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Morning came quickly. Rain stepped out the bathroom, steam curling faintly behind her. A soft tune slipped from her mouth, as she dried her tight curly hair with a hair dryer.
Her movements had a strange energy to them. It was loose, brighter than usual, as though nothing had happened.
She swayed slightly, side to side as she walked. Humming under her breath the music in her head, while she reached for the toothbrush.
She turned on the tap. But, nothing came out.
Rain stopped moving. She frowned, tilting her head to the side. She twisted it again, yet still nothing.
"Huh!" She groaned, staring at it for a second.
Finally, she shrugged, foam already gathering in her mouth. "must be the pressure again." She muttered around the toothbrush.
Still humming, she stepped out into the hallway. Her body moving to the rhythm In her head.
As she passed by the small drawer by her door, something caught her eye.
The vase. Rain slowed.
The flowers inside had wilted completely. Its petals curled inwards, dry and brittle. The colour completely drained.
Rain's brows furrowed. She brushed her fingers against the rim of the vase. "Didn't mom just get this?..." she muttered quietly.
Three days ago. Or was it four?
She stared at it for a moment. Then shook her head, dismissing the thought and moving on.
"Lily?" She called. Her voice, muffled slightly by the toothpaste.
No response.
Rain walked a few steps down the hallway, then nudged her sister's door open with her elbow. It was empty.
The bed was unmade. Sheet twisted slightly, but she wasn't there.
Rain's gaze narrowed. She looked around her room for a bit then crossed the hallway into the bathroom next door. She turned on the tap, and water rushed out Immediately.
"Thank God." She leaned in, rinsing her mouth quickly and spitting out the water into the sink.
She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, then...
"Lily?" She called again, louder this time.
Yet, still no answer.
A small crease formed between her brows as she stepped into the hallway, her gaze moving down the stairs. "Lily!"
Her voice echoed faintly through the house, but silence still greeted her. She exhaled, then began walking. Halfway down, she slowed. Something felt…off. A faint breeze brushed past her arm.
Cold.
Her eyes shifted towards the kitchen, the back door stood slightly open.
Rain's body stiffened. A moment passed as her mind circled the thought in panic
"...I locked that."
She was sure she did. Her grip tightened slightly against the railing "Lily?" She called again, quieter now.
Nobody responded. She stepped off the last stair, and walked closer to the kitchen. Her footsteps softer, more controlled.
Her eyes remained on the door, as she entered the kitchen but something else caught her attention.
The fridge door was wide open. The light from it, spilled across the room, and someone was moving inside it. Rain swallowed, she looked around before drawing closer.
"...Lily?" Her voice lower than before. She took a step, then another.
Then stopped a few inches away from the fridge. She leaned carefully, just enough to see.
"LILY!..."
Her voice echoed across the room, her hand flew to her mouth in disbelief. Lily stood in front of the open fridge, her pink sweater smeared with dirt, and streaks of something darker along the arms.
Food covered her fingers. Cream, crumbs, milk, and something green and sticky. And she was shoving everything fast. Too fast, into her mouth without a break to breath or chew.
She didn't stop. Didn't even look up, despite her name been mentioned.
"Lily, stop. What are you doing?" Rain stepped forward quickly, grabbing her by her wrist. Lily reacted too sudden, a sharp jerk sending Rain stumbling back.
She lost her balance, as her back hit the edge of the counter. The pain shot up her spine, and she dropped to the ground instantly.
For a second, she just sat there, stunned.
Lily didn't turn, didn't apologise. She just kept eating.
Rain stared at her, her mouth wide open.
"What the hell…" her voice came out thin.
Slowly she pushed her self up, her pulse immediately picking up. "I am calling mom!"
The words spilling out with force.
She rushed out of the kitchen, heading straight to the dining room. Her fingers curled tightly as she grabbed the house phone, punching in the number.
The line rang once, twice. Then nothing.
Only static sounds crackled faintly before the call dropped. Rain frowned. She pulled the phone back to look at it and dial in the number again.
Suddenly she turned, her pulse spiked up.
Lily stood right beside her. Too close.
Rain gasped, jumping back, her heart slamming hard against her chest. "Jesus Christ…Lily!"
Lily just stared at her. Her face was still smeared with food, her hands still dirty.
She just stood there staring.
"I am sorry, Rain." Her voice was quiet, small. "I was just…" she said, "really hungry."
Rain held her gaze, her mind blank.
Nothing in that moment felt right, but nothing made sense either.
"....okay." The words left her mouth with a nod, uncertainty evident in her tone. Lily's gaze lingered on her for another second.
"Please, don't tell mom."
The phone slipped back into place with a soft click, Rain swallowed "...go clean up," she said quietly. "You are a mess, and we don't want to be late for school."
Lily shook her head, and just like that, she turned and walked towards the stairs. Like nothing had happened.
Rain stood there, her mind trying to process everything going on. "It's okay Rain." She tried to assure herself, "everything is alright."
Finally she exhaled, then turned back to the kitchen. The mess hit her all at once.
Food scattered all over the counter, open containers and smears across the floor.
"What is going ?" She muttered under her breath.
She picked up a broom by the side and the trash can, about to start cleaning. Then stopped. Her gaze lifted to the door, lingering on it longer than necessary, she stepped forward and pushed it shut. The door closed with a soft click.
She stood there and after a while, turned around to clean up.