When things Got Bad
--Cleo's POV--

Sidewalk
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Afternoon
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Walking out of the house for a little wonder was the best thing you could ever wish for in my family. It's good riddance, after all. No worries of annoying sibling fights, no Lila spraying bug sprays everywhere, and no... dad... who doesn't care one bit of what you are doing.

It's been a long time since the last time I did my best to smile, trying to impress my parents. Everyone was smiling, laughing as I struggle, and now, it's like social bounderies have prevented us from talking to each other, or to just even say hello kindly.

I sighed and just continued walking. Not much happens near out side of the country. We live at least 20 kilometers away from Pemkil City. In other words, we live at the edge of a small forest with a lake behind our house with a seashore a kilometer away from the lake.

I ignored my thoughts about the house and attempted to remember how things got this bad with my family.

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"Mom, dad!" I called them from the living room. I finally smiled! At least, a bit.

"What is it, honey?" Mom asked me as Lila was wiping the table in front of me, smiling.

"Cleo smiled for a second!" Lila announced proudly, as if she was the one who did it. Dad appeared out of nowhere, clapping.

"You smiled, Cleo?" He asked."Are you serious?"

"Yeah, dad!" I said, trying to shape my mouth into a smile. I think I did it again, though, because mom and dad looked shocked-- in the good way.

"I can't believe you actually did it!" Mom said as she carried me up, away from the sofa.

"I can't believe my little five year old finally smiled!" Mom said, barraging me fill of kisses.

Lila and dad began dancing full of joy as mom carried me to the car.

"Where are we going, mom?" I asked as she laid me down on the front seat.

"Since you've achieved something that great, mommy wants to give you a present!" Mom announced happily as I looked at her surprised. Gift? Anything?

"Are serious, mom?" I asked curiously. Mom kissed me on the forehead and replied.

"Of course, sweetie! We can get you anything you want! Maybe even that special dog you wanted!" She said as she turned the car on.

"My dog?!" I asked.

"A very big one!" Mom replied

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"We're home!" Mom prodly announced as she carried a small cage in the house. I happily skipped behind her.

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Mom opened the cage and let a small puppy out. It barked happily at dad and began running around on the small table

"He's so cute!" Lila remarked.

"And noisy." Dad added.

"He's cute and noisy and mine!" I proudly replied.

"So what will you name him?" Lila asked as she began wiping the table after the dog, who was running around, barking.

"I want to name him Alonso."

"Alonso?" Lila asked.

"Yeah, Alonso."

"But why?"

"He likes it, right, boy?" I asked the tiny puppy, who stared at me for a while then barked again.

"I'll take that as a yes."

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For years, things had been going great. My family happier each day. We were also expanding (I Don't mean getting fat, I meant growing.)

Mac was born, and Lila and I experienced the trouble of being the eldest siblings. When Mom and Dad left me and Lila at home to take care of Mac, diapers were everywhere as Lila searched for how to strap them on as I tried to calm Mac, who was throwing a tantrum. For the sake of reputation, Lila, Mac, and I are the only ones who knew. About that.
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Clintt was born two years after Mac and it was stressful! While me and mom were teaching Clintt, Lila's condition began to take over her body, and soon enough, the floor was completely slippery, every part of all windows shiny, and even the lawn was perfectly cut.

Dad began to get more and more busy and he began ignoring us, desperately trying to end all his calls, but it was useless.

Mom felt pity for dad, so she went off to another country, and is now a president of a tech company.

Clintt began watching TV in the age of three, and once he watches, he wouldn't stop. Mac began correcting him about what he thinks is right, and now they always argue about stupid stuff.

Dad began to expand our house for his bussiness meetings, and I didn't dare even smile for one bit. One year we were happy, the next thing we knew we were separated from each other. A great life we've had so far. Hopefully NOTHING goes wrong.

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"Yeah right." I scoffed at my thought."I gave up believing we can be happy, brain." I began to quicken my pace, walking on the side road with a forest next to me. It didn't matter to me wether that forest is 'haunted' or not. I've grown quite sick of this family and I want at least five minutes alone.

I walked further, away from the house when I heard someone's voice. A voice I knew since I was small.

"Hey..." The voice softly called.

"Mom..."

"I'M NOT MOM, IDIOT, I'M LILA!" My sister wailed. She was a meters behind me, wearing a scarf. She held my favorite red jacket on her hands.

"It's getting cold here, by the way."

"It's can tell."

She handed me my jacket.

"Here, wear it." She told me in an urging manner."Come on, it's very cold! If you get a cold, you'll contaminate the household!"

"Yeah, yeah, as you wish, ma'am." I teased her. She glared at me.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" She asked me curiously."I can tell it's about us, since you called me mom. Is anything wrong?"

I wanted to tell her it's none of her bussines, but, since she is the only one who understands me, I sighed and just told her what I felt.

"I feel like shattering."

"What?"

"I feel like shat--"

"I know. That was an exclamation, but why?"

"Dad doesn't care about us anymore, Mac and Clintt are fighting, and mom... she's away. Do you think I won't be out this late thinking about it if it isn't bad, Lila?" I asked. Asked!

"I guess you are right." She sighed sadly.

"But we got this far, right?" She asked, trying to remove her sad face.

"If we got this far, that means we still have a glimmer of hope." She smiled. I felt myself smiling... in the inside, I mean.

"You know, now that you think about it, I think there's a possibility we can change our ways, make Clintt happy and--"

I cut myself of as I saw her spraying water on the sidewalk in front of us.

"Uh... sorry. What were you saying again?"

"Nah, just some blasphemy." I shrugged and turned around again, staring at a very long (and very dark) side walk.

"Blasphemy, huh?" Lila repeated what I said and giggled."Since when did you start talking like that?"

"You know what, forget it. I forgot." I told her, turning around once more to face Lila, who was trimming the grass around her.

"Well, after eating that much and having a little walk, perhaps you have some little space for dessert?" Lila asked eagerly as she stood up and wiped her skirt clean. She smiled at me, hoping I would answer s UKc

"What is this dessert?" I ASKED her. Her eyes widened for a moment, perhaps surprised from my QUESTION, then casually replied,"Cheese Cake and a little homemade hot cocoa I created, just for my best friend, who apparently is a Mr. Grumpy face." She replied ."Want some?"

I stared at her for for a moment. Cocoa and cheese cake? Share? Odd, she wasn't a typical person who would share her 'yummy delicacies' especially to me and our other siblings. Something feels different.

"Lila, you're alright? Didn't slip the stairs and hit your head?" I asked her.

"Hit my head? Why would I do that and since when did you start learning how to ask?"

"You don't really share something like that especially to me and the two other infants."

"I'm being kind, olay? If you don't want me to, I can always try and learn from you."

"I'll do my best, then... to try and make you my worst student."

"Thanks for the compliment, now go! Shoo! Off we go to the kitchen where I'll shove that food in your mouth!" She began pushing me from behind, attempting to move me to the house, but I didn't even bulge. I just shrugged and played along, walking without her noticing.

I was looking behind me to try and see if she knew when I heard a large boom from behind the house. I quickly turned around to see a large blue beacon coming from atop the lake.

Now I wouldn't care less whatever that mad scientist does, but my two siblings are in there, and as their oldest sibling, I have the biggest responsibility over them... aside from mom and dad.

I turned around to see Lila looking at it as well, horrofied. She glanced down, staring at me with the 'What is that?' face, expecting an answer.

I shrugged and began walking again, waving my arms, trying to give her the idea to come with me and try to find out whatever that thing is.

"Wait for me!" She wailed from behind, running.

Staring at that bright beam, thoughts began to fill my head. What is that? Is it dangerous? Will Clintt and Mac be okay? I wouldn't know, so I had no choice but to walk to the entrance of the lab and ask Sir Charv about this... beam thingy.