Book takes a darker turn from this point on, hope you like it x

Dedicated to Rabbit fam, you know who you are, love you so much ❤️

Chapter 1: Heterochromia

If it had somehow been revealed to me that our actions would lead to the death of Gregory Baxter, I would have done it over, and over, and over again.

All I have to do now is explain the full story.

☆

The bastard went to visit the next day.

No, not that one, The other one. Yes, Mr. Baxter. I'm still unable to say his name without cringing. I was silently unpacking my clothes into my new drawers when his venomous voice came travelling up the stairs.

"Oh, you're too funny, Mrs Anthony!" He exclaimed, my mother's laughter echoing through the stairwell. "Or should I call you by your maiden name, Ms. Bennet?"

"Oh, please, don't Mr. Baxter! Just call me Eleanor" She said, no doubt flashing her biggest business smile. "Ms. Bennet is for my taxes" she continued.

"And you can call me Gregory of course, And I do hope we maintain friendship outside of work?"

That couldn't just be it. He wanted something. He'd never been interested in a mere friendship, let alone outside of work. He's too cunning for that, too ingenious. He wanted something, But what was it?

"Of course! You did just give me the deal of a lifetime, who am I to deny that?" She said with a giggle.

Oh no, are they flirting? I thought, pausing with my arm on the flap of a box. Something's definitely up.

My Mother's giggle sounded again before I decided to finally intervene.

"So, Mom." I started, still facing opposite of where her voice was drifting from. "Are you gonna help me unpack or what?"

A fumble sounded at the stairway and I sighed, turning on my toes and facing the door.

"Yes baby, just, go take your vitamins for today. I've already put it inside of your medicine cabinet."

"I know mom, I've taken it." I said back, remembering the miniature pill bottle completely stripped of it's labeling, the small code 'alza-36' engraved into the bland, white pills.

"Oh. Well, I'd help you, but our main priority right now is to unpack the living and dining rooms. We're going to be inviting the neighbors today."

"Neighbors?"

"Yeah, the Thomson's. I have a feeling that you'd like them. They have a lot in common with our family."

"Well, let's hope that I do." I said with a sigh, pulling the last cardboard box I'd need towards me. My name was scrawled out in Ezra's messy handwriting. He'd been forced to label every package leaving the house.

"Ah, yes, the Thomson's. Nice people, really." Baxter said, his voice an annoyance to me. He stepped up the stairs quietly and stood next to my mother at my door, straightening his tie. "Although they do have a rather, stained, history." He continued, earning a curious stare from my mother.

"And what do you mean by that?" My mom asked, turning toward him.

"Oh, nothing. It's just a minor thing." A frequent beeping sounded from his pocket, causing Baxter to sigh and turn on his heels hurriedly. "I've got to go. I'll be checking up on you guys later this week. Get comfortable, you'll be staying here a while I hear." He said as his voice faded away and his steps became more distant.

"Well. Come on Elizabeth. They'll be here any minute."

»»»

"Is he always that rude?" I asked the dark haired girl, nervously twirling my hair around my finger. Her only response was the slow nod of a head, and I got the feeling that she didn't talk much.

The 'gathering' was pretty peaceful in the beginning. A beautiful Hispanic family of 5 walked through our door, all stunning in their own ways. A mother, a young child, two girls who looked to be around 14 (and were the very definition of twins), and a guy who looked like he'd rather be stuffing a sock down his throat than stepping foot inside of our house. After setting their plates of food down, The woman set up small talk with my mother, and the two girls took a liking to Ezra. The slightly scary guy however just sat on the couch, entrapped in his phone. I did attempt to talk to him, but after long moments of silence and a few comments hinting at me to leave him alone, I decided to depart. It wasn't long before he, and one of the twins, went upstairs to use the bathroom. I thought nothing of it, seeing as we had four bathrooms. One in each of our rooms, and a spare located at the end of the second floor hallway.

"Well," I started awkwardly, sliding my flats against the wooden floor. "What's your name?"

There was a brief pause before she said anything, and it looked as if she was contemplating whether or not to tell me.

"I guess I'll have to tell you. But just don't tell Alex that I told you. We're not supposed to." She stammered, following my motions and kicking her sandles back and forth.

So his name was Alex.

"I mean, My brother. Oh my gosh I shouldn't have even talked. Now they're going to be mad at me. Just kill me now. If Karmin doesn't first. Just, forget that I even opened my mouth." She finished, or so I thought. I don't think that she noticed that she just spilt the names of 2 of her siblings.

"Its not that I hate you or anything, I just can't talk to you. We had an agreement. My name is Madison by the way. You can call me Maddy. I really shouldn't be talking to you. But you just look so pretty and you seem so nice, why would I ignore you?"

"Uh, ok?" I laughed, lifting one of my legs onto the couch in an attempt to turn towards her. I didn't have to do much talking to get information from her.

"I hope I didn't just make it awkward. I actually like you, but my job is to sit here silently and keep you busy. That way you won't go upstairs." She said with a proud expression, instantly covering her mouth with her hand.

"Please ignore that last part" She said, her voice slightly muffled through her palm.

I stood up in a hurry, gesturing at her to stay.

"Stay here, and don't tell them that I was up there when I get back." I said, realizing how redundant my request was, as she'd probably tell them anyways. I stood up quickly, my pink skirt flailing as I jogged towards the stairs.

"Mom, I'm going to the bathroom" I said, loud enough for only her to hear.

"Wow," She replied, directing her attention from Ms. Thomson to me. "You guys are using the bathroom a lot. Is it something in the food?" She asked, picking up and examining the platter of chips and dip that was left out for us to take.

"Coincidence?" I quipped, already tip toeing up the stairs.

☆

Several steps and many turns later, I finally found the source of the laughter I'd been hearing ever since I hit the second floor. Both Alex and Karmin were whispering, and the sound became louder and louder as I neared my bedroom door. I could only get fragments of their speech over the air conditioner.

"... yeah and... poster"
Laughter.

"I mean... is... if you're seven"
More laughter.

It seemed as though the joke caused Alex to bump into something, because I heard what could only be pills crash against each other.

My heart was beating so loudly that I could feel it forcing itself up my throat and into my eardrums. Ignoring this feeling, I inched closer to their voices. I put my hair up so that I could hear and see clearly through the crack in the door.

"Hey, Karmin." He joked, bending down to pick up the half empty pill bottle, twisting the child proof cap open. "Looks like we have a drug addict" He pulled one pill out, gently holding it between his thumb and index finger.

"Alza-36..." Karmin started, examining the pill as he held it up against the light. "That sounds really familiar-" she said, looking back and forth between the vitamin and bottle.

"We'll figure it out later." He interrupted, putting the pill back in and popping it onto my shelf. "Make sure you remember what was on there. For now we have a lot to look for. Remember what I told you-"

"Yeah yeah, a persons room is the window to their soul" she interrupted, sounding bored with this seemingly repeated expression.

"Yes. Listen to that and we'll be alright in this stupid town." They continued to rifle through my things, myself not having enough guts to interrupt them.

☆

Their session finally came to a close, my ego bruised and battered with every diss they came up with, whether it be aimed at my organized calendar, or my artwork which she said, and I quote, "It's like she couldn't decide whether she got her inspiration from art made by a five year old hopped up on candy or a veteran who got his arms blasted off in Combat."

It hurt, it really did. Despite that I got up and slowly made my way back down stairs, a sullen expression on my face. Of course nobody noticed, as my Mother and Ms. Thomson were busy talking about whatever it was two women who had their separation in common would talk about.

Maddy looked away from the show she was watching and stared up at me with wide brown eyes, instantly grabbing the remote, ready to turn it off. My expression told her otherwise, and she silently agreed, trying and failing to look normal. I sat down and waited patiently.

Footsteps could be heard running downstairs as the siblings, no doubt trying not to be noticed, walked in within 10 minutes of each other. First Karmin, then Alex.

"So, whatcha watching?" Karmin asked Maddy, an expectant look on her face

"Um- I think-" she stammered, barely getting the words out.

"Supernatural." I answered patiently, hoping and praying they wouldn't ask what the episode was about.

"What's it about?" She asked after examining Maddy's face for another 10 seconds. It seemed like she was taunting me, her eyes darting back and forth between Maddy's eyes full of secrets and mine, sensing that something was wrong. I'd have to leave it up to her, she was the only one watching from the beginning.

"It's about um, these two brothers, they-"

"Do they betray each other?" Karmin's words cut like a knife into Maddy's soft exterior, as she grabbed her own collar in an attempt to disguise her discomfort.

"No, they're really close,"

"They're wanted right? Does one ever snitch on the other?"

"I actually only just started I don't kno-"

"If one did snitch they would tell the other right?" Karmin said, eyes boring into Maddy's wavering ones. It was as if the questions were meant to attack her, but to any oblivious person it would seem like she was just really interested in the show. Maddy wouldn't last 5 seconds.

"Well-" she started, her eyes watering due to the pressure. Before Maddy could finish her sentence her mother called out from the kitchen, telling her children to gather their things. She stood up quickly, slinging her purse strap over her head with a nervous chuckle. "Whew would you look at the time, I was so sucked into the show I didn't know it got so late. I'll get the baby bag" she volunteered, heading straight for the hallway.

For the first time since they'd been here, I looked over at the small child. She'd stopped playing with her toys and started to take an interest in me, tossing her hands up and down to get my attention. Once I noticed her she stopped and stared, silently signaling me over.

"Hey there." I said, crouching down and moving closer to the baby. She instantly smiled and bobbed her head to the side, almost toppling over. I couldn't help but notice her distinct features, such a stark difference compared to her mother and siblings. While they all had straight dark brown hair and doughy brown eyes, she had curly almost black hair, and the most uniquely beautiful eyes I had ever seen. Although her right eye was the same dazzling chocolate color as her siblings, Her right eye was the blazing color of sapphire, and she had the same soul searching stare as Karmin did. It must run in the family.
—-

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~Ariah