I walk over to my bed, and sit on the edge. Zhen moves and places his head on my lap. A tear trickles down my cheek, and I try to hold in the hurt and sorrow. I can’t believe she hung up on me.
Wiping away my tears, I stand and head into the bathroom. Turning on the light, I look at my reflection. I’ve got dark circles beneath my eyes, and my skin looks blotchy. I turn on the faucet, and splash water on my face.
“Okay, stay awake until she gets home, then talk to her,” I say to the girl with sad eyes in the reflection. Turning off the light, I head back to bed, and lay down. I like falling asleep to meditations, but I don’t put one on, because I want to stay awake for when Tina comes home.
I drop my arm, and feel for Zhen. He’s right there, almost like he knows I need him.
“It’s time.”
“Time for what?” I ask.
He slumps his shoulders and looks down at the floor. “We can’t keep doing this. You know what has to happen. Here.” He holds the stupid, ugly rabbit by its ears and thrusts it out to me. “Take it.”
My throat tightens, as panic claws its way through my veins. “No, I’m not doing this,” I say, as if I know what this all means.
The boy-man steps closer. “This is why you’re here. It’s your role, your job. We all have to protect her. It’s the only reason why we’re here. All of us,” he says through a clenched jaw.
“I’m not doing this anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Neve, but you have to.”
“Molly, don’t take the rabbit,” Dylan appears beside my bed.
“She has to. If she doesn’t, we can’t protect her.”
“Who are you protecting?” I ask looking between Dylan and the boy in the white t-shirt. “Who are you? Why are you here?”
The boy steps forward as he moves closer to my bed, ignoring Dylan. “You know who I am, and you know why I’m here. Take the rabbit, please.” He holds it out again. He looks defeated.
“No, don’t,” Dylan begs.
I reach for the rabbit, my fingers only an inch away.
“What the hell is your problem, Molly?” Tina’s angry voice startles me awake. “Do you know how embarrassing it is to have your sister check up on you?”
“You’re home,” I say still trying to wake up and decipher the dream I had. That rabbit was back, and I think Dylan was here, too. Wait, was he?
“I told you I was coming home. I can’t believe you and what you did. Do you know what Preston said? He said you must be bored and you have nothing better to do than to meddle in my business.” Her footsteps are heavy as she walks out of my room. Tina slams the door to her room, making me startle. I hope she didn’t wake Mom and Dad.
I tiptoe out of my room, and look in the direction of our parent’s room. I wait a few moments, expecting them to come out. But they don’t. I head to Tina’s room, and knock on the door. “Tina.”
“No, go away. I’m pissed off at you so bad. I can’t even look at you.”
“Tina, let me in!” I try the door handle, but she’s locked it from the inside. “Tina,” I call again in a low voice, loud enough for her to hear, but not loud enough to wake Mom and Dad.
“Go away.”
“Fine, I’m going to wake Mom and Dad. Maybe they can get you to open your door.” I turn to find Zhen sitting outside my door. I take two steps, and hear the door opening.
“I’m already angry at you. Do you want to make it worse?” she snaps.
“No, I don’t. But I want to talk to you.”
She crosses her arms in front of her chest, but steps aside. Phew, at least she’s allowing me into her room. I head in, Zhen’s right behind me. “Go back to bed, boy.” Zhen turns, and walks into my room. “Can I sit?” I ask.
“Knock yourself out.” Tina’s still standing by her door, looking down at her fingernails. “What was so important that you had to keep calling like that?”
“I wanted to talk to you about Preston.”
“Ugh.” Tina rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “He was right,” she mumbles.
“Right? About what?”
“That you’re bored, and have nothing better to do.”
“That’s not true. He gives me a bad feeling, Tina. The way he talks and acts, he’s really… I don’t know how to describe him. It’s like he’s possessive, or trying to control you.’
“I’m not an idiot, Molly. I can judge people for myself.’
“You asked me to let you know what I thought. And I’m not saying you’re an idiot. I just want you to be careful, okay.”
“There’s the patronizing bullshit you always get away with. You’ve got this sweet and innocent thing down pat, don’t you? I’m having fun, Molly, and I suggest you do the same thing.”
“Tina, I’m worried. Preston creeps me out. The way he talks, how he interacted with me today, it’s not right.”
“Oh, and Dylan is the perfect guy, right? He was patronizing Preston. Did you hear how he was talking to him? And what’s with the best chicken he’s ever eaten? It wasn’t that good; even Preston said he’s eaten better.”
“Huh,” I say as I stand. “Well, it appears you and Preston now share the same opinions. Careful, Tina. Next thing you know, he’ll be telling you that I can’t love you like a real sister and only he understands you. Classic move from a predator. Isolation, then control.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. Now, get out.” She points out the door.
I stop in front of her as I leave her room. “This is exactly what he wants, for us to fight and drift apart. But is it what you want?” I don’t give her a chance to respond. I leave before she can say a word.
Walking into my room, I find Zhen asleep on my bed. He’s on his back, his legs up in the air. “Zhen,” I say as I try to slide into bed. He moves over, making room for me.
I lay in bed awake, going over everything that just happened.
I need to get sleep. I’m tired, but I don’t think I can. The nightmare and Tina’s anger have left me shaken. Preston isn’t a good guy. I know it. I’ve read plenty of books, watched enough real-life documentaries to know how a predator works. Isolation, manipulation, then total control. Images of Preston’s judgmental face when Tina reached for more food flashes through my mind. I can’t shake the bad feeling I have. I have to try and talk her out of pursuing any kind of serious relationship with him.
My eyelids become heavy, and before I know it, Preston is the last thing on my mind.
My hands tremble as I reach for the buzzer on the outside of the building. I hope Dylan doesn’t expect anything from me tonight. My nerves are dancing. In my head, I suspect that something has to happen, regardless of the fact Dylan keeps telling he’ll take it slow. I believe him, I do. But I’m also conflicted as to how slow I’m going to be for him.
I press the buzzer and wait.
“You’re right on time. I’ll meet you down stairs.”
“Okay,” I reply through the intercom. The door buzzes, and I walk into the foyer. Ahead of me are two elevators side-by-side. On the left wall is a door that has a sign which reads ‘stairs,’ there’s also a hallway that runs the length of the building with two apartments. To the right, there’s another hallway, again with two apartments.