Zayn kicked at the dirt, his eyes locked on the frayed laces of his shoes. He couldn’t bring himself to watch as the caskets sank slowly into the earth. Across the grave, Seri tried to catch her brother’s face, but he dodged every glance, burying himself in the safety of looking down.

With a soft sigh, Seri circled the open grave. She let her eyes fall briefly on the polished wood below before stepping beside Zayn. Sliding an arm around his shoulders, she felt him lean against her without hesitation. The twins stood there in silence, sharing the same grief without a single word.

Minutes passed before Seri finally broke it. She stepped in front of him, her expression calm but steady.
“Hey… I know this might not be the time or place, but I think you should come stay with me.”

Zayn blinked at her, his eyes red and puffy.
“I- I hadn’t even thought about it,” he admitted. “I guess I would’ve just gone back to Mom and Dad’s and… you’re right. That’s a good idea.”

Seri gave him a small, tired smile and touched his shoulder. “You were closer to them than I was. I moved out at seventeen, but you stayed. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“You couldn’t have known. It was a freak accident, these things happen.” Zayn’s voice shook as he steadied himself. “It’s not your fault. But I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t think-” He stopped, realizing what he was about to say.

“Didn’t think I’d show up? Because of all the fighting?” Seri asked softly. She tilted her head with understanding. “Some things are bigger than petty arguments over hobbies.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call ‘exorcisms’ a hobby, Seri.”

“Well, that’s what Grandma called it.” Seri smirked faintly. “The Jiwa family tradition!”

“You’re still talking to that crazy lady?”

“That ‘crazy lady’ is our blood,” Seri shot back, though her tone stayed light. “So yes, I still talk to her. We even helped a young man with a possession just-”

“There’s no such thing as possessions, Seri.” Zayn snapped, his grief hardening into irritation. “That’s just crazy talk from people who blame their problems on ‘supernatural’ nonsense.”

“It’s true, I-” Seri started, but Zayn had already turned and walked away.

“Okay, fine!” she yelled, jogging to catch up. “Look, I’ll stop, okay?”

Zayn slowed to a halt but didn’t turn around. “Fine…” he muttered with a sigh.

After a long moment of quiet, he glanced at her. “Can we just… go? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Seri looked around. The guests were breaking off into small conversations now, most of the event already over. Only distant relatives she barely recognized and work colleagues she’d never met still lingered. “Yeah. Let’s get out of here.”

She smiled faintly and led him toward her car.

*         *         *

The ride back was quiet. Seri wanted to say something, anything really, but held it in until they pulled into her apartment complex.

“Okay, here we are.” She forced a smile. “You’ve never seen my place, have you?”

“Nope. You never invited me over,” Zayn shrugged.

“Oh… well, now I-”

“Now that our parents are dead, it’s cool? Got it.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Seri snapped, then drew a sharp breath and steadied herself. Looking him in the eye, she said, “Let’s just get some sleep, okay? It’s been a long day.”

Zayn’s guilt flickered across his face before he broke the stare. “Yeah. Okay.”

“You can sleep in my bed tonight,” Seri added casually. “I’ll crash on the couch. Not like I’ll get much sleep anyway.”

“No way. It’s your house. I’m the guest-”

“So you’ll sleep in a real bed. My house, my rules. Final say.”

“Ughhh… fine. I’m going to bed.” Zayn rolled his eyes, brushing past her.

Seri chuckled as she led the way upstairs.

Inside, Zayn glanced around, surprised. The furniture was neatly arranged, the kitchenette spotless, and the faint scent of pine hung in the air.

“Wow, it’s so… clean?”

“What the heck is that supposed to mean?!” Seri yelled as she tossed her keys into a bowl by the door. “I’m not a pig!”

“Well, you never used to-”

“Haha, I’m kidding.” Seri nudged his shoulder with a laugh. “Honestly, I was planning to drag you here if I had to, so I cleaned before I left.”

“That makes more sense…” Zayn muttered, relaxing a little.

Seri pointed to the back wall. “Bed’s in there. You crashin’ now?”

“Yeah...” Zayn’s gaze lingered on the balcony as the last orange of the sunset poured through, streaking the wood floor with light. “I think so.”

“Alright. Holler if you need anything.” Seri flopped onto the couch, kicking her shoes off without caring where they landed.

Zayn stepped into the bedroom. A made bed waited for him, extra blankets neatly folded at the foot. “Damn, she really went all out,” he muttered.

He slipped off his shoes and collapsed onto the mattress, lying on top of the covers. The muffled sound of the TV carried through the wall as his thoughts spiraled. His parents were gone. But at least he still had Seri. Despite their differences, and her obsession with “family traditions,” he was grateful she was here.

Slowly, his heavy eyes pulled him toward sleep.

Until a voice cut through the night. Seri, on her phone.

“Yeah, Zayn’s here,” she whispered from the living room. “I wasn’t gonna let him go back there.”

Zayn stirred. At first he ignored it, but when he heard his name, he sat up.

“And you were right. I could feel it in them both,” Seri continued.

He crept toward the door, pressing his ear against it.

“I’m almost positive, Grandma…” Seri’s voice lowered. “Mom and Dad were possessed when they died.”