stupid." His wheelchair moves forward, almost trampling over me, "I'll be expecting those files by tomorrow." He says and drives off towards the elevator.

My mind is reeling. When the silence of the empty hallway sets in, I realize that by befriending Gianna, I unknowingly mixed her into my ugly family matters. I slump into a chair, resigned. With my head in my hands, I try to think of something to do. Should I move her to another hospital or just give in to August's demands like I always do?

I am cooped up in my room for the rest of the day, trying to conceive a way to get August off my trail without forfeiting the only chance I have of knowing the truth about my mother. Night falls with no such answers manifesting.