Inside

Chapter 2

A thud on the bathroom door shook me and there went my eyeliner.

"Damn it! Who is it?" I snapped, but mostly asked, eyeing my reflection in the mirror. The stupid eyeliner smudge had ruined my whole face and now I'll have to redo it ugh! I glanced at the clock which showed it was 7.10, and that meant I only had twenty more minutes to redo my make-up and fix my hair. Immediately, I started digging around for make-up wipes.

"Jason," a frightened, little voice interrupted my actions and I wasted no time in opening the door. A five-year old looked up at me, hands over his ears as tears welled up in his eyes. Getting on my knees, I opened up my arms and enveloped him the tightest possible hug.

"What's wrong?" I questioned, breaking the silence after his breathing had returned to its somewhat normal pace. I stroked his hair as he gradually let go of me.

Looking me straight in the eye, he said, "I was just watching T.V. on big volume---" his voice broke, but he managed to continue, "and --- s--he came and h-hit me--" I tried ignoring my gut feeling but as soon as he finished, there was no point in neglecting it. Isn't your gut always right, my brain mocked. Keeping that thought aside, I began plotting the murder of that bitch in my mind. I didn't really understand why she despised her brother so much so that she wanted to emotionally and physically drag him down.

"I am really sorry, baby." I whispered not breaking the eye contact with those greyish-blue eyes.

"Don't call me baby, I am a grown up man!" He replied and I couldn't resist laughing, neither could he. Soon his laughs filled the corridor, the sound of his laughter was the purest thing I had ever heard. So I tackled him, and tickled his belly for more of that beautiful sound.

Our moment was interrupted when Elena's shouting took over the house. "Where has that little piece of garbage disappeared to? He had to clean my shoes!!" Her voice got louder every passing second, so guessing by that, she was now at the foot of the stairs.

Taking Jason's hand, I pulled him into the bathroom and locked the door. Jason was not new to this 'hiding from Elena' practice, so he grabbed my phone from the stand next to the make-up mirror and made himself comfortable on the toilet seat.

"Who's in there?" Elena Rae questioned from the other side of the door. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Jason who had now stopped using my phone and had his hands over his ears.

"Kate," I responded. Glancing at the clock, I plugged in the curling iron.

"So, is now making out with my brother a new thing?" Bile rose to my throat. I looked at Jason and mouthed, "lock the door behind me."

I stepped out and stared in those same greyish-blue eyes, except these were cold with no emotion. "What is the matter with you? He is your younger brother! Do you seriously hate him that much? For God's sake, he's a five year old and you've already put him through hell, you bully him, hit him for no apparent reason, make him do your chores when it's his fucking age to be carefree and not your damn slave!! Are you even a human? Do you seriously not see how much you've shattered his self confidence?!! WHAT HAS HE EVER DONE TO YOU? HUH, TELL ME???"

I paused to catch my breath and looking at her stunned expression, I knew that I had caught her off guard for once, I deserved appreciation for this, I thought. "You know what? Never-mind! You won't ever get this shit, not until you lose him. And that will never happen as you've never even made the slightest of efforts to be his sister! Not once in five years! And to be honest, I'm glad because you're a heartless monster! Look in the mir—"

"Enough, both of you." My mom ordered, silencing me. I didn't quite realise we had an audience but when I turned my head towards the staircase, I saw Mom who was practically shooting daggers at me, so I quickly looked away.