[Yandere Meowscarada x Reader] I'll Make Them All Disappear!

86 | For Whom Does the Curtain Fall?

When you knock on Avery's door, it's her father who answers. A medium-height man with brown locks swept to the side and stubble on his neck. He opens the door only halfway at first, seeming hesitant to open it all the way, but he does when he sees it's only you.

"Hey, kid," he says. "Glad to see you in one piece. They're not here, sorry."

"Hey, Mister—what? Avery and Aurie aren't here?"

The man shakes his head. "Between you and me, they didn't want me telling you where they're at, but they moved in with family back in Alola."

You almost forgot the sisters were born in Alola. You don't mind them going back home, you would probably do the same if you had the chance, but you can't imagine why Avery and Aurelie would up and ditch you like that. They haven't even tried to call or text. You look down at your feet and the 'Welcome Home' mat beneath them.

"Any idea why they left?" you ask.

"After Avery got back home from that Blueberry Academy or whatever, she told me and her mother how unsafe she felt. Not around anything or anyone in particular but—"

Oh, that stings. He's trying to sugarcoat it but you know what he means to say. Avery left because she didn't feel safe around you. Can you blame her? Bad things follow you like ducklings flock to their mother. She must have thought that if she hung around you any longer, she was bound to end up dead the next time she got trapped in some boiler room. You're not sure what to say. You're a little broken up inside but you won't cry over it, or you'll try not to. Cinnamon gently strokes your shoulder when she sees you gazing blankly at the ground.

"I see," you tell the man without looking at him. "Thank you."

"Hold on a minute; they did leave something behind for you. Told me to give it to you the next time I see you."

At this you raise your head. Avery's father steps away from the door and walks to the living room just off to the right of the staircase. You can hear him rummaging around for something. You're not sure how this gift will alleviate the hurt you feel for being isolated from your two best friends. It was nice of them to leave something for you, and you'll happily accept whatever it may be, but honestly... the best gift you could ask for is seeing them.

Cinnamon rests her head on your shoulder, rubbing your back. "Don't be sad."

"Right," Zoroark adds. "Don't look so mopey."

"They just left me," you mutter, "without a word."

Avery's father comes back to the door, holding a ring bearer box. You look at it. He flicks it open, and immediately a wave of deja vu hits you head-on. You swear you've lived this moment before, somewhere far in the past. In this moment he looks like one of the sisters offering the box to you—but that's probably just because he birthed them, and their family members have naturally always looked strikingly identical to one another.

There's a golden ring in the box. The same ring that had come in a pair with the one on your finger now.

A conversation from months ago echoes in the back of your mind. You hear Avery's and Aurelie's voices clear as day.

"Look, point is, we got these really pretty rings, and uh... wanted you to have one," Aurelie said.

"You sure you wanna give me this? I'm sure you guys spent a fortune on these..."

"Dude, we only bought them with you in mind," Avery said. "They're cute, they match, and since Aurie doesn't wear jewelry, I'll be the one you're matching with."

The sisters' father pushes the box into your hand and gives you a firm yet delicate pat on the arm. "I know how it looks," he says, "like they abandoned you. Ran away. I can't say I can pick sides; they're my daughters, and I respect their decisions in life, but I've also known you since you were a little guy. You're like family to us. I'm sorry it had to happen this way."