Bonded

Chapter 3

"I'M HOME!" MINA called out, hanging her keys on the wooden, withered holder. Suddenly, the kitchen door burst open, revealing a furious looking Ava. Her older sister's short legs moved quickly, making fast strides towards her. Mina took a step back, widened her eyes and lifted her hands up in surrender.

"Did you wear my shoes when I told you that I was wearing them today?" Her green eyes were blazing, brilliant with rage.

"No. I wore my own," she said, her hands falling miserably to her sides.

Ava stared deep into her eyes, searching for a lie that didn't exist. Mina shot her a look of disgust, questioning as to how they were related.

"I know. I was just messing with you," she smiled sweetly. "How was school?"

Mina dropped her head into the palm of my hand and groaned. Ava snickered, amused by this, her lips forming a wide, terrible grin. As Mina looked over her shoulder, she noticed her brother entering the living room, stalking quietly towards them.

He planted his feet beside them and stood there silently, his piercing gaze fixed on his younger sister. It was as though he was a wax model, he didn't budge from his position, his arms firmly folded across his chest. Ava followed Mina's gaze and spun around, facing their brother, yet he didn't acknowledge her.

"Weirdo." Ava rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, unbothered by his strange behaviour.

He took a step closer to Mina. His eyes dropped down to meet hers, his gaze hard and unmoving. He was dressed in dark colours, making his eyes appear as black holes, removing any sign of green in them. She hunched her shoulders over, shrinking in front of him. His lanky figure towered over her, almost intimidating. It was a strange sight, coming from her kind brother.

"So... What did you get up to today?" He asked, his voice unnaturally calm. His face hid any sign of anger, but his jaw was clenched tight, the veins in his folded arms bulging out of its skin.

"Why?" She shrugged, confused.

"Can't I have a nice conversation with my little sister?" He asked, dropping his arms to his sides.

"Well, can this wait? I need to put my bag away." She sighed.

"Did anybody bother you today?" He asked, his eyes piercing through her skull.

"What—"

"Anybody hurting you?" He interrupted her, a sense of demand visible in his voice.

"What? No!" She blurted out, startled.

"No?" He glared at her. His anger didn't seem as though it was aimed at her, but instead at something else that she was hiding from him: whoever hurt his sister. "Then do you wanna tell me why you punched someone today?"

Nervously, she smiled, unsure of what to say. Of course, he found out—he may be one year older than her but he still attends the same school. His stare was so intense, she averted her gaze. An emotion started to spread through her, like an open pipe, gradually flooding the room with water until there was no space to breathe.

The feeling was rage.

She scoffed as she pushed past him, banging her shoulder against his. She didn't need to listen to him scold her as though she was his responsibility; she can make her own decisions.