Deadly Silence (complete) Chapter 88

“You’re home early,” Gabriel noted as Vivian walked through the front door.

Surprised to see him in the foyer, she paused mid step as she gave him a small nod.

“Did you have fun?”

Why did he have to be interested in how her day had gone? Couldn’t he just let her disappear into her room and pretend she didn’t exist? “Yeah,” she muttered, forcing her body to keep moving.

Vivian didn’t allow herself to look back at her middle brother, taking the steps two at a time as she hustled to her room before more words could be exchanged. Talking was not something she was in the mood to do at the moment.

The first thing she did after stepping in her room was to set the plush on her bed before moving to her desk. On it sat her school bag, which she grabbed and proceeded to empty on the floor.

Text and notebooks, pens and miscellaneous things scattered at her feet. Dropping the school bag back on the desk, Vivian found the unmarked envelope she’d forgotten about.

“Did you get my note?” Paul had asked and she hadn’t a clue what he’d been going on about.

“I had it delivered to your locker. Don’t tell me you lost it.”

There’d been annoyance in his voice when he realized she’d found it only to promptly forgot it existed. He’d expected better of her and told her as much.

With shaking fingers, she tore open the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper, folded three times.

How he’d gotten to her locker, how he’d known which one was hers… none of that felt relevant as Vivian unfolded the paper and stared at what was printed on its surface.

It was a photo of her mother. Bright smile, brilliant blue eyes, light dusting of freckles highlighting her pale skin… And someone had pierced the paper with something, like a pen, between her eyes.

Vivian stared at the paper, unable to move, unable to even breathe as her mind reeled.

A knock at her door brought her back to reality and she panicked, not wanting anyone to see what she was holding.

Everything that’d been scattered on the floor was hastily gathered in an awkward pile which she almost threw on the desk. She slipped the paper in one of the textbooks before turning to face the door. “Yes?” She called out, her voice sounding strained even to her ears.

The door opened and Gabriel stepped in. His eyes scanned the room before settling on Vivian, whom he gave a smile. “How was the park? Did you have fun with your friend?”

Vivian shifted where she stood, not wanting to have this conversation at the moment. As she debated how to answer, Gabriel moved further in her room, taking a seat on her bed as he picked up the pink elephant.

“This is cute. Did you win this?”

“Theo did,” she finally managed to say, not moving from where she stood. Maybe he’d get the hint and leave.

“Right! Tyrell said the kid seemed nice enough.”

“What do you want?” She asked, earning her a frown from Gabriel.

“I can’t ask about your day? We haven’t had a chance to hang out or talk much lately. Figured since we were both around I’d take advantage of it.”

He wanted to play big brother and she wasn’t interested. It hurt to think about pushing Gabriel away — he’d only ever been kind — but there was too much going on for her to be able to focus on playing little sister.

Paul had made his point; no one was safe and she wouldn’t put any of her family in danger if it could be helped. They didn’t deserve anything like this to happen.

“There’s not much to say,” she told him after a second. “We went on rides. Played some games.”

Gabriel’s frown only deepened. “Is something wrong, Vivian? You’re not usually … like this.”

It was her turn to frown at him this time. This was how she’d always been; at least how she’d been before finding her biological family. Sharing things was about trust, about wanting to connect and she’d never wanted either of those things before. Had he already forgotten who she’d been when they’d first met?

Had she changed so much in so short a time?

There was no way she could answer his questions without lying. Vivian took a deep breath and did something she never thought she’d do.

She lied.

“I’m fine, Gabriel.”

For the first time since she was just a child she lied. It felt wrong, dirty, but what choice did she have? If she said she wasn’t fine he’d ask questions, extend the conversation. All she wanted to do was end it as soon as possible.

It didn’t look like he believed her, but decided to let it go. “Alright. Why don’t we go somewhere for dinner together? My treat, of course. We can catch up on anything I’ve missed.”

“I’ll pass,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I’m burnt out from today already.”

“I see… how about tomorrow?” He offered.

“Probably not. Homework,” she added when he looked ready to ask why. “We’ll see each other Monday, like usual.” It was her way of dismissing him, but Gabriel either missed it or ignored it; she was betting on the latter.

“You only live once,” he said. “Homework not being done once isn’t the end of the world.”

Weren’t older brothers supposed to get on their younger sibling’s case to do their homework, study, follow the rules…? “I’d rather not fall behind,” she explained with a shrug. “It’s harder than public school.”

Gabriel nodded slowly. “Ah. I see. Well, I guess I’ll leave you to it…” He didn’t look happy to leave, but Vivian wasn’t about to say anything to sooth his ego.

It was better this way.

When he was gone and the door was once again closed, she let out a small sigh of relief. For the next … No. From now on she had to keep everyone at arm’s length. Her brothers, her father… her friends. Vivian had to sever the connections that’d formed between them regardless of how painful.