Spades and Angels

An Unlucky Coincidence?

Lolita

The next morning dawns too early with sunlight rudely streaming through my window as my quarter past eleven alarm rings out from my phone for a prompt five seconds before the sound dies. Moaning, I roll over to see its battery is dead. Cursing faintly I hunt around for a charger and manage to find one in the nest of cables under my bed. Half broken but somehow still working.

Plugging in my phone I slip out into the landing to hear the house empty. Ky's still asleep when I check his room but I'm not surprised given how late he was up last night. Luc's room is empty and the door ajar, I guess he'd been out hours ago. A common occurrence. Dad must never have come home either since the door to my parent's room is shut and I know both Luc and I left Mom downstairs last night so she wasn't there. Something that's confirmed when I pull on my normal dark acid-washed jeans, and a black shirt and curled my hair, grabbing my phone off the charger and wincing at its low battery.

Tucking it in my pocket I pull my door closed and walk down the stairs as quietly as possible. Bypassing the doorway into the lounge I can see mom still passed out where we'd left her last night, something that gets a small smile out of me. Slipping through I hunt for something to eat and find nothing, something that has me worrying about Ky since he's here alone today unless Luc can come back at all. I make a mental note to text him about the situation as I slip back out of the room and push the door to the fire long since out and making it cold. I want to light it again but I'm out of time if I'm to get to work on time like I promised Shell I would.

Pulling on a thicker black hoodie with some fluff left inside the sleeves I forgo my leather jacket since it's too cold for that now. It was yesterday as well but I put my fashion above being practical. Something I'm tempted to do again as I gather what I needed to change into for the evening shift I normally have, knowing already that given how long it takes to get home and back it's not likely it's worth coming back between. Making sure I have everything I need before grabbing my keys, and earphones and locking the door behind me. Setting off for Aqua again.

The walk takes longer than before since I'm about halfway there when my music is interrupted by a phone call, "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Lolita Alcaraz?" The operator sounds smooth and almost automated if not for the breathing I can hear, not that I know what the calls are for.

"Oh uh yeah that's me. I'm her," I reply, cursing myself for tripping over my words. "Can I ask who this is?"

"We're with the card company, we noticed that your parents were behind paying us and wondered if you knew why,"

I keep walking, not sure how to respond. Surely Luc would have been the most likely caller since he's the eldest and knew some of this. "No, sorry I didn't did you try my brother, Lucas, he might know better than I do?" I offer helpfully and the man on the other end sighs. "What happened?"

"Your parents are behind on card payments, part of the rent of the house and several bills including heating and electricity. Can you let them know that if they do not pay us soon we will have to start cutting certain amenities that you have?" the voice asks again and I nod for a second trying to wrap my head around the words. "Thank you, Lolita, hopefully, I won't have to call again."

I say bye and they hang up as I dial Luc, hoping he'll answer. "Lo?"

"Did you get a call?" I ask, hearing how hesitant he was to respond. Luc sighs and I do the same. "I just had the card people on the phone to me to say that Mom and Dad are late not only with card payments but part of the rent and some of our bills. Luc, what's happening?"

"Dad's in trouble." Luc's voice is heavy, and sad. "Something about a failed mission and being called into suspicion. He's not been given work today, just me. About the bills and stuff I know since I had a call but didn't answer since I knew the number. It's not the first time they've called. Just the most recent." he sighs but I get the sense he has more to say. "Lo, we're almost broke. That's why it's not been paid, we're almost broke and there's something else." He pauses, taking a breath before he starts talking again, his words stopping me cold, "CPS called today, something about a neighbour seeing Ky alone, citing a neglect charge and wanting to talk to someone about it. About what to do with him if it doesn't get better."