Forlot - Books 1-3 {Completed}

Chapter Seven

My eyes widened, and I gasped. Hansel let himself fall to the ground. He breathed heavily, and then cried out.

"Noooooooooooooo!"

Aunt Katrina helped Hansel up and stared at us. "Twins?" she said. She had a concern look on her face. "What is the matter? Are you guys not excited for your new baby brother or sister?"

Our parents scurried to the front door. Dad let out a heavy sigh.

"Katrina," he groaned as he massaged his neck. "Paula and I have not told them yet."

Paula and Frank are our parents' names.

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Mom added. "We were going to tell them during dinner."

Dad patted down his hair with a hand. "And you ruined the surprise." Mom frowned and nudged his side with an elbow. "Ow!"

Katrina's face saddened. "Why, I am sorry," she apologized. "I thought that they already knew." She looked back at us. "I am sorry."

It was time for me to frown.

"No need to apologize," I informed my aunt. "It was not your decision to make. And I am glad that you told us beforehand." I narrowed my eyebrows at my parents. "When did you decide to have a baby?"

My mom gulped and took a step towards me. "A-a while ago," she stammered. "We desire a little one." She placed her hands on my shoulders. "Please do not be mad."

I jerked away and clenched my hands into tight fists. "Oh, I am not mad anymore. I am upset."

"Darling, I know that the baby is a big deal for you and your brother," my dad said. "You will not have the spotlight as much. But look on the bright side, you will have a cute brother or sister and be able to teach him or her new things."

Hansel stepped up next to me. "That is not why we are upset," he told everybody. "We are not jealous."

Mom was surprised by his response and raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you and Gretel not happy about the baby?"

I surveyed the living room. "Is it not obvious?" I said. "Take a look for once in your life. Our apartment and the rooms are caked with dust. There are bugs and scorpions that could hurt the baby. Do you want that on your conscience?!"

My dad reached for me. "Gretel, you need to calm down."

"And you need to listen to me!" I snapped. "The apartment is horrible to live in! And you promised me and Hansel that we would go to the arcade and have pizza! But no! You broke your promise!"

Dad gripped my wrist. "You need to relax, young lady. There is no reason to scream."

"Yes, there is! You will not listen to me or Hansel! You are ignoring us!" I broke free from his grasp and ran to my room. "And Mom's cooking stinks!"

I tripped on the carpet, but immediately reacted and caught my balance. I entered my room, shut the bedroom door, and jumped onto my bed.

I laid on my stomach, sobbing into my pillow. I was sad. Mad.

How could my parents do this to us? How could they have a baby when they were not concerned of the children that they already had?

I sniffed and sat up. I wiped my tears and slid off the bed. I fell to the floor and glanced under my bed. I reached underneath and pulled out the folder.

The folder that Benny had given me. The folder that contained Forlot photos.

I sat at my desk and set the folder down. I opened it and stared at the pictures. I held up a photo and examined it.

It was a picture of a house. A big and pretty house.

And then something caught my eye.

An eye. Two eyes. Poking through a window of the house. Through the photo.

"Who...who is that?" I wondered. "Who is in that house?"

I then heard a door creaking. Opening.

My door.

I sat straight up when I heard Katrina.

"Who is in what house?"