Numbered

Chapter 18: Eloise Ann Sarphit

Trigger Warning ⚠️/Author's Note: Terrible parenting, implied cheating, the brothers arguing, Eloise is standing there like 🧍‍♀️👁️👄👁️ most of the chapter. Sorry I've been gone so long, every single time I'd try to sit down and write my brain would go "oh, look at this cool other thing that you like to do that conveniently isn't writing " and I just didn't write, which is weird because I genuinely like to write and had the ideas in my head.

Eloise was not looking forward to apologizing to apologizing to Xavier, but her father wouldn't drop it, which was what led to her standing outside his parents' house, knocking on the front door.

Almost immediately the door was opened by none other than Xavier. What an inconvenience. Eloise had truly hoped it would have been his much, much, kinder older brother.

When he saw her he immediately frowned.

"Expecting someone else?" She asked.

"Yeah. Jessica and Ethan."

"Well, sorry to disappoint."

"You're not sorry."

"Mhm."

"So, why are you here."

"My Dad said I had to apologize to you for punching you in the face even if you deserved it."

"But you aren't sorry."

"Correct."

"Then leave."

Xavier then tried to Shut the door but just at the last minute Rafael's voice came from behind him,

"Let her in Xavier."

"What! Why?!" Xavier asked his brother.

"Because, you also need to apologize to her."

"Excuse me?!" Xavier exclaimed, flabbergasted that his brother would dare suggest he apologize to her.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

"Why? She was the one who hit me remember?"

"You deserved it. You were the one being a dick because her friend and some of her family members are 1s."

"Well, I'm not wrong. She is related to and associates with 1s. I was merely pointing out the obvious."

"You were being an asshole about it. Do tell me, would it be okay if Eloise was able to discriminate against us for our skin color, or if I were to tell you you couldn't be around the family because of your eye color?"

"Well, obviously not!" Xavier exclaimed with a sense of indignation.

"Why not?" Rafael asked.

"You don't get to choose the color of your skin or eyes, so it wouldn't be fair."

"And you think that people can choose their abilities and, in extension, their Rank in society?" Rafael further questioned.

"No, what, do you think I'm dumb enough to believe that? If we could pick our own abilities no one would pick anything below a 3, maybe even a 4 and... Oh." Xavier stopped, seeming to realize the point his older brother was trying to make.

"Well, why do you even care so much?" Xavier asked, slightly defensive and mostly confused.

Rafael looked at Eloise before asking her "You promise this stays between us three?"

Eloise, who had been previously staying as quiet and unnoticeable as possible so she could "eavsdrop' in the two brothers argument quickly nodded her head yes and Rafael merely squinted his eyes at her, trying to gauge whether or not she was telling the truth, before letting out a sigh and lowering his voice so no one other than the 3 could hear what he said.

"I care so much about this because I recently found we used to have a sister that our parents hid from us. She turned out to be a 6 and she was sent away to wherever they put the 6s. The worst part is that Mom and Dad didn't even try to fight to keep her, they just abandoned her."

Xavier looked shocked. "No. No! You're lying! They would never do that! They care about us, and we come from a pure line of 3s so it doesn't make any sense... They wouldn't just do that to one of their children... and not tell us... Right?"

When Xavier still didn't receive an answer he repeated "Right?" Again.

"Father isn't actually Grandfather's, so it is 100% possible. If you really don't believe me, then go ask our parents." Rafael said.

Eloise decided now would probably be a good time to leave the pair of brothers to their own business.

616 words.