Mind Games

Chapter 1

Des

The last couple of months have been absolutely chaotic.

I stood in front of the humble and meek house on Sunflower Bluff Blvd., hoping that this wasn't going to be the last time I would see it. We were in Mr. Watson's neighborhood, dropping August off to her new home. Ever since she was kidnapped, everyone (except me) agreed that she would be safer here since Radcliffe had no idea where this location was.

"You ready?" I asked my little sister, looking down on her sweet and innocent complexion. But do not be so easily fooled. This little girl can read minds and control people. And she's quite terrifying when she wants to be. I lucked out with a pretty powerful and scary sister, didn't I?

"I think the real question is if you're ready." Aug replied, giving me a certain look that I didn't like.

"Are you sure you're gonna be safe here?" I ask nervously, frowning a little. "I mean, you can totally defend yourself if you encounter anybody hostile and Mr. Watson is a great guy, but I still --"

"You're still gonna miss me," August finished my sentence for me. "Look, everyone is gonna miss me. But you'll be fine. You can still visit and we can play War and Risk as much as you want, okay?"

I sighed, crossing my arms, then returning my gaze back to the house. I knew I had to let her go, but ... it seemed impossible.

"You ready for your new home, Aug?" Andy asked, interrupting my thoughts while dragging yet another one of my little sister's suitcases. He seemed like he was happy for her, but we knew he was depressed about August leaving as well.

"Yep!" She answered, grinning, taking her luggage and hauling it inside.

As I watched her enter inside that house, something clicked. I realized August wasn't my sister anymore. Of course she never was my blood-related sibling, but she was by adoption. And now she isn't anymore.

"You okay, Des?" Andy asked, placing his comforting hand on my shoulder. I sighed, nodding.

August came trotting up to us, free of her things, and embraced Andy in a very long hug. "I love you, Andy." She whispered. Then she moved onto me.

"Be ready, Des," my little sister echoed inside my mind. "The time is coming when we can be together again."

«»

After coming back home, I flopped onto the couch, and Andy and I silently rewatched a couple of episodes of Stranger Things and he began to prepare dinner.

Meanwhile I was sitting in the living area, staring off into space, thinking. What would happen now? I would be going back to Facility 26 on September first, and without my little sister. What would everyone say when I came empty-handed without her? Would I even ever see her again? What if she goes missing again? Will Radcliffe be able to find her? What if --

"Des, dinner is ready." Andy stopped my toxic pondering and I was thankful for it. I had food to take my mind off of things.

"Okay, I'm coming," I said, coming to sit myself down at the dinner table. Seating myself, I glanced at Andy, who was setting the plates down, and I could see tears in his eyes that he was holding back.

He sat down across from me and I watched him burst into tears.

I waited for about five minutes for him to stop. I didn't blame him for suddenly breaking down. He had put on a brave face in front of August and I and now he was letting it all out. For some odd reason, I couldn't bring myself to cry like Andy. Everything was mostly numb. I knew that she was leaving. I knew she would go to live with her dad. I knew that I would no longer be her sister. I had no idea if feeling numb was a bad thing or not. But I didn't want to deal with it at the moment.

"I'm sorry," Andy whispered after he wiped his eyes of his fresh tears.

"Don't be," I replied. "I'm sad she's gone, too."

We ate our dinner in silence after that. Why couldn't I just deal with it? Why couldn't I just --

"Des," Andy broke the silence as I helped wash the dishes.

"Yeah?"

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay."

"I've talked about it for a little bit with Mr. Kabadi, and I don't think you should attend Facility 26 this year."