Fearing the Unknown

Chapter 3: The Fight

Date: 5/26/25

As the trio finished eating they heard their father calling their name "SCARLETT, NICOLAS, ALEXEI!!" 

The children stop their laughing and rose from their chairs to see what their parents wanted. 

They each wondered what would happen as they climbed the stairs to their parent's room. 

They walk into their parent's room to see what could be the problem, "Happy Birthday, Scarlett, Alexei, Nico." 

The three shared a glance before Nico walked off saying, "I'll be back. I'm gonna grab my shotgun." 

Scarlett grabbed him by the neck of his sweatshirt. 

"Don't do that, Nicolas. He's our father. If you shoot him, only our mother will remain," she berated. 

Alexei was tired. Schoolwork was mentally draining for her so she didn't feel like putting up with this. "How about we just go to sleep?" she asked, "I'm tired and I bet both of you are too." 

"Fine," Nico agreed. 

"I could sleep," Scarlett admitted. 

The two girls walked to their room separating from Nico at the door. Nico went right while the girls went left.

The two girls start getting ready for bed in silence. 

Nico enters his room and starts to take stuff out of his pockets. The first time he checks he realizes his wallet is missing. He double-checks to make sure it is really gone. 

Shouting Nico stormed out of his room towards his sisters' room. 

"WHO THE FUCK STOLE MY WALLET" Nico yells across the hall. 

Alexi opened the door slightly as Scarlett holds up the wallet saying, "I have it. You left it in your car. Caught it as you were closing the door. I was able to grab it right before the car was locked." 

Nicolas sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and told her, "Oh...well thanks for keeping my wallet safe." 

Scarlett tossed the wallet to Nico through the half-open door. The boy stumbles with it for a second but ultimately is able to keep his grip on it. 

"Yeah, no problem," his sister acknowledges, "Just remember to keep track of your stuff next time. Also, go to bed." 

Nico nods as his sister closes the door. He makes sure to check all of the lights and doors. Confirming that the lights are indeed off and the doors locked, Nico nods contently and starts heading to his room. He catches sight of the stove in the kitchen. The time reads 11:40 pm. 

"Jesus," Nico mumbles, "I need to go to sleep. I have school in the morning." 

Nicolas walks back to his room softly closing the door behind him. He knows that Alexei and Scarlett were probably still awake either on their phones, reading, or doing homework. The last two were more like Scarlett though.

Nico gets ready for bed and then crawls in. He settles in for the night and falls into a deep dreamless sleep.

The triplets wake to blaring alarms which is the only way they wake up with their messed-up sleep schedules. Usually, they go to bed around eleven but don't actually go to sleep till at the earliest one or two in the morning. 

Meeting in the kitchen the siblings stop and stare at each other for reasons unknown to them.

"What the fuck are we staring at each other for?" asked Alexei, her voice raised slightly.

"I don't know..." Nico trailed off in a questioning tone. 

"Neither do I," Scarlett admitted.

They fall into silence for a few minutes while Scarlett cooks eggs and toast for breakfast. For a few minutes, they fall into their usual routine. After eating breakfast Nicolas breaks the tense silence, "Okay, we need to get ready for school. I want to get there early today." 

Alexei gasps in surprise, "Nico wants to go to school. I never thought  I'd see the day." 

"Oh shut up," Nico pokes his tongue out at his sister. Scarlett silently laughs in the background. 

Nico walks to the downstairs bathroom and a few minutes later the shower is running. Once again there is silence as they fall into their normal routine. Alexei heads for the upstairs bathroom to shower while Scarlett heads to her room to get changed. Scarlett had developed the habit of showering at night because of swim practice.

Scarlett is the first ready and starts cleaning the dishes in the kitchen. Nico arrives next closely followed by Alexei who is hurriedly stuffing books into her bag. 

Once everyone has bags packed and shoes on they walk out grabbing keys for the house as they pass the key rack. Nico also grabs his car keys and remotely starts the car. 

"Shotgun!" Alexi calls racing into the front seat as Scarlett locks the door. 

Scarlett lets the younger girl have the seat and climbs into the very back of the car. 

Nico started the car as Scarlett gave the all-clear that she is buckled. Nico nodded and starts backing out of the driveway. Suddenly he stops. 

A phone rings. 

"Unknown," Scarlett called to the front. 

"Answer it," Alexei said in response to a gut feeling. 

"Okay." Scarlett shakily answers the phone. "Hello?" 

"Expect the unexpected," the distorted voice of the caller told her before hanging up. 

"What?" Scarlett asked in confusion. 

"I don't know," her siblings admitted. They continue to back out of the driveway and head to school. 

They certainly weren't expecting what was to happen next.