Pieces Part 1

Brother and Sister

Chapter 2 – Manhunt

Amber's POV:

Minutes after Moe dashed out of her house, Amber heard the crash of the garage door shut. Her brother emerged in the vestibule shortly after, his work satchel slung over his shoulder. "Hey Amber, I'm home!" He announced while kicking off his shoes. His appearance was a mirror image of Amber's—of course, minus the box hair dye and winged eyeliner. But his features were, like hers, sharply contoured, and his chestnut roots reflected her Southern origins. "I'm glad to see you made it back safely."

Amber uttered nothing in response, gaping past him at the door. Moe left at the perfect time, she thought. Had he lingered any longer, an overlong lecture about how she shouldn't distract herself with "all those boys" would've been in tow.

Waving in front of her eyes, her brother said, "Hello-oooo, earth to Amber? You look like you saw a ghost, everything all right?" Her blanched expression twisted at the strength of his cologne.

"Yeah, I'm okay, I'm okay," she repeated while lunging for air that wasn't drenched in Tom Ford. "But Mario, why are you home so early?! I thought you had to check on your friend. Are they okay?"

Mario raked his fingers through his brown curls. "They're fine, thanks for asking. But I was worried about you, Amber—I'm glad you're safe!" He removed his jacket, turning to the coat rack, when he suddenly froze. "Amber..." he trailed off in a menacing tone.

Amber snapped, "What will you blame me for now???"

He pointed at the wooden coat rack that stood to his right. Amber stared at it aloofly.

"One of my jackets is gone," Mario growled. Amber squinted in confusion—there were always 3 jackets on that rack. 3 black jackets hung from the hooks as he threw a fit.

He was looking for three black jackets. Well, there they were, beside him—three BLACK jackets.

As if he'd gleaned her thoughts, Mario ripped one jacket off the hooks for closer inspection. "Open your eyes!" He bellowed. Amber shot a dirty look and peered at the garment more intensely. However, she didn't need to squint too hard as the jacket leaked water to the floor. She knit her eyebrows as she realized the coat was pungent of rainwater—like it'd been worn outside a few minutes ago.

Jaw taut, Amber stuttered, "I-It's not what you think!" She knew she was screwed, but she had to clamor somewhat for her innocence.

"It's not, huh?" Mario scoffed.

Amber held the jacket, eying the seams like a reborn tailor. "You see, this is your jacket. I just had to use it and put it back on the wrong hook afterward." Her rambling was cut off when Mario snatched the jacket back. He combed the pockets like he was the DEA facilitating drug inspections.

"If this is my jacket, what is THIS?!" He whipped out a trinket that twinkled under the ceiling's chandelier. Moe's trinket.

Amber jumped to retrieve it from her brother's hand. But Mario eluded her grasp, dangling it high and away until she was short of breath.

Hands on her knees, she panted, "Please, I'm begging you to give it up just this once. That is not something to play with!" The pained look on Moe's face in the rain flashed before her eyes.

Blue eyes vengeful, Mario sneered, "Oh, it really must be important, huh? Why don't we open it up and do a good 'ole Hnazant jewelry appraisal." He fumbled his hands through the trinket's clasp to dig inside, but Amber kicked him in the knee before he could pry any further. "OWW!" He howled as he buckled to the floor. With his height advantage nerfed, Amber swiped the trinket from her brother.

It held an indescribable weight in her hands. "Oh God, I need to return this to Moe," she murmured anxiously. Glancing at her agonized brother, she demanded, "Hey bro, let me drive your car! I'll be right back!"

He snarled, "You don't have a license!" Only then did the image of her unfinished driver's test booklet enter her mind.

"Oh snap... you're right. Well... okay, I need you to drive me." She insisted. It wasn't her ideal rescue plan, but if a whiny chauffeur was what it took to reunite Moe with his family memento, she'd sit her butt down in that car as her life depended on it.

Mario wasn't so enthused to cooperate, on the contrary. "Why should I drive YOU anywhere? You just kicked me! Where do you need to go this late at night anyways!?" Losers and their bruised egos, Amber reflected to herself mockingly.

"Well, to a friend's house." She averted her brother's icy gaze. She wasn't lying, but the circumstances around this excursion weren't entirely laid out.

"You want me, after getting off work and kicked like a RAGDOLL, to take you to see your BOY TOY? What a carefree life you have! I could always see you were a free bird, but Jesus."

"Shut up! He isn't a boy toy! Plus, out of everyone, you know living in this family is far from 'free.'"

"Trust me, I know, but it's all about your point of view, my dear sister. From a different cage, your bars aren't as tight or cold as you think."

Amber lowered her gaze to the trinket in her palm. The edges indented prints in her flesh because she clutched it tightly.

"I don't know about that, but I know I've got to get this back to Moe." Her eyes burned with resolve. Mario never took her seriously before, but something of her gaze faltered his steeliness.

He refuted, "I can't help!" But both he and Amber could sense the walls melting from his façade. Given a few more minutes, he'd be swerving the car out of that garage for whichever yellow suite Maurice lived in.

"Come on! It's important! Also, don't forget he has your jacket."

And that sealed the deal.

In the blip of a second, all that sounded within the Hnazant compound were the rumbles of a black Mercedes.

"Hey, Amber. This is a good time to talk about the future," Mario said as he revved the car engine.

"What do you mean?" Amber asked, curiosity spiked.

"I've watched over you for close to two years now. Soon, you are going to be a free adult. I won't be here forever, so the time is coming for you to become more independent."

"Come on... don't say that. You are making it sound like you are gonna die."

"I'm not wishing for that; it's just that I'm looking to start the next chapter of my life. As your main support—" Amber cut Mario off with a sharp glare. "Okay, only support, I'll always support you with whatever you want to do, but I won't be here every day." Mario sighed, "Even if you wanna be an e-girl..."

Amber shrieked, "Stop! I'm not one of those girls! It's enough hearing it from Dad... I understand, Mario, and thank you! I will search for my journey."