Malediction

9 - Weekend Rendezvous

Saturday morning. Sunlight from outside my window melted against my bare legs, warm and welcoming. It was silent, comfortable, Mollie curled up tightly beside me, deep in sleep. I had been awake for about an hour, but I refused to get out of bed. The house was still, I assumed that my parents and Luke were still in bed as I was, enjoying the slow morning.

My darkened digital clock on the dresser blinked rhythmically 9:32am.
Sleep ins on a weekend were a common thing in my home, that I was thankful for.
I had been due to start work at 8:30am, an hour and two minutes ago, instead, my near tragic accident meant I was on mandatory leave for a week. I tried my best to fight it, knowing I needed to make up $100 I'd lost thanks to Matthew, but my attempts were futile.

I stretched my arms out over my head, relieved in the appearance of the sun and blue sky outside. It was well overdue.

I hadn't made any plans for the day as of yet, but come 4pm, I had a meeting, followed by Isaac's party. The idea of meeting Danny had goosebumps rising on my arms. Would we be alone? What was he going to tell me? Was that when he was going to follow in Williams footsteps and murder me too?

Ten minutes later, I emerged from my room, followed by mum and Luke.
Dad remained snoring down the hall, enjoying his second Saturday off each week to the fullest. 

"It's a beautiful day out there" Mum yawned, pouring herself a pot of fresh coffee "Any plans?"

I shrugged, chewing on my fingernails

"I'm going to Zane's birthday party remember?" Luke raised his eyebrows to her, nervous she'd forgotten and would recant on her promise to drop him off

"Of course, that's right" She recovered, hitting her palm lightly to her forehead "What time is it again?"

I shook my head and forced back a laugh, she'd forgotten.

Whilst mum and Luke discussed the rules and etiquette he would display at Zane's, I waddled in my slippers to the sitting room, sunlight pouring in, dust particles drifting through the air.
Plopping myself down with my limbs sprawled out, I stared up at the white ceiling, calm. Perhaps it was the idea of finally getting answers that had relaxed me. I wasn't sure, but I was becoming more and more eager to dig into the potential threat my brother was involved in.

Enjoying the last few hours of down-time before I would need to get ready to head out, I closed my eyes.
I wanted to make the most of the normality around me, because I had a sickening feeling that tonight, my idea of normality would be shattered.

At some point, with the sun hitting my face and legs, I had drifted back to sleep.
After my near death accident, I had found myself to be more tired than average. I put it down to my brain needing to recover from the concussion, and the confusion of the Newscots didn't help either..

It was when dad entered the kitchen I woke. An hour and a half had passed, the quiet rule well and truly over.

"Are you hungry Emilia Skye?" He called, peeping his head around the half wall blocking the kitchen from view

I groaned and sat up "That depends, what's cooking?"

His hair was dishevelled, he had not long woken up himself. When I entered the kitchen where he stood in his pyjamas, it was clear that mum and Luke had already left.

My eyes scanned over the stove where bacon sizzled in the frypan, spitting up oil. I snatched a piece and juggled the hot meat in between my fingers before shoving it into my mouth.

"Bacon and eggs on a toastie?" He offered, cracking an egg into the pan beside the crispy bacon

I nodded "Please"