You scared us.

As the car rolled into the driveway, Emily sat quietly in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window. The tension from earlier had dissipated, and though the night had been long, there was a comforting silence between her and Jerry.

"You okay?" Jerry asked gently, glancing at her.

Emily nodded, offering him a small smile. "Yeah. Just… tired. Thank you for tonight, Jerry. You didn't have to do all this for me."

Jerry shrugged, a playful grin on his face. "That's what siblings are for, right?"

Emily chuckled softly, the sound easing some of the weight from her chest. "Still, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you and Mark for what you've done. You two always come through."

Jerry glanced at her again, his voice softening. "We're a team, Em. You don't have to repay us. Just don't shut us out, okay? We'll figure this out together."

Emily nodded, the knot in her stomach loosening slightly. She felt safe with Jerry, and for the first time that night, a sliver of hope crept into her heart.

Behind them, Mark was driving Jerry's car, his expression unreadable as he followed closely. He had volunteered to ride separately, giving Jerry and Emily the chance to talk. "They'll sort it out," he muttered to himself as he kept his eyes on the taillights ahead.

When they finally pulled into the driveway, they were met by Jacqueline, Monica, our father and I, all waiting anxiously outside.

*****

I had been pacing in the living room for over an hour, my tiny legs growing tired, but I couldn't sit still. Monica, was on the couch, wringing her hands nervously. Jacqueline sat by the window, her arms crossed, staring out into the dark. Dad was the most worried of all. He'd gone from checking the clock every two minutes to muttering to himself as he paced back and forth. None of us knew where Mark, Jerry, or Emily were, and the silence in the house was suffocating.

It wasn't like them to stay out this late, especially without saying anything. When Dad had gone to check their rooms earlier, I followed him like a shadow, hoping we'd find something, anything, that would tell us where they were. But their rooms were empty. We tried calling them, but Jerry and Mark's phones lay in their bedrooms, and Emily wasn't answering hers.

"They'll be fine," Jacqueline said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady, but I could see the worry in her eyes. She wasn't as calm as she pretended to be.

Dad shook his head, rubbing his temple. "It's almost midnight, Jacque. This isn't like them. They should've called."

Monica stood up and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Maybe they got held up somewhere, John. Let's not assume the worst."

But I could see it in Dad's face. He was imagining all sorts of terrible things. And honestly? So was I. My brothers had always been the ones who made me laugh, who teased me and protected me. But now, they were the ones making me scared.

"I'm hungry," I mumbled, trying to distract myself from the knot in my stomach.

Monica forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Come on, Sweetie. Let's get you some milk and a snack. Maybe it'll help you sleep."

"I'm not going to sleep until they come back," I said firmly, planting my feet on the floor like I was making some sort of heroic stand. But inside, I just felt small and helpless.

Jacqueline sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Baby sis is right. None of us can sleep like this."

Just then, we heard the gate open and the faint hum of an engine outside. My heart jumped, and I raced to the window, my little hands gripping the sill. "They're back!" I shouted.

Jacqueline and I bolted to the door, flinging it open as Dad and Monica hurried behind us. Sure enough, Emily's car was pulling into the driveway, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Jerry got out first, his tall figure instantly recognizable, and then Emily and Mark followed, Mark getting out from Jerry's car.

The relief in my chest was overwhelming, but it quickly turned to anger. "Where were you?!" I yelled, my voice trembling as I ran up to them.

Jerry knelt down and opened his arms. "Hey, baby sis, I missed you too," he said with a tired grin. But I wasn't in the mood for hugs. I punched his arm instead, not that it hurt him. "You scared me!" I cried.

Mark patted my head, his face unusually serious. "We're sorry, baby sis. We didn't mean to make you worry."

Dad stepped forward, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "Where have you three been? And why didn't you answer your phones?"

Emily looked down at her feet, guilt written all over her face. She stepped forward quickly, her face filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, My phone was on silent. I didn't hear it ring."

Jerry and Mark exchanged a glance before Mark spoke. "It's… a long story, Dad. But we're okay, and that's what matters."

"A long story?" Jacqueline crossed her arms, glaring at them. "Try us."

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not tonight. Everyone's tired. We'll explain in the morning."

Dad looked like he wanted to argue, but then he sighed deeply and nodded. "Fine. But first thing tomorrow, I want answers."

As we walked inside, I tugged on Jerry's sleeve. "Promise me you'll tell me too," I whispered.

Jerry gave me a small, tired smile. "I promise, baby sis. Now go get some sleep."

I didn't want to let them out of my sight, but I nodded. Tomorrow, I'd know everything. And whatever it was, I just hoped it wouldn't change us forever.

After exchanging goodnight hugs and kisses, Dad and Monica retreated to their rooms. Their bedrooms, along with Grandpa's, were located downstairs, where all the master suites were tucked away in quiet corners of the house.

I was the first to get upstairs, completely drained from all the worrying and waiting. I bolted to my room, barely pausing to switch on the light before dropping onto my bed. The second my head hit the pillow, sleep overtook me like a wave.

Jacqueline followed shortly after, her footsteps hurried as she tried to match my pace up the stairs. She was close, but not quite fast enough to catch up. As she passed by my room, she paused to peep inside, her curiosity getting the better of her. Seeing me sprawled out on the bed, completely knocked out, she smiled softly before heading to her own room.