30/11/2022
SISTERS AT WAR
CHAPTER EIGHT
I'm so sorry this is coming late. School work has been choking and I barely have time for myself. I don't know how consistent I'd be with this , but if try.
GABRIELLA~
My voice trembled a bit and my heart beat increased as I talked to Daniella. I tried to sound confident, intimidating and cold. I was quite sure she didn't notice I was scared. It felt cruel that I was doing this to her, but I didn't think I had a choice. I was scared, I was afraid and even terrified. The thought of being home alone with her drove me to the point that I wanted her to disappear forever.
I didn't care what others would think, I just couldn't breath peacefully if we sleep alone under the same roof. I just had a break from my nightmares, I would not be able to get a wink of sleep if I had let her in.
As I bolted the door, I leaned against it as hot balls of tears rolled down my cheek. My head was messed up. I had to treat my twin sister like trash so I could save myself and the guy I liked was so cold to me yet sort of close to the outcast of the class? Was this what Aunt Grace told me about? Was it manifesting already?
It was confusing. At some point, I'd feel bad, remorseful and even pity for Daniella. At some other time, I'd just feel as if one day, she would be the end of me. The thought made me cringed. We used to be sweet sisters, until she made her first move. Daniella wasn't Daniella anymore, she had become the darkness to my light and if I let her, she'd kill my light.
I wiped my tears away and let out a sigh. There was no point crying, my tears would not change anything. Daniella's issue had been decided, I just needed to confront Daniel and ask him why he was being so cold to me. Mum wouldn't allow us date, but at least, we could be friends.
I dragged my feet towards the stairs and suddenly I stopped in my tracks. If something bad happened to Daniella, would I take responsibility? I wanted her to disappear, at the same time, I didn't want her to disappear.
I hurried back to the entrance and peeked through a small window close to the door. She wasn't outside anymore. Her backpack was gone too. I was scared, but my comfort was that her disappearance was good for me. If anyone asked me, I would tell them she didn't come home from school. Mum and dad would surely believe me and they want her gone too, so that was settled.
I cheered myself up with that thought and I headed to the stairs again. My stomach rumbled. I was hungry so instead of going to my room, I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
After having noodles and fried egg for dinner, I watched tv for a while and then after making sure the doors were locked, I headed to my room to study and do my homeworks.
Midway into my homeworks, my phone blared. It was mum calling. A smile spread on my lips.
"Hello Mum"
"How are you girls, hope there is no problem?" She asked. That was weird. She never asked about Daniella whenever we were home alone. My heart trembled. I couldn't bring myself to tell her Daniella wasn't in the house and worst still, I didn't know where in the world she was. A beast could have eaten her up, I mean, the world was a dangerous place especially at night. Or maybe her soul had been sucked by an evil spirit like I had watched in a movie.
"We....we...we are.....fine, yeah, We're fine" I couldn't help but stutter.
She probably didn't notice my uneasiness or she decided to ignore it.
"Good, Liam is coming home tomorrow" Mum said.
"Really mom?" I jumped out of my bed suddenly. I was so excited. Liam was coming home? It was awesome news, enough for me to have a sweet dream tonight.
"Yes, take care of yourselves" Mom said and she hung up. She usually said "take care of yourself." What was the whole "yourselves" about? When did she start caring about Daniella? I shrugged off the thought and focused on the great news.
I hurried completed my homeworks and then laid down on my bed. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about Daniel and I didn't like the relationship he shared with Daniella. They were not friends obviously, but he ignored me for her? It was frustrating. Again, Aunt Grace was right. Daniella had to disappear.
DANIEL~
Daniella sat on the pavement at the entrance of Christabel's house. She looked like she was going to pass out the next minute. For some reason, Christabel was struggling with the doorknob.
"Need some help with that?" I asked and she rolled her eyes at me saying, "As if you can handle it."
I scoffed and replied, "you think I can't handle it? Whatever, hand it over. Someone's dying"
Daniella glared and me, but I didn't care. Wasn't she dying anyway? I mean, she looked like she was dying.
"I'm not dying. You're sounding like I have a terminal disease and I have just few minutes left to live" she managed to say. She sounded like she was annoyed, but she didn't have the strength to pick up a fight with me.
After waiting for eternity, Christabel unlocked the door.
"Hey goat, help her with her backpack" She ordered. I wasn't bound to, but for some reason, I didn't argue with her. I grabbed Daniella's backpack, which was sitting beside her on the pavement and Christabel helped her up.
"Will your parents be fine with having me over?" Daniella asked.
"Her parents are never around. I've not seen them once since they moved" I answered.
"Yeah, they're working. They hardly come home. Dad went on a business trip to the US and my mum is handling an important case at Rivers state"
"Wow, your mum is a legal practitioner? That's so nice. My parents go on business trips too, but not often" Daniella said.
"She's lonely, her parents doesn't have time for her. That's why she's always cranky and she's always picking on me" I added just to p**s Christabel off. Before I knew it, she punched my shoulder and I groaned. She was a pro.
"It's not nice to play with people's emotions" The serious expression on her face made me apologize immediately. I had crossed the line. I wasn't much different from her, maybe that was why I picked on her weakness, to make myself feel better. Christabel left for the living room without saying a word. I was left all alone with Daniella who was now dozing off on the couch.
As I fixed my gaze on her, I wondered why her sister did not let her into the house. That was cruel, wasn't it? But then, no family was perfect. Every family had thier own issues, but our families weren't handling it well.
Christabel's parents were always away for work, Daniella and her sister had something going on, and my parents? They were processing their divorce.
Christabel appreard from the corner, carrying a plate of steaming noodles. "Here, eat this" she said, stretching the plate of noodles to Daniella. It was quite dark so she didn't know Daniella had fallen asleep.
"She's asleep" I said.
"Oh. Wake her up and make sure she eats the noodles. I'd turn on the lights in the meantime" She dropped the plate of noodles on the table and took the stairs. Not long after, the lights came on.
I carefully tapped Daniella's arm and she blinked. "Food is ready" I whispered.
She groaned as she sat upright. I gave her the plate of noodles and told her to eat up. I had played my part, I didn't want Christabel's trouble.
My phone blared. It was mum. I excused myself to take the call, but I kept staring at my phone. I didn't pick the call. I was mad at mum. How could she say she wanted to divorce dad? That was heartbreaking enough for me, what did she want again? Make me feel awful? I was annoyed. I switched off my phone and headed back to the living room. Daniella should be done eating by now. I was shocked to see the plate of noodles lying on the center table, untouched. Daniella was asleep on the couch. She ought to eat and use her medicine like the nurse instructed.
"Hey wake up" I said, tapping her lightly.
She was already burning up. She opened her eyes slowly and stared at the noodles lying on the table weakly.
"Here, eat this" I said as I picked up the plate of noodles and stretched it close to her.
"I can't eat, I've got no appetite" She replied.
"You have to eat so that you can use your medicine," I pressed.
She didn't budge so I just held the plate firmly and scooped some noodles onto the fork.
"Open your mouth" I said. She hesitated before opening her mouth to take the noodles.
I had never done this before. I never had female friends and trust me, I never did this for my male friends. And she wasn't even a friend, or was she?
She was able to eat half of the plate of noodles and that wasn't too bad.
Just then, Christabel came downstairs. She had already changed out of her uniform.
"Has she taken her medicines?" She asked after sighting the left over noodles.
"Not yet. I had to feed her. She had no appetite"
"Where are the medicines?" She asked and Daniella pointed at her backpack. I opened it and brought out her medicines.
"Have it" I said, handing over a bottle of water to her. She stared at the medicines before swallowing them.
It was funny that she was scared to swallow medicines.
"Hey Mister, it's late. You should get going" Christabel frowned at me. She sounded upset a bit, just somehow, not really.
"You think I want to stay over? With two girls in the house?"
"Then get out already" She half yelled.
"I'm going, I'm going" I chuckled.
DANIELLA~
The sound of the c**k crow made me blink my eyes. Was it daybreak already? I couldn't even tell if it was the first c**k crow or not. I shifted a bit and my arm landed on someone. I stiffened. I didn't understand what someone else was doing on my bed.
I held my breath. Was it a ghost? I slowly turned my face to the other side to see who it was. Behold, it was Christabel. That was when I realized I wasn't even in my room. I should have known. The room was different even though it was quite similar to mine.
I breathed a sigh of relief. I was safe. I was in safe hands. My headache was gone and I was not feeling weak like yesterday. I yawned and stretched myself. I needed to get back home. Hopefully, Gabriella would let me in because, I had to prepare for school.
"Hey," I called tapping Christabel lightly.
"Hmm" she mumbled and opened her eyes.
"Sorry for disturbing you and thanks for everything, but I think I need to go now," I whispered. She mumbled something I couldn't make out before getting out of bed and leading me to the main entrance. She unlocked the door and I stepped outside.
"Bye" she waved sleepily and I smiled. I could call her my friend or maybe I should hold on a little bit.
I dialled Gabriella's number as I walked to our house. She didn't pick the phone. I was glad the street lights were still on.
When I got to the gate, I called Gabriella again. This time, she picked up and when I told her I was at the gate, she just hung up on me. For a minute, I thought she wouldn't come out so I was prepared to go back to Christabel's place, but then, I heard her unlocking the gate.
We didn't say anything to each other until we got inside.
"Liam is coming today" She said, before taking the stairs.
Liam was coming home. I was so excited. I dropped my backpack on my reading table, grabbed my towel and walked straight into the bathroom. I pulled off my uniform and tossed it into the laundry basket. I brushed my teeth, took my bath and dressed for school.
In a haste, I arranged my books into my backpack and headed downstairs. I had to get to school early to check up on the homework I had missed.
When I was done, I flung my bag across my shoulder and hastened my steps out of my room. I was making my way down the stairs when I heard Gabriella's voice.
"I hope you enjoyed your stay outside," Gabriella said and I turned to face her. She had that evil smirk on her face.
"None of your business," I snapped feeling p**sed. Was it something to celebrate or be happy about? She was a pro at trampling on my feelings.
"Wow, you have the guts to talk back because Mom and Dad are not around," she said and I hissed. Trust me, I hissed unconsciously.
She was angry and the next thing she did was push me off the stairs.