*Huff* *Cough* *Cough* "Run! Run faster. He's gonna catch me!" Rye ran fast towards the left side garden of the house. He plans to reach the big tree there as fast as he could so as not to get caught. Whenever he sneaks out, he always climbs the big tree that has a branch strong enough to hold him. That branch is near the window to the art room which has a secret passage towards his room.
"I'm here, I'm safe. I'm —" *ting* A bird cage on the ground with traces of blood stopped Rye. His anxiousness did not disappear, but the feeling of nervousness made his whole body tremble. Just as he felt triumph, he felt fear of what his thinking might be true. "Pie? No it can't be!"
"Little Pie, where are you?" With a trembling voice, Rye searched the tall grass by the tree. He followed the traces of blood near the bird cage and finally found his bird Pie. The bird was nearing its last breath as it struggled to get up and flap its wings.
"Pie?" Rye squatted down and slowly scooped the bird into his palms. Somehow sensing peace, the bird slowly loses its energy and no longer struggles so hard to flap its wings and fly. Seeing this, Rye can no longer contain his tears.
"..up, up ...tin" Rye almost jumped and realized he needed to run after he heard someone talking. He followed where the sound came from and locked eyes with Lara by the window behind him. "What are you.. no wait. How did you climb up—" His sentence was cut when Mistane popped behind Lara.
Rye realize he unconditionally hid his hand that was holding Pie. He abruptly wipes his tears and is at a loss as to what to say. The two girls keep staring at him as if waiting for him to say something.
*Rustle* Another sound startled Rye again. "Should i shout? No. I should speak loudly enough to make it seem I'm not alone" Rye kept overthinking what he should do. "Why are you two here?" Ray said calmly looking towards the window, as if he and Rye have been together this whole time. Somehow Rye felt a sense of relief seeing there are more people here now and that he's no longer alone.
Ray's presence made him feel safe but for some reason he still feels scared. "Is it alright for me to be this complacent? Or did i just drag down everyone with me?" Ray sensing his distress, walked towards the window to distract the girls to leave.
*Cough* "Ahem." He patted Lara's head and looked at the Mistane. Oddly enough, he felt uncomfortable but didn't know what made him feel that way. "You shouldn't go up here It's dangerous." He said to Lara as he secretly glanced at the Mistane. Mistane put her down and her eyes widened by the realization. She quickly composed herself and looked at Ray.
"She tilted her head like someone who seeks answers to their questions." Ray caught on to what she did but did not press her on it and smiled at Lara. "Could you and big sis to go somewhere else? Big brother Rye wants to wallow alone, hmm?" He requested his little sister while smiling and patting her.
"Hmm hmm." Lara replied with a nod and dragged Mistane again with her. Mistane scooped her up and hopped away faster. "How come you're outside?" Rye asked Ray suspiciously. "Am i not allowed to take some fresh air outside? Besides, me being here is the least of your problems." Ray slowly sits down under the shade of the tree to protect himself from the scorching sun. *Cough* *Cough*
Remembering Pie, Rye became restless again. He gently moved his hands from his back in front of him. "You being sick has always been part of everyone's problem" he said as he gently touched the birds feathers. "Would you like it to be buried here by the tree, under the part where there are tall grasses?" Ray asked nonchalantly.
"And why should i?" Feeling a sense of comfort, Rye's tears continued to flow again. "Cuz' this is the part where you don't land whenever you sneak out obviously." Ray said as he started pulling out the grasses and weeds to start digging with his bare hands. Rye was surprised with what he said but instead of defending himself, he felt thankful to have his brother help him bury his little friend.
"It's been this long, guess he gave up pursuing me." Feeling relieved, Rye did not bury his little friend immediately. Ray helped him sit down next to him as he had both his palm holding Pie.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen. Shine kept pestering her big sister Lauri about their cousin, Mistane. "I mean she is deaf, not mute." She thinks they could've communicated better if she just speaks. "Yeah, you heard her scream this morning." Larcy replied while drying the dishes using a towel. Their big sister just chuckled at them.
"Shine, she barely had anyone to talk back to at her home. She never had a proper conversation where she needed to speak not write." Knowing that her sister is also bad at communicating with others it came to her that the two were somewhat alike. "Although having them alone together may just repellent them from each other."
As if on que on what she was thinking Larcy added "you too are like the same side of a magnet."
"I could never think of any other thing that could describe them the best." Lauri contemplates as she hides the dried dishes away. Shine really wants to get closer again and Lauri will do whatever she can and support her. She could not bring herself to watch her sister give up again on Mistane, not now when all she has left was them.
"I just thought, maybe now that she's older she'd be able to talk more not like in the past." "We're both kids, even then i didn't have the patience to cater to her special needs." Suddenly, she remembers her twin brother Ray who's always sick. She was struck with guilt as the realization made her see herself in a different light.