Chapter 171
ASHAL
I have been slipping in and out of consciousness all day. Each time my eyelids fluttered open amidst my drowsiness, Skylar was either walking away after leaving me some food or after replacing my bandages with fresh ones. I struggled to keep my eyes open each time because I wanted to get a better look at her face. She has the cutest freckles I have seen and up close, her blonde hair has tints of grey at the tips.
I bat my eyelids open again after what seems to be hours of sleep and realize I am in a proper room, and on a bed. The lights are turned on low. From a small window, I can see dusk on the horizon. With some effort and a stab of pain shooting up my spine, I heft myself into a sitting position. I ignore the fact that my right hand is handcuffed to the bed and concentrate on the window, and the balmy breeze whistling outside.
How long have I been away from my family? Has my birthday passed or not? My memory keeps getting all jumbled up because of the stuff they kept injecting into my bloodstream through syringes while I was in the basement. Though it helped numb the pain all over my body for a few hours, I hope all that is over now.
My mind drifts to my family and how they must be coping. How’s mother holding up? I wish I could assure her that I am okay. I wish I could calm her nerves. And my brothers? I hope they’re being strong.
I’m certain father is holding up well. He must blame me for being gullible and visiting the same family he tried to warn me against. Anyway, I can’t deny how right he was. I shouldn’t have gone to see Maddi just to escape from my thoughts being haunted by Demi’s words about my sister.
It’s terribly ironical that the same sister is now punishing me. Why though? Why does she hate my brothers and I so much? Did someone poison her heart towards us during her childhood? I don’t just get it.
Though hearing about her existence felt like a lie at first, my brothers and I have been thrilled at the discovery. We’ve looked forward to spoiling our baby sister with all the good things if life she never had as a child. We’ve mapped out strategies to keep her safe. We’ve loved her from a distance without necessarily knowing the full story about her so why is the feeling not mutual when it comes to Skylar? Why does she bear a toxic grudge against us that’s so strong she’s prepared to end my life without batting an eye?
A small movement in the shadows tell me that I am not alone. I blink severally, trying to make out the silhouette of a person standing by the door, watching me intently. Something about the stillness and the grim stance gives off a coldness that I have come to associate with my estranged sister.
"Are you just going to stand there? Come forward, Sky. I also have a lot to get off my chest."
She flicks on the light to a higher setting, revealing herself. She’s not by the door after all, but lounging on the chair close to it. Her legs are crossed. Her eyes are frosty. She inclines her head with a slight curve of her mouth.