...We Could...

Fumi Eighteen!

Preuss sat on the bed with his back to the wall and stroked his sister's hair. She refused to go to sleep without him, so now the older twin was stuck with Perisa's head on his lap as she hugged the teddy and slept.

He looked up to see Dastan laying on the bed across from his, headphones on and playing music so loud that Preuss could hear it. He looked around him before resorting to taking off his watch and chucking it at his brother.

The red-head opened his eyes lazily and looked over at his little brother as he tossed the watch back. "Wha'd'ya want?" he griped.

Preuss made a motion of taking out the earbuds, at which Dastan complied... halfway. He took the right earbud out so he could hear Preuss.

"What?"

"You're music is too loud."

"You're just envious at the mighty power of my music."

Preuss sighed. "I'm afraid that it's going to wake up Isa..."

Dastan relaxed and turned down the music to an acceptable level. No matter what, they always saw Perisa as the baby of the family, and always wanted the best for her. She wasn't spoiled--not at all. But she did get what she wanted a lot of the times. Why not when what the little girl wanted was for the stray kitten to have food to eat and to go outside and be a fairy for a while?

Preuss looked back down at his twin and smiled. They were going to get out. He was sure of it. Mom and Dad were going to come back and they were going to have hugs all around. They were going to see Kiana and Auntie Nali and Uncle Ludwig. It was going to happen.

He couldn't let Perisa go through this.

There was a knock on the door. They all looked at it with slight fear. Dastan turned off his music. Preuss grabbed his kahnjar. Zelda appeared brandishing her sword.

"Don't open it," she ordered, bringing the ocarina to her lips and playing a short ditty. The ocarina glowed a faint blue and a soft voice filled the room.

"What is it?" she asked elegantly, her voice echoing slightly, but not unpleasantly.

"Where are you right now?" Zelda asked, hushed.

"I am in my room."

They all looked at the door which knocked again, impatient.

"Any rent collectors?" the eldest asked, eyeing the door.

The voice chuckled quietly. "No. If something is knocking at your door, do not open it. You cannot let them know that you are here. If you do, they will knock down the door. But they are frightful creatures: if they hear but cannot see, then they will believe that they are hearing voices. But do not shout! Just talk quietly. If they hear you clearly they will start to believe that you are real."

"Right. Thank you."

"You are quite welcome."

The ocarina stopped its glow, and the voice left.

The knocking continued.

Perisa woke up.

"Someone's at the door," she murmured, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Aren't you gunna answer it?"

Zelda shook her head. "No, Isa. Would you like something to eat?"

The girl nodded and she followed her older sister into the kitchen. The boys stood on the ready, Dastan with a gun and Preuss with his blades.

Eventually the knocking halted, and the boys went to the kitchen to eat like their sisters.

"Any food left?" Dastan asked, concerned. Yes there was food when they had gotten there, but not by much. And somehow they had running water.