Skurdulka's House (a LGBTQ chosen-family thriller)

Part 11: The Truth

"Look, I know something's going on here. I don't know what, but..." Standing in the garden, Storm watched Ari warily. They lounged on the lawn recliner between the tomato plants.

"Take a seat." Ari gestured Storm towards the other recliner.

"No." Storm stayed standing. "Tell me what's going on."

Ari tilted their head. "Why the suspicious tone?"

"I know something's been going on for a while. All these weird looks between you and everybody." Storm trained a hard look on Ari. "Tell me. Now."

Crossing their hands behind their head, Ari frowned wryly. "Storm, what do you think is going on?"

"I..." Storm almost sat down, but didn't. He didn't like not knowing. Not knowing meant getting caught off-guard. "I dunno. But it's weird."

Ari took off their heart-shaped glasses, meeting Storm's look. "In the time you've been here, have I done anything to hurt you? Or anyone? Given you any reason to mistrust me?"

"I've only known you a few weeks. But I do know nobody just lets a bunch of people live in their house for no rent. There's something going on." He took a breath. It was all too good to be true. There had to be some kind of catch. His look hardened. "Tell me right now."

"All right, all right." Ari raised a pacifying hand. "Take it easy. I know that this must seem strange. And I'll explain. But you first." Their voice softened. "You said your dad hit you and you left. I'm thinking it wasn't the first time and that you don't want to go back—but I know better than to assume. I was hoping I could hear it from you."

Storm bit the inside of his lip. Slowly, he sat down. "No, you first. Why do you let everyone stay here? What's in it for you?"

Ari sighed. "All right. But I'll hold you to your side." They pushed the sunglasses back up on their face, covering their eyes. "The truth is, I lived in this house, alone, for a long time. A lot of people said it was haunted. Everyone stayed away. They were scared of me. Then some kid showed up on Halloween, throwing rocks at my house. I..." Ari paused. They looked away. "I hit them. I threatened them. Shouted at them. And when their friend showed up, I did it all again."

Storm watched their face. He couldn't see Ari's eyes behind the sunglasses, but he saw their guilt tug at the edge of their lips and he heard it in their quiet voice. But Storm knew guilt only too well. Guilt didn't make it okay.

"I was terrible to them. But the kid kept coming back. I suppose, I know—now—it's because they're used to be treated terribly." Ari shook their head. "I was monstrous then. I wish I hadn't done those things. I was so... I was a lot of things." They fell quiet. 

Storm wasn't sure if that was it—he hoped not, it explained nothing and just raised a million more questions—or if Ari was thinking. A gentle breeze moved through the tomato plants, and Ari looked up. "Chris didn't owe me anything. Probably never should've come back here. But they did. I remember what they said to me. After I threatened them. 'Maybe you're not as bad as everyone thinks you are. As you think you are.' They were right. I didn't want to be that thing that I was." Taking a breath, Ari lowered the glasses, looking over the heart-shaped frames at Storm. "You want to know why Chris, Heather and Lee stay with me? I want them all here. They make me better, they make me want to be better. I love them all, and they love me too. I don't ask for anything except for their kindness, and that's all they ask from me too." After a moment, a smile broke through their somber expression. They flipped the glasses back up and leaned back. "Well. And help making dinner. I'm hopeless with real human food."