Okay, so in the weeks between last chapter and this one, I got completely obsessed with Haikyu. I have legitimately had most of this chapter done, but I was so busy binging this anime and playing Animal Crossing and Pokemon that I just kept putting it off. But I'm all caught up on my anime and pretty much done with Pokemon (we don't talk about completing the Pokedex or the upcoming DLC), so maybe I'll focus on writing a bit. Hope you lovelies enjoy the chapter! ~Shaymie

I watched in awe as my brother walked into the house, locking the door behind him. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be in England, studying... god knows what. He was just as secretive as our parents. He never left us a phone number or address or any way to contact him. The rare times he visited were unannounced and random. Mom and Dad weren't happy about him leaving the second he turned eighteen, but I didn't blame him. I only wish he could have taken us with him.

The room was silent for several minutes, with the exception of Dusty loudly grooming herself. Raymond cleared his throat awkwardly and set down his luggage. I used the silence as a chance to really get a good look at him. Like me, his hair was so pale blonde it was almost white, and sat at a ponytail on the nape of his neck. His eyes were the same silvery-blue color mine were, hidden behind a pair of glasses. I felt a slight tinge of guilt upon seeing the scar cutting through his right eyebrow, stopping right below his right eye. It was barely noticeable unless you knew to look for it.

"Ray?" Sierra's voice was quiet as she looked up at our brother, only to look away once he turned to look at her. She blinked nervously and took a deep breath, relaxing slightly when Dusty leapt onto her lap. I had to remember to give that cat a treat sometime. She always seemed to know when my sister needed her. Sierra fidgeted with the ends of her hair. "I... I missed you."

"I've... missed you too, Sierra." Raymond cleared his throat and looked anywhere but at either of us, his cheeks reddening. "But onto more pressing matters... What the hell happened to our house? I stopped by for a visit and there was nothing but ashes. Do you have any idea how worried I've been?! I thought they had finally got to you... I thought I was too late..."

"There was a fire-"

"Where were you when we needed you?!" How dare he have the nerve to show up out of nowhere and pretend like he cares! He left us behind for some fancy education in England. He always acted so high and mighty when he visited, bragging about all the landmarks he got to see or talking non-stop about his super hot girlfriend. He never paid us any attention. If he hadn't left us behind, if he had stayed to protect us like a good older brother was supposed to, then maybe... maybe Sierra wouldn't have gotten hurt. Maybe that argument with our parents would have never happened and I wouldn't feel so guilty about everything.

"Em-"

"Don't 'Em' me, Raymond! You knew what they were like! Why would you leave us with them? It's one thing to move out, but to leave the country? You didn't leave us any way to contact you! What would you have done if they had killed us?" I felt the anger rising up in me again and stormed off towards my room before I did something I was going to regret. I had a bad habit of letting my anger get the better of me and it always upset Sierra. She was already stressed enough without having to worry about me.

I had barely managed to slam the door behind me before I felt that familiar feeling, almost like electricity, coursing through my body. I squealed as blue fire started shooting from my fingertips. Focus, Emerson. Everything's alright. It can't hurt you, but if you lose control... I can't let that happen. I can't put Sierra in danger again. I can't hurt her. I'd stay locked in this room as long as I needed to if it kept her safe.

This wasn't the first time something strange like this had happened. Ever since I was little, things had a way of... changing around me. Glass shattering when I threw tantrums, things suddenly flying into my hand when I even thought about getting them, the way people were a bit too willing to do whatever I asked them to. And it wasn't just me. It happened to Raymond and Sierra, too. Sierra's... whatever this was, is the whole reason our parents hated her. She couldn't control it and they were scared of people finding out about it.

Raymond walked into the room as I was frantically trying to blow the flames out. He didn't seem that phased as he closed the door behind him and grabbed my wrists. I tried desperately to pull away from him, but his grip was like a vise. I couldn't get away no matter how hard I tried. Panic rose in my throat. I couldn't hurt another family member! Why wasn't he letting go? Was he insane? I let out a panicked scream as the flames grew bigger.

"Raymond-"

"Breathe, Emmy." His grip tightened as he looked down at me, eyes blazing. My skin was tingling where he touched me. It was almost like when you grabbed a doorknob and felt a static shock, except more constant. What was going on? How could Raymond be so calm? Why was he acting like this was normal? "Emerson, you have to calm down. Time your breaths with me, alright?"

I tried to do what he said, focusing only on him, but all I could think about was how close he was to the flames. They were only inches away from his sleeve. If it lit up, I wouldn't know how to stop it. He was trying to speak to me, but I couldn't hear him over my panicked thoughts. I had to get him away from me. He didn't understand how dangerous this was. I took a deep breath and kicked him in the crotch, using his brief confusion to back away from him.

"Em...Emerson, what the hell?" he wheezed, bending over at the waist. "I was trying to help you!"

"I don't want to hurt you! I can't... not again!"

You weren't there when the house went up in flames. You weren't there to watch as our parents writhed in pain on the ground, begging for mercy. You didn't hear Sierra's confused sobs or her screams of pain. You didn't watch as everything you'd known your entire life was burned to the ground. You didn't spend hours in that waiting room, hoping for news on Sierra, wondering if she was going to make it...

"It's okay, Emerson. I've got you." Raymond made his way across the room slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. My chest was heaving as panic spread throughout my body, but I forced myself to stay still. The flames were still flickering bright, taunting me. Nothing I did would make them go away. What if this was my fate? What if I was destined to hurt everyone I loved? My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, and I watched in stunned silence as my brother finally got close enough to grab me again. He was as cool and confident as ever as he held my wrists and simply... blew the fire out. Like it was just a birthday candle. I had so many questions for him, but I felt so overwhelmed by everything that I blacked out.