A/N : This chapter is divided into two halves. The first half is mostly a text convo between the siblings, and the other half is flashback. Few details about their past will be revealed, so don't skip that part. And since I'm posting the author's note in the beginning, that can mean only one thing... ;)
A cliffhanger!! :P
#sorrynotsorry
Anyway, you can now proceed.

Cecilia's PoV

. . .

Two days of my mini vacation had passed. It was Friday today, which meant that just a couple of days more. Mel and I had spent those days shopping and chilling at each other's house.

I hadn't seen Oliver since the day we had lunch together. He had to leave in the middle of lunch after he received a call that had surely triggered something in him. Since then, I haven't seen him at all. I didn't have his number, so I couldn't check up on him. 'Why do you care so much though?', my brain asked my heart. Not again, I mentally rolled my eyes.

I was interrupted in my chain of thoughts by the constant beeping of my phone. Whoever was texting me had clearly no chill.

I unlocked my phone, only to be rewarded with my brother's lame selfie that he had put as his display picture. A wide grin broke on my face.

*[ Bro | Me ]*

"Sis?? Where are you?? Reply. NOW."

I rolled my eyes. This was the latest text. I didn't bother scrolling up to see his other numerous texts in the span of just sixty seconds.

"Hi bro. What's up?"

"Whats up?! Do you have any idea how worried I have been these past three days?! No text, no call!! Where the hell were you? 😡"

"Bro...calm down...I'm sorry. It just slipped my mind. Plus, it's just been two days. You're over reacting ._."

"..."

"..."

"Sorry for going all out on you. I was just worried."

"Its okay bro. I understand. But don't worry so much. I'm fine :)"

"Good :)"

"How are you? I hope you're not over working..."

"Umm about that..."

"Bro! I told you to tell me immediately if that boss of yours makes you work even a small extra bit!"

"I didn't want to worry you. You have your own your workload and I didn't want to add to the burden. Plus, I can manage."

"Now you're using my logic, which just doesn't make sense..."

"Okay okay fine. Last time. Promise."

"Pinky promise?"

"Yes. Pinky promise :)"

"Thats like my bro :)"

"Wait. Why didn't you call? It's better than texting for sure."

"I'm out of balance on my phone. I need to recharge I guess."

"You guess? 😒"

"Hehe :P"

"Anyways. Time for some serious talk."

"Okay?"

"So, I have some good news and some bad news. What would you like to hear first?"

"Bad first..."

"Okay *sighs"

"He's out."

My phone nearly slipped from my hands. He's out? He's out.

"Sis? You there? Please answer. I'm worried for you...😟"

"I'm here...I'm just...trying to take that in..."

"I understand. I was shocked too. I couldn't believe it. It's too soon."

"It is...I was hoping he'd serve more years."

"I was hoping so too...are you okay though? I was worried the most about you after hearing this news."

"Yeah I'm okay...I'm just shook. Bro? He won't come after me again, right?"

"I can't give you fake promises sis. But I'll protect you at any cost. No matter what. Hence why..."

"Hence why?"

"Hence why I'm..."

"Bro!! -_- "

"Hehe okay okay. I'm moving in with you."

This was the second time my phone slipped out of my hands. Bro was moving in with me?! He was coming here! He's going to be near me! I couldn't wipe off that grin from my face. Now I was a little scared.

"Are you serious bro? You're moving in with me? :D"

"Haha. Yes sis. I can't leave you alone, now that he's back."

I started jumping around my room. I was so happy.

"I'm so happy bro!!! It'll be so much fun to be together again! When are you coming?"

"I can sense the excitement lol. I still have to finish my work here before I get transferred there. So most probably by the end of next week. :)"

"Cool. I'll rearrange some of the things here :P"

"Cool. But one thing. Don't tell this to anyone yet. Not even Mel. Atleast not until I come there. I don't trust anyone that's around you there."

"Okay. I won't."

"Good. Now, I'm stepping out for a bit. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"Okay. Take care. And please don't over stress about anything. I'm here for you. :)"

"I know. And I'll try. Bye sis. Take care. And text more often. Got it?"

"Aye aye captain. See ya soon! Love you ♡"

"See ya :)"

I rolled my eyes. He never said "love you too". But everyone knew how much he loved me. I was his only family now, just like he was mine, after 'that' happened.

I shook my head to clear those thoughts and decided to take a shower.

As I waited for the water to heat up, thoughts about that day started to float in my mind. Especially the one who was now out, free as a bird.

*Flashback*

It was late night. I was trying to sleep, but the noises from the living room seemed to get even louder every second. I tried listening to some music, but it was pointless. The noises were too loud. I wasn't allowed to step out of my room till they were here. I couldn't even go to my brother's room which was just across mine.
Helplessly, I closed my eyes and tried to tune out everything. But it was very hard.

Suddenly, I heard a gunshot. I let out a small scream and immediately ran to my bedroom door. Very quietly, I opened the door enough to allow me to see if the coast was clear. At the same time, I saw the doorto my brother's room open too and a worried looking bro stepped out, ninja style, and walked to the top of the staircase. I followed him, without making a sound. After the gunshot, the noises had stopped and there was silence all around, except for some hushed whispers.

Panic gripped me when I heard someone coming upstairs. Bro must have heard them too because he swiftly took my arm and led me to his room and locked us in the attached washroom.

Soon enough we heard the bedroom door open and footsteps come in. From the sound of them, it appeared that there were two people in the room.

I was shivering. We both were pale with fear. I snuggled closer to bro as he wrapped his arms around me securely. He then asked me to hide in the space beneath the cabinets and behind the bathtub. While he stood guard at the door. It was totally dark in the washroom. It was just a matter of time before the two people would break open the door.

Soon, we heard the footsteps fading away. We heard the door shut and lights being turned off. After a minute or two, bro quietly opened the washroom door, wide enough to first get the sight of our room. When he thought the coast was clear, he stepped out and motioned towards me to stay put in my place. I nodded quickly and slumped even further.

I was waiting for him to come back when I heard someone shouting. It appeared as if two people were fighting. I crossed my fingers and hoped it wasn't my brother.

Suddenly out of no where, the washroom door swung open and a burly man stood at the doorstep. He switched on the light and within seconds his gaze landed on me. I swiftly got up and made a run to the door. But unfortunately, he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me back harshly.

He then began dragging me towards the door. I was confused. Where was he taking me? I began to throw punches at him and tried to wriggle out of his death grip but it was in vain. That man was too strong.

I started screaming for help by the time we reachedthe staircase. Immediately I saw my brother run towards me before he was struck on his head. Within seconds, he was down on the floor, his head already bleeding.

"BRO!!!!", I screamed and tried really hard to let myself free. I bit the hand of my captor and rushed towards my brother, cradling his head on my lap.

"Bro, open you eyes!", I tapped on his cheeks, as I saw him drifting away, his breathing slow.

Panicking, I hugged him even tighter and continued to whisper to him to get him to respond. What I didn't realise what that the man who had hit my brother was behind me.

"So you're the lovely daughter of Jake."

Jake was my dad's name. Upon hearing his name, I stiffened.

"I didn't know that he had such brave children."

I looked at him, and for the first time did I get a chance to look at his face properly. He appeared to be of the same age as dad, the only difference being his scary expressions and a body language that screamed intimidating.

Mustering up courage, I asked. "What do you want from us?"

He smirked and glanced at my brother. Fear gripped me hard. What was he going to do to him...

"Well well well...", he wiped the blood off his mouth which I hadn't noticed earlier. "Your brother is a good fighter."

"He's trained in martial arts. So don't you dare go near him again", I shouted back at him, pulling my brother closer to me. At least his breathing was steady. He was unconscious though, which broke my heart. I needed to call an ambulance asap.

"Feisty. Just like your mother huh?", he smirked, moving closer to me.

Tears sprang up in my eyes at the mention of mom.

"Where are they? What have you done to them?"

He bent down, so as to come to face to face with me.

"Your dad. Is. Dead. Understood?"

It felt like someone had knocked the air out of me. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be true. And then I remembered the gunshot...

"WHERE IS HE?! WHERE IS DADDY?!", I sprang up and pushed him off. He stumbled back a few steps and glared at me.

He then pointed towards the centre table across the room. There he was. My dad, covered in blood, his lifeless body lying in a pool of blood. As I started towards it, someone grabbed me by my hair harshly and pulled me back. It was the same man who had brought me downstairs.

"Not so quickly girl. I need your help first."

"What help? Do you really think I'm going to help the murderer of my father?!", I screamed at his face, tears running down my face.

He smirked again before walking towards my unconscious brother. He then took out his gun and pointed it towards my brother's body.

"NO!!!! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM."

He looked at me, his smirk slowly disappearing.

"Then help me find the documents."

I had no idea what documents was he referring to.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know any documents."

Anger showed through his eyes as they darkened.

"Don't try to act smart. If you want your brother alive, then tell me. Quick."

"But I don't know!!! I'm not lyi-"

I was cut short by the sound of police sirens. I sent a quick prayer to God for sending help at the right time.

"Police's here. We need to run", he shouted at the man holding me.

"But boss, what about her?", the man tightened his grip on me.

He looked at me, and then signalled the man behind me to move aside.

"She can go live with her dad", he replied, before pointing his gun towards me.

At that very second, the police burst through the door. But in that moment, he fired the shot. I felt a sharp stinging pain on my shoulder.

And then everything went black.

*************************