“Next time, don’t go running off, alright? Look at what you put your sister through. A young man’s supposed to protect his big sister, you know.” The police officer ruffled York’s hair before following Butler Dawson out of the room.
Now, only Mae, York, Alessia, and the family doctor–who was tending to Alessia’s wounds–remained in the foyer.
“All done. Try to keep your wounds dry for the next couple of days. If you start running a fever, get in touch with me right away, and steer clear of anything spicy for now.”
“Alright, thank you so much.”
“No trouble at all.”
“Mae, would you see the doctor out?”
Mae nodded, and the two left, leaving the siblings alone in the vast entrance hall. Alessia crossed her legs, watching her little brother huddled in the corner of the
couch.
“Scared now, are you?”
York kept his eyes down, fidgeting nervously.
It was rare to see the family’s little terror looking so subdued. Alessia felt her urge to scold him melt away. Judging by how shaken he was, she figured York would probably keep his head down for a while.
The doctor’s medicine would only do so much; she’d have to stop by the clinic tomorrow, even if it meant getting a lecture from the old physician there.
“I’m sorry.”
Alessia snapped out of her thoughts. “What did you say?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it’d turn out like this. I just… I just didn’t want to go to ss. I never meant for you to get hurt. I didn’t know… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”
The words tumbled out, and then York burst into tears, sobbing, “I’m sorry,” over again through a mess of tears and snot.
and
Alessia wrinkled her nose at the sight, but in the end, she just sighed.
“Come here.” She beckoned him over, and York scrambled awkwardly across the couch, hands and knees both.
11:54
<b>Truth </b><b>be </b><b>told</b><b>, </b><b>the </b><b>two </b><b>of </b>them weren’t <b>especially </b><b>close</b><b>. </b><b>Their </b><b>rtionship </b>was more <b>of </b><b>a </b><b>ssic </b><b>sibling </b>rivalry<b>–</b>pranks and payback<b>, </b><b>a </b>little <b>more </b><b>fighting </b><b>than </b>loving
York was only five, after all, and Alessia had already been toughened <b>up </b><b>by </b><b>Max’s </b>antics. York never managed to get the better of her, but that didn’t stop <b>him </b><b>from </b>trying every single day, just to get some attention.
Alessia knew that was all he really wanted, so when she was bored, she’d <b>y </b>along.
Thistest incident, for all the trouble it caused, might actually do York some <b>good</b>. He’d gotten a little too used to being spoiled.
“You’re not even hurt. What are you blubbering about?” Alessia grumbled, but she grabbed a couple of tissues and wiped his face anyway.
“I won’t prank you for a while,” York sniffled, still huping from crying so hard.
Alessia flicked his forehead lightly and didn’t say another word.
For a while after that, York acted like a kid desperate to earn forgiveness. He’d bring Alessia snacks or a ss of water, then scurry off without a word, too embarrassed to stick around.
At first, Alessia wondered what his deal was, but eventually she just let him be.
The three men who’d taken York were caught soon after. Turned out, they were repeat offenders–before this, they’d already imed two lives.
The first time, they’d tried to extort money from a victim’s parents by severing the victim’s hands and legs, but with zero medical sense, they let the poor soul bleed out on the way to the hospital. The second time, when the ransom didn’te through, they killed their hostage. York… would have been the third.
The story made the evening news, and only then did York realize just how close he’de to not making it home.
For weeks after, York would wake up screaming from nightmares. By the time Alessia heard about it, the dark circles under his eyes were practically a badge of
honor.
One day, passing by a pet store, Alessia wasn’t sure what came over her. S. ended up bringing home a dog. The little guy was sharp as a tack and stuck to York like glue.
“Doesn’t seem to have much loyalty–might as well give him to you,” Alessia said, handing the leash over.
<b>York</b><b>, </b><b>feeling </b><b>guilty </b><b>about </b><b>her </b><b>injury</b><b>, </b><b>didn’t </b><b>protest </b><b>for </b><b>once</b>. <b>He </b><b>was </b><b>thrilled </b>
<b>Miraculously</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>nightmares stopped. That <b>dog</b><b>, </b><b>Rex</b><b>, </b><b>has </b><b>been </b><b>with </b><b>him </b>ever since <b>Not long </b><b>after</b>, though, York was sent away to Merovia.