(A/N: Yay, I haven't been forgotten! And so you guys get another chapter. xD.)

Chapter 4

"Are you asking me to kill you?" I growled, clenching my fists into tight balls as I glared at Alaka.

"Aw, come on! I've always wished Father would let us go on a mission with him!"

Ash shrugged. "I've never really cared either way… Alaka's just a little crazy."

"I am not! Spying sounds fun!"

"Yeah, saying that kind of makes you sound crazy," I snapped angrily. "If you think my life is so cool, you go ahead and try living it!"

"But Alex—"

"Shut up, Alaka." Ash rolled his eyes. "He's obviously tired. You know I'm not nice when I'm tired too."

"Ash, you're never nice!"

"Hey!"

I sighed. "Let me just say this now and get it over with. I don't like the fact that I have siblings, and you're not making me like it any better. I'd just rather we stayed out of each others' lives, but obviously, your dad won't let that happen."

"Our dad," Alaka corrected.

"Whatever. Either way, I'm stuck with you guys whether I like it or not."

Ash laughed. "Yeah, and you think we're thrilled to see you?"

"Hm, I don't know… do I look thrilled to you?" I retorted.

"Well, I think it's cool I have another brother," Alaka carefully interjected. "I mean, Ash here is pretty dumb. I was wondering what happened to his brain cells."

I shook my head. "It's unfortunate you both look so much like me. Otherwise, I'd prefer to pretend we weren't related."

"Too bad," the two of them simultaneously replied, then smirked and high-fived each other. I rolled my eyes.

"Do you guys do that a lot?"

"Yes."

I sighed. "Well, as long as I don't end up doing the same thing, I don't care." I faked a yawn. I was good at faking now. "I'm tired…"

"But we haven't eaten dinner yet!" Alaka pointed out.

"Well, you weren't knocked out and dragged here by force!" I snapped. "Now leave me alone."

"But Alex—"

"Let him go, Alaka." I was surprised when my father stepped into the room. "He's had a rough day. Let him have a little time to himself."

She shrugged. "Hey, it's not my fault he's so messed up."

"Yeah, blame your precious father. I'm going to my room!"

"Would you like to take a shower first?" Ash suggested as I stood to leave.

"Why, do I need one?"

Alaka frowned and took a cautious whiff. She wrinkled her nose. "When was the last time you showered?"

I smirked. "I really don't remember, but it certainly wasn't within the last week…"

"Ew!"

"Why not?" Ash asked.

"Okay, enough!" John interjected. "Ash, Alaka, library. Alex, shower!"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, master." I grudgingly trudged upstairs, but I didn't make my way to my room quite yet. Once I heard the library door shut, I headed downstairs again. I smiled grimly to myself. The spy was back.

"But Father, he's weird!" Yeah, Alaka, you too. You have no right to talk.

"Yeah, Father, he kind of us. But he was normal when I met him…"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," John said with an exasperated sigh. "That's what spying does to a person. That's why I wouldn't let you two come with me."

"But you go all the time!"

"Yeah! And if you wouldn't let us, why'd you let Alex?" Yes, Ash, why exactly had he made Alex do it?

"I had no choice, and neither did Alex."

"So?"

"Yeah. So?"

I took a step back now, having heard enough. Obviously, I wasn't welcome here. Fine with me. At least the three of them were occupied. That gave me time to go find myself a knife…

I headed back to the kitchen, looked around to double-check no one was around, and opened a drawer. I sifted through the utensils briefly but was severely disappointed instead. All I could find were spoons, forks, and butter knives. Just in case, I slipped one of the knives up my calf, where it rubbed slightly against my bare flesh. Then I yanked the denim back down to cover the area. I tested my movement briefly, and when I found myself to be capable of walking, I moved over to check another drawer. Hopefully, this one would prove to be more rewarding…

My heart somersaulted when my fingertips met hard wood. I walked my index and middle finger up the wooden handle, pausing when one met the cool metal. I slid the drawer open just a little more. As I revealed more and more of it, the euphoria within me increased dramatically, multiplying itself exponentially. Yes. This was the key to everything…

"Alex? What are you think you're doing?"

I spun around at lightning speed, plunging my hand into the drawer while I did so. I found myself face-to-face with Ash. What a relief. "What does it look like I'm doing?" I retorted.

"Well, if you're looking for spoons and forks, you're not going to find them there."

"Oh. Well, I was just going off to bed." Please leave and stop asking questions…

"I thought Father told you to go upstairs."

I rolled my eyes. "He's not the boss of me!"

Ash sighed. "Alex—"

"Just leave me alone!" I attempted to slam the drawer shut as I spoke. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten that my other hand was still lodged in the drawer. Almost instinctively, my hand had found its way to the blade, and as the force of my other hand collided with the drawer, my finger ricocheted backwards, slicing through the soft pads of my fingertips. I couldn't help releasing a scream of agony as pain vibrated through nearly every cell of my body. I immediately yanked the drawer open and stared intently at my bloody finger. Aw, f

"Alex, you're bleeding!" Ash's eyes had widened dramatically. I would have laughed at him if the situation wasn't so dire.

"Gee, I totally couldn't see that." I immediately pressed down on the finger, hoping I could create enough pressure to stop the bleeding. I'd definitely bled enough recently. This cut could actually kill me…

"Alex!" Great, now for the father's arrival on the scene. Absolutely wonderful. "What happened here? You weren't trying to… you know… were you?"

I let out a derisive laugh. "I don't know, maybe."

Alaka ran in then, and her expression mirrored her brother's when she laid eyes on me. "Ash, what did you do?"

"Not now!" he snapped in reply.

"Alex, seriously, talk to me." John knelt down next to me. It was then I realized that I had somehow ended up on the floor. "Were you intentionally trying to harm yourself?"

"Not like this," I mumbled. "Yes, but not like this."

And then, before I knew it, I'd blacked out.