Out of everyone that is left in this fucked up world, he somehow found one of the only people that actually mean something to me. Seriously, what are the chances?
‘Like I knew.’ He states as if it’s going to magically make everything better.
But nothing can make this better. Nothing between us can ever be the same again, not now that I know he’s alive and has been alive this whole time. The moment I thought he was dead was the start of a never-ending cycle of hell where I was forced to defend myself, look out for myself and be everything he was supposed to be. Meanwhile, he was what? Becoming a skull? Thanking his lucky stars that he could start a new life without a troublesome teen dragging him down? I look at the mask he has tightly grasped in his hand and a new round of fury begins coursing through my veins, setting me alight with indignation.
My fingertips catch his stupidly hard cheek as I swing for him a final time, satisfaction greeting me as the noise of the slap rings out in the empty classroom.
Ru doesn’t retaliate though. He was never one to get angry with me no matter what level of bickering we got into. Features not giving much away, my brother brings his hand up to where I slapped him, scarred knuckles on display as he rubs at the reddening spot.
Guilt slips between the layers of my stormy armour as I realise I’ve hurt him. My own brother. Until he mumbles under his breath, loud enough for me to hear. ‘Still a Loony, I see.’
I stare daggers at him, my chest heaving and fists clenching readying to punch him this time. Fuck him and his bammy Halloween mask.
‘That’s rich coming from you.’ I say. ‘ At least I don’t run around like a jumped-up ned in a mask playing psycho’
‘You wound me.’
‘Oh, piss off.’
My brother doesn’t fool me in pretending that I have offended him. I’m not going to fall into that trap with him again.
In the years we have been apart, it seems that my big brother has not only made a name for himself as being part of a group of monsters, but by the muscle he has packed on, he has become one as well. It’s safe to say he looks like he hasn’t had a hungry minute since the outbreak, never mind felt the pangs of starvation.
Not like we have. I don’t even know how we survived this winter with how bad it was. The weather turned quick and didn’t let up for the entire season. If it hadn’t been for Fauna keeping us all together, having my back when I was in trouble, we would be in a far worse state than we are now.
Furious at how much we have all suffered through this winter, these years, I jab at Ru. ‘See you haven’t gone hungry.’
Only his pointed look towards the swell of my stomach has my bad mood reaching a new height.
‘You can hardly talk.’
Ruaridh has no right to come back into my life and judge me, especially since he isn’t exactly a saint, having walked in on what he was doing with my best friend minutes ago.
Ru’s stumbling over his words draws me back from my rage and focuses my hearing enough to catch him stutter out, ‘Did someone do this?’
Has he been hit on the head or something? I’m not some apocalyptic Virgin Mary magically becoming pregnant all on myown. Of course, I didn’t just magic up a baby inside my womb without a little help to get it all started. Has he lost his brain cells or something?
A frustrated growl leaves my brother and I realise I must have been speaking out loud again. ‘Not what I was asking. Did someone force you, Isla. Were you—’
He can’t finish his sentence and I don’t blame him, so I do it for him.
‘Raped?’ All my earlier anger is gone as I see the worry he is feeling for me, his little sister, wreaking havoc on him. All whilst he assumes the worst. I shake my head. ‘No, Ru. I wasn’t.’
As much of a difficult situation it is that I have found myself in, this is the result of a rather steamy hook up with a stranger, someone I wanted to be with. Someone who, despite how much I’ve wanted to forget, made me feel safe. Safer than I’ve felt in years. I don’t say all that to Ru though, keeping it more PG for him but I can’t help but think that not all of the women I know and love have had it like I have. ‘I’m one of the lucky ones.’
He sucks in a deep inhale of air at my response, sounding as if he were holding his breath, waiting for my response. His shoulders slump in relief. Then just as quickly, Ru and his ridiculously obnoxious muscles scoop me up into an almost bone-crushing hug.
I’m unable to hug him back, my arms now plastered to my sides. An uncomfortable feeling unfurls in my stomach as Ru hugs me. A part of me isn’t ready for this familiarity between us yet. It’s too much.
‘All right you big sop, get off of me.’
And just as I manage to get him to let me go the door flies open behind me, and Luna’s familiar screetching voice comes from behind me, along with some flying plates.
Seriously, can that girl not listen to a single instruction? I told her to mind her own bloody business and let me speak to Fauna, but no Mrs nosey has to come and see for herself.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I wait to see where Luna takes her attack, but as soon as she starts to wrestle a chair over her head I decide it’s probably time for me to step in.
‘Luna, calm down.’ I shout at her raging face. God this girl goes from zero to one hundred in a second and getting her to come down again is no easy feat. She must look bat-shit-crazy on full attack right now.
