With a total of thirteen people living under the same roof, you could imagine that it would take a long time to get to know all of us. Even we've had this issue, but by this time, I've come to know all nine of my sisters and my one brother very well. I can tell a story of any one of them, many of which involving my brother, Lincoln.
But out of everyone in my family, I've always been the most concern for my first little sister, Lucy. This kid isn't just a bit weird, but she's insanely proud of it. A total goth, dresses in black, loves vampires that don't sparkle, embraces the darkness consuming around the light in the universe, and she has a love for Edgar Allen Poe. She got mad at me because I used to thought his name was Egor Alice Poo, or at least I hope that's how you actually call him.
Anyway, even though she likes creepy stuff and comes off as depressing, we all know she's happier then she lets on. We've ALL seen her smile, and over time, we can even tell when a frown means she's content or not. Don't ask how that makes any sense. It kind of doesn't.
But more importantly, she's become more open with herself, to the point that she could even talk to her own family. Even though she's always been a bit of an introvert, even now that it's her 9th birthday, back when she was seven, she was...well, still an introvert. But a very bitter one. For who knows how long, Lucy was legitimately a depressed little girl, and I still feel terrible for not realizing it. It was only in hindsight that it was obvious, but that could just be because I'm not a very smart person
It's a long story, but it's time for me, Lynn Loud Junior, to finally tell this story. The story of how, after seven years, I finally met my sister Lucy.
Let's briefly go over what I knew about her. She was gloomy, quiet...and that was kind of it. Even back then, she kept to herself, almost to a desperate level. For the longest time, she and Lincoln were the only two in the house to have a room to themselves. Lincoln had one to himself because he's the only boy in the house, so it would've been awkward to be bunked with a girl.
Lucy got a room to herself out of stubbornness. We've had to adjust living arrangements a few times, even after moving to what's now our home, but every single time, Lucy would fight to get a room to herself. Those were probably the only times we would hear her say something. Fortunately, none of us really minded. I even volunteered to share a room with the baby, who was Lisa at the time. Though, after losing my smallest toe in an "experiment", I've grown to regret that choice.
But that all changed when Lily, who is currently our youngest sibling, was on her way. With one more sister and no more rooms left in the house, someone needed to share a room with her. It might've been the first time I've ever heard Lucy raise her voice. Granted, given how quiet she's always been, it really wasn't saying anything.
"Lucy, you have to share your room. Your mother is having a baby, so-" My Dad tried to say.
"She's always having a baby." Lucy said bitterly.
Me and my sisters could hear Mom and Dad's frustration. Lucy's was hard to pick up though since even when angry, she rarely raised her voice. In fact, to hear it all, me and my sisters all had press our ears right up on Lucy's door. Lisa and the twins had to stand on some of our heads to listen in, but I knew I was tough enough to hold them all up if they asked.
"I think they all moved away from the door. I can't hear as well anymore." Lori said.
"I hear a radio. I think she's trying to ignore them." Luna noticed.
"For some reason, I'm hearing them talking a lot about Ace Savvy." Leni said.
"That's Lincoln's room! Get over here!" I ordered.
Right as my sister Leni started to make her way over to us, we heard the doorknob turn. Before the door could open, all of us had already shouted "Uh oh!", and ran back to our rooms as if we weren't even there. Unfortunately, Leni didn't, and we were all caught when she tried to listen into Lucy's room, only to place her ear on our Mom's belly.
"Weird. Lucy sounds like a baby kick."
"DANG IT, LENI!" We all shouted together.
Our Mom face palmed and groaned. In hindsight, we didn't make her pregnancy, or any other for that matter, stress free. "At least our son respects privacy. Speaking of Lincon, get him. We're having a short family meeting."
We waited for Mom and Dad to go downstairs before following them, although me and Lori, and Lincoln were the last to follow them. Lori went to get Lincoln, but I was distracted while everyone else headed down. As everyone walked downstairs, I saw Lucy peeking through her door.
I didn't know what it was, but there was something chilling I saw from Lucy's face. I see her pretty much every day, but whatever it was that I saw, it was something I had never seen before. If I had gotten a better look before she slammed the door, I might've caught it.
What I did find was a crumpled piece of paper that she accidently dropped in the haste. I walked over to pick it up, and found it was one of her poems...sort of.
Darkness no longer relieves myself.
Angered more by my new dilemma.
Many more awful years of mayhem.
No good will unfold, unlike origami.
Monsters turned your home to hell.
You've become nothing special, Lucy.
First: I immediately hoped that she wouldn't use such harsh language after Lily was born, though there were be some irony with me thinking that later on. TL;DR, we all have sailor mouths.
Second, but more importantly: I don't know if I was meant to read this poem sideways or something, but this was a weird poem. I was never that smart, but even I knew that most poems are suppose to rhyme. I still insist that something is important with the format if she had to use hell.
During this period of time, she would continue to write more of these cryptic poems, all of which I've saved. I've never figure out the real meaning behind them, but they went on to be hints that helped me understand my younger sister. A girl who was suffering a great amount of pain, and how she would slowly but surely open up to me.
Author's note: So I have to admit, it's been a while since I've written a story, and even longer since I placed one here on this site. Suffice to say, I give you the first chapter of my first Loud House story.
I have two goals with this one: To write subtly that I don't usually see much in story-telling in general, and to do so with something of a mini-game. It'll start off easy for the first two chapters, then you'll have to rely on the hints to figure them out yourselves. Not that figuring them out will change the story or anything. My only real clue I'll give you is that Lynn herself will make it obvious.
I hope I'll be able to write a story that you'll all enjoy and maybe remove some of my rust.