She was being dragged under by her own selfishness and ignorance.
But the little girl was too stupid and naïve to understand.
She wasn't pure.
She held corruption.
And that corruption overpowered the child and dug dirty nails into the skin of her neck.
It was all a joke, right?
Just innocent humor, right?
It was fake.
All was well.
Arisu's distant eyes slowly went into focus…She saw orange…blue…. yellow…. It was a fireplace. The young girl stared blankly at the crackling flames, her detached mind stuttering. Where was she? Who was she? Did it matter? Nothing was important. There was no past…. present…or future…only the fire that stood in front of her…only the cushioned chair she sat in…and nobody…..
Reality struck Arisu like a knife.
The girl sucked in a wad of air and stumbled from the chair. The seat fell to the ground, making a loud and irritating sound. Sweating, her eyes darted about the room, observing familiar violet-colored walls and white plush pillows. There was a couch and a red floor.
Arisu knew this place.
She lived in it….
But why the hell was she here? Didn't that teacher tell her Isaac was waiting for her in the hallway? Shouldn't she be in school? Where was her brother?
"Aid-"
The girl stumbled on her words, mortified. She blanked out again…she lost her brother AGAIN. Gripping onto the edge of the stone fireplace, she looked above and saw a clock on the hearth; it read 10:00 PM.
"AAAAIIIDDDYYYYNNN!"
10:00 PM? ZAT freakin' late? Ze last zing I remember was being in school zat afternoon….and zat DUMB boy!
Anxiety swept over her. Arisu faced the doorway, ready to search for Aidyn.
I WILL protect 'im, I WILL-
However, before she could even move, the girl found herself face to face with Isaac. Her pompous elder brother stared down at her with stern eyes, physically establishing his right as the "head of the household". Arisu glared as he continued to give the emotionless – I'm – more – mature – than – you – therefore – I'm – not – going – to – look – bothered – by – your – childish – behavior – FACE.
Jack$$, Arisu thought to herself spitefully.
After three minutes of silence, Isaac finally spoke first.
(Although the following conversations are in French, they have been translated into English for convenience.)
"For 'eaven sake Arisu, do 'ou reelly need to yell zis late at night?"
Shaking with rage, the girl responded.
"Where IZ 'e?"
"What? I do not know what 'ou are talking about." Isaac said frankly
"DO NOT LIE!"
Arisu's brother breathed what was both a snort and a sigh.
"So 'ou shout again? When are 'ou going to stop being a child."
The girl gritted her teeth so hard one might think they'd crack into pieces and fall straight out of her mouth…. charming.
" 'Ou KNOW what I am talking about."
Isaac's left eye twitched, a nick in the condescending armor.
"If 'ou are asking about it – zen 'ou are better off leaving my sight immediately."
That was enough for Arisu to pounce on him, to pull his hair and spout curses she'd never heard before. However, the sound of frantic footsteps froze the girl in her tracks. Aidyn was standing there shivering behind Isaac, his hands clutched to the side of the doorway, the boy's timid head peaking in. Isaac flinched and stumbled backwards with disgust.
"DID I NOT SAY TO KEEP ZAT ZING IN ITS ROOM!"
Aidyn yelped and bolted away, his nervous feet pattering up the staircase. Arisu ran to the doorway.
"Aidyn – AIDYN!"
Fury boiling inside, the girl grabbed the closest object she could find – a pillow –and threw it at Isaac.
" 'OU DAMN – BASTARD!"
Her brother dodged the pillow with ease, which, of course, would not have hurt the man even if it did hit him. His voice returned to its same cold and patronizing tone, so fast it was almost eerie.
"Ungrateful child. 'Ow long do 'ou intend on throwing zese tantrums?"
" 'OW LONG DO 'OU INTEND ON TREATING MY BROZER LIKE 'E'S A MONSTER?"
This time Isaac kept his composure.
"Brozer? 'Onestly child, 'ou and your ridiculous imagination. Your name might be ze Japanese version of Alice – a strange choice on your mozer's part – but, it iz no excuse to live in such a fantasy world where monsters are one's family. "
"Aidyn iz NOT a fantasy! 'E iz my brozer! And 'e iz yours too! Bastard! 'Ou act like 'ou are zis responsible caretaker, but 'ze truth iz 'ou do not give a crap about Aidyn and I! 'Ou only care about reputation! 'Ze only reason why 'ou associate 'ourself wiz us iz because mozer iz too busy and left us in 'our care!"
"I am quite busy myself Arisu. 'Ou know zat iz not ze only reason I look out for 'ou and brought 'ou to zis place."
"…It still 'as to do wiz reputation."
"Perhaps, but let us be 'onest child. Ze youngest child of ze L'Écarlate bloodline 'aving a mental breakdown iz quite ze dirty smudge on my family."
"AIDYN IZ ZE YOUNGEST! 'E IZ AN L'ÉCARLATE TOO!"
Isaac continued
"And a smudge must be covered. Tell me Arisu….what 'ave 'ou done wiz ze doorknobs?"
"….What? Where ze 'ell did zat come from?"
"Do not lie girl, I'm aware zat 'ou once again screwed off and removed almost every single doorknob in zis house. Which iz a pity: zis dwelling was built to mimic ze fine elegance of ze Victorian era, each door knob was crafted with fine silver or sturdy iron…and 'ou go and dismantle zem all."
'E talks like I actually give a crap about DOORKNOBS. The girl thought viciously.
By the way, it was true, about Arisu removing the knobs. As a matter of fact, this was the second time this month she pulled such a stunt. It was not out of spite (though Arisu did love to mess with her brother) but out of fear and hatred that she did this. The girl simply despised such objects…closed doors.
She wanted to make sure Isaac never locked her away again.
" 'ou 'ave no proof it waz me."
"Reelly? Zen what iz zis?"
The brother held out a screwdriver; Arisu swallowed back stubbornly. She picked her mind for the best comeback possible.
He…had been…in…her…ROOM. She tried to swallow back her revulsion, the bitter-tasting loath.
" 'Ou are zat DUMB zat 'ou do not know what a tool iz?"
The comment did not affect Isaac in the least. Instead, he continued to stare.
"I found zis under your bed along wiz a bunch of screws."
"….."
"What did 'ou do wiz ze doorknobs?"
She buried them in the backyard.
"…."
The man sighed with irritation, folded his arms and leaned back.
" 'Ou are an intolerable child! I thought zat sending 'ou to school would distract 'ou from such idiocy."
"I never asked 'ou to take me to school! I do not care for sitting in a room full of DUMB kids zat only care for zemselves!"
Isaac turned away and left the room, but the girl could still hear his voice from afar.
"Zere iz no negotiating wiz 'ou. Go back to your room, I expect 'ou to be up and leaving for school by 7:00 AM."
" 'AH! I WON ZE ARGUMENT!"
Although overcome with triumph, Arisu was still going to resist him. She wanted to stay and remain planted on the second floor of the manor. However, the thought of her weak and frightened brother pushed her mind away from the rebellion. She left the room and ran up the stupid staircase that tried to make itself look cool by winding into endless circles. The girl dashed down the long hall full of mirrors and paintings until she reached a large door.
"….Aiiiiiiiiii…dynnn?" Arisu said as she slowly pushed the door open.
Her room was a mess as usual; books, clothes and crumpled pieces of paper all over the floor. Arisu didn't let maids in there to clean. She couldn't run the risk of one of them hurting her brother. Plus, the room was only for her and Aidyn, their sanctuary, away from Isaac and from the rest of the world. There, they could talk about whatever they wanted and Aidyn didn't have to be afraid. This room was their world.
She'd never let anyone else inside…
At the sound of her voice Aidyn's blond little head poked halfway out from the covers of the bed.
"S-s-sister…"
"Awwwwww Aiiidynn.."
Arisu's voice was soft and full of compassion. She held out her arms and approached her little brother. The boy pushed the covers away and hugged her, shaking.
" 'e's m-mad…"
"What? Zat man? No, it doesn't matter. 'E cannot do anything to 'ou. I'd kick 'is ASS."
"N-n-noooo….I do not want 'ou to get in t-t-trouble…"
"Nooooo, do not worry about zaaaat."
As Arisu stroked the top of Aidyn's soft, fluffy head, his shoulders slowly relaxed. The girl's heart was in her stomach, she hated herself…her brother…her baby brother…what a horrible day he'd been through….and it was all her fault…
"Aidyn…."
"….yes, sister?"
" 'Ou know I did not purposely leave 'ou alone right?..."
"N-n-no! No! I did not blame 'ou!"
Even if she did abandon her brother, Arisu was the boy's only friend. He'd always run back to her, always forgive her…it made the girl sick.
"….I am to blame. I'm sorry Aidyn…..if I was not….'ou would not 'ave run into zat boy…"
Her brother flinched; his shoulders once again tensed.
"Do not worry! I will never let 'im go near 'ou again!"
"U-u-uhh…a-ahhh….."
The sister looked down to find the boy's face completely flushed….
"Bu-bu-but 'e waz n-nice…"
"Aidyn!"
"UH! S-s-s-s-sorry!"
Arisu firmly gripped the boy's shoulders, her concerned eyes burning into his fearful expression.
"Listen, Aidyn. People are bad, zey are not to be trusted. Ze only person 'ou could turn to iz me. Understand? Ozer people will 'urt 'ou and I do not want zat to 'appen."
The boys lower lip trembled, his eyes glistened with sadness. Once again the girl's heart sunk. She wrapped her arms tighter around Aidyn, allowing him to cry on her shoulder.
"Nooooo…nooo…do not cry….Shhhhh….Shhhh…..It is not your fault…Shh..It iz zem… It iz zem…It iz zeir fault"
Her brother stammered over his broken sobs.
" 'E-e-e j-j-just-HIC- s-s-s-s-s-seemed-HIC-m-m-m-ore n-n-nice."
Arisu was dumbstruck; she'd never expect Aidyn to bring up the black-haired boy twice. He truly had an impact on her baby brother. She thought about the boy's condemning blue eyes, mocking her, calling her a bad sister. Who was he to be so self-righteous? It didn't matter, his kindness, his accusations, they were all fake. He just wanted to get close to Aidyn…close enough to kill him…
But she'd kill him first.
