At dinner there’s a thick silence.
“Enjoying your bread, Mandy dear?” Mandy nods with a smile as she drops a small piece to Sunny under the table.
“Do you like the bread, Aj?” I smile over at her and nod. Mandy’s innocence is refreshing in moments like this.
“Annalynn? Would you be a sweetheart and go grab my box of journals in the shed after dinner?” I nod continuing to eat, “Thank you dearie.”
The shed is made of old and decaying wood, it’s been there since Nonna was a young girl, she’s never wanted to redo it. Inside it’s full of dusty boxes. I cough waving a hand in front of my face holding a flashlight in the other. I reach forward and yank the metal chain hanging from the middle of the ceiling. There’s more boxes in here then last time, if that’s even possible. Something shuffles in the far left corner, I stiffen.
“Hello?” Silence. I walk over to Nonna’s box of old journals and grab it heading towards the door quickly. Something grabs my shirt from behind, I turn with a gasp ready to scream. A hand covers my mouth.
“Shhh, Anna. Hush.” The hand moves away.
“Margaret? What are you doing in Nonna’s shed? In the dark?” She tilts her head at me, her eyes squinted. “Margaret? Are you alright?” She steps toward me with a hand raised.
“Alina.” I back up as she comes forward.
“Margaret? Margaret what’s the matter with you?” My back hits some boxes behind me. I consider screaming for Nonna but that would alert the hunters.
“Alina, they’re coming for you. Run, run don’t stop.” She grabs my neck suddenly, I gasp as she lifts me off the ground, my feet dangling slightly. “Don’t fight.” The box is on the floor, the contents scattering everywhere. I grip her arms, hitting her.
“Margaret. Let go, please.” My legs kick wildly hitting a box of antique glasses, knocking it over. She jumps when it crashes to the floor, letting me go. Her dark angry expression fading into shock as she looks at me and around the shed.
“Anna, what happened?” I stop rubbing my neck to look at her, “Why am I in the shed? Are you okay?” She has no idea what she was doing moments ago. She’s confused.
“Nothing, Margaret. Come into the house, will you?”
I don’t tell Nonna that Margaret choked me in the shed. Instead she’s under the impression that I saw Margaret walking and asked her to help me find the box. Margaret falls into her role of the story the second it passes my lips. I frown as Nonna and her walking into Nonna’s room and shut the door.
“Aj? Aj?” Mandy tugs at my sleeves harshly, “Can we go to the park tomorrow? After school?” I nod absently.
“Sure, ask Nonna in the morning okay?” Satisfied she runs over and picks Sunny up, struggling slightly.
“G’night Aj, sweet dreams.” I ruffle her hair returning the sentiment. I sit in the living room, staring at Nonna’s closed door. It’s been an hour and I’m more interested in wanting to what their talking about than the book in my lap. What was in that note? And what in the world happened with Margaret out in the shed?
Standing up I check the window, the car is still there. Tonight is the first time in a while the hunters stayed over night. I see movement in the tinted window and move away from the window. Did they see me?
“Annalynn dearie, what are you doing still up?” I jump turning to Nonna and Margaret watching me with suspicious eyes. How long were they standing there?
“Waiting to make sure Margaret got home safely, Nonna.” She smiles proudly.
“That’s my Annalynn, courteous as ever.” They walk towards the door, margaret watches me.
“Thank you Anna, you’re very polite.” I smile and reach out for a hug.
“Your welcome, Margaret. And thank you for helping me with the box earlier.” Her eyes widen in surprise as she gaps at me. I smile casually scanning her expression for a clue.
“Of course, anytime.” She walks out revealing nothing besides her initial shock. After watching her cross the street and enter her house safely, Nonna goes to bed leaving me to turn off all the lights.
I wake up to the smell of bacon and Mandy cheerful talking about the park. Sunny is in my windowsill staring at the birds outside in fascination.
“Annalynn dearie, are you up yet?” I respond raspily and get ready. Ever since Shai and Alina left Nonna hasn’t stepped a foot outside that I know of. I walk Mandy to school and anywhere else and go with Margaret to get the groceries. She’s says she’s not paranoid, but what else could it be?
“Come on, Mandy.” I grab her hand as we cross the intersection. She’s old enough to walk by herself but I’ve been overprotective of her since Alina left, and she doesn’t seem to mind.
“Nonna said we can go to the park after school, but she wants us home by five.” I nod looking around cautiously. The car was gone his morning, but sometimes I see it on the way to Mandy’s school.
“Hey Mandy, did Nonna pack you lunch?” She nods handing me her brown lunch bag. I glance inside, before handing it back I look again. There’s a piece of paper inside, I quickly read it. It’s to Alina, I miss a step.
“Are you okay, Aj?” I nod, still staring at the note.
“Hey did Nonna tell you to give a note to someone?” She nods with a smile.
“Ms. Tucker, she said that she knows where the girls are. Aj? Who’s the girls?” He questions are muffled. Ms. Tucker knows where Shai and Alina are? How does she know? Who’s she to them?
“I don’t know. Here, I’ll give Ms. Tucker the note, okay? Have fun today.” I hand her the lunch bag and watch her run up to her friends in the school yard. I clutch the note in my fist, time to go visit Ms. Tucker.
“Oh hello ms. Annalynn Joe Carter. How are you this morning?” I force a smile, she calls everybody by their full names, it’s annoying but today more so.
“Hi, Ms. Tucker. I’m good. Nonna sent me to give you this note.” She pales when she reads glancing at me.
“Thank you, ms. Annalynn joe-” I lean forward with my hands on the counter.
“I know what it says, and who’s it for. How do you get in contact with them? Why do they go through you?” She looks at me surprised before composing herself.
“I can’t tell you, ms. Anna-”
“You can’t or you won’t? She’s my twin I deserve to know, dammit.” She blinks.
“I know Anna, and I’m sorry. It’s too dangerous, this is dangerous. Go home.” I shift back when she calls me Anna, she’s never called me Anna before, it’s strange.
“But, what did the note from yesterday mean? What does this one mean?” She shakes her head with a smile.
“Sorry, Ms. Annalynn Joe Carter, that book isn’t in at the moment, when we get it you’ll be the first to know. Have a nice day.”
YOU ARE READING
Lying Bloodlines
خيال (فانتازيا)Annalynn Joe Carter, Aj, has been lied to her entire life. No one she's ever known is who she thinks they are, herself included. She doesn't know the extent of these lies until she's captures by hunters who want her family and friends dead. As the t...
