The Hunters of Artemis: A Siren's Call

2)Walking Away

"Look at that, you moved us somewhere a serial killer is terrorizing Chicago. Happy, Sammy?" I sassed sourly, throwing myself down on the large bed. There was an upside and a downside for me being given the third-floor spare bedroom. The upside was it once belonged to my mother. It was the room she grew up in. That much was evident from the David Bowie and Johnny Depp posters covering the wall. There were so many obvious memories flooded throughout the walls it made me feel closer to my mom than I had in years. The lavender paint looked old and outdated; the large purple quilt looked as though it hadn't been slept in since my mom had last been here. The large desk against the far side of the wall still held my mother's trophies and badges she received from dance or modeling competitions. I remember this room from when I was a kid; I had just never stayed inside it before, instead choosing to have slumber parties with my grandmother in her downstairs den.

Pele and I had the largest spare room by far, even surpassing the other spare bedrooms throughout the house. The downside to this bedroom was that it had gone unused for a very long time. My allergies acted up the moment I sat on the bed. Dust bunnies littered every corner and there were many old and new cobwebs. A few daddy long-legs were still alive on the walls while actively roaming. I held no doubt my grandparents hadn't cleaned this place since my mother last lived here over twenty years earlier. There was just that much dust and dirtiness around. Perhaps being given this dirty room was my punishment for not visiting my grandparents since childhood.

"C'mon, Gabi. Serial killers aren't uncommon." Sam answered in an almost defensive manner. "Did you know there are at least thirty-five to fifty serial killers active in the United States right now?"

I snorted at my brother's ability to remember any bit of information he reads online or in books. His facts weren't comforting. The idea of swimming in the lake that had ripped off body parts floating in it seemed nauseating at best. "Now, how is the fact there's at least one of those thirty-five to fifty killers terrorizing Chicago not worrying you?" I say, shrugging my delicate shoulders. "I say we pack up and head to back to the Carolinas," I nodded seriously. "There ain't crazy people there..."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Relax, shorty. We're here for the summer so you might as well get used to it-"

"But why?" I continued, starting to tie my reddish hair in a loose braid. "What the heck made you want to come here? Your friends and your family are back in North Carolina, just because Kelly-"

"Can we drop it-"

"No!" I continued coldly. "I didn't want to come here, okay? You pulled a hashtag Team-Dad and convinced him I should come with you!"

"What's so bad about being here??" Sam pushed, throwing his arms up. "We're seeing family, there's plenty of things to do, and great pizza of the North to eat-"

"Then why didn't you just come here by yourself!?" I fired back. I was starting to become agitated remembering just how much I wouldn't be doing this summer. "I was happy back home. I could've went with dad and Lauren or stayed at home by myself. You're the jerk who pushed dad to send me here!"

"Wow, do you hate spending time with me that much?" Sam sounded and looked offended.

His slightly hurt tone caused me to feel guilty. I didn't like guilt. As horrible as it sounded I enjoyed getting what I wanted when I wanted it. I never cared to feel sorry for anyone just about ever. But with Sam I was different. I never wanted to disappoint him.

It went hand in hand with the reason I signed his cheating ex Kelly up for a gay dating site. I personally got a kick out of a bunch of women searching for love calling or emailing Kelly looking for a date.

The more I thought about it, I realized I was probably just a cold person. Maybe that was why Sam and I were so diverse. I could easily manipulate our father with snotty words and cold glares and not care if I hurt his feelings after he married Lauren. But Sam was unfortunately my Achilles heel. I cared about hurting him and what he thought of me. Even so, I stood as tall as my petite 5'3 frame would allow before I crossed my willowy arms. I wasn't going to allow Sam to guilt me with his infamous puppy-dog expression.