Surprise Visitor 2

(RJ's POV)

It had only been about a week since I last saw her, so I was shocked when Tana showed up at my door again—this time without Aluma, but with some old woman instead.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly, mainly because she was so beautiful now that it irritated me.

"I kept trying to figure out a way to get back to Afaria, but I can't bring her with me. This is your friend, right? Can she stay with you?" I frowned.

"What? There's no way I know this old—" Then the lady looked up at me with eyes filled with tears.

"Jey?!... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, you were right!" She ran to me and hugged me. Jey has gotten older, and I missed him so much, the woman thought. Then I picked up on Tana's thoughts, and from context, I realized this girl... was Innocence.

"She... was at Markis's house... he'd been feeding off of her. When I first took her out of that place, she couldn't talk, and I felt like I needed to do more before leaving her with you... so again, I ask, can she stay here until I return?" I looked down at the weak woman in front of me—the last time I saw her, she was screaming at me, saying she didn't need me.

"Yeah... I'll watch over her." Tana sighed with relief.

"Thank you, because I was in a hurry and didn't know what else to do!" She bowed before running off to do whatever task she had next. So I took Innocence inside, ordered soup for her since it would be easy to eat, and gave her clothes to change into after a shower. When she finished changing and washing off, she sat quietly with me on the couch as I watched basketball. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. It was uncomfortable seeing her like this... I should kill Markis.

10 years ago—

Months had passed. Innocence and I had become friendly. She even stopped hesitating to approach me, would wave and yell my name, and sometimes hug me out of the blue. There was a rumor that we were dating—I think she wished it were true—but I couldn't get over Aluma that fast. It felt wrong to move on so quickly when there was no telling what she was going through.

"Jey, let's study at your house!" Innocence said one day, out of nowhere.

"Why?" I asked. I read her thoughts before she even spoke, so I added, "Nothing's going to happen if we go to my house, so we might as well go to the library." She frowned.

"I wasn't hoping for anything to happen." That was her lie of choice.

"Right," I replied with an eye roll, then went to the library as usual. She relented and studied with me there, but asked again for the next three days to come to my house. On Friday, I got tired of her begging, so I said,

"Fine... but my guardian will definitely be home." I said it to dissuade her, but it failed.

"We'll be studying in your room anyway! I'm sure they won't mind! I'll be the best guest ever." If she saw the state of my home, she'd never ask to come over again. But I wondered if she'd even keep being my friend.

The yard was full of trash, as usual, contrasting with the beautiful houses surrounding us. She seemed perturbed, and I knew exactly what she was feeling even though she tried to reassure me she wasn't bothered. When we came in, Markis was sitting on the couch laughing loudly with a liquor bottle in his hand. He had a friend on each side: a woman who was smoking and staring at him fondly, and a man in wrinkled clothes who was sleeping across the arm of the couch. Markis turned to me when I entered and waved.

"Hey, little bro! You're early today!" I was surprised he even noticed what time I usually got home. He left his spot to get a better look at me and my guest.

"I see you brought a friend." After noting this, he pulled out a vape and took a hit while scanning Innocence.

"Oh! Hi..." she said sheepishly. Wow, he's like a grown-up Jey! ♥ Markis and I share the same parents, so we look alike—the only distinct difference is he's older and has reddish-brown eyes.

"We're going to my room," I said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along.

"Wait! Aren't you going to say hey back or something? Don't be an asshole." I glanced back at him and said,

"Hi." Then I pulled Innocence to my room and closed the door behind us. I had a pile of clothes in the corner and a few empty plates on my dresser, but compared to the rest of the house, my room was the cleanest.

"You said you were having trouble in social studies, right? I made flashcards about the main topics on the test."

"How old is your brother?" she asked, clearly lost in her own world and gazing at the door affectionately.

"He's 26."

"What's his name?" she added.

"Markis... now, are we going over social studies, or do you want to go home?" She gasped, then hurriedly pulled her textbooks from her bag. We studied different subjects for two hours before she said she had to go, so I walked her home.

When we got there, I began saying,

"Let's just do this at school from now on. Sorry you had to see all that." She waved her hands dismissively.

"No, it's fine, really! I had a good time and I'd like to come again on Monday if that's okay." Her words shocked me until I read what she was thinking. Markis is so cute... maybe next time I come over we can talk. My only reply was a half-hearted wave as I left and returned to the home I hated, living with one of the people who annoyed me most.

"Jey! Come here!" Markis called as soon as I came in. I stood in the entryway and instead of coming, said,

"What do you want?" He laughed at my tone.

"Jessica here thinks you're cute. Could you spend some time with her while I show Lily the new curtains in my room?" As soon as he said this, Lily giggled and flushed. I didn't need mind-reading powers to understand his innuendo.

"I'm sure she'll be fine alone," I answered, and he glared at me.

"You're on an unfamiliar planet. I'm paying for your goddamn tuition and feeding you! The least you could do is listen to me. I don't even make you do chores around here, so what's your problem?!" If I couldn't read his mind, maybe life would be easier—but 70% of what he says are lies, and his brain is so full of depravity it makes me sick.

"Fine... I'll sit with her." As soon as the words left my lips, Markis got up with Lily and walked off. I sat next to Jessica, who began by asking mundane things like how I was and what I ate today. Then she revealed her true character:

"Do you have curtains in your room too? I'd love to see them."

"Why not just sleep with Markis when he's done with Lily?" She chuckled lightly.

"I don't want to be just one of the many women he fucks then forgets... plus, you're just as pretty as him and you seem so mature," Jessica noted.

"I'm... supposedly 16." I made eye contact with this reply. She leaned over and kissed my neck.

"I don't mind... if you don't." She began unbuttoning her top, so I sighed and stood up.

"Wait... I'm sorry, are you upset?" Her voice was shaky.

"I'm just going to my room... you can come with me if you want."

I just wanted to use her for a night—to forget my irritation with Innocence, living here with Markis, and my weakness for not saving Aluma. Since I knew she didn't want more from me, I felt comfortable touching her... but I ended up feeling nauseous before going all the way, so I stopped and told her to go home.

"Don't be like that... I can do things for you that girls your age wouldn't even dream of." I frowned.

"No thanks." She got up and scowled.

"I was just doing you a favor! There are loads of people who would kill to fuck me! It's your loss... fucking virgin." She spat on my floor before stomping out.

I didn't invite Innocence over on Monday, but she showed up on her own anyway. When Markis opened the door, she lied and said I asked her to come over. I was in the kitchen, so I heard the whole conversation.

"Did something happen to your parents? I'm sorry if I'm asking something sensitive... I'm just curious. Don't answer if I'm overstepping." Markis had his hand pressed against the wall beside her head, leaning in as she spoke.

"No... our parents just live in a different city. He was interested in the schools here, so I volunteered to watch over him." Markis came up with such a convenient lie that painted him as benevolent on the spot. She beamed happily.

"Oh! Thank goodness! I've complained about my family before, and I was worried I might have upset Jey."

"Oh no... I'm sure you didn't... you know you can come over anytime, right? Even on weekends." He said this with a smirk.

"Okay, I will!" It was then she noticed me and waved. I studied with her because she was here, and I didn't want to make her look like a liar. If I did, Markis would know why she really came here—and that would be an issue for me.

"Jey..." Innocence mumbled, closing her textbook.

"I'm listening."

"Oh... well... um." She cleared her throat. "What would you do if I told you... I want to date you?" Her way of confessing was so obvious it was a little cute.

"I would tell you I'm not interested in dating right now. I just want to focus on school." She huffed and folded her arms.

"I see..." Innocence went home soon after, insisting on leaving without me. It was only later that I realized she asked Markis to walk her home.

She started coming over every day after school and on weekends during the day. In response, Markis began inviting his friends over only after 10 PM, so he was alone when she arrived. He even started cleaning up the trash and only used his vape when she wasn't home. Sometimes he would open the door without telling me who was there, so they could talk. Of course, I knew what was going on, but it was too awkward for me to interrupt.

Every once in a while, she would disrupt our study sessions to ask about Markis—his birthday, favorite color, shoe size, etc. She used that information well, gifting him expensive tennis shoes on his birthday. I got a gift card for mine.

Another week passed. It was Friday, and since she didn't show up at school, I assumed she was sick. But when I got home, I found her and Markis lip-locked on the living room couch. His hand was under her shirt, grasping her breast. When he heard me enter, he turned and smiled.

"Welcome home, baby brother." She got embarrassed seeing me and tried to push his hand away, but he didn't budge. My impulses took over, and the next thing I knew, I was across the room, my knees pinning Markis's arms down as I punched him repeatedly. I heard Innocence screaming for me to stop in the background, but nothing could stop me at that point.

"Jey, stop!!! You're scaring me! What are you doing?!" she screamed, grabbing my arm. I pushed her off, causing her to fall on her butt, then heard her add, "Stop hitting my boyfriend!" I managed to regain some control and withdrew my bloodied fist.

"Boyfriend... You're dating this bastard?! He's 26! What the hell do you think you're doing dating him?!" Markis's breathing was ragged. Innocence rushed over and tried to push me off him. I stood and watched with disgust as they embraced.

"That doesn't matter! I love him!" she shouted. She loves him. My brother snapped his jaw back into place and chuckled, flashing me his bloodstained teeth.

"Yeah, we're in love, Jey. Haven't you noticed how much better I've been lately?" Better...? Does he mean not having strangers in the house all day and only inviting people over after 10 PM? I know for a fact he slept with someone else just last night.

"You're trash. Despicable. Useless trash," I said with a scowl. "Innocence, he's just using you... I'm telling you this as a friend."

"Shut up! He's not using me! Markis is a good boyfriend, and you're just jealous! You had your chance, Jeremy, so stop being a creep." Her thoughts repeated the same to me, hoping I'd leave, sending rage my way. This bitch thinks I'm jealous?!

"I'm just looking out for you. You don't know what kind of person he is," I corrected.

"Get out! I don't need you to look out for me! Just go!" Innocence glared at me angrily, tears in her eyes.

"... Okay... then stay with him. I don't care." I went to my room, packed up my best clothes and the books I cared about, then left. I walked several blocks away from the house. I caught myself crying—and it was around that time Zai found me. The first thing he said was,

"I've been looking all over for you. Markis said you left!" I was already breaking down when I rushed over and hugged him. He patted my back to console me. That was the last time I saw her. After that, Zai and I both found work and saved up until we could afford an apartment together.

Present Day—

Innocence fell asleep, so I worked on correcting her aura and healing some of the damage she's taken over the years. Healing isn't my specialty though... I should invite Valin over and ask for his help.