Esper

Esper Chapter 1: Echoed

Part 1

Nicolaus Thompson lackadaisically laid stretched out across his couch. He was barely even paying attention to the television that sat in front of him running the daily news.

"...The amber alert is still in effect. The missing child is 11-year-old Kylee Drummond, last seen..."

The fragrance of bacon and eggs filled his small three-room apartment, accompanied by a cheerful and slightly offbeat humming. Nicolaus's eyes glazed over as he slowly entered a state of total apathy toward his surroundings.

"Nick...Nick!"

"Huh?" A shrill voice calling his name yanked him back to reality.

"Breakfast, dude! Come on."

"...mmm..." The spiky haired, lethargic couch-potato remained motionless. As the television droned on, a slender pair of legs walked into frame obscuring his view.

"You're going to ignore me?" Frustrated, the voice of a young woman prattled on digging at Nicolaus, just barely catching his attention. "I'm not going to move."

Nicolaus looked up at the young woman with her black, shoulder length hair billowing about as the ceiling fan blew down onto her head. "I really do wish I could ignore you." He replied curtly.

"Rude! Guess what dude, I spent all morning cooking, so someone is going to eat it. Get off your ass, food's ready!"

"Fine...fine." Nicolaus got off the sofa and shuffled into the small kitchenette. He sat at the table as the young woman placed a plate of bacon, eggs, and sausages in front of him.

"Dig in!" She sat down opposite Nicolaus who scowled at her intensely.

"Dani, stop that."

"Stop what?"

"You're about to start smoking. You already have a cigarette in your mouth."

"Oh?! I didn't even notice."

"Right..."

"Seriously! I really didn't notice."

"That's called 'addiction'."

"Okay, I get that, but I'm an adult; I can smoke if I want."

"Right, you're an adult. You know, Mom and Laurence have been worried about you ever since you moved away."

"Oh my god! Are we really starting this now?"

"We all just want to know why this is the first time we've heard from you in nearly 3 years."

"Can't a little sister worry about her big brother?"

"Sure; but you should call home occasionally. Mom calls me all the time asking if you're mad at her or something."

"Why are you getting so hostile out of nowhere?! Look, I came here to check up on you. I was the first person on your emergency contacts list to pick up, remember? That means that I still have the same fucking phone number, which also means if anyone wanted to call me, they could've! The people at the hospital tell me that you're involved in some crazy incident and a bunch of people died! So, I offer to watch you and make sure that you're comfortable and safe; and this is the thanks I get?!"

"...I'm sorry...you're right."

"Wha...?"

"I'm sorry! It's just...I'm sorry...I'm a little on edge lately."

"Oh...ok."

"..."

"Nick, you can talk to me about anything. I am your sister, so..."