LOTTIE SLAMMED HER car door shut, then trudged down the pebbled path and stopped. Her house was before her, looking especially inviting as she shivered in her oversized coat. When she looked down at herself and realized, she shrugged the coat away, tossing it aside. 

It would only remind Lottie of her brother. It was his, after all. 

She sniffled, dropping down to the first porch step. 

"You never loved me, anyway, and today proved it." As she kicked at stray pebbles, she mumbled incoherent words. "I'm not your sister, so why would you? And I'm not related to Aunt Rena, either."

My life is a lie. 

Suddenly, her phone chirped to life, indifferent, and she chuckled dryly. 

You're right, this won't work, the text read. I wish I had realized it before, but at least I do now: you've never been anything like a sister to me. I won't make that mistake again. Don't you ever come back. 

-

Present-tense

Lottie, holding the handheld mirror up close, smiled behind it. Her light layer of foundation, dab of blush, and hint of mascara were done nicely. It had been a year since she'd entertained her face with any makeup. After setting it down, though, her smile slipped. 

Why do I need makeup, anyway?

Lottie nearly went about removing it, wipe in hand, when she collected her purse and sighed. If anything, it would just give her an older appearance. Her brother may have been a few inches taller, but she would always be the older sister. Even if they weren't related. Without makeup, she found herself often correcting others that she was in fact an adult; not a measly minor. 

Still, this was a one-time thing, Lottie reminded herself. 

A beat more and she was outside, consumed by the orange-tinted evening, a sunset overhead. As she began for her car, eyes narrowed, possibilities ran through her head. 

At the end of the day, she would either be elated, the past behind her, or in ruins; it was all up to her brother. Either way, she was done avoiding him. 

It was time to move on. 

-

Paper crinkled in one hand, Lottie clutched her purse with the other as she continued down the long hallway. From time to time, she'd eavesdrop on passing conversation, but would be gone too soon for context. All the while, she made out the smell of soap and detergent. When she finally arrived, she stopped in front of Room 34 and listened in. 

There was no movement, but the distinct smell of brewing coffee was answer enough.  

She knocked. "Eliott, open the door! I know you're in there!"

Slow steps drew near, then stopped. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a disoriented-looking Eliott. When his gaze met hers, though, he straightened. "Lottie, is that you?"

"Well, what does it look like?" she asked, raising a brow. "Are you that drunk or... high?"

"No, no," he said, holding a hand, "I'm not."

"Really?"

"Just tired." He gestured for her, stepping aside. "I was starting to lose hope."

She gave him a passing smile as she entered, but then it dropped. "Eliott, we've got a lot to talk about. I waited three days, but I can't wait any longer." Suddenly, she whipped around and caught his eyes. "Let's get this over with, little brother."

He gave a light smirk, then a dismissive scratch of the cheek. "Well, it's certainly been a while since you've called me by that. Still, the whole 'let's get this over with' thing really spoils the mood. We're talking to catch up, yes? We haven't had much of a chance to for years, and now you're just itching to leave."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are." Slowly, he looked to her purse, then back at her. "Why clutch your purse if you're not scared of me? It's a tell-tale sign." 

"I'm not scared of you."

"Really?" Suddenly, he circled around her, taunting his prey. "Then why do you look like it?" 

Lottie looked to her feet, struggling to maintain herself. After all, Eliott was just waiting for her to snap. "Listen-"

His scoff drowned her out. "Whatever, we'll... just share this coffee and start over. It's no use wasting your time, anyway." As he trudged across the room, to his freshly-brewed beverage, he glanced her way. "You want some, yes?"

She gave him a double-take. "Is it black? I've always hated creamers in mine."

Eliott, pouring half into a plastic cup, stopped and chuckled. "Not a chance."

Lottie gave a small smile. "Well, you always were a picky eater. Actually, not just with food; everything! Clothes, foods, beverages-"

"Here." When she accepted it, he took a sip from his own. "Careful, though, it's hot."

"You know, Aunt Rena loved you so much that she harmed you in every way. Meanwhile, I was neglected and forced veggies. It's so strange how things work."

After a lingering look, he pulled up a couple wooden chairs and took a seat. "Alright, it's time to talk. Enough filler. As you said, let's get this over with."

"Let's."

-

"I don't buy it," she muttered, staring down at her cup. It was almost gone. "She just wants sympathy; that's it."

"No." For a moment, Eliott was quiet, looking her over. "You haven't been there, Lottie. You haven't the slightest how she's been these days. Mom has been plagued with guilt."

"You mean Aunt Rena," Lottie deadpanned. 

"Yeah, well, for you." Slowly, he took his own cup, now empty, and began to crinkle it. "She misses you and she wants to make amends. Is that too much to ask?"

"Actually, yes, it is. Remember what she did?" Eyes locked, she pointed at her scar, tickling just under her eyebrow, and raised a fist. "She may have cancer, but I'm staying right here. If I'm so much as in the same room as-"

Eliott swore under his breath. "Can you hear yourself right now? It's been a long while, sister, and you can never let go of the past, can you?"

"This was a bad idea," she said, looking to the door. It suddenly seemed so inviting. "I shouldn't have come."

He continued to crinkle the plastic cup, eyes cold until they weren't. In a beat, he had tossed it into the trash and was on his feet. "I went through all this so that we could talk, but if-"

"You just wanted me to visit. You had an agenda."

His gaze met hers and he sighed. "And you did too."

"I thought just maybe... I could get my brother back, but at least now I know that will never happen. Thanks for the clarification."

"Do you remember, Lottie, all those years ago? Do you remember what you told me?" He suddenly blinked back tears, shifting. 

For a moment, Lottie studied him, when she drew her lips. "Don't even go there, brother."

"No, y-you said," Eliott began, dryly smirking, "'Well, I can promise you this: I'll never leave you.' Those are your exact words!"

"No, that's not-"

"It was right after our parents died in that fire. Rena may have been my real mother, but that woman was my first." Then he searched her face, his own crumbled. "I miss them both every day... You have no idea."

It was her turn to smirk dryly. "No idea?" she grimaced. "You think I don't feel that same pain you do every day?"

"Not like me, Lottie." Eliott snickered, but his eyes were cold. "You clearly never wanted to be raised by anyone, anyway, because you know what you did? You moved. And before that, you ran away... You came back, but that doesn't change what you did."

There was a long pause, each caught up in a staredown. 

"Let's not talk about when I ran away, Eliott. That's in the past!" Lottie snarled, showing a fist. "I was just nine at the time, but... right now that doesn't matter. What matters is that I won't be going back to my childhood home. As long as Aunt Rena is there, I'm far from it."

"But-"

"No buts! This visit was a mistake. You shouldn't have come to this hotel." With that, Lottie lowered her gaze, then exhaled. "Eliott, if you really cared enough, you would still be home, tending to your mother. I'm sure she wants you there."

"No, sister... I've been there all this time, but now, she just wants you. Without you there, she can never be at peace," Eliott went on, the first tear falling. "She just wants to make up for all the neglect."

"I'm sorry."

"And I see that scar, Lottie. I see it." Then he pointed to his eyes, then to her face. "I've seen it, and I know that it was her. I do! But I also know that right now she's at home, ill, and has maybe another month. Meanwhile, you're here. So, please, change your mind..."

"I want to know something, Eliott. Something's not adding up to me."

"What is it?"

"When I saw you at Culver's, you were so composed... and I thought you were into me. Why are you suddenly so desperate?" Lottie crossed her arms, trying to catch his gaze. "Look at me, Eliott!"

Finally, Eliott huffed but complied. "Because I was incredibly curious about you. You moved away at twenty, so I haven't seen you in three years. You look about the same, honestly. Still, admittedly, I wanted to study you; get to know more about you."

"And now you're getting desperate because I keep saying no, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm leaving now, Eliott, but thanks for the coffee." Lottie offered a forced smile, already turning around. 

"And to think you would have moved away at eighteen," he muttered. "You just needed to save up money first. This could have been the first time in five years..."

Lottie paused, contemplated, then slowly inched around. "This is goodbye, Eliott. And this is the last goodbye you've gonna get. I was doing great until you came along."

The man stared back, ready to press on when he nodded at the door. "Then I guess now's your chance. Goodbye, sister."

Lottie gave a humorless chuckle before making her way for the door. Hand over the knob, she sighed and left the room. 

-

Continuation from the beginning 

Lottie stared down at the message, still shivering in the oversized coat, before shoving it into her pocket. Soon enough, tears were trailing down as she gripped the edges of the porch steps. Only moments later would she stand and make her way inside. 

"Looks like I'm all alone again, but that's how it's always been."

For a while, Lottie lingered in the doorway, peering into her dark home. When she flipped on the switch, the room coming to life, she sighed, stepped over to the couch before, finally, lying down. 

You were never my brother anyway. 

But, eyes closed, she suddenly snapped upright, looking in the direction of the kitchen. Then, slowly, she rolled up her sleeves and stared down at her wrists, each now with faded scars. 

Maybe just one more time. 

-

"You tell your brother and you're out of here, got it? I don't care that you have nowhere to go."

The words reeled in her mind as she listened to them upstairs, laughing as usual. In her pink pajamas, she was waiting for Eliott to be scolded for still being awake and sent to bed. It was 10 PM, after all. However, knowing Aunt Rena, it was unlikely to happen for a long while. 

At the same time, though, she couldn't sleep without him and she was exhausted. It was two days after finding out that he wasn't her real brother; ever since, she had been too strained for sleep. But now, she couldn't think of anything else. 

Squirming in bed, she eyed the basement steps, trying to shrug off her aunt's words. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, she began to think. Maybe Eliott really should know and she should be the one to tell him. 

But first, Lottie reminded herself, she must ask her aunt. If she didn't, then she'd hate to face those consequences. 

"Time for bed, Eliott. I'm afraid it's rather late."

Suddenly, Lottie was again attuned to their conversation. After a minute of complaints, she heard the basement door open, and down came slow footsteps. 

"Eliott, is that you?"

Moments later, Eliott appeared, his lips drawn. When he reached the bottom, he stopped, crossing his arms. "Auntie says I need to go to bed, but I'm seven now! And you're nine. We shouldn't have to go to bed so early."

"Eliott-"

"Let's start a revolution of sorts! Let's... I don't know, but this just isn't fair."

Despite the situation, Lottie gave a small smile. "Just stay here, okay? I'll be right back."

"Okay," he mumbled. 

Before trudging up the steps, she glanced back at him, already under the covers, then exhaled. She could only hope Aunt Rena wouldn't yell... or worse. 

-

"How many times do I have to tell you, Lottie, that he mustn't know!"

Lottie took a step back, hugging herself. "You only told me once..."

"Yes, but I stressed it enough!" From the kitchen, Aunt Rena threw up her hands, each in fists. "You dreadful little girl, Lottie. You, dreadful, dreadful little girl. I said no!"

"He might hear, but I think I'll tell him either way." With that, Lottie vowed to stand her ground, but when she cocked her head, she stumbled back. "Doesn't he have a right to know?"

Aunt Rena only remained silent, searching her face. 

"Rena?"

In a beat, the woman had lunged forward and shoved her down the basement steps. "Always so dreadful..."

Clinging for anything to hold onto, she failed and soon enough everything went black. 

-

Beside her bed, Lottie rocked back and forth, face in lap. It was a few days later and she still couldn't bear to go upstairs for more than a few minutes. Aunt Rena rarely left home, after all. 

"That monster..." she mumbled, finally looking ahead. Then she lifted a hand, tracing a finger over the scar just under her eye. "I didn't even do anything wrong."

That was when she heard footsteps marching downstairs. 

Covering her wrists, each with fresh wounds, she quickly wiped at her face.

Lottie was too late. 

"Why are you crying?" It was Eliott, already coming forward. Then, looking down at her, he crouched to her level. "You okay?"

Lottie looked past him, stumbling for words. 

"Look at me," he said, trying to catch her gaze. "What's wrong? Does your scar still hurt?"

Lottie remained silent, more tears forming. 

"You still never told me how you got it..."

"I just..."

"You what?"

Finally, she met his eyes, suddenly shivering. "I want to die."

Moments later, after studying her face, he wrapped her into a hug. "I'm here, El. You wouldn't want to leave me, right? I'd get lonely..."

"No, of course not."

He was the only reason she hadn't run away, after all. 

Hey there! I hope this chapter is still connecting some dots. In the flashbacks, there are some moments of foreshadowing and I hope you caught onto it! Either way, feel free to point out any errors or suggestions. I hope this wasn't too depressing, but also not too little! 

Anyway, it's time for some questions! This time, they're about the book:

1) How do you feel about Eliott?

2) How do you feel about Joseph?

3) Where do you think the story will go from here?

Well, I hope you're doing well and God bless! <3