The Amendment

Chapter Seven

I amble down the stairs with half closed eyes in my black shorts and grey T-shirt, just having woken up minutes ago. I see Jerod rounding the corner into the kitchen as I reach the bottom floor, and I rub my eyes to wipe away some of the drowsiness. I don't want to look totally bagged, but it's hard not too. I didn't have the best sleep of the century to put it in the simplest way possible. 

I stroll into the kitchen with a bit more enthusiasm as I hear, "Mornin', sleepy head."

I yawn in reply to Jerod's greeting and then say as I slouch down on one of the bar stools, "Morning, Jerod."

"You look like you haven't slept in years." Jerod says as he looks at me, pulling down two bowls from the cupboard. He hands me a spoon as I nod a thank you to him, and reply, "Well, I did a bit of writing because I didn't want to sleep quite at the time I entered my room. It was just one of those days where I didn't want to sleep."

"What time did you end up falling into a deep slumber then?" Jerod asks with a british accent as he fills my bowl with Honey Nut Cheerios and then pours milk into it. I push the cheerios into the milk so they aren't as dry as dust when I eat them and respond, "Meh, around three."

"That means you only slept for seven hours." Jerod figures out as I nod tiredly and then ask, trying to get off of the subject how I look like a rag doll, "What about you? What was your sleep like?"

"Meh. I heard some really weird moaning and it kept me awake for a bit." Jerod says before I hear a loud thud, and I turn around to get up as Madison and Brinx walk into the kitchen. They both look well slept, and I'm suddenly regretting my choice for not just heading to bed when I should've. 

"What was that sound?" I ask, almost instantly perked up. Madison's green eyes look sharply at me, and I flinch back slightly before she says like Carlley, "Nothing. Just shoved the brat down the stairs."

"Oh, you're back to the idiot. Is it Madison or Carlley we are speaking to?" Jerod barks as Brinx hides behind the twin, and I look sharply to the girl too. I hate it when anyone takes their anger out on Brinx; she is a harmless and sweet kid that instantly brings a smile to my face. 

"How could it not be Carlley? Who even is Madison?" She retorts before turning around and pushing Brinx away, throwing her into a couch. 

I'm throwing the nasty twin into the counter before I can even think. Her back slams into the granite surface as she lets out a yelp, and I reach up to grab her neck, my eyes blazing. I don't know what's happening, but my body is just reacting to her in the strangest way. 

"Brinx, go to your room." Jerod orders as I hear rather hear than see Brinx scramble away, keeping my eyes focused on the girl. Once Brinx is gone, out of sight, I hiss, "What on Earth is wrong with you? You were so nice yesterday and now you're making me want to strangle you."

"You kind of are strangling me." She rasps as my hand tightens around her throat, and I growl as I feel Jerod stand at my side, "You better tell me what the heck is going on before I tear your eyes out and put them in a blender."

"I won't say anything except that you are going to pay for the murder of Brinx." She gasps before I release her and whip around, bounding up the stairs as a loud scream comes belting out of Brinx's room. I swear loudly before barging into Brinx's room, to find her with a knife protruding from her small chest, her eyes wide and terrified. My knees weaken at the sight of Brinx; such a painful moment no ten-year-old should have to live through. She tries to breathe but looks more like she's suffocating in her own blood before my eyes, and she sags to the floor, falling onto her back.  

"Oh gosh, Brinx." I mumble as I kneel down beside her, tears starting to stream down my cheeks. I pull her up to my chest as blood starts to bubble out of her tiny mouth, and I put my forehead to hers as I ask, "Who came into your room?"