𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 ~ | 𝘔𝘢𝘹 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 (2)

035 || War

The next day, the rain persisted, creating a constant background noise that seemed to be in harmony with my mood. 

The tension in the house was still thick, but it had lessened now that Jos was gone. 

Lily hadn't said a word all day, which was very unlike her. But as the day progressed, she slowly began to ease up.

Max was slowly returning to his normal self. Smiling more, talking more. He spent the whole morning playing with the kids. They were all outside, having a water fight in the backyard, laughing, and splashing each other in the rain. It was nice to see him so happy, so carefree.

I had just finished clearing up lunch with Thea and Charles when I felt a tap on my leg. I turned to find Luka, dripping from head to toe but smiling brightly.

"Max sent me to get you." He told me importantly. 

I opened my mouth to ask why, but he just took my hand and began dragging me through the house.

The kids were squealing with delight as they threw buckets of water at each other. Max was laughing, a genuine sound that I hadn't heard in a while. 

"Sabrina!" He called, waving me over.

I hesitated for a moment, not sure if I really wanted to get that wet. But the look on Max's face made me change my mind. 

When I said that he was playing with the kids, I mean Lily, Victoria, and Tom. Luka was the only actual kid there.

Thea and Charles had followed me out, their clothes instantly soaked by the rain. Max, Tom, and Luka were standing behind a table they had overturned as a shield. Lily and Luka were on the other side.

This was war.

Suddenly, I felt a cold splash on my back. I turned to see Luka covering his mouth. A hush fell over everyone as they waited for my reaction. 

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath.

Max was the only one who dared to approach me. His eyes searched my face for any signs that he should turn and run while he still had the chance. I was drenched.

"Love...?" He asked hesitantly.

"WAR!" I howled.

I snatched up a water balloon from the ground and smashed it right into his chest. Everyone around us exploaded in a mix of laughter and war cries.

"Betrayal!" He yelled as I turned on my heel and dove behind Lily's table. "You're going down!"

Lily was pelting Charles with a water gun, both laughing like little kids. He took cover under Max's table, and Lily was forced to retreat behind ours. I was weaponless.

Until I spotted a bucket of water balloons not far from our table. I should be able to dash out, follow, hide behind a line of trees, and grab them.

"Cover me!" I yelled to the others, darting out from the safety of the table. 

I dashed across the lawn, my heart racing as I prayed that they wouldn't see me. The rain was coming down harder now, making my movements clumsy. 

I reached the line of trees, dropping to my stomach to avoid being seen.

I crawled forward, keeping my eyes on the grass below me so as not to drag myself over any sharp twigs or rocks.

Grass, grass, grass, pebble, grass, shoes, grass.

Shoes?

My heart stopped. I froze, my body tense as I tried to will myself invisible. I gracefully rolled onto my side and plucked a couple twigs from the floor, covering my face with them.