I came very close to pulling the alarm clock out of the wall. Six thirty on a Saturday morning was an inhuman time to wake. After the night I had, all I wanted to do was to sleep, but I couldn't do that. Again, for my mother's and I's sake, I had to act normal.

     About once-a-month mom had a meeting with the church committee. Naturally I was entrusted of the care of the other four. These days really weren't much different than what I did daily. With my dad long gone, mom relied on me to help with my younger siblings.

     She seemed surprised to find me in the kitchen, chocolate pancakes already started.

     "You're up," she stated the obvious.

     "I can't make my pancakes if I'm sleeping. And no one wants to face the kids on a pancake-less Saturday."

      Mom smiled. It was a small one, but it counted. It was the first smile she'd thrown my way in three days.

      She was getting a ride with Rachel, so that I meant I got the van. I grinned. It was nice to take the kids to the park. It gave me a break, and after running around for hours, it tuckered them out. They were much less trouble when they were sleeping. I had even taken them to the dog park last month. Tyler and Tyson chased the dogs, and Bella had a blast chasing the two, convincing the idiots to do even stupider things. Isaiah, though, was a little embarrassed that our siblings seemed to be part canine. Maybe, the regular human park was a better idea.

     "Are you sure you're feeling well enough..." mom started for about the hundredth time.

     "Mom, I feel great. We'll be fine," I insisted, ushering her out of the door.

     "You don't look too good."

     "Thanks mom," I retorted wryly. I was very much aware that I looked like shit, I didn't need to be reminded of the dark circles under my eyes.

      "The kids generally like me, so if I look tired, they'll take it easy on me."

      She laughed, but she still looked unsure. I practically had to push her out the door.

      I only woke the others when I finished my own breakfast. I had learned to eat before they got the change to lick the table clean. When Isaiah woke up on his own, I figured it was a good time to wake Bella and the twins.

      Bella barely said a word, she smelled the pancakes, and bolted downstairs; always the cooperative one.

     I trudged wearily towards the twins' room. I heard the shuffling from afar and groaned. Who knew how long they'd been awake, doing God knows what. Anything was possible with those two. I opened their door ignoring its many warning sighs. Keep out. Danger ahead! Toxic gas. I should have paid attention to that last one. As soon as the door opened, I was hit with an awful smell.

      "What are you guys doing in here?" I demanded, covering my nose with the sleeve of my green sweater.

      "Gupakie," Tyler said, displaying his slime filled hands.

      "Gupakie?" I repeated. "What is Gupakie?"

      They both shrugged, excited eyes focused on their creation.

      "We made it." Tyson looked up at me with his chest held high.

      "Why?"

      "We're going to put it in Wendy's sandbox," Tyler explained with an evil smirk.

      "Why?"

       What had the poor girl done to deserve this? Wasn't being in the twins' class enough punishment?

      "Tyler likes her," Tyson giggled.    

     "Do not!" his brother argued. "She's annoying and gross."

      I gave him a disbelieving look, just to further rile him up. I'd have thought annoying and gross was his type.

      "She really is!" he tried to convince me, visibly frustrated. I thought I saw the faintest blush on his cheeks. "She's good at everything... And she always makes the best sandcastles!"

     "I'd like to see her try now," he added, muttering to the Gupakie.

     "Ahh," I feigned comprehension. "And I bet she's the prettiest girl in your class!" I copied his infuriated tone.

     "She is!" he agreed, as though it was a bad thing.

      I smiled. He really did like her. "Aww... your first crush."

      "I don't like her!"

     "Tyler just a little suggestion; if you really do like this girl, do not put the Gupakie in her box. It's really not the way to her heart... How about you try being nice?"

      "But Dee put a moldy sandwich in your favourite shoes."

     "D?" I laughed; eyebrows cocked ridiculously.

     I very well knew he was referring to Andrews, but I certainly wanted to learn more of this nickname. There had only been one time that I found a moldy sandwich in my shoes. That was the beginning of our friendship: pathetically trying to get the other to lose the big kindergarten race and keep the glory to ourselves. Andrews went as far as to ruin my favourite running shoes with a moldy sandwich. Neither of us ended up winning. We became friends as we grieved our loss and began the I hate Sally Cooper club. Sally was the Wendy of our class, little miss perfect.

      "We wanted to call him Andy, but he preferred D," Tyler explained.

     The fact that it was Andrews' suggestion made it that much funnier.

     "Interesting how you guys gave his nickname's nickname a nickname" I said, resulting in two very confused six-year-old boys. "Anyways... That little stunt D pulled did not win my heart. I still complain about it."

     "Then how did he make you want to be his girlfriend?" Tyson asked.

     "He didn't..." Girlfriend? Me and Andrews weren't like that.

     "So, he forced you to be?" he asked horrified.

     Forced to be Andrews' girlfriend? I starred at the two blankly. "Andrews and I are just friends," I explained slowly, emphasizing the word friend.

      The twins were shocked, identical mouths wide open.

     "But..." Tyler tried to argue, unable to find anything to say.

      There was absolutely nothing romantic about mine and Andrews' friendship, of course he had no argument.

     "Just go eat your pancakes," I saved them from bigger headaches.

     Upon mention of pancakes, they jumped up and ran to the stairs.

     "Hey!" I shouted. "Tyler, go wash your hands."

     "But—"

     "No buts. Do you really want to know what Gupakie tastes like?"

     He stared at me intently, waiting for me to give in. He should have known better. After two long minutes, he stomped his way to bathroom, with a pout on his face. Tyson laughed, before continuing his walk downstairs.

     "You too, Tyson."

     "What?" He demanded. "But I didn't touch it."

    I cocked a brow. Grumbling, he followed his brother, stomping just as loudly. You'd think I was a horrible person for making them wash.

      Half the pancake stack was already gone by the time I came back, hence why I ate first. Isaiah looked up from his plate with eyebrows raised, as if to ask, "What did they do this time?"

    "Gupakie," I explained.

     Isaiah and Bella frowned, clearly my answer just created more questions, but they didn't really seem to care.

     After an hour of wrestling with the kids (mostly the twins), we were finally ready to leave. I got bit during the process, but after a minute of deep breathing I managed not to start a fight with a six-year-old. Here I am doing a good deed, taking my siblings to the park, washing my younger brother's chocolate covered face, and I'm repaid by almost losing a finger.

    I sat at one of the picnic tables, as the others terrorized the playground.

    It was nice to finally to relax, that is as relaxed as you could be while you watched your six-year-old brother hang upside down from the very top of the playground structure.

      I was enjoying, myself until reality kicked in. My chaotic morning had almost made me forget about the old woman who was trying to kill me. I tried to push the thoughts away, but the slight warmth in my wrist made it impossible to do so. It wasn't long before I was paranoid again. Mimpi knew where I lived, what if someone followed me here? I was suspicious of every person that wandered the park. Why did that woman only have one hand in her coat pocket? What was she hiding? That man was definitely staring at me. Why would he choose to sit on the bench directly faced to mine? What if he was in Mimpi's pact, or worst with the people against Mimpi. At least Mimpi wanted to protect me. She was killing me, but it wasn't her intention to do so. In her messed-up mind, she thought she was doing the right thing. The people the Terpilih was supposed to fight, though, probably wanted me dead.

     "Clara?" A voice asked.

     I was so busy watching the suspicious man, that I hadn't noticed Isaiah walk up. I almost fell off the bench upon hearing his voice. I scooted over, making room for him on the bench, desperately trying to calm my rapid heartbeat.

    "Please, don't do that again." I eased a hand over my racing heart.

    "Do what?" he asked sarcastically, grabbing a sandwich from the cooler. "Walk in your general direction?"

    "Haha." I bit into my own sandwich.

     We ate silently as we watched the others play. Actually, I was very much trying to avoid looking at them. Watching them run around, fifteen feet in the air, was stressing me out.

     Isaiah, and I had somewhat of a silent bond. We really got along best when weren't speaking. So naturally my daft brain decided to ruin the nice moment, by turning it into an awkward one.

     "Nice view," I teased, through a mouthful.

    He'd been staring at the same guy on the beach. I hadn't taken him for the lifeguard type. Isaiah's face turned crimson. Unable to find words, he wore a face of pure mortification. I was an idiot. Just because I suspected he might be gay, didn't mean I had to go ahead and share it with him. If my suspicions were correct, I was pretty damn sure this wasn't the way he wanted to come out. He might not have even known yet.

    "I meant the lake of course," I laughed nervously.

     "Oh."

     I expected him to sound more relieved, but he almost seemed disappointed, embarrassed even. And that's when I realized that I had said of course. Again... I am an idiot.

     "But it would totally be alright if you were admiring the boy rather than the lake," I added quickly.

     "Would it?" he feigned disinterest.

     "Definitely." I nodded. "I'm not saying you are, but I know lots of gay people, and they're great. Everyone loves a gay best friend." Why did I say that? What a cheesy, foolish thing to say. Someone put a sock in my mouth.

     "Is Andrews gay?" he asked, brows raised into his perfectly combed hair.

     "No," I answered immediately. He'd have told me. Though it wasn't something we talked about, and he had never had a girlfriend. He never mentioned having a crush. With me as an exception, he barely even paid attention to girls... Now, I wasn't sure which way he swung, or if he swung at all. He never did like baseball as much as his brother. "Well... I don't think he is," I added uncertainly. Either way it didn't matter.

     "You don't think it's sinful?" Isaiah asked after a long pause.

     "Not at all."

     He smiled faintly, finally relieved with my answer. It seemed I was capable of choosing good words. He continued to play nervously with the cuff of his blue pollo shirt.

    "Karen said that people like that go to hell," he quivered.

    Grace was in Mom's church group, horrible woman she is.

    "From what I've listened to during mass, I've noticed that God's really big on love and equality. Grace is a very hateful woman; I don't know where she gets off deciding what is or isn't sinful. If God really does love us all and abides by the rule that we should love one another equally, I doubt he'd punish someone for loving another, no matter the gender."

     Isaiah's face was hard to read. He was calm but something toyed with his conscious.

     "What about Mom?" he asked.

     I was tempted to play stupid. But Isaiah didn't usually beat around the bush, he appreciated honesty.

    "I don't know." I'd like to think she'd come around; he was her son after all. Isaiah was a great kid; she couldn't possibly hate him.

     "Whether she'd accept it or not, you can't change who you are. If she can't accept it then she doesn't deserve you."

     The trip was meant to tire them out, but I was equally exhausted. I was looking forward to having a good night's sleep, but I dreaded going back to my bed. Home was supposed to be where I felt safe, Mimpi ruined that.

     After an impromptu run through the sprinklers, the kids were running around the van, trying to dry off. I waited on them, leaning against the van, when I noticed the creepy man again. He wasn't alone this time, and it was crystal clear that the two strangers were looking at me. Was this fate's sick way of reminding me of my deeply messed up life? Glad you've had a nice day, but don't forget that your death is approaching. I did my best to ignore them. Maybe they weren't yet convinced that I was the one they were looking for. Looking straight at them with a look of panic on my face, would only confirm their suspicions. I forced myself to look away and adapt as calm of a posture as I could. As soon as the kids were dry, I rushed them in the car. I sped off so quickly that I almost hit a duck. In the passenger's seat, Isaiah shot me a look you'd only give a mad man. The three in the back were too tired to notice, they fell asleep the moment their butts met the heated seats.

     "Are you sure you're alright?"

     "Just haven't driven the van in a while," I stated, a tremor present in my voice.

     "You're shaking," he noted.

    "I thought the duck was a goner. Mom wouldn't be thrilled with my becoming a duck killer."

    "You've been acting strange lately."

    "Ah, dear brother, but I've always been strange."

    "Are you sick?" He ignored my attempt of distracting him.

    "I'm not," I said, slightly annoyed. People needed to get their facts straight. I wasn't sick, I was slowly being murdered by an old woman. Isaiah eyed me suspiciously.

     "The doctor said that I was in perfect health," I tried to convince him.

     "I thought you may have lied about that."

     "I would never lie about such a thing." Oops, I kind of just did. The twelve-year-old wasn't stupid, he raised his eyebrows sceptically.

    "Alright!" I gave in. "Mom wouldn't lie."

     He couldn't argue with that. "What about last night?" he asked.

    "What about it, Sherlock Holmes?" He needed to consider pursuing a career in interrogation.

    "Thin walls, Clara," he said pointedly.

    "Cement floors, Isaiah," I answered in the same tone.

    "What?"

    "What?" I repeated.

    "Stop trying to confuse me," he complained.

    "Confuse you, I wilt not do. I merely hope to puzzle your feeble mind."

    He stared at me blankly. "The point is I heard you," he said, after a moment of consideration.

    "We really must be related!" I answered with fake enthusiasm. "I too have the gift of hearing."

    "Clara!" he complained, earning a kick to his seat from a sleepy Tyler.

    "Alright, I'll play along. What did you hear, Isaiah?" I spoke to him in the same tone I often used with the twins, succeeding to irritate him.

    "Would you like me to quote what I heard?" he mimicked my childish tone. I've created a monster; it was like arguing with myself.

    "Whatever floats your boat."

     "Ow!" he began in a voice that I assumed was meant to be my own. I'd like to think my voice was not that annoying. He proceeded to repeat the word sixteen times. I stared straight ahead, continuing to feign ignorance. I hoped he didn't notice my tightening grip on the steering wheel.

    "Holy moly, that hurts," he whispered still in my voice. "And then you said something along the lines of: screw you Mipi?"

     The boy had good ears. Thankfully he was in the room next to mine and not mom. I had no clever response, so I remained silent, patiently waiting for the red light to turn green. I was hoping he had made his point and would drop the subject. No such luck.

    "Well?" he waited.

    "Well... You must have been dreaming."

    "I don't use such vulgar language." I suppose a child who used the word vulgar, really wouldn't.

    "Then maybe I was sleep talking, either way I don't know what you're talking about."

    "I don't—"

    "Exactly, you don't know, and you have no way of knowing. The argument is pointless, can we just drop it?"

    He wasn't thrilled to do so, but he nodded reluctantly.

    The kids were in bed by eight, as I had planned. Although they were exhausted, putting them to bed hadn't been an easy task. Getting the twins to take a bath, was like trying to bathe two angry dogs. I may as well have taken the bath with them, for in the end I too was drenched from head to toe.

     Everyone in bed, I collapsed on the couch, refusing to go to my own room. If the Sphere was that intent on giving me the injections, it would have to work for it. I wasn't going to make things easy for it. They turned my life into a living hell, and I'd do the same to theirs... I was talking about a rock's life. Not at all ridiculous.