//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Moving Away // Story: Memories // by CottonMiller //------------------------------// 2 YEARS LATER “Packed your stuff, Lucy?” Connie whispered to her younger sister, who nodded. The now 9 year old girl had the same skin color as Consense, pale white. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green and she had long, flowing red hair. “Let’s go. Oh, but…” Consense said as she poked her head out of the bedroom door and looked into the hallway, “Mother might hear us. Hmm,” Consense looked around until she found that the window was wide open, “Lucy, on your sissy’s back, now,” *** Niss was still awake, watching TV. Well, she had nothing else to do that didn’t disturb her parents in any way, shape or form. This was when she heard a knock at the door. “Niss! Are you expecting someone at this hour?” Her mother walked in the living room as Niss walked up to the door. “No, mother. Who could it be?” Niss said as she opened the door. “Hello, Niss!” Consense greeted as she sat her bags down on the floor, along with Lucy. “Connie? Lucy? What are you doing here? And why do you have your stuff?” Connie looked at Niss with a sad look, which confused the siren a bit. “Niss, we… We just can’t live with our mother anymore! She’s become more abusive than ever! We just couldn’t take it!” Connie confessed as she burst into tears. “W-What about your father?” Niss asked. “He,” Consense looked down at her feet, “He passed,” “I thought sirens were immortal!” Niss’s mother butted in. “They are. B-But if the siren loses a lot of blood, they perish. My dad got in a car wreck last month,” “And you never told me this?!” Niss said, slightly mad that her best friend kept a secret from her. “I’m sorry!” “May we please stay here with you? We promise that we’ll not be trouble. And if we are, you can punish us as you do with Niss when she gets in trouble,” Lucy asked politely as Niss’s mother put a finger to her chin in thought. “Hmm. But this means I have to take care of three kids now,” Her mother thought. “Please, mommy! Can they please stay here?! Look at them, they’re helpless! Please, please, please!” Her mother sighed in defeat, “Fine. They can move in,” The three girls cheered, Niss and Consense held their arms out and hugged each other, “But the two are going to have to follow the rules of the house if they stay here,” “Yes, ma’am,” Lucy and Connie said in sync. *** Consense woke up, the sunlight hit her face. She yawned she sat up on the couch and stretched. She started when she felt something squirm a bit in her lap. She looked down to see her little sister, Lucy, sleeping. “Morning, Connie!” Consense looked up to see Niss, still in her white and yellow pokie dotted footie pajamas. “Morning, Nissy,” Connie replied, groggily. “I made eggs and pancakes for breakfast! Wanna try them?” Niss said quickly. “Sure,” “Then get out of bed, silly! Or should I say, ‘get out of couch’?” Niss smirked as she grabbed Connie’s arm in an attempt to pull her off the couch. “Wait! Be careful!” “Why?” Consense pointed to her little sister, who was still sleeping in her lap. “Oh. Well, you still need to get up. Who knows how long she’ll sleep for?” Niss said as she picked up Lucy and took her off of Connie’s lap and laid her on the other side of the couch. Niss gestured for Connie to stand up, which she obeyed. “Now, let’s eat breakfast. It’ll be amazing knowing that my best friend will be living with me,” Niss said as she held Connie’s hand as they walked towards the kitchen. Niss gave her a warm smile, which the younger girl smiled back.