Insensate.

8. Soul tie.

November 1.
10am
Monday.

∞

I felt reluctant about my decision to leave Sebastian in that house, alone. Also because of the Shadow I saw. But I needed answers first, then I would worry about the consequences. The drive to my Family's House was as fast as I wanted for it to be, I was too eager to get this over with. Shame consumed my mind, my face heating up at the thought of when I said I would never ask for their help, or need their help.

I only needed some books, that was all! So, technically, I didn't need their help! I need the help of their books.

Parking neatly beside the sidewalk, I slam my door shut, and make my way towards the doorstep. The gates were open. I didn't feel like ringing the bell,  so I resorted to banging my fists against the door. I hear a familiar voice curse, the voice belonging to my Aunt Sonja, she opens the door and is surprised to see me. I don't even wait for her to invite me in, if she does slam the door shut in my face, what would I do?

I walk upstairs, in front of me is the room I remember greatly, when we held a meeting due to the fact that I was leaving. I don't pause to stare at apparently, all of my Family members' confused faces, instead, I make a swift turn, and go up the next stairs that lead to the bedrooms. I was even surprised at myself for not showing my shock! It seems they were holding a family meeting, with all the family members! The Howell's, and the Guerrero's.

I wasn't sad about it. No. It's not like they ever included me in any of the meetings! Even if it was just them, bonding as a family, I never joined. I stuck in my room, studying, and trying to figure out if I was gifted. I sighed, I only needed my books.

The books of spirituality, mediums, the third eye, Chakras, and other books about necromancy. And also; The notes I made about the things I observed, some theories, and things I had to study about. My hand turns grasps the door knob, and I turn it. Pushing against it, the door opens, and a foul smell infiltrates my nostrils. It seems they didn't even think or at least, attempt to clean my room. They left it, just as it was before. A part of me was glad,

But the other part was wounded.

Pushing my thoughts away, I look around the room. There was a cluttering mess on my desk, and bed. The shelves full of books, that my father had gifted me, were all dusty and grey. I coughed when I grabbed an old cloth, to slap the dust away from my books. I just grabbed all of my books and threw them in the bags I took. My notes lay scattered on the floor, I bend down to pick them up.

I smile. My eyes fixated themselves on my old diary. Memories of me writing in it, when I was just a child. I wasn't as attached to it as I was when I was a child, but I still decided to take it with me. In hopes of writing something new, something exciting, something not so dull in these blank papers.

I closed the door, and without looking back at my old room, I walked off. The bags were extremely heavy, but good thing it didn't show on my face. I noticed soon, as I was stepping down the stairs, my heart felt... dull. It ached uncomfortably and painfully, I bit my lower lip in want. I was longing for someone, how could I have thought I could've been away from them, for so long?

But who was I longing for? Me? Someone that was never appreciated, someone that wasn't even sure that they were accepted behind their back, who was I longing for?

Someone calls out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Joseph, stay."

My head snaps to my right. Some of my family members are seated, but my Father, and Josephine are standing. Her eyes pierce through my soul, as if she's searching for something. And when she's certain she finds it, her eyes bore into mine.

I look away, "No."

Josephine's face reddens in Anger, she ticks off. "For once in your life, Can you listen to me?!—"

"No." I feel a lump in my throat when I try to swallow my anger down.

She shouts, her fits clenching. I realize she's not truly angry, only agitated. "There's something.. Off about you!"

Shit. Did they know about Sebastian?

Aunt Sonja joins in, she says bitterly. "Something happened last night. Authorities are saying that someone must have stolen a corpse. They're saying that because the grave looks like it's been dug in, it looks.. Messily tidy. As if someone was trying to cover their tracks." Her tone is suggestive, and that only fuels my fear of being caught.

I furrow my eyebrows. "Yes? Are you telling me this because I live near the Graveyard? It because you suspect I have something to do with it?"

Aunt Sonja barks back. "And if you have something to do with it?—"

I cut her off sharply. "Then so be it. Remember, I couldn't care less about what you think of me."

I was about to turn around but what Josephine said made me stop in my tracks. She yells loud enough for me to hear her, almost desperately. "Joseph! I see something... Or someone.. I'm not sure, but they're clinging onto you. Or rather, your soul isn't entirely yours."

I bite my tongue, refraining myself from denying her. From turning around and walking away in fear. Instead, I glare at her. "Josephine, what do you feel?"

She crosses her arms to stop her shaky arms from alarming anyone, frowning, she says. "Did you.. Tie your Soul with someone else's?"

My father hurriedly stands up from his seat, he shouts at me in disbelief. "Joseph! I.. I know you said you didn't want anything to do with us.. But.. you would've told me, right? —"

I control myself better than I expected. Emotionlessly, I speak to him. "I would've, if it were true."

Josephine loses her patience. "It is! And you know it. You're hiding something from us! Just tell us, do you have something to do with that corpse?"

I smirk. "We're not family. My business has nothing to do with you all. I can hide, or simply, refrain from telling you whatever you wish to know, because we are not family."

Before I turn around, and walk off, I seem hostile when I whisper shout through clenched teeth, although, that may be due to the fact that my seething anger breaks out of the control I thought I had. "Even if my Soul was tied to someone, even if I did have something to do with the corpse,

What did it have to do with you? After all, I'm merely a stranger to you. Keep this in mind; I don't consider you my family."