🥀Crystallight 2: A Family Reunion🥀

🥀Chapter 9: Snooping🥀

~~~~~~~~~Third Person POV~~~~~~~~~

"Come in..." Iv said as she heard knocking on her door, seeing her brother open it and partially step inside.

"Hey.."

"Hey..." Her gaze was focused on her hands which she softly gripped, not wanting to make eye contact after the memories that had returned.

Aiden walked over, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I heard a yell... Everything okay...?"

She thought for a moment, organizing her thoughts as she decided on what to say. "Yeah, I just..."

"Had another nightmare...?" She stayed quiet at his guess. He wasn't wrong, was he? Memories could be considered nightmares as well.

She nodded, Aiden letting out a small sigh. "You've been getting them a lot lately..."

"It's probably because I'm so stressed with school lately, it's fine though, I just need a shower and to relax.." She stood up, her body still a bit shaky from everything as she made her way to her drawer.

"Iv.." She looked back as he called, seeing a worried expression on his face.

'Oh God, what now..?' She thought, recognizing the expression Noah and Alyse had given her for the past few weeks.

"You've been acting weird recently.. I didn't want to say anything, but you have.. I've known you since we were born, and I know when something wrong with you.. You can't act your way out of this one.."

Iv softly gripped the clothes she had taken out of her drawer, not knowing how to react. Soon after, she turned to face her brother, a sigh of defeat escaping her lips.

"You're right, there is something bothering me. And before you say anything, this is something that I need to take care of on my own. I can't tell you; at least, not right now."

He looked at her as worry grew larger inside him. He had only ever seen her like this three years ago, and it pained him to ever think of her returning to that stage.

But he shook it off. "Alright, I'll let it go for now.."

"Thank you.."

Aiden stood up, walking over to the door. As he was about to leave before looking once more at his sister, noticing the dark aura that started to emanate from her.

He wanted to help, anything that could be considered useful. But what could he do? He didn't know what was wrong, he didn't know what to fix.

He let out a small sigh, leaving the room.

Iv took a deep breath. As much as it brought her down to hide it all, it was the only one to protect everyone while Ashley was around. If she dared to speak about it, what would Ashley do to them?

After a quick yet relaxing shower, she left her room, wrapping her hair in a lazy bun. Getting close to the bottom of the stairs, she began to hear voices.

Two different ones, to be precise.

"There's this new restaurant nearby, I thought we could check out!" Ashley's voice was heard from the kitchen.

Noah's voice was heard afterwards. "Oh, that sounds cool. I'll tell the others, we can all go and-"

"Oh, that won't be necessary." Iv peeked around the corner, seeing Ashley leaning over the counter as she placed a hand on Noah's, her eyes widening a bit. "I was thinking it could go alone, just the two of us~"

"Eh?"

"You know, like a date~"

Noah tensed up a bit before pulling his hand away, chuckling awkwardly. "L-look, Ashley, you're really cool and stuff, but I don't really like you that way.."

Iv let out a small sigh of relief. Maybe she didn't like to admit it, but she did like him. A lot. Of course, as much as she wanted to tell him, she thought the right time hadn't arrived yet.

"Snooping on my brother now?" Iv jumped, ready to attack whoever startled her, seeing Sage sitting on the steps in her fox form.

She let out a small sigh. "I'm not snooping, just wanted a snack."

"Then why waste the past two minutes you've been standing here?" Sage said as she tilted her head.

Iv opened her mouth to answer, failing to make her sounds into words. She then let out a growl, crossing her arms. "W-whatever, I'm not that hungry anyways."

With that, she went upstairs. Sage looked back in confusion, but shrugged it off and trotted down the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~Sage's POV~~~~~~~~~

After my short encounter with Iv, I went downstairs in search for a PopTart. However, I felt my fur stand on end as a strange aura suddenly filled the room.

I saw Ashley staring deeply into Noah's eyes as a strange smirk was placed on her face. My brother stared back with an emotionless expression, which sent shivers down my spine.

I walked over, turning into my human form. "Uh, hey?"

My body tensed up, my eyes widening a bit at the feeling. "U-uh-"

"I got so lucky both of the famous Cipher twins live in the same house as my family~..."

Her eyes started to flicker between colors. I tried to move, but it felt as if I was stuck in the same position, slowly feeling my energy draining away.

What's happening...?!?

Thanks for reading!!! 'Till next time!!!

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