What's Better Than Pleasure?

Project Hide n' Seek

"What are you working on Buddy," Lily asked her brother. She was 13 now and Buddy was 16. It had been three whole years sense the Pines had taken Lily in as part of the family. Buddy was putting the finishing touches on his latest invention. He held it in the air so she could get a better view. "This is a Bio-Probe", he said as he spun around in his chair, "It searches for heat and life signals and as of now it can shoot plastic projectiles, but i don't really know how to test it." He took Lily's hand and placed the small invention in her palm and then he picked up the controller and pressed power. The blue light flashed on and the small contraption began to hover above her hand. She gazed at it with her crystal eyes and smiled seeming quite impressed with her brothers creativity and inventiveness . Seeing her smile brought nameless but familiar warmth to his heart...

...flashback...

'Where is she', Buddy thought to himself as he searched for his little sister. They were playing her favorite game, Hide n' Seek. As always her hiding skills were impeccable. No matter how determined Buddy was to find her, he never could. Lily didn't make a single sound; He couldn't even hear her breath. She was as silent as she was invisible. The worst part was that she could hide for hours and Buddy would eventually give up. And later, when he wasn't paying attention, she'd jump out and startle him...

...

Buddy chuckled at the thought and looked back at the Bio-Probe. A wicked grin spread across his face as he looked up at Lily. "Do you want to play Hide n' Seek Lily", he asked her. She looked into her brothers eyes. The look he gave her was abundant with excitement. It was almost sinister. In some way, it reminded Lily of that look. The one that he gave Mrs. Croft. The one look that shook her to core with fear like no other.

"Ok," she replied after her fear subsided. With haste Buddy grabbed her arm and rushed her outside. Lily never saw him this excited.

'For once I am gonna find her,' Buddy thought. "Alright, I'm going to count backwards from ten," he said, and then the game began. He closed his eyes and started to count. "10."

Lily took off to find the perfect hiding spot. Buddy could never find her before so this felt no different to her. This only proved that she didn't understand the invention's capabilities.

"9."

Lily contemplated climbing the tree and hiding there, but it didn't have enough leaves.

"8."

She could still hear the excitement in his voice as she scrambled to find a good spot.

"7, 6, 5-"

Lily was starting to get a little frantic. She stopped running looked around.

"4."

'There, underneath the steps,' Lily thought. The space under the porch steps was very limited but she was tiny enough, and she was out of options. She made haste towards the cozy hiding spot.

"3," that evil grin was reappearing on Buddy's face.

Lily calmed her breathing and assume the form of silence. Her knees hugged to her chest and her nose and mouth between her legs as she nibbled on her jaw to prevent herself from giggling.

"2, 1," Buddy finished and his eyes snapped open. His grin grew wider, "Ready or not my little flower, here I come." Buddy pressed power on the controller. The Bio-probe hovered for a bit then zipped of. He could hear it wiz about searching for his sister. Within about five seconds or so it sensed her life signal and flew full speed toward her.

The Bio-probe halted in front of Lily. Her eyes grew wide and the probe light turned red and began to make a very loud, rapid, beeping sound. Buddy heard the sound and followed it in anticipation. He reached the steps and peered underneath. "I found you," he sang.

Lily stared at her brother. She would never be able to hide from him again. She was simply dumbstruck at the prospect. Buddy grabbed her arm, tugged her from under the steps, and pulled her body to him. He could see a bit of apprehention in her eyes, and this shocked him. She had no reason to fear him; He would never hurt her.

'Would I,' Buddy questioned himself.
He took has left hand to caress Lily's soft cheek. "Do you fear me Lily," he asked.

Lily looked into his eyes which stared back at her with a burning intensity. She couldn't lie to him. "Yes. Sometimes the way you look at me frightens me."

In that moment Buddy could do nothing but hold his sister too him.

...

For the first time in the past three years, Buddy saw fear in Lily. This was not good. There was something about fear in others that did something to Buddy. His heart would race, he'd begin to smile and shake with excitement. Just like today. When he was angry he wouldn't smile but he'd get the same feeling. Had Lily always been scared of him?

'I have to protect her...from me.'