Blade

23 - Peter's Mistake

The world was swirling around me like a puddle of jelly. Colors and shapes smeared as though I was viewing some sicko painting, fueling the nausea rising within. I wanted so much to throw up, but my stomach was empty.

I will kill you, Rachel.

I shuddered in terror. It had been five days now, five days since mum’s accident, and five days since I last heard the voice of Andrew's clone.

“Xander!” I shushed my ranting brother who had been trying to get me to eat from a bowl of oats. I had refused all he offered me, and he was right to be pissed, but I just couldn't make myself eat anything.

Xander paused, eyebrows furrowing as he regarded me.

“Rachel? What's wrong?"

Terror rendered speech useless. I held a hand to my mouth, eyes wide as I stared at him.

Don't worry, little Elsa. It’ll be fun… for me at least. And slow… Yes. I will have to savor it slowly. I deserve that much since you decided to go directly against my instructions…

“Rachel?!" Xander was gripping my shoulders and shaking me. “Rachel, you're scaring me!" And he did look scared, though his fear was nothing compared to mine.

Till next time, sister…

And he went silent.

***
Xander had on oversized blue sweats and black flipflops. The repeated ‘clack, clack’ of his footwear across the wide living room was strangely soothing to my restless mind.

His blonde hair was a mess, tangled up from lack of care. He kept sliding his hand through the tangles, and I watched as the veins behind his palm disappeared into blondeness.

“...and you!" He suddenly whirled, pointing straight at me. I was startled by his sudden outburst. Apparently, he had been speaking to me. “You refuse to eat anything!” He paused, holding a hand to his forehead like a migraine was building up in there, then he sighed. “You're not even listening to me."

I shrunk into the couch, staring up at him sheepishly. I hated that I worried him so much. Lately, I found myself almost wishing for the nonchalant version of Xander.

“Sorry," I apologized in a small voice.

It was just too difficult to focus on what he was saying, too draining to process his words. Following his movements was so much easier. At least then my brain didn't have to do so much work.

Xander walked over to sit next to me. He was silent for a moment.

“You're not still hearing…”

" Don't Xander,” I stopped him. " I'm trying really hard to forget about that right now.”

He let out a breath through his lips.

" Okay,” he said, then paused again. "But…"

At that moment, his phone rang, slicing through the gloom of the atmosphere with its lively tune. Xander cussed beneath his breath, pulling out the device from his pocket, then he suddenly stiffened.

I looked up at him. His eyes were glued to the screen, wide with surprise. I peered into the screen of his phone…

My heart skipped a beat. It was dad!

For a moment, we both stared at the screen, stunned. I wanted to yell at Xander to answer, but the dreadful part of me kept my mouth shut. Finally, at the last minute, Xander swiped on the green button, raising the gadget to his ear.

“Dad?"

“Xander."  Dad's voice came on the other end. He sighed in relief. "I was getting worried when you were taking so long to pick up.”