A/N: KNOCK, KNOCK. I'm pretty inspired at the moment. I love writing this story, and I hope that you like reading it. Feedback is always welcome. KTF CLM
08.09.1999, Minnesota. The Donovan Household.
Joshua Donovan had just wanted to go home over the weekend. His parents were going to be at some kind of scientist meeting for three days. Usually he would have loved to accompany them there rather than to babysit his sisters. But he hadn't seen Claudia and Claire for a few months and they told him that everything was a bit tense between the sisters right now.
That was really new to him. Usually he had to deal with both of them against him. They always stood in for each other. Claudia and Claire were unstoppable together. Sometimes he even wondered if it was healthy how close they were. Claudia had turned into a miniature version of Claire. She had even said that she wanted to color her hair red.
Of course their parents had told her she could do that. In eight years. But Claudia, being her stubborn Donovan-ish self, kept asking every week.
And with her puppy dog eyes, Josh wouldn't be surprised if she was already a fiery redhead to her tenth birthday. There is no second person on earth who had pleading and begging skills like Claudia's. That's what he hated her for, and that's what he loved her for.
He got out of the car when it stopped in front of his parents' home. He had taken a taxi cab since he didn't have an own car yet. He already had a drivers license, but he wanted to keep his money till he had enough for the perfect car. And to finish his education. Cat and John had offered him to pay for it, but Joshua Donovan was a man of pride. Well, an eighteen-year old with pride. Maybe sometimes a bit too much. His mother said that John was just like that when he was younger.
He reached the door just when it swung open and his father came outside. "Joshua, thank god! We'll already be late. Cathy!", John shouted while he was all at once fixing his tie, straightening his suit and looking at the expansive watch around his wrist.
"Josh!"
The boy grinned when he saw his youngest sister bolting down the stairs. She always took at least two steps at once. He walked into her direction and caught her before she could even reach the floor.
He held her back close to his chest and turned himself in circles, making her legs fly in the air in the process.
The little brunette screamed in joy. Soon the screaming turned into laughing. That seemingly gave him an idea, because he stopped swirling her around and started tickling her instead.
He softly set her down on ground when he saw how Claire slowly made her way down the stairs. He sent the older one of his two younger sisters a reassuring smile. She seemed a bit far away today.
She hesitantly smiled back and stuffed her hands into the back pockets of her dark blue skinny jeans. She stepped in front of her brother and looked to the ground. She had a guilty expression on her face.
Joshua made a fast decision and slung his arms around his redheaded sister. At first she jumped at his sudden movement, then she put her left hand onto his left shoulder blade. Her right hand followed soon afterwards. She buried her face in her brothers chest.
Catherine came down the stairs and smiled softly at the image in front of her. She quietly walked past them, gave Claudia a quick kiss on the top of her head, and grabbed her husband's hand to pull him to the car.
John waved his youngest goodbye and followed his wife back outside. Claudia smiled. That's how it was meant to be. It was all so peaceful right now. Thanks to Joshua. He always seemed to know what to do to calm his sisters down. At least to a point where no one had to hope that he'll still be alive tomorrow.
Joshua loosened his grip on Claire and she slowly pulled away. The redhead took a deep breath in. She didn't know how much of Claudia's ideas about her music box he knew about. Or how much of it he'd believe at all. But she didn't want to give him the chance to ask.
"So, how have you been big brother? Any news from college?"
"I'm good. Nothing that would be interesting for you there. I've got a couple of complicated science classes, not that that would be a problem for me. There are already a few professors who think I'd make a good scientist one day. Other than that it's...well, it's college."
Claire nodded, but stayed silent. So Claudia decided to take over.
"That's awesome Josh! I think you'll be a great physicist! Just like Dad."
Her brother smiled brightly. "Thanks Dia. You know, from you it means even more to me than from them!"
Now Claudia grinned proudly. "Well, of course! I bet I'm smarter than most of them anyway."
"I bet. So... how're you two? Anything new?"
"No.", Claire said blankly. She really didn't want to talk about this now.
Claudia shot her sister a slightly dark look. The girl had missed her brother so much that she'd been jumping around the house all day since she found out about his visit.
She really didn't need Claire to kill the mood now. Of course she had wondered if she could talk Josh into bringing the damn box away. But he just came here. This wasn't the moment for a conversation like this.
But their brother had already noticed the cold way the sisters seemed to treat each other with. And he wasn't willing to spend a whole weekend with two girls who're watching one another as if they were plotting the fasted way to get rid of the other one.
"Alright, listen. Mom said that there was some kind of sister war between the two of you. Apparently about some kind of antiquity Claire brought home..."
"It's not just some stupid antiquity! It's a beautiful wooden music box. If you ask me, Claudia's just jealous so she's thinking of a way to take it from me!", Claire became angrier with every word that left her lips.
"You're right! It's not just an antiquity. It's changing you Claire! It's driving you mad! I'm just trying to get my sister back!", Claudia shot back, half angry, half desperate.
"I am right here! But you don't care! None of you do! The box gives me my peace! It's calming me! This object understands me better than any human being ever could!"
Claire angrily balled her fists and screamed. Claudia could swear that her sister's feet were an inch above the floor for a moment.
Suddenly things were falling to the ground like there was an earthquake. The lamp fell from the ceiling. A glass vase with tulips fell onto the carpet. Some pictures fell from the wall.
Joshua could just stand there in shock while Claudia had come to hide behind him, holding onto the back of his shirt for dear life.
He thought he could see Claire's eyes glowing for a second. Now he understood what Claudia meant.
The attack stopped as unexpected as it started. For a minute they all just stood there. The redhead looked around the room, not able to believe that she did that. She caused this chaos. And from what she could see, she scared her siblings like hell.
She turned around and ran upstairs to her room. Once she was inside she locked the door and threw herself onto her bed. The teen grabbed a pillow and pressed it to her chest. This couldn't be because of her precious treasure! It just couldn't! But she had no other explanation. Claire buried her face into the pillow and began to sob.
Meanwhile downstairs Joshua had excused himself and went to the kitchen. Claudia waited a moment before she followed him. She didn't want to be alone now and she wanted to know what he was doing.
She saw how he picked up the phone. He didn't notice her in the doorway yet so she stepped aside so she could hide behind the wall. The girl doubted he wanted her to hear anything from this call.
Her older brothers next words sent a shiver down her spine.
"Mom? Yes. It's Josh. You were right. Something is definitely out of control here. But I can assure you it's not Claudia's imagination. Mom... it's Claire."
