Cogent

Breaking Chains

   Willow walks in the kitchen, looking at everyone. Her mind completely blank at this point, saving room for whatever was about to happen. She grabs the chair at the end of the table, sitting down slowly. "What is it now?" She says calmly. Derek, from across the table, starts snickering at the remark. It grows to a cackle as he covers his face, it goes on for a bit longer, "This doesn't look good." Willow thinks to herself. Derek stands and starts pacing, his laughter ceasing. Sarah sits at the table with her hands held together, not looking at anything but her hands. Aekley sits across from her, looking at her, not daring to look at Derek. Derek puts his hands on his head and looks at Willow.

"You are relentless. I thought you had changed but not this much."

"Whoa, Derek. This morning was your doing, not mine."

"Oh, no. You won't blame me for this. You have crossed the line this time."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you keep playing dumb, it won't be pretty."

Willow stands for a minute, thinking to herself. She looks at Sarah, still in the same position. Then she looks at Aekley who looks up at her. She stares at him and when Derek isn't looking Aekley mouths the words, "They know." Willow nods and starts thinking of ways to cover for Aekley, but needs a key piece of information, how they found out. Willow looks back at Derek.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Still playing dumb, huh?"

        Derek starts walking towards Willow, anger written all over his face. Sarah hides her eyes, like she knows what Derek had in mind. Aekley tries to stand and get over to me, he is stopped by hand cuffs that have him held to the table. "You have him strapped down?!" Willow screams. "Screw this." Willow thinks to herself. Derek brings his hand back, ready to slap her. Willow raises her hand, palm facing his face, she thrusts it outwards, knocking Derek back. Willow waits for him to get up. Derek looks up at her, rage, anger, disguised, all towards Willow. "Let him out of those things, now!" Derek shakes his head, "Not until we get the curse lifted off of him, that you hexed him with!" Willow laughs. 

"Wow, you really are an idiot, both of you. I didn't do this!"

"Then how did he just start doing these things, huh!"

"He didn't. He hid it until recently. How did you find out anyway?"

"He told us. He told us that he is special, like his sister." 

        Willows eyes became teary eyed as she looked at her brother, chained like an animal. Willow  unballed her fists and put a hand to Aekley, grabbed an imaginary chain in her hands and ripped down, Aekley's cuffs falling off. Willow motioned with her eyes to run to his room. Derek starts to chase after him, Willow doesn't let him. She throws out her hand, pulling him back. "No, this isn't something to fear. We are your children. We are different and you need to learn to accept it!" Derek knocks a chair over with his foot. Willow looks at her mother, simply sitting with her hands covering her face. "Why are you even in here, you obviously have picked a side, Sarah." Willow yells. "That is your mother, call her as such!" Derek yells back. "Actually, I am starting to question if you really are my family. Aekley probably feels the same way." Derek rolls his eyes. 

        They all stand in the kitchen not saying anything for a few seconds, "Why can't you guys just accept that we are trying?" Willow says before leaving, walking up stairs. She walks into her room, Emerson sitting on the bed, standing as soon as she entered. He wrapped her up in a hug, a warm embrace at the most important moment. "What was all that! What are they talking about? You have no choice anymore, you have to tell me!" Willow leaned on his chest, crying, her heart pounding but at the same time, not beating at all. Her breaths were short and deep. Her eyes burning from all the crying and pain. This was only the calm before the storm.