The Wishbornes And The Fallen Star

Chapter 3

The coldness of the night air was kissing my cheeks. I held my legs up to my chest as I sat on the grass in the middle of the forest looking up at the stars. They were flickering in all sorts of colours. Then I saw a shooting star, closed my eyes and wished that my brother, sister and I would have a better life one day. One where we might even have a family. I opened my eyes and saw another shooting star, then another and another. They were all heading in the same direction. I stood up to see better and, on the horizon, I saw a city. The city glowed with so many different colours of light, that were dancing in the night sky, that the city itself looked like a flickering star that had fallen. More shooting stars came shooting by and they all headed for the city. I then heard something behind me and turned around to find my brother standing in the shadows of the trees. But he looked different. "Ray?" I said, as I walked closer to him, but he didn't move. He was just looking passed me. Then I realised he was looking at the city.
He seemed angry, but I couldn't feel that he was angry. I just felt... nothing. Like there was just this emptiness. I started to walk towards him , calling him again and as soon as I got close, his attention shifted to me and all sudden I couldn't breathe. I fell to the floor trying to force air back into my lungs, but nothing happened. I looked up at my brother who was just staring at me with empty eyes. Then I felt it. The fire. Worse than it has ever been before.
I sat up straight, gasping for air. I looked at Raynard who was also sitting up straight on his bed, panting and just looking straight. Irene woke up and said half asleep, "Whats wrong?".
Then there was a knock on the door and Peppa came in. ​​​​​"Morning sweethearts. Hope I didn't wake you, but I have some great news", she said with a smile as she entered the room and sat down on our bed. "I completely forgot to tell you, but a lovely couple stopped by yesterday looking to adopt and they decided on you. All three of you." Irene now sat up straight with us as well.
"Why?", asked Raynard with a hoarse voice as if he has been screaming.
"Why? Don't you want to be adopted?", asked Peppa in confusion. "I think what my brother meant was that couples don't usually adopt two 15 year olds and one 13 year old", I said. Peppa then gave us a sympathetic smile – something I never thought I would see from her – and said," It happens sometimes. Sometimes couples prefer the older children". Raynard and I looked at each other and I just shrugged my shoulders. I then looked at Irene, who's face looked like a little light went on inside of her that wasn't there for so long.
"When do we get to meet them?", Irene asked, and I could tell she was trying to hide her excitement. "Well they will be stopping by just before supper tonight. To formally meet you", said Peppa.
    Something broke downstairs followed by Derick screaming," Look what you did Sheldon!". Sheldon screamed back," Me? You pushed me into it!". Peppa sighed as she got up and walked to the door but before she left, she turned around and said," They seem like really good people", then closed the door and left.
"We might actually get a family", said Irene. ​​​​​​"We already are a family", I said as I was looking for my watch to see what the time is. "You know what I mean", said Irene and looked at me with those big innocent eyes. I found my phone, but before looking at the time I turned to Irene and said, "Yeah I know, but just don't get too excited about it, Rena. We don't know anything about these people. They might be psychopaths".
    I then looked at the time on my phone. 8:00am. "Shit, I need to start getting ready", I jumped out of bed and started looking for clothes to wear. Raynard also got up. "I'm with Bell on this one Rena, something just feels off", said Raynard in an annoyed voice as he took that stupid shirt off the floor. I yanked it out of his hands and handed him a clean shirt. He just looked at me with raised eyebrows. "What? It's dirty", I said. Raynard just shook his head.
"But Peppa said they looked like good people", said Irene. "Since when do we believe what Peppa says? Even with this 'new' Peppa we still can't just believe everything she says", said Raynard as he walked to the door. A little fire stared inside my tummy. Why is he getting so upset about this? He paused at the door and said," Like Bell said, we already have a family. We don't need anybody else." He then left to go take a shower.
I looked at Irene who turned sad, that little light that was there earlier now fading. I sat on the edge of the bed and just looked at her. "He's scared you know", she told me," He feels like he has to protect us all the time and if someone else takes that role what would his purpose be then. But he doesn't know we need him more than just for protection.". I crawled next to her and gave her a hug. "How did you end up so smart?" I said to her,"Let's make a deal? I promise to give these people the benefit of the doubt if you promise not to get too excited about it? I don't want you to be disappointed and hurt when they decided that we are not what they actually wanted and then bring us back to this hell hole of a place". Irene hugged me tighter and whispered, "I promise".
"Good, now do you want to help me with my hair?", I asked her, and she just smiled and nodded.