Chapter Five

Thoughts and Conversations

A few minutes prior when Lily stepped out Sammy and Junior exchange glances before Junior shuffles closer to the door. 

“What are they saying?” Sammy lifts her head off her hand, looking towards Junior who stands next to the television.

“Shh” Junior listens in trying to drown out their voices.

“Ugh! He’s prying, he better not try to set me up again.”

Hearing Lily’s thoughts tick, he slips a smirk before it quickly fades “Huh?!”

“Tho*e k*ds **ok fam***ar where h**e * s*en th*t boy?”

A husked tone resounds in Junior sending shivers down his spine “I didn’t catch everything” Junior whispers, “but I think he says he recognizes me?” He tunes in again.

“Seriously I can’t help but laugh this girl is such a joke.”

An unknown voice springs out of nowhere wrecking Junior’s eardrums “Wow lady” he claps his ears “this lady gotta have a headache all the time” he winces for her thoughts echo once more.

“Like how she lives such a pathetic life I will never understand, if she weren’t Luke’s sister or mom’s daughter none of us would even talk to her.”

The lady’s pitchy thoughts resound with a snicker “this lady’s starting to piss me off.” Junior mutters under his breath

“What? What are they saying” Sammy tries to understand the rarely seen expression Junior is expressing “Who is it” Sammy murmurs to herself “seen we got here he’s been calling that normie Lily, so it must be a different chick? A neighbor perhaps?” Sammy ponders. “I should tear him away from the door before he decides to do something” Sammy stands, stepping closer to Junior.

“There she goes again, why did I even ask this chick.”

The soothing voice sprouts relaxing Junior’s expression, having him realize “wait- I don’t hear that man, did he walk away?” Junior ponders aloud “No I feel him- in fact right now he’s feeling indifferent.”

“I need to step away before I’m the one doing the slapping.”

“Pfft- “Junior fails to hold back his snicker realizing Lily is coming back he fumbles to get seated on the couch.

Lily in one swift motion walks into the apartment, slightly tapping the bottom of the door with her heel, as the door shuts with a slam, ending the ordeal with an exasperated sigh from Lily. “Alright what do you both want for di- “Lily’s words come to an abrupt stop as she meets the scene before her.

Junior who had tripping, laid himself on the floor between the couch and the coffee table with only his black and red socks visible.

Sammy, who stands between the back of the couch and the counter, wears a baffled guise, glaring at her brother who is also sharing a look of bewilderment.

“Corn” Sammy blurts “I love corn so anything with corn” she rambles trying to distract Lily as Junior resettles himself on the sofa.

Lily stands there with Kyle in her arms, with a blank expression before crackling “This is unbelievable” she holds tight to Kyle as he begins to fuss “alright Kyle, alright” she subtly bounces him, making her way to the kitchen for the clean bottle swiftly making a bottle within moments “Here Sammy you feed him, while I look for something to go with corn” Lily playfully adds.

“What- me” Sammy reluctantly takes Kyle into her grasp “Like this?” she questions, taking a seat at the table.

“Just like that” Lily motions looking for a quick dinner “you guys good with chicken?”

“I love it” Junior springs “can I help make dinner” he approaches the counter.

Lily glances over “Sammy you good with chicken” choking back yet another chuckle at the wholesome scene.

“What- ah yea chick- chicken is good” She stutters focusing on making sure not to dip Kyle’s head.

Lily steps over to her taking Kyle from her “Come over here this with be much more comfortable for the both of you” she leads Sammy over to the couch, placing Kyle who is about to fuss for his bottle back into Sammy’s arms. “There- Is that better?”

“Much thank you” Sammy smiles sincerely.

“Okay Junior you ready to make some chicken alfredo” Lily pumps her fists friskily.

Junior mimicking her “let's go!” he jokingly cheers.

“Cooking should take my mind off things.”

As Junior is turning about in search for the pots and pans, he overhears Lily-

“To think he would have such a passive look as his own wife bashed me like that.”

He can’t help but glance over towards Lily, who’s expression has soured “Are you alright Lily” he slips as she nears him by the stove.

Gripping the pot from below the counter, Lily skims over towards Junior “of course why do you ask?” she smirks wearily.

“Dang Lily, you have such a poor poker face that a kid can see right through you.”

“I’m not a kid” Junior snips, shifting his attention away in embarrassment.

Confused, Lily poorly giggles it off “right- who said you were?” she questions, flickering on the water, just before preparing the cut the chicken.

“Right, who said you were” Sammy is heard grunting over on the couch.

“I guess I was wrong earlier, it's not just Sammy but they both are a bit strange.”

“Eh- don’t’ lump me up with her” Junior grunts aloud, realizing he’s behavior is childish and unfitting to the conversation he falls silent.

“So why not tell me more about yourselves” Lily suggests unfazed to Junior’s random statements, as she cuts the chicken “Sammy, what school do you go to?”

“Why do you wanna know, it’s summer so you don’t need to take us” Sammy snips setting the empty bottle down on the sofa.

“I know it’s summer break, I was just curious.”

“Sammy and I go to the same school” Junior slips in “I skipped two grades, so we have been in the same grade since seventh grade” Junior stands boastful.

“You know what I’m a little tired can I lay down until dinner is done” Sammy’s frown apparent.

Lily washes her hands before placing Kyle in the basinet “Yea, I’ll go get you when dinner is ready.”

Lily shifts her attention back on Junior with amazement spreading across her expression “that’s cool to skip a grade let alone two” She comments reaching the stove to stir the noodles “right, I was horrible in school so I dropped out” she quickly adds in “but I eventually went back and got my diploma” she awkwardly cracks, in attempts to cover her faulty experience “I mean no matter what that diploma carries weight if only to the work force” Lily sighs.

“For real how is it any different from a corporate slave document.”

Her thoughts echo towards Junior “So a corporate slave?” Junior takes note of Lily’s expression.

“I didn’t say that exactly” she attempts to hide her smirk as she folds her lips together “any-who these noodles are done, how’s the chicken looking” she glances over.

“No pink, and not slimy just like you instructed” Junior props the chicken for her to see.

“Wow, a master chef in the making” Lily ruffles his hair “all the ladies with kill for a man able to cook” she snickers over to the table, placing the pot in the center “can you get your sister, tell her food is done.”

“Sure thing” Junior steps out of behind the counter, in between the sofa and table, taking in a big gasp of air before noting Kyle was fast asleep. He decides to gently knock on the door.

“What” Sammy hollers from behind the door.

“dinner’s ready” Junior whispers, “come out before it gets cold.”

‘It’s weird when you whisper?” Sammy opens the bedroom wide.

“Well, I have to since there is a baby in the room” he gestures to the sleeping Kyle.

“Well, it still doesn’t change the fact it sounds creepy” Sammy states stepping out of Lily’s bedroom, leaving the door open, making her way to the table. Junior lingers glancing into the room “are you coming” Sammy snips at him.

“Duh- It was me and Lily who made it after all” he argues back.

After a mostly peaceful dinner the two went to their designated room, as Lily settled herself on the couch. “I’ll pull the bed out in a little bit” She mutters opening her document once more “I can finally get back to writing” she skims the words, and like picking up where she left off, she begins to type away.

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I woke upon a cold, hard, concrete ground. The smell rank and musky, the air humid and thick. Even in the distance, I could hear a deafening screeching type of howl. My vision a hazed, still trying to focus. My mind was spinning, trying to understand.

“SCREEEEEE- “

Toppling back from the blaring howl, my gaze refocused, directly where I was, stands a creature. A Smokish Black body, dripping flesh as it was rotting away, a golden stare as if it sees right through me. This thing towers twice my size, and its wings are twice as big.

“What- eh”