Thud!
Argi observed through the window, with a nervous expression. Sweat raced down his face, and he felt hot. Like he was in a sauna dialing up.
He had already barricaded the front door with anything he found heavy and was restricting: sofas, tables, chairs.
The whole house felt empty. The furniture was moved. Since he was born, everything was arranged in the same way. Also the people were gone—his parents. But he still had his sister with him, Asle.
Argi's parents had left a week ago. They weren't coming back. Argi didn't know where they went, but he wished he knew.
Who wouldn't?
The figures moved again in the front yard. Under the moonlight, one knocked and left in the darkness.
Each knock varied; some were noticeably weaker, others stronger. But the knocks started to sound the same. like a policeman with a warrant and a stern face.
The intervals between knocks seemed to shorten.
They learned.
*I must leave tonight. The fog is too close. I hope Erie is still there.
The harbor is too far away. They depart in a week.
But they are there.*
Argi left the window in the living room and entered the hallway.
Bang!
The house shook, a picture fell behind him.
Crack.
He glanced back.
Glass shattered across the floor.
This was one of his family pictures that his mother liked. But that was the past.
Argi entered Asle's room.
He flipped the light switch. Light shone through the ceiling. He saw Asle tightly wrapped in her blankets. She covered her eyes and ears. She didn't notice him.
She was scared.
He walked over to her. Stepped over the wreckage of last night's fight.
Broken chair legs littered the room. Argi had a headache after getting hit by one.
He placed a hand over her shoulder. Feeling the warm blanket.
She flinched, then slowly turned. Her eyes were red, dry. She had cried since that fight. He knew their parents wouldn't return. But she kept her hope.
Argi's expression softened. "It's time to go."
Asle stared at him, almost shed a tear.
She stood up from her bed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He held her, not letting go. She was still scared. Still shaking.
Bang!
Asle flinched in Argi's arms.
"It's okay, Asle." He held her for one more breath. "Get ready. We'll be going to that abandoned cabin you hide in."
Asle used to ditch school in that cabin. Once, her parents called the police when she didn't come home. The police found her in a cabin deep in the forest. Asle was grounded for weeks after.
He let go and stepped into the hallway.
Bang!
Argi stood still in the hallway. Thinking.
*The front door isn't an option. The back door is obvious.
Windows, then. The only way. I'll need a distraction.
Waiting? For what? Stupid idea.
But which window? The left side or right?
The left side faces the fog. Longer route. But can be seen in the living room's window.
The right is closer to the cabin. Riskier. Open ground. Hidden from other windows.
Either way I'm going out first.
So the right side is.*
Argi left the hallway and entered the kitchen. He grabbed the backpacks he prepared last night. His parents couldn't take care of them anymore.
He opened his bag, double checked each pocket. He slipped his snacks into Asle's bag. She liked eating more than him.
Foodie.
"Everything looks about right."
He walked back to Asle, stepped over the picture.
He entered her room and saw Asle sitting.
She hadn't moved from her spot, gazing down.
Her voice was quiet but loud. "Argi—would you ever leave me? If I wasn't… here. What would you do?"
Argi stood there silently. Thinking of a world without her, but that felt unfathomable—a thing you could only experience. Like losing your parents tomorrow.
…
He dropped both bags.
He knelt. Took her hand. Felt the warmth.
Said nothing.
Then he spoke, "I'll never leave your side or let anything happen to you, Asle. You know that."
"You won't, Argi. You don't know anything."
…
Asle looked at Argi like he was a stranger. No warmth.
"You're not a saint, Argi."
Argi sighed, stood up, and left the room.
—-
Asle flopped onto her bed. Her vision blurred. She stared at the ceiling like it was an interesting thing in the world.
Teardrops ran down her face.
Bang!
The door shuddered again.
She didn't move. She was already used to it.