Big Brother

"I'm cold, Greg." I whispered. "I want to go home."

But he just kept walking.

"It's dark and creepy. Please, Greg, let's get out of here!"

He turned around sharply.

"And what about them?"

His features were mysteriously outlined in the faint glow of the flashlight. His wild hair was a halo of darkness around his fair skin and high cheekbones. His jaw was set, and his eyes seemed to burn with a blue flame.

"Serenity.and Joey.we can't leave them."

He was walking again.

"Greg, wait for me!" I cried out to him in the darkness, and followed my big brother down the tunnel.

I was only six that time, and Greg towered high above me. I had to run to keep up with his huge strides. I looked up at him.

Suddenly, he seemed much shorter and I now reached up to his shoulders. We were out of the tunnel and the blue sky was high above our heads.

"Greg, where are we?"

"The valley." He said.

"It's beautiful out here, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

We lay on our backs and watched the blue of the sky pass above heads.

"You know, you're all right, for a kid." He reached out and ruffled my hair. That was the first time he did that. "You've got to toughen up a little, you know?"

"But why?"

"Because.I won't be here forever, you understand that, don't you?"

I didn't say anything.

"You've got to learn how to look out for yourself, sis. It's a nasty world out there."

I had always remembered those words. And now they rang in my head.

It has started to rain, and the lively background and the clear blue sky were washed off like paint off a canvas. I was alone now. The dull drip of water reached my ears and as I took in my surroundings, I realized I was in an abandoned warehouse.

"Hello? Is anybody there?"

But I only heard the science.

"Hello!"

And then.thud.thud.thud. Footsteps, I realized. Somebody is here. I started to back away, and then I heard a door slam.

"Sis?" It was Greg's voice. "Are you in here?"

"Greg!" I looked at him and he at me.

"What are you doing here?" he asked me, his voice thick with concern.

"I.I don't know."

"Let's go."

Soon we were in his car. He started the engine and the motor sprang to life. We started off the dirt road, and the car bumped and jerked on the uneven soil. Everything started to fade, but the sensations remained. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was no longer in Greg's car. The ceiling floated by me and I was on my back. I looked around and realized I was on a stretcher. Greg was beside me, holding my hand.

"Greg.where am I?"

My body was hurting all over and I felt weak.

"It's ok, sis. It was just a little accident. You'll be all right."

"It's a good thing you got her here so fast." I heard someone remark.

"Has it only been a few minutes?" I asked quietly.

"It's ok." Greg smiled, and squeezed my hand.

No matter what Greg said, I knew that my big brother will always be there for me.