"Do you want to know who they are?", she asked. Because of what she said, I got curious. I hesitated if I should nod or not, but I nodded anyway.
She smiled at me but tears drip through her cheeks. "They are your parents", she said.
My eyes widened. I did not cry but I was surprised of what she just said. "Why?", that's all I could ever say. Why?
Flashback
Cherry's POV
"Can I see my nieces?", I asked my brother. We were sitting on different chairs which is opposite to each other, and we are facing each other. My brother just looked at me and he smiled sweetly. He stood up from where he sitted and went to their kitchen, I turn my head to wherever he goes and my eyes followed his every move.
I saw him opening the hanging cabinet and took two glasses. I turned around and stopped watching what he's doing. When he came back, he brought two glasses of juice with him.
"Your nieces are sick right now", he said. I just looked at him as he put the glasses on the table.
"Is tha so?", I asked. He nodded as a respond and then drank his juice.
"Aren't you going to drink your juice?", he asked.
"I am not thirsty", I replied. I thought I needed to get out of there so I stood up and left.
I know what they did. I love him because he is my brother, but I found out how he were with his daughters. I thought I know him well, but I doubt that now.
Rosemarie's POV
"Did she already left?", I asked my husband. He nodded and walks away. "You know, your sister is really nosy", I said. "Want me to kill her?", I asked. I was just joking but I guess he took it seriously.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY SISTER", he yelled on my face. I pushed him and wiped my face. A spray of saliva got onto my face, and it was kind of gross.
"I was just joking, gosh!", I said. He is really protective of his sister, maybe because she was the only family he has. He turned around again angrily and spoke,
"Don't joke like that again", he said calmly and walked away.
"I would really do it if she'll keep being nosy", I thought to myself. I know that his sister know too much already. If I were her, I would really mind my own business.
Cherry's POV
It was monday and I decided to visit my brother. When I got to their house, I found out that they are not home. My brother gave me spare key so I used it. I took advantage of their absence to sneak into the basement where the twins are. Bruises and wounds are seen in their body, and the twins are being imprisoned on a cage. I felt sorry for them, they didn't deserve this kind of treatment. The other twin have bandage in her eyes and I don't what happened to them.
"Shhh", I said. I look all over the place to find a key, but I saw no key. I was about to go upstairs when I heard a voice coming from upstairs. I panicked and I struggle to find a place to hide. There was a chess on the corner of the basement where a person can fit. I decided to hide there as fast as I could.
The basement door opened and I heard a woman's voice.
"How was my twins doing?", she asked.
"I know that voice", I said to myself. That voice belongs to Rosemarie. My brother's wife.
"Your father is busy today so you can rest", she said. I heard her shoes clank and echoed around the room. "You know, your aunt is really nosy. She can't mind her own business. If it weren't for your father, I would really like to chop her tongue off", she said and laugh.
My heart skipped a beat as I heard her talking about me. She's a total psycho, I'm sure of that.
"How was your eye?", she asked the twin. I'm sure it was Jane whom she was asking. "Cat got your tongue? Why don't you speak?", she asked again.
"Are you dumb?", Jean shouted. "She can't speak, why are you expecting her to reply to your stupid question?", she continued shouting in range.
"How dare you yell at me?", Rosemarie yelled back and I heard a loud slapping sound.
"This is why we didn't like you two. You better off dead", she said. Silence came next and I don't know what happened and why it was so quiet.
"Why are you two looking at this chess?", she asked. I was about to gasp but I stopped myself. My heart surely beat so fast like it was about to brust.
"What if she'll see me?", I asked myself. Sweat flows from my forehead. "She'll kill me for sure", I thought to myself.
She was about to open the chess when her phone suddenly rang. She let go of the chess and she didn't continued what she was doing. I heard her shoes clanking and fade from a distance.
I made sure that she's not there anymore. It was confirmed that she already left the house when I heard her car engine went on and a car noise fade. When I went out of the chess, I saw my nieces crying.
My heart felt like it was crumpled as I saw their tears flowing down their cheeks and their gazes as if they really wanted to get out of there. I went near them and comforted them.
"I have to go", I said. I was about to turn around when I felt a hand grabbing my shirt.
"Please take us with you", Jean begged. I let out a sigh and think of what should I do.
"I'll come back tomorrow and I'll take you two with me, I swear", I said. Jean smiled and let go of my shirt.
"Promise?", she asked and I nodded. I really want to take them with me but I don't know how. I need to think of a plan first before doing some actions.
"So wait for me okay?", I begged. The twins smiled and nodded as a respond.
I tiptoed my way out of the house. I flee back home as fast as I could, but I was surprised when I saw my brother sitting on my couch, waiting for me.
"Where have you been?", he asked me. My mind went blank and it took me a while to reply. "Are you listening to me?", he yelled.
"Huh?", I asked as I snap back into reality.
"I said where have you been?", he asked again.
"Oh! I went to the convenience store to buy something", I said. He looked at me all confused and a little bit suspicious. I know why, and I know it was dumb move to say that I went to the conveniece store.
"Where is it?", he questioned. My eyes widened and my hands are shaking and I'm confused of what he's talking about.
"Huh?", I asked again, pretending to be clueless.
"Nevermind", he said. I scratched the back of my head because I realized how dumb I look.
"Why are here?", I asked him. He looked at me with a brow raised.
"Am I not allowed to visit my sister?", he asked back. I just smiled awkwardly. He looked at me with an undescribable expression. "Why are your hands shaking anyway?", he probed.
"Oh, this?", I looked at my hands. "I'm just really hungry, that's all", I said. I hoped and pray that he'll bought my excuse. He suddenly stood up and he startled me. He grab my hands and drag me to the kitchen.
"Sit down", he commanded.
"Why?", I asked.
"I'll make you something to eat", he replied. I obeyed and sat on one of the chair.
"You should take good care of yourself", he said in a calm tone while he was busy cooking. "What if I'm not here anymore? Who would look after you?", he asked. I feel like he was scolding me but I didn't mind what he is saying.
I did not respond and just kept staring at his back. After he finished cooking, he serve the food and he gave me a fork. He then sat down on a chair and watched me eating.
"You're not yourself lately", he said. I stopped chewing my food for a while and I look at him. "What are you up to these days, huh?", he asked. His face look really serious and he was looking at me in the eye.
I feel like I'm sweating. My mind left blank and I can't reply to his question immediately. I tried dodging his question but he was persistent.
"Answer my question, Cherry", he said calmly. I'm just thankful because he is calm when it comes to me. He doesn't raise his voice often when it comes to me.
I smiled awkwardly and I scratch the back of my head. "Well, I was really bored here. So I decided to apply as a part timer on a convenience store", I said. I don't know if he would buy it. My mind was really blank and I can't think of other lie to tell.
"I see", he replied. I let out a soft sigh. I was relieved because he believed me. He let me finish what I was eating before he stood up and walk away. I chased him and see him off, but before he left he said something.
"I just want to ask you a favor", my brother uttered. When he said that, I feel my anxiety level rise up.
"W-what is it?", I stuttered. He didn't look at me as he spoke.
"Don't get near the", he replied and left. He didn't let me ask why. He just quickly left and didn't look back.
I don't know if he knows what I was planning or is it because of his wife. I washed the dishes while overthinking about what my brother said earlier.