Chapter 3

"I'm home!" I live alone except for my sister. We live alone because of our mother. After our dad passed, she became a depressed alcoholic. I decided to move out and take my sister because we were at risk, so now we live alone. Our aunt sends us money annually though. She doesn't want the responsibility of taking care of two kids when she doesn't have kids of her own. I guess I can understand that.

"You're late. What kept you-What the hell happened to your nose?!" "Uhh, just a little altercation at school. Nothing serious though." "How is it not serious when you come back home with a bloody nose? This isn't even the first time it's happened either!"

"Calm down sis. It really isn't that serious. I got you some hot Cheetos and Takis on my way home." " Oh, really? Then you're fine. Do you sis." She quickly took the snacks out of my hand and ran upstairs. From upstairs she yelled "Thanks!" "You're welcome." After an hour or two of relaxing and watching tv, I decided to text Shiroe since I didn't see him after school. After sending a text I waited a few minutes, just to get no response. "Damn hoe. He's probably screwing around with some girl again." I tossed my phone onto the couch where I was sitting at.

"Anya, come down here real quick." "I'm busy! I'll be down in 20 minutes." "But I need you now!" "Then you gotta wait!" I ran up the stairs and stopped in front of Anya's room. "Open the door." "Nope." I barged into her room without a warning.

"The hell is this?! Why the fuck are you wearing a horse mask on Instagram live?" "One, I told you that I was busy, and two, because I'm getting more followers." "You have 71k followers, I know had to buy the majority of them. Ain't no way you're this popular" "I'm too cheap to buy followers." "Sure, anyways have you talked to Shiroe?" "Awww, is Saito worried about his boo?" I furrowed my brows and scrunched my nose. "I'm straight... but yes, a little." "Not sure if I'm supposed to believe that you're straight or not...anyway, I haven't talked to him today, he didn't even respond to my texts." "Oh well, I'll see him tomorrow. I think...if he goes to school."

It's not like him to not respond all day unless he's with a girl. Even then he'd attempt to send a text or call. I sighed and stretched my arms. Nah...I'm probably worrying too much, I'm sure he's fine. It's only been a day, I'm acting like some crazy girlfriend. Anya stared at me for an awkward second. "How's your nose?" "It still kinda hurts, but it'll heal I guess. Shouldn't take long." "Yeah, sure... whatever. If it does it does, if not then oh well." "What's that supposed to mean?" She shrugged her shoulders. "If you keep messing up your nose it's bound to get broken someday." I scratched the back of my head and looked into Anya's vanity mirror. "Eh...it's only swollen this time, and maybe there won't be a next- Don't jinx me." "Yeah yeah, I'm just saying. Now, I have things to do, you've ruined my live."

She went to go pick up her phone and laughed. "Pfft- Saito everyone thinks you fought with your boyfriend Shiroe. These comments are hilarious. Y'all need to relax, haha." I was still in the mirror busy looking at my nose. "So they're laughing at me and my boyfriend's abusive relationship? That's kinda weird if you ask me." Anya's face lit up and her jaw dropped. "So you admit that Shiroe is your boyfriend?! I'm kind of disappointed. I thought he'd have better taste in men." "What...I guess I did call Shiroe my boyfriend. We definitely aren't dating though. Like at all. And we never will, he's just my best friend. Anyways..." I flipped Anya off and left her room.

A few hours had passed and I ended up taking a nap at around 7:30.

I woke up sometime around 10. "Anya." I sat up in my bed and stretched. I walked to her room but I didn't see her there. I yelled her name this time. "Anya!" I made my way downstairs to see if she was even in the house. "Dammit. Where the hell is she. She didn't even tell me that she was going out. And it's 10 at night." I took my phone out and called Anya. "...what the hell!?" Her phone was ringing from upstairs. I decided to run out of my house and search the perimeter of the house. "Anya!...Anya!!" My neighbor Reem came out of his house and confronted me.

"If you don't stop that damn yelling I'm calling the cops on you for disturbing the peace!" "Shut the hell up. Obviously, I'm yelling someone's name meaning that I'm obviously looking for them." "I don't give two shits if you're looking for someone or not! Screw them. Search for them in the morning." "I'm sorry but if your family member that lives with you suddenly disappears at night without a heads up or at least them telling you of their whereabouts are you not going to be worried?! Not to mention that they left their phone so you have no way of contacting them. And let's not forget about the mass increase of violence around the area and that at any time they can be a random target! What if they don't make it back?! What if they're found dead in a creek or off a desolate road!? Are you telling me that you'd rather find someone dead than to have me yelling at night to find them!?"

"Honestly, I don't give two shits for you or your family. In fact, I couldn't care less." Before I could act I heard a scream from his house. I quickly looked at him and ran towards his house. He had left his door open so I just ran inside. "Hey! Where are you?!" A scream of help came from the lower portion of the house. It took me a while but I finally located the door to a basement. I opened the door and almost fell down the steps while running down. I found the light switch and turned the light on. Two girls were down there. One was Anya and the other was a girl from school. Before I could do anything the neighbor, Reem had entered his house once again. The two girls were restricted from movement by having their hands and legs tied together. I heard footsteps approaching. I turned around and saw Reem trying to charge at me. I wasn't able to dodge him, so I took the full blow. "Ow! Dammit.." I kicked Reem below the belt so that I'd have time to help the girls. I untied my classmate Bree, first, then Anya.