Because of how much the last chapter gave me nightmares I'm adding a side story to lighten the mood.

This takes place a year before the twin's guardian, the mysterious Rian, dies. (So about two to three years prior to the main story.) I'd say the twins are about fifteen and Arista is still the most sarcastic badass even when forced to wear polo shirts and kakis.

There are few things I tolerate in this world.

Food.

The Internet.

TV.

Aries (most of the time.)

And Weapons.

Things I can't ever tolerate.

. . .

. . .

. . .

The list would go on and on so I'm just going to get to the point here.

I HATE children.

They are grubby lil' midgets who never stop talking.

Plus they are grubby and quite stupid.

So of course Rian gave me this Job to do.

He was smiling as he gave the details now that I think about it.

The sadistic bastard.

Rian is an older fellow in his early thirties, yet he already has grey speckled his dark brown hair. He has dark brown eyes that he hid behind thick glasses. I really don't know much about the guy other than he was a military buddy of my dad's while in the special forces, he drinks orange juice faster than an addict shooting themself up, and he used to be a Cardinal to the Pope. I have no idea if that last one is true. They guy hardly practices religion but I guess that does really prove anything. Anyways after the fire he adopted us when we had no one else. And I owe him a lot for that.

Getting back to the case and not thinking about that mushy crap,

Several kids have gone missing every summer at Camp 'Who Gives a Shit' since the 1960s.

Not much to go on. Especially since no one has ever been seen again.

And it had to involve these snots on a secluded island in the middle of the freaking Tahoe Lake!

So the traveling was a bitch considering I preferred to live anywhere with little to no population (ahem New Mexico) then traveling to the Cal-Neva border was a culture shock.

Thanks Rian.

I cursed him.

Rian is currently on Job with a Ghoul problem in Florida so I'm stuck with Aries as back up.

I'd never tell my brother this but he is useless in the field. I'm usually saving his ass from God knows what.

And now I have to take his ass with me. I suppose I can use him as a distraction, or bait.

"Arista."

I looked over being pulled from plotting.

Aries had tugged on my jacket. I glared at his hand which was stretching out the material.

He let go. "We're here."

I looked out the window. We had indeed pulled into the station.

Trains may not go very fast but I trust them more than planes. Planes tend to be explosive when they crash.

Aries struggled to get my duffle down. I rolled my eyes. Weedy.

I grabbed it from him, lifting it easily.

"Don't worry bro, I'm sure puberty will hit ya soon."

Aries grumbled something about my man hands.

I dropped my bag on his head watching him drop to the train cars floor.

"What was that?"

"Heavy." He gasped.

I sighed picking it back up and putting it over my shoulder.

"Come on." I walked. He scrambled getting his bag and chasing after me.

"You must be the junior councilors!" Some blonde greeted us over cheerful. She was wearing some hideous brown khaki shorts and a deep blue polo with what I assumed was the camp logo on the shirt.

After the train we took a taxi to the marina. From there we grabbed a ride from a nice fisherman.

I grunted looking away from her towards the trees. I don't get to see trees often.

"Hi. Yes we are. I'm Aries Souza and this is my sister Arista."

Aries was a people person so I let him do the talking.

"Oh you must be the twins! So exciting! The children have been asking about you."

I furrowed my brows.

"Did you tell them about use?"

The blonde smiled at me. "Of course we want them to feel at home around new workers."

"Great."

"Where can we set our things down?"

I asked before she started talking again.

"Right this way."

We marched down a hill from the main office.

"Alright. Over there is the mess hall. Then the showers and latrine."

"Latrine is bathroom right?" Aries asked.

I rolled my eyes. Stupid and weedy. I sighed feeling bad for him. I'm not nice.

"Why yes it is. And then there are the councilor cabins. To the left is the girls and you will be staying to the one on your right."

"Cool." He looked at me. "Later Mira."

I flinched but blonde didn't notice.

I hate that nickname.

As soon as the boy's cabin door shut squeakily behind him Blondie walked with me to the girl's cabin.

"Your bed should be set up and the uniform is in the dresser underneath the bed. We are having a meeting around 6. Don't be late."

Then I was left alone.

Well I changed into the uniform. It was tight and uncomfortable. The sleeves were tight around my biceps and the shorts were goddamn tiny.

Screw it. I had cuter shorts in my clothes that looked like a better version of the khakis. As for the shirt I had no choice but to deal with it. Sort of. I removed the shirt and with both of my hands I stretched out the circumference of the sleeves so when I put it back on I had more room.

I made my way out of the cabin then wandered off into the trees.

Scary thing tended to live in highly condensed places like forests or people.

I probably should have brought my club. Dammit.

I didn't bother to turn back. I'm pretty confident in being able to haul ass if I do run into anything unfriendly.

I walked a few more minutes into the forest. I think I was heading north.

A few yard in front of me some bush shuddered.

I stopped watching it.

It shuddered again.

Okay these were my theories.

-An animal was doing the chimichonga.

-I was looking at a shrub with a bad case of insects.

-Plant monsters exist.

Jeez, Aries and his weirdness was rubbing off on me.

I walked over to the plant.

"Who the hell is there?"

I looked on the other side of the plant.

A kid no more than five was crouched leaning on the plant, shaking.

Ahh . . .

"Yo kid. What are you doing?" I ask.

She looked up with tears streaming down her chubby face.

"I-I-I got lost!" She wailed, tears and snot freely flowing.

Great.

She was covered in dirt. I could see she worse the camp shirt. He blonde pig tails had twigs and leaves sticking out. Her blue eyes were red from the tears.

I crouched next to her.

"Why were you out here to begin with?"

She sniveled some more. I tried to be patient.

"I saw large fuzzy thing. it ran away and I chased it."

Bingo.

"What did it look like?"

"It had really big wings! And pointy teeth and scary claws."

I nodded. Something to research.

I looked down at the kid.

"Come on. Let's get you back to camp." I stood up holding out my hand. She took it. I never realized how small hands were. Maybe I do have man hands.

"Ma, my names Natalie."

I looked straight ahead, following my obvious foot prints. "Arista."

"Pretty." She mumbled.

"Thank you."

We walked in silence. She started to lag behind.

"Tired?" We stopped.

"Lil bit."

I sighed. "You don't look heavy. Want me to carry you?"

She nodded. I crouched. She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck.
"Ready?"

I felt he nod as her legs hugged my sides.

I stood up, my hands holding her calf's so she wouldn't fall off.

Eventually I found the camp lit up with adults running around.

Some kid was running but paused as he saw us emerge from the woods.

"They are over here!" He yelled.

Then a crowd surrounded us talking at once. Natalie was taken off my back. And I was forced into the camp director's office were I remained for questioning for a few hours.

When I was released I walked down to the cabin ready for bed but was greeted by a party.

A banner was hung from the roof saying 'Welcome Hero!'

I was in no mood to argue so I let them have their damn party. Aries was there too. He hugged me.

"Nice work sis." He grinned releasing me.

I grunted then walked over to my bed and proceeded to crash.

And that was my Distraction Chapter. There will be a part 2 sometime. :p

Thanks for reading.

~Sirens