Manipulation

#4

Kris's POV 

I felt someone shaking my body. I tried to open my eyes but everything was blurry. 

"Kris! Kris! Wake up! " a familiar voice called out. I felt Brian sprinkle water on my face.

"Brian!" I said in a weak voice, "You need to leave now, she will come back."

"Who? Kris answer me. Who will come back?"

"Carter." I croaked.

"Why will she come here?"

"I cannot tell you. Bring me water."

I tried to sit up when he brought me water. I sipped on the warm water trying to forget the trouble that had stirred up.

After some time, Brian asked whether I could give the reason for Marie's glowing body.

"I-I can't."

"Please, it might help solve your sister's murder case."

"I already know who the killer is." I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Hmm." he eyed me suspiciously.

"Please could you leave me alone for some time. I've got something to do."

"At least could you tell me in short, like real short, or maybe a hint, as to why your sister's body was glowing."

I looked at him pleadingly.

"Don't you trust me?" he finally asked.

 Do I?

I do trust him but...

"Yes, I do."

" Then..."

"Okay then." I started.

"Once upon a time -"

"Please, not the fairy tale opening."

"Actually I don't even know how it is so but it was at the age of five when it started. Marie was ten then. At first it was small, like she predicted what birthday gift I'd be getting the next year. Then she predicted our grandma's sickness. Around this time, Carter, who was ten while Marie was twelve, learnt to control people. She would make our cook give us an extra piece of cake before bed. Just three years later, two years after our parents' death, I realised how I could make objects levitate and use them without actually touching them. By then I was prepared for it after seeing my sisters using their powers. But the common thing was, it started about a month or two after our tenth birthday. At night we would just sit up and walk to the shower and drench ourselves in water till our body started glowing a faint blue. At least that's what everyone has told me, since I never really got to witness it firsthand. So, that's it." I took a deep breath once I had finally let it out.

I looked up to see that Brian had been unusually silent throughout.   

"Brian?"

"Oh!" he jumped.

"So?"

"Umm, yeah , cool. Uh, nice powers. Fantastic, spectacular."

"Brian, are you okay?"

"Yeah! All good and dandy."

"You're not okay at all. Want me to make some hot cocoa for you?"

"Uh, yeah sure."

I got up and started taking out the ingredients. Brian followed suit.

"Kris."

"Hmm."

"Do you think Carter was behind the theft at Damehill? And also, maybe, Marie's murder?"

I paused, "I don't think, I know." I said softly.

"What?!"

"Yeah" I replied meekly.

"You have to be kidding me!" he grabbed his head and pulled his hair, "And you didn't think it necessary to tell me about it?"

"Would you have believed me?" I asked in a bored tone.

"Probably not."he said sheepishly.

"I thought so."

"But we can't put her behind bars without solid evidence."

"I know. Which is why you need to rule this out as suicide. Have you found the murder weapon yet?"

"No"

"She hid it well then. If you get the gun it won't be hard for you cuz the gun has only Marie's fingerprints."

"How come?"

"Carter willed Marie to kill herself. I was the sole witness but could not stop her because she had made Marie tie me up first."

"But if she died just after pulling the trigger then who hid the gun?"

"Pin it on the person who forced her to end her life. But because you don't know who they are since there are no suicide notes, no one can be accused." I shrugged.

"But wouldn't the fingers be pointed to you then?"

"Not necessarily. It could be someone from work as well and not just family."

"But why did Carter-"

"Stop with all the questions and drink some hot cocoa." I started serving the drinks.

"But-"

"No if's and but's. Hot cocoa. NOW." I said, glaring at him.

"Okay mom." he grabbed his mug pouting.

"Good boy." I said in a stern voice.

We drank the cocoa in silence. After finishing our drinks, I put the mugs for washing while Brian decided to take leave.