Haunted

Chapter 5: Childish

"Why have I been dragged into this?" 

It was a nice warm, sunny day. Clark was sitting out in the garden at Jackson's expensive looking table, sunglasses on and tropical juice in hand as the other boy fetched supplies. Cora, however, was not so relaxed; her own cup of juice had immediately been placed on the table and she refused to sit down, standing with her arms folded glaring at her brother. She was complaining, "He's your friend, not mine."

"But our science project is on twin telo- tela-" Clark stumbled over the big word their teacher had used in response to he and Jackson excitedly telling her about their plan to demonstrate that twins could read each other's minds. Realising it was far too long a word for him to remember let alone pronounce, he reverted back, "Twins being able to read minds! Which means we need you."

"But we can't," Cora pointed out as if Clark had forgotten that fact as he definitely it appeared that way. Clark had been obsessed with proving that they could do it a few months ago and just as he had finally given up, it seemed that Jackson had come up with the oh-so-brilliant science project idea.

"He doesn't know that and we're going to make him think we can!" Clark told her, a huge grin on his face as he refused to give her a say in the matter. "Sit down!"

Somewhat reluctantly, Cora took the seat opposite her brother at the table as Jackson came running out, his hands filled with random objects, one piece of slightly crumpled paper and some pens. Jackson dropped all the items on to the table, except for one which he held between his thumb and finger.

"Why have you got a pin?" Cora questioned, eyeing Jackson suspiciously. "I thought we were doing mind reading."

"Not just mind reading. We're doing all the senses," Jackson responded in a tone which suggested that she had already been told this. "They say twins can sense each other's pain."

Cora instantly turned to Clark, "You didn't tell me this."

"It was hard enough to get you to agree to mind reading," It was Clark's turn to complain. "But you're here now so you might as well do it," he added with his annoying innocent smile which often made Cora want to punch him because he knew far well he wasn't innocent yet it would win over the adults who would take one look and subdue to him. "Me first!" Clark instructed Jackson eagerly, putting his arm out.

Jackson approached Clark with the pin and readied it above Clark's arm. Clark glanced over at Cora who had an exasperated 'boys' look on her face. Both twins knew that they hadn't been able to feel each other's pain before and Clark knew from looking at Cora that she wasn't about to willingly play along. "Ready?" Jackson asked, sounding a little to eager to cause a little pain to his supposed best friend. Clark nodded in response and, as he felt the pin go into his arm, he quickly and subtly kicked Cora under the table.

"Ow!" Cora exclaimed, jumping up from her seat and moving away from the table before Clark had a chance to kick her again. "Clark!"

"It does work!" Jackson exclaimed, his excitement at the revelation preventing him from noticing that Cora was holding her shin as opposed to her arm.

"Cora, let Jackson do it to you! See if I can feel your pain," Clark said excitedly as if he actually believed they could sense it and he hadn't just kicked her to give Jackson the impression they could.

Cora was angered by this point, not only by Clark's belief that he could kick her but more so by his belief that they could both act like nothing had happened. She rounded on her brother. "You want to feel pain?" In the blink of an eye Clark found himself surrounded by flames. "You should have felt my pain when I was burning alive. You didn't. You killed us."