13. 

Backstory...

Years before the event of the Arkemia sicknesses arrival, the Barderson kids were living as a normal family, in the city, supposedly safe from the neighborhoods protective gates.

They all got along with each other well, especially Victor and Valencia, who made the brightest eye contact when they first met.

Who knew at this time?

At the dinner table after the fifth birthday of Cora, they all sit together, talking and being joyful, all getting along, then James stops everyone saying, “I must have your attention, children, we should all know well by now, that Cora has no good hearing, we’ve had the doctor come and she confirmed that Cora is deaf, as when we adopted her, we thought something different, but we were delusional to her deafness, so, for now on, we will have you guys learn sign language, a teacher will come in and teach you guys, along with us ourselves," he turns to the servants, "even you guys my servants.”

Their maid Shelly walks up to them at the table cleaning a bowl, saying happily, “Well, sir, I do know sign language pretty well, my Grandfather happens to be deaf.”

James replies relieved saying, “well that's a start, you could also help us speak with Cora.” All the kids agree, but Celsius. He slopes back on his chair and starts mumbling,

“Why, why for this brat...”

“What was that, Celsius?” Melissa replies. Celsius sits up in a serious manner, for a six year old, it was very strict, very true, and strong, for him to say,

“I am not learning sign language for an imbecile who fakes it!”

Everyone goes silent, but Arrow breaks the silence saying, “Imbecile? Really Celsius? Did you just call Cora an imbecile?!”

Then Astrid replies with, “he’s six, he doesn’t know what an imbecile is.” “I do pretty darn well actually, and it’s meaning represents this person so well right next to me.”

"Celsius! Enough, you will learn sign language whether you like it or not!” James shouts.

“In your room now!” Melissa says after, her voice lifted, but not as high as James. 

Celsius stares at Cora with a burning passion of hatred, then he walks off to his room. They all look at Cora as she ignores his every move and word with humilty. 

This attitude toward Cora continued and stayed with Celsius for some time.

Just the day after, homeschooling together by their intelligent teacher Mrs. Vandova, she lets the kids play outside, more figuratively, Melodie, Celsius, and Cora.

"Be careful guys, stay in the backyard, remember, no going out of the backyard, when you are done, come straight inside, just like your father said, now I'll see you guys tomorrow, and do good with your sign language teacher today." Mrs. Vandova leaves them, and the three of them stay in the backyard.

"Ew, I hate almost everything about the outdoors."

"What makes it almost?"

"Well, since we are always indoors for some reason, I have a bit of relief to see the sky, and...Boys..."

"Uh...Yeah and why do have all that...stuff with you." 

"Oh, did you think I was going to play in dirt and mud?" 

"It's sunny today." 

"So, the dirt doesn't leave, so, I brought some glitter with me."

Melodie throws some of the glitter in the air, smiling and playing with it, then she walks up their playground set saying, "I'll be up here!"

"Okay!" Celsius shouts at her, playing in the dirt instead of making eye contact.

Cora stops drawing on the side, where she seen sitting on their yard chair, minding her business also.

Then Celsius says to her, "what are you drawing? You always are just coloring or something, you never let us see it, Oh! I know why, because you are a liar, that's why, I mean look what we have to do now, all because you don't want to talk to us! So mean you are!"

Celsius gets up and walks toward her, looking her in her face, smirking at her saying, "is that a tear I see...How did you know that I was saying something bad..." Cora's tears flood her eyes, causing Celsius to smile and laugh at her.

Valencia comes outside saying, "what are you guys doing out here, it's too dangerous to be outside, remember what dad said."

"yeah yeah..." Celsius says, still looking at Cora as she wipes her tears away, almost in embarrassment.

"Where's Melodie?"

"I'm here!" She shouts from above.

Noticing Celsius bothering Cora, she says in a concerned tone of voice, "oh gosh, Cora, what's wrong?"

Valencia comforts Cora as she holds on to her, with her looking at Celsius saying, "Celsius what did you do!"

"Nothing." He gradually says.

As Valencia moves away from her, Cora gets up, and looks for a rock, picking one up and throwing it at him as hard as she can, as she does this she smirks at him.

"Hey!" He shouts in irritation.

"Cora? No! We do not hit each other." Valencia yells at her.

Melodie looks over to them, then as Valencia is talking to Cora, Celsius grabs for the dirt and throws it at Cora's face, causing her to panic immediately as she immediately rubs her eyes in pain.

"Celsius! Why! Oh my gosh." Valencia says angrily. 

Melodie gasps at this, making her way down the playground set.

Cora tries to get it out of her eye, but Valencia takes her in the house into the kitchen. Melodie comes over to Celsius, "that's going too far!" 

...

Valencia, in haste, takes Cora to the kitchen to rinse out her eyes, but then Melissa rushes in and takes Cora, rinsing out her eyes, saying to the kids, "What happened! How did Cora get dirt in her eyes!?"

Valencia steps back, saying, "I don't know, but Celsius and Melodie were outside with her."

Melissa quickly glances at Celsius, her face is underlined with anger.

"Celsius...You will be warned today...Leave Cora alone." 

"But, she's the one too watch out for."

Melissa lifts her brows saying, "oh really, in your room, now!" 

"Why, she threw a rock at me? It was just protection from..." 

"Protection from what? She is your sister, dirt and a rock have different outcomes, and you're the one that's fine right now right? So in your room! Now!" 

Melodie adds in, "But I saw it, she did it first, they were both mad at each other."

Melissa leans on the counter saying, "you did? both of you, in your room! And don't come out until your father gets home."

"Why am I in trouble??"

"In your room Melodie!" Melissa shouts.

Cora tries to open her eyes as Valencia comforts her, then Arrow and Maximus come down with Maximus saying, "what happened?" 

"Celsius threw dirt at Cora and it got in her eyes." Maximus looks at Celsius, then says to Melissa, "how does a six year old know how to do such a thing?" 

Arrow looks at Melissa saying to her, "I know you know." 

"I don't know, but we will talk to him about it." 

"I'm sure you would..." Arrow replies.

Melissa looks at Arrow strangely just like everyone else, then Melodie and Celsius go upstairs into their rooms, only with Celsius's blank stare towards Cora to make it all feel worse, because the stare isn't just blank, but his blue eyes and creepy smirk make the entire atmosphere seem unsafe...

And Cora, finally being able to see again, sees the look of Celsius, only for her to stare back, until Valencia steps in front of her saying to her, "are you okay now?" in sign language.

Cora nods yes, then walks away into her room. As they watch, Melissa in a fed up manner starts saying to them, "this is why James and I don't let you guys play outside, this type of stuff is the reason, I tell you guys so, but you still don't believe me." Melissa takes a sip of her coffee, then starts saying, "I have more work to do."

As she walks towards her office, Arrow walks right behind her saying, "are you sure that's the reason, we don't like lies as much as you and father don't." Everybody looks at them, stopping Melissa in her tracks with his words, Arrow just waits for a reply, as his deep reddish eyes pierce through her, and it's like she can feel it without turning around.

"We just want to take care of you guys, that's all, no need for lies and suspicions, okay?"

"Yes." He replies, then he walks upstairs.