Big Bruder

Chapter 5: Faded Memories

Dust sprinkled in the air as Elise broke into a fit of coughs. She closed the door behind her as ghostly echoes from the dark room ran shivers down her spine. There was not a single window in which the moon and stars could cast any light into this nightmare of a room.

Elise couldn't make much out of the room, only that there was a small oil lamp that was hung beside the door. With shaky hands, she grabbed the handle from off the wall and turned the oil burner. A fire sprung to life as its small flame vanquished the shadows before her.

The walls of the room were peeling from age, its plaster growing like moss along the ceiling. Books were strewn across the floor as the tables were beat up with scars. The air within held an eerie aura as it suddenly grew cold due to the fact that this room was cut off from the heating. Piles upon piles of paper were scattered, torn, ripped- covering the room in an ocean of aged yellow.

Out of curiosity, Elise knelt down and picked up a slip of paper, the one closest to her. Flipping it over, a vast, beautiful meadow unfolded before her eyes. Three people stood within the photo, their smiles forever printed in this forgotten memory. A man with glasses and brown hair reluctantly glanced towards the photo with a slight smile, strain and embarrassment flashing within his purple eyes. A lady, her dirty blonde hair falling in curls around her waist as pink-yellow flowers clung to her ears, had the widest and most heart-warming smile. Tipped from neck to toe, this man wore a blue uniform, his eyes were a startling red-violet and his hair was a short platinum blond, strongly resembling the sun; his mischievous grin was proof that he was up to no good.

Mister Edelstein and Miss Héderváry. Elise paused for a second. Who is the other man?

Elizabeta, being in the middle, had her arms wrapped around the two men's necks, forcing the two of them to come closer.

The three of them look all so happy. Suddenly, Elise realized something. What's gonna happen if Elizabeta found out about Roderich and Big Bruder? Ice shot through her veins as she grew conflicted, her heart twisting in knots, aching within her chest.

"Elise!"

"Lise! Where are you?"

Elise froze, the faded photograph slipped from her hands as she desperately glanced towards the oil lamp flickering beside her. Out of panic, she leaped at the fire, extinguishing it in a flash. She ducked into the nearest corner of the room and held her breath, hugging the still-hot oil lamp to her chest despite it burning her hands.

Footsteps grew louder and louder until she could practically imagine Basch and Roderich standing right before the door. The world around Elise suddenly went silent; her face burned up in the chilly room, heartbeat pulsing dangerously from her scarred fingers.

"Where do you think she went?" Basch's voice carried through the walls.

"Little Elise," Roderich giggled, "She was adorable when she was little. It's all thanks to me that she didn't grow up to be a pain in the ass like you."

Elise flinched at the strong language, but forced herself to make no sound as she bit her lip.

"You're not yourself," Basch replied. "I'm getting you back to bed, then I'll continue looking for Lise alone."

"Then I'll continue looking for Lise alone," Roderich quoted in a mocking manner.

"Just... shut up..." Basch sputtered out before walking away, Roderich soon followed as their bickering continued, only to fade away.

Once Elise was sure they had left, she got up and reignited the oil lamp. Gazing across the room full of photographs, she was sure she wouldn't be able to find the same photo from before. Instead, she carefully selected a delicate, tattered picture, its corners torn but the people in it were still recognizable.