Hershey Kisses

Twenty-Third Kiss

"What the!!!" Nathan dropped his controller. We're inside his room playing Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and I beat him.... five times. "How'd... what.... but...."

"Never underestimate girls who could play fighting games." I poked Nathan annoyingly. "In. Your. Face." He pushed me away and went back to the main menu. "Go for another round?"

"No way!!" he grunted, "Argh I can't believe someone else beat me!!" He scratches the back of his head frustrated and played on his own.

"Aw come on.... I could give you a few tips how to get better." I winked at him. He shoved me and focused on the screen. "Haha alright. I'll go to bed now. Night Nathan." I turned off the controller and got myself up while he's distracted from the game.

"He talks about you..." Nathan interrupts. I turned to him confused what he's talking about. "Rick.... even though I hated him for ruining our family name, he talks about you during your training." What's that got to do with me. "Don't hate him because he decided to cut all ties from you. He did this to protect you from danger."

"I'm not some damsel in distress." I gritted my teeth, "Why does everyone believe I can't protect myself?"

"Because that's how the Rice family protects each other..." he responded quietly, "It's what we have to go through if we ever harm anyone especially those outside our family." He drops his controller and glances at me. "I know you've heard about how we're the cruelest family but it's best we're called that way because we don't trust anyone."

"Even you guys don't trust this society?" I questioned him.

"We don't trust people.... period." Nathan turns back at the screen and continues playing his game. Even if I push him for more information, he won't respond. I left his room and walked down the hallway. I haven't fully explored around the Rice home so my curiosity let me go with the flow and started walking around the second floor.

I opened every door I pass by and they're either guest bedrooms or bathroom or another study room. Passing by more rooms, I caught a glance from a half opened door. I peeked through and saw Damien staring out the window. He's not talking to anyone or reading another book, just staring out the window. I walked away slowly so I wouldn't disturb him and continued on exploring the house. At the end of the hallway is the last room and I'm betting it's Rick's room. Without knocking on the door, I turned the doorknob and let myself in. I was right, this is Rick's room. It's half empty but it's like the usual guest room. I spotted a few picture frames hanging on the wall and walked closer to get a better look. A few of them were a younger version of Rick, Damien and Juliet in front of their garden. Another was Rick making a mess at the bakery with Damien and their dad. Then another picture caught my eye. It was another family photo, but with Rick's real parents.... and me. I was standing beside him with my bobcut hair. Suddenly my head started feeling dizzy and the room felt like it was spinning. What... is going on? Eventually I knew from then on... I fainted.

"What's going on, Ricky?" We were hiding inside the playground from the grown-ups.

"Shhhh quiet, Sophie." He put his finger on my lips to shush me using his other hand to grab something in his pocket. He pulled it out and placed it on my hand. "I'm going away soon. I won't be able to stay with you any longer. But I heard my parents telling me this can protect you whenever you're in danger." I looked at the item he gave me and it was a locket. "The locket may be hard to open but I know inside this locket has powers that'll protect you."

"Like.... a talisman?" I asked.

"Something like that." he shrugged and put it around my neck. "There it fits you. Now you don't have to show your weak self in front of anyone, anymore. You can use this locket to take away your tears." I held onto the locket and look back at him feeling uneasy.