"Sure is pouring tonight." the taxi person commented as we drove through the almost empty streets of Royal Woods.
I hummed in agreement as I continued to stare out the backseat window. After several weeks on the open sea and a good couple of hours in the back of an overpriced taxi, I'd finally made it to my home town. I looked down to the new attire I had recently bought, a pair of jeans, cheap running shoes and a white shirt topped off with the orange jacket Abe had given me. It was nothing flash, but it suited me fine. I had to keep it cost efficient since most of the cash had to go with the taxi ride… and I didn't want to spend all of Abe's money.
I felt the car slow down as I regained my focus. Looking outside I saw a familiar gas station though it looked like it had seen better days.
"Sorry sir but I'm almost out of gas, I won't be but a moment." The taxi driver said before I stopped him.
"Actually, I can walk from here." I stated as I took the cash out of my jacket and handed it to him.
I thanked him for the ride and set off under the intense droplets of water from the sky. I put the hood of my jacket up to keep my head from getting wet as I made my way down the street. I kept my hand and my hook in my pockets as to keep them out of sight and the rain. I recalled some of the houses as I walked by them, the street names and certain areas where me and my sisters would play. I saw the ever-famous park where my family and I would go just to relax and have fun. Though the park now looked old and rusted, the benches were littered with garbage as well as the side walk.
Then I stubbled across it, the house that had somehow contained my family for many years. Though, much like everything else I've seen, it's had better days. The yard was overgrown and rife with weeds, toys had been left forgotten and degraded, the house had cracks and damage all over it including a broken window. If not for the light housed within I'd almost think it was abandoned.
I took a good hard look at it before making my way to the door. Just as I arrived and was about to knock I heard yelling and screaming. I peered in through the window of the door to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Just then I saw what looked like Lucy marching down the stairs with an angry look on her face. She changed so much, she was taller with an angled face like my own, her hair was much longer and had a skull shaped clip near her fringe which still covered her eyes. Her outfit was much the same except she had a belt with a skull in the front and her socks only reached to her ankles. Judging from time she should be roughly fourteen and it most certainly showed. It pained me to see my little sister grow without me by her side.
"Lucy don't you dare run from me!" A voice boomed out of the house as Lucy walked off to the kitchen as several of my older sisters emerged from the top of the stairs.
First was Lynn who had grown much taller and gained quite a bit of muscles over the years. Her physique was that of a UFC fighter, not much of her face had changed but she appears to have cut her hair to neck length. She had on yoga pants with a red sports tank top and red striped joggers. She's presumably nineteen now.
Second was Luan who wasn't as tall as Lynn but was still taller then when I'd last seen her. She was much more modest compared to Lynn's shape but what she lacked in muscle she made up in appeal. She let her hair down and lost her braces thankfully for her. She had jean shorts, wore a yellow knitted sweater with her signature flower sticking out the top and brown loafers on her feet. She should be twenty at this point.
Third was Luna who stood slightly taller than Luan but not as tall as Lynn. She was rather skinny compared to Luan but was still rather curvy. Her hair looked the same except the sides were shaved much shorter than the top. She wore a purple tube top with scratched jeans and long purple boots that went up to her knees. I would presume she's twenty-one.
Fourth and final was Leni who was shorter than all the older sisters but much more mature. Her face looked relatively the same as it did when she was younger which makes sense since she was almost fully matured when I was young. Her hair on the other hand looked far messier and unkept. She wore a green dress which went to the end of her thighs and brown high heeled boots which went up to her ankles. She would be twenty-two at this point in time.
I could only watch as each of my older sisters ran down the stairs to catch up with Lucy. Most of them had a look of concern except Lynn who looked like she was about explode with rage. I could only imagine what Lucy had done to make Lynn that mad. I thought of moving over to the window by the kitchen, but I decided against it. As I went to knock on the door I heard crashing and banging. Furniture being destroyed and Lynn shouting remarks that would have gotten her in deep trouble in the past. I almost didn't act but then I heard one of my sisters crying loudly telling those two to stop.
I kicked down the door, rather easily I might add, and ran straight into the kitchen to see Lynn grabbing Lucy by the collar while the other three standing around witnessing the event.
"What's going on here?" I demanded in a forceful tone as the girls turned to face me.
"Who the fuck are you!?" Lynn yelled as she went to grab something from the draw.
Clearly not recognising me, I removed the soaked hood that covered my hair.
"Your brother." I said in a stoic manor.
The sisters gasped as they looked at me with surprise. Things changed however when Leni started walking towards me with her hand reached out. I could feel her soft hands as she cupped my face all the while with a look of disbelief.
"Lincoln?" She asked, "Is that… really you?"
I gently grabbed her arm and responded in a calm tone:
"Yeah, it's me."
She then broke down into tears and hugged me as hard as she possibly could. She buried her head into my chest as I looked at my other sisters. It took them a bit to come to terms with what they were seeing but they came around.
"Bro, I- I can't believe your back, I-" Luna stammered as she reached in and joined the hug.
Luan didn't say anything as she ran over and joined as well.
"You're not a ghost or apparition, are you?" Lucy asked as I could tears lightly falling.
"If I am then I'm not ready for the afterlife yet." I responded as I wiggled my hand free and signalled her to join of which she did.
Lynn stood there, looking at the floor with guilt. I presumed it was over the Lucy incident. Though I still wanted a response, now was not the time for it.
"Lynn, let's not spoil the moment." I said as I also signalled her to join.
She slowly but surely made her way over and hugged with the rest of them. I looked down to see that I was taller than all of them, by a head even. Papa always did say that I'd grow tall like him, but I never realised until now. So much time has passed, all my older sisters were adults now. I pondered a bit before realising something.
"Where's everybody else?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"u-up stairs a-asleep." Leni explained between sniffs.
I looked to the clock in the kitchen, it was rather late.
"What about mom and dad?" I asked but garnered no response.
I pulled myself away from the hug and looked to my sisters for answers… but all they gave me were sad looks. They stared at the floor, they bit their lips, Leni started to tear up again… I could only assume the worse.
"How?" I asked with shaky breath.
"Car accident." Luan responded.
I looked at my sisters. The mere mention of such would send anyone into tears. Six years in a coma and I come back to this. The worse part was I didn't cry, it was strange. When I was young my first goldfish died and my parents or sisters couldn't get me out of my room for a week. Now I hear that my parents have met the same fate and… nothing. Was it the coma?
Leni brought me back into reality when she grabbed my arm.
"Enough dwelling on that, it's late and you look like you haven't slept in years." Leni said in a weirdly perky tone "We'll talk more about everything tomorrow night, for now you can bunk with me in the main bedroom."
Leni pulled me off to our parent's old bedroom as my sisters turned to each other and proceeded to chat about something. I had so many questions and I presume so did they, but I guess that'll have to wait till tomorrow.
And that's chapter 2 ladies and gents. For those of you who noticed, yes I did pretty much use the opening of Metal Gear Solid 5 for the last chapter and trust me I will be using many more things. But trust me when I say that the story will be much more different. Anyway, see ya next week folks.