Twelve

ch 3: Brother

Sci slowly opened his eyes to reveal an unfamiliar place. He was laying across an uncomfortable sofa in a shabby looking apartment. Sci gently rubbed his throbbing temples and scolded himself. How could he have been so stupid as to let a stranger into his apartment. Oh, god, he was an idiot.

"Aww, I don't think you're an idiot," came a voice.

Though intrigued, Sci fought the urge to face the speaker. Her tone was annoyingly condescending.

"If anything you're only slightly moronic. I mean yeah, you let a complete stranger into your apartment, but hey at least she was cute. Did you like her? Was it a love at first sight thing? Ugh gods, I hope not. After all, she is your sister."

At this, Sci gave in and lifted his head. His confused gaze was met by her triumphant one. Her eyes were wide and sparkling blue, set apart by a small, slightly upturned nose. Her skin was a creamy white that was complemented by her seemingly natural aquamarine hair.

She turned away and shouted, "He's up! I think you injected a bit too much though!"

"Sairu some of us are trying to sleep here!" a voice responded.

Sairu lowered her voice and mumbled, "Only Ra would be sleeping at 3:00 in the afternoon."

A fist gently bumped Sairu on the top of her head. It belonged to a pale, red head. The shade if his hair could have been described as the color of a brilliant fire. He was nearly a foot taller than Sairu and had an athletic build.

He turned to face Sci with an outstretched hand and said, "Hello, my name is Eran Barcc. If you haven't guessed already, my loud friend here is Sairu Qua. Our sleepy compatriot in the other room is Ra Ibl."

Sci just nodded and pretended that he understood a word Eran was saying. The words were clear and in English, but Sci's head was still so foggy that he couldn't comprehend a thing. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he was laying down or standing up.

"The idiot injected too much. Look at his face. They clearly haven't worn off yet. I'm calling that he'll throw up in about five minutes," Sairu observed.

"Well let's be happy that I even injected it in the right place," Meg and Ini said as she strolled into the room. She smiled and placed a warm mug in Sci's hands. "This is tea. It will make you feel better."

Sci nodded as he downed the cup. The contents we sour and the aftertaste bitter. Though the drink was disgusting, it did clear the haze away rather quickly. Soon after he put the mug down, Sci released the contents of his stomach onto the floor.

"You all owe me ten bucks," Sairu said nonchalantly as she moved to another room. A few moments after she entered the other room, a loud thud followed by an audible groan could be heard.

"Ignore them," Eran said. "Now that your head has cleared up, tell us what you know."

Sci looked at his hands. Hands. Why did he have hands. "Flesh. Why?"

Eran did not respond to Sci's inquiry.

Sci's brows knitted together. "It is quite bright here. Here where? Where are all of our brothers and sisters? Wait, no. I'm an only child." This self-inquiry and rebuttal continued on until Sci eventually fell into silence.

"That was a long ramble wasn't it," Ra commented.

Sci looked at Ra. "Scales."

"Kid did you just call me 'Scales'?"

"Yes? And you," he said as he gestured to Meg and Ini, "not a crazy girl, but twins. Eran, the crab. Sairu, the water bearer. My siblings."

Eran Barcc- Cancer (this one isn't quite an anagram, but I like the name so I kept it)

Sarui Qua- Aquarius

Ra Ibl- Libra