Fine Line {A.D.C x you} Book III

~3~

July 1st, 2038

"Whatcha doing?" Asher asks his twin sister, after climbing up the tree. He rests against it, leaning his head back as his eyes softly linger on Olivette's. Olivette shrugs, looking out into the distance. The storm was long and strong. The backyard, the acres they had on the homestead was completely covered with out of place things. From branches and limbs, leaves, some of the patio furniture, bikes and pots of plants. It was everywhere.

"I don't think mum is okay Ash," Olivette whispers. "There's something she won't tell us. And I know I might seem like I don't notice, but I do." Olivette turns her head, glancing over her shoulder to her brother. Their eyes lock and Asher's face softens seeing the tears in his sister's eyes. "I just wish I didn't but I see the look she gives us sometimes when she thinks we're not looking. I remember hearing her crying at night when we were little. I remember the hushed conversations with Aunt Everlynn. Something's going on and I don't... I don't understand why she won't let us help her."

Asher licks his lips and drops his head. He climbs up the tree a bit, reaching up to the next branch. He holds on tightly as he carefully walks along the large bulky branch Olivette sits on. Barefoot he walks and slowly sits down next to his sister. He places his hands down on either side of him for a moment. Silence surrounding the two. No birds in sight today.

"She won't let us help because she doesn't think it's our responsibility to," Asher finally, gingerly speaks. He turns his head to face his sister. Her green eyes full of tears. Red splotches on the white parts of her eyes too. He tilts his head. "She's protecting us but nobody's protecting her and that's why I sort of maybe perhaps stole the key to her art studio."

Olivette's eyes go wide as Asher reaches into his pocket and pulls out the key.

"Asher!" Olivette squeals and Asher shrugs, tearing his eyes from his sister.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her-" Asher pauses and puts the key back into his pocket. "Besides she's not home. She left a note saying she'll be back tomorrow morning. Everlynn's on the way."

"Wait what?" Olivette raises a brow. Asher nods looking down at the ground. They were high in the tree but not too high. They both knew their boundaries. "Ash we can't go in mum's special space. That's her's. And as much as I-"

"O, if we don't do it now, we're going to stay in the dark. I respect mum I do and her privacy but there's something going on and it kills me seeing her in pain."

"Maybe that's why she's protecting us? So we're not in that pain too."

Asher picks up his head, turning it. The two siblings lock eyes and he shrugs. His shoulders rise then fall. "I'd rather be in pain too then." Asher carefully looks up at the branch above them and reaches up, grabbing a hold of it. He pulls himself up and begins walking to the bulk of the tree trunk. He begins to climb down. Olivette's eyes following him as he climbs down. A low sigh escapes her delicate, small lips as she shakes her head, tossing it back. Her eyes look up through the branches and leaves before looking back at her brother.

"Wait! I'm coming!" She shouts as he's already halfway down. She reaches up and grabs the same branch, pulling herself up. Her bare feet walk the branch she was just sat on and carefully places one foot in front of the other till she gets to the bulk of the trunk. Carefully she begins climbing down. Both kids were excellent climbers. They've been climbing trees since they were 4 years old. It started as little climbs, barely going up then as time went on, they would go farther and farther up. Alycia didn't like it. She always thought they'd get hurt. Which did end up happening.

Asher Rose ended up getting minor injuries. Just some scrapes and bruising on his arms and knees. But Olivette fell once and broke her arm. The trip to the hospital was an hour and a half drive. The closest one to them. Asher sat in the back seat with Olivette the whole way trying to comfort her. The pain from the break made the young girl cry non stop. Alycia was stressed and struggling as she drove. All she wanted to do was wrap her daughter up and hold her close. She wanted to take all that pain and make sure she never had to suffer. She was relieved when they made it to the hospital. Alycia wouldn't keave her daughter's side.

That's how it usually was.

If one of the kids were hurt, Alycia always made sure she'd be there. To comfort them in the ways she grew to do based on what they needed. But at the end it always ended with Alycia hugging them, keeping them close. It kept Alycia sane, it comforted her. In some type of way.

"I got you," Asher says as he reaches up and grabs his sister's waist, easily helping his sister down. He guides her and she slowly climbs down, hitting the ground with her feet seconds later. Asher stands up tall and glances to the house then back at Olivette. "You can always back out. You don't have to come in with me."

"I know..." Olivette shrugs, biting the inside of her cheek. She picks up her head, looking at her slightly taller brother. "But this is something we have to do together. For mum."

Asher smiles. His head slowly nodding as he motions for his sister to follow him. Both of them heading to their mother's building. A converted art studio that once was a little barn but Alycia and Everlynn converted it. Everlynn wanted it to be a little house renovated. But Alycia wanted the art studio, to give her a break from the actual house if needed. It's also where she had kept a lot of things hidden. A lot of things from the last. Everlynn didn't know that. Neither did the twins.

The kids near it. Asher reaches into his pocket and pulls the key out. He places it into the lock and turns it as he turns the knob. And just like that the door opens and the two are heading in.

Asher goes first. He gets in swiftly, his eyes instantly glancing around making sure it's actually safe. Once he's positive it's okay he steps out of the way, behind the door leaving little space for his twin sister to enter.

Olivette enters and Asher immediately shuts the door then turns around.

"Wow," Olivette whispers. Their eyes roam the room. It was dark in there but there was some light from the small windows. Not a lot of light considering the sun wasn't out. It was an overcast due to the storm last night.

Asher turns his head, looking around before finding a lantern and grabbing it. He picks it up and walks over to the table in front of them setting it up. His green eyes then go back and try to find something to light it up with. Olivette walks towards some of the paintings. Her eyes in awe, even though she can barely see them. She could see enough. They were pretty paintings but there was something behind them. Something more. Olivette tilts her head, carefully moving the stand with one of the paintings on it then the paintings that sit on the ground. When she does she finds a painting hidden behind all the others she squints to try and see it better.

"Ahh light!" Asher exclaims as the room brightens. The moment it does, Olivette is met with something she didn't want to be met with. She gasps and stumbles back. She trips over her own sort and falls to the ground.

"O!" Asher shouts rushing over as Olivette shakes her head. Her lips separated, her hands on either side of her as she kicks at the ground to back up. Asher kneels and places his hand on the girl's shoulder. She jumps but doesn't look at her brother. She just stares causing Asher to follow her gaze seeing the painting in front of them. "Wha- Is that?"

"Blood," Olivette whispers.