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"Report."
I hiss as I drag an unconscious vampire into the compound, my teeth clenched together. The officers there gape at me when I push in my receiver back into my pocket.
"Caught trying to suck a child dry," I say stiffly, not giving another glance to the growling vampire as my sister approaches me with pursed lips.
"Youra, isn't this a bit—" She looks at the muzzled, hissing vampire with uncertainty in her eyes. My expression tightens— she'd always been too softhearted.
"Unnie, he was trying to drink. From a child." I sigh as I drag a hand over my face. "Isn't what they've done to Mom and Dad enough for you to hate them?"
"Don't mention them." She grimaces as she finally nods, turning back when I grip her shoulder.
"Why are you here? You're supposed to be resting at home, Unnie." I say worriedly, seeing her face too pale for my liking. "Did you take your medicine?"
"How am I supposed to be sitting at home when you're working so hard?" She shrugs, breaking into a small smile as she waves at a cardboard-shaded bag.
"I brought your favorite."
Pastries.
"Unnie, it must've cost money." I say, but my tone is halfhearted as a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. It isn't long before I'm onto my second one as she giggles.
"You work too hard." She points out, handing me a napkin. "And you have cream all over your mouth."
My heart warms as I wipe my lips free of chocolate and lemon, determined to work even harder from now on. There was no way I was going to ever be prepared to lose my sister, and damn medicine cost so much money.
But it was all worth it for moments like this.
"Let's go." She says as I lick my fingers clean. "I want to show you my new painting— I don't think it's completely dried yet, though. The paint."
"The one you've been working on for the past month?" I say, chewing on the last piece of bread. "Of me, right?"
"Yeah, that's the one." She says as she opens the door to our house. My eyes flit to the counter filled with bottles and bottles of medicine for my sister's anemia.
She already looks exhausted, and my heart weighs heavy in my chest as she forces a happy smile.
"How is it, huh?" She asks expectantly as she reveals the drying painting. Even though she'd used paint, it seems like someone had taken a picture of me instead.
"It looks so real." I mumble incredulously, then crossing my arms together.
