Authors: Kevin Anthony
Milo flexed his toned arms. “It’s not just about jogging, but eating right. I want to cook for you.”
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I can always use a free meal.”
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Let’s head back to my apartment and I’ll pop in a movie and start dinner then.”
Bravo inhaled Milo’s scent once again, not a growl from his stomach to be heard. “Yeah, I’m in.”
They arrived back to Milo’s apartment. An entire wall was dedicated to awards, trophies and plaques he earned through his high school and college years and time on the force. Bravo found it interesting that Milo was one of the few people today that still collected CD’s. Milo popped in a comedy movie and they cuddled on his leather couch and laughed. The jog caught up with Bravo’s body and he ended up falling asleep.
Bravo woke up alone on the couch. He sniffed the air to smell seasoned chicken. “Milo?”
Milo walked from his kitchen holding a frying pan. “You’re wake, right on time. Dinner is done.”
Bravo stretched his limbs, got up and joined Milo in the kitchen.
Milo poured the chicken from the pan into a bowl of salad. “I made Caesar salad and salmon.”
Bravo sat down sniffed the piece of salmon on his plate. “It smells great.”
Milo put away the pan and joined him at the table. “My sister taught me how to cook. My mom didn’t have time.”
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My mom taught me how to eat,” Bravo laughed. “She’s a foodie.”
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My mom was more of worker. She picked tomatoes in the morning and worked as a cashier during the evening.”
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What about your dad?”
Milo scoffed. “He thought staying in Brazil was more important than raising his family.”
Bravo ate from his plate. “Your sister is a good teacher. This is very moist.”
Milo laughed. “I’ve never had my food criticized before. I’m usually cooking for one.”
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I think it’s the best meal I’ve ever had.” Besides BBQ fingers, Bravo thought to himself.
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Please, it’s not covered in gold chips or something. It’s just some fish from a bag.”
Bravo laughed. “I’m being honest.”
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Nah, I just think you’re trying to get laid.” Milo motioned at himself. “At least I hope you are.”
Bravo’s sex history only involved a really awkward night with a football player. “I can get laid whenever.”
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But you’ve never been laid by a guy as good in bed as me.”
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Prove it.”
Milo stood from his seat. “Well first, I like to be adventurous.”
Milo removed his shirt and made his way over to Bravo. He yanked Bravo up from his seat and started to kiss on his neck. Bravo unbuttoned his pants and Milo yanked down his shorts. They made their way to the floor kissing each other anywhere that was exposed. Bravo started to kiss on Milo’s neck.
Milo threw his head back and groaned. Bravo kissing turned into nibbling and his nibbling into a large bite out of his date’s neck. The cannibal kept biting out large chunks of his date, blood spurting and spilling all over the room. It was the best dinner he ever had.
Sidnee’s sleepover at Bala’s turned into an extended stay. She spent many days sitting on Bala’s porch looking across at hers, fearing to face what lay beyond the entry, a possibly hurt Levi. She aimed to hurt somebody who was on her side while she let her brother walk away as if he was not one of the problems in her life.
Tired of hiding from the troubles at home, Sidnee left Bala’s. As she set foot on the porch, she could hear the home growling at her. Sidnee unlocked the door and let herself into her home. The place looked the same but it didn’t feel that way. She felt as if she had just entered a stranger’s home. Sidnee didn’t feel like she belonged anymore.
Levi came downstairs caressing his head. “Your presence has been noticed.”
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I guess. The house growled at me.”
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It’s grown powerful over the last few days.”
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Has it tried to harm you?”
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No, because I’m not the problem, you are.”
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What about Evan?
Levi paced before her. “It’s strange. It appears the house has made a connection with your bother. This sibling bickering has awoken the house even more and it’s siding with your brother. I’m trying to figure out why its allegiance is to your brother. The house believes whatever you’re arguing is wrong and that Evan is right.”
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I own this home,” Sidnee shouted. “Not my brother.”
The floors rumbled beneath their feet.
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You want your brother to leave and he wants to stay.”
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Why does he deserve to stay in my home?”
Levi pointed at himself. “Are you asking me or the home?”
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I’m asking whoever can answer me.”
Levi started towards the living room. “I was getting ready to start doing some research about the previous owners. Hopefully, they can give us some information about the home and share any possible stories about the madness that is going on here.” He grabbed Sidnee’s laptop and flopped down on the couch. “I’m going to search past real estate listings and track down who posted them. Hopefully, they’re local.”
Sidnee started to join him only to discover her brother at the top of the stairs. “Evan.”
He started making his way downstairs, smirking at her. “Are you here to apologize to me?”
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No, I’m here to apologize to Levi actually.”
Levi raised his hand and shouted from the living room, “Forgiven.”
Evan sneered. “You still appreciate a stranger over your own brother.”
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I’m not having this argument with you again. You need to leave and that’s final.”
A panel from the wall started to come down. Sidnee hunched as she quickly used her arms to cover her head. Evan quickly snapped his fingers and the panel returned to its position before any harm could be done to Sidnee.
Evan let out an arrogant laugh. “It appears your lovely home disagrees.”
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A good brother would respect his sister wishes and leave.”
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A good sister wouldn’t try to toss her brother out on the streets,” Evan snapped back.
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I’m not doing this anymore.” Sidnee stormed away and joined Levi. “Did you find anything?”
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Yeah, Terrance Godwits owned this home before you.” Levi typed the man’s name in a local contact search engine. He found Terrance Godwit’s address. “I love the internet. He lives in ‘Hollering Hills’. You want to go pay him a visit?”
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I rather be anywhere than here. How do you put up living with Evan?”
Levi shrugged. “He’s quiet and stays out of my way, unlike my grandma.. You ready?”
Sidnee rose from the couch. “Let me change first.”
Sidnee headed upstairs, slipped on some jeans and a pink tank top. She and Levi, who wore shorts and a football jersey, headed out to the car and she started the drive toward ‘Hollering Hills’. The layout out of Hollering Hills was simple, making it easy for them to find the house with the address ‘A17’ spray painted of the curbside before it. A bald, hunched over elderly man sat on his porch, narrowing his blue eyes as they exited the car and approached him.
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Do I know you,” He croaked out.
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No,” Sidnee answered. “But I’m the current owner of a home you once lived in.”
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Which one? I’ve had a lot of homes.”
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She’s referring to the one that…fights backs,” Levi clarified.
The man grunted. “Oh, that home.”
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I’m Sidnee,” She motioned at the speaker, “And this is Levi.”
Terrance nodded. “You two are a cute couple?”
Levi formed a cocky grin as he mumbled out, “She wishes.”
Sidnee considered his words a half-truth.
Sidnee steered the conversation back to the main focus. “Sir, I really need to know about the house.”
Terrance nodded. “It was fine when my wife and I moved in. We raised a daughter, lived a happy life.”
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When did things take a mad turn,” Levi asked.
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Years later after my wife died. It was just me all alone in there. My daughter got married and gave birth to a set of twins. She decided she wanted to settle down so came back here to Draper and moved her family into the house. I love my daughter, but wasn’t going to allow her to take away the one thing I owned. I told them to get out and immediately the house started treating me as if I was the squatter. I was subjected to violent showers, painful shots from the floorboards and wall panels, and I almost lost my face one day lighting the fireplace. In the end, I sold the house to the bank, they forced us all out and I moved here. My daughter still hasn’t forgiven me, but I was protecting her from that strange place.”
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Any idea why the house sided with your daughter,” Sidnee asked.
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I don’t know and never bothered to know.”
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Thanks for talking with us,” Levi said.
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No, problem, I suggest starting a family, the house seems to behave best that way.”
A keyword stood out to Sidnee. “Family,” She whispered out.
She and Levi waved goodbye to Terrance and returned to the car.
Levi started the car. “You whispered something.”
Sidnee focused on the term. “Terrance and I all have something in common. Though, our stories are different, we both went against our families. Terrance wanted to get rid of his daughter and her family and I want to get rid of my brother.”
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That makes sense. So, this house…sides with those who want to keep the family together.”
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I wouldn’t say ‘together’ as in happy and joyous as one, but instead under the same roof.”
Levi shook his head. “I’m so stupid. Why couldn’t I put that together?”
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You got us this far. You’re doing a good job, I was wrong before.”
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You don’t need to boost my confidence, I’ll be fine.”
She grabbed his hand. “I’m serious; you’re doing a great job.”
Levi stared over at her. “Sidnee…”
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Yeah,”
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You’re holding my hand.” He smirked. “I think you’re falling in love with me.”
She quickly jerked her hand away. “I was being…”
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A flirt,” He finished.
Sidnee laughed. “You’re such a tool.”
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Enough of this lovers’ spat.” Levi started driving towards her home. “How do we solve this house mess?”
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I need to think.” Sidnee sat back in her seat. “I might have to do something drastic.”
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Whatever it is I’ll be at your side.”
She patted her hand against his thigh. “Thank you.”
They arrived at the home, Sidnee not wasting a second as she stormed from the car into the place. She made her way upstairs into her brother’s room. He lay on the bed reading a book and remained there as she started grabbing his clothes from the dresser drawer in the room. She made her way from the room carrying arms full of his clothes and Evan closed his book and followed her wearing a confident smirk.
Levi had just entered the home and left the door opened for Sidnee, catching on to what she was planning on doing with the pile of clothes she carried. She hurled the clothes towards the door, only for the door to slam shut preventing the clothes from landing outside, but instead on the floor of the entryway.
Evan, who stood on top of the staircase, laughed. “Nice try.”
She faced her brother and shouted, “Your freeloading ends today.”
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You don’t seem to understand. The house wants me here. I’m trying to keep this family together.”
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You’re a poison to our family and the house doesn’t seem to understand that.”
Evan pointed downstairs at Levi. “He’s the poison!”
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I’m just a speaker,” Levi quickly clarified. “And you’re a dick.”
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See, sister. His little comments like that are driving us apart.”
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You’re drove us apart they day you wished for the death of our parents and myself.”
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I was young and being dramatic. Forgive me already. I’m your brother!”
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No, real brothers don’t treat sisters the way you’re treating me.”
Evan refocused back on Levi. “This is his fault.”
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Dude, seriously stop trying to include me in this. Take responsibility.”