Project Apple

This is Home

"Don't you want your fucking sister to live?" Lorcan yelled as he held his forearm into Nathan's neck. Pinned against the cold stone wall, Nathan glared at his brother. Nathan's clothing was ripped and soiled in blood. His pale skin was now purple and blue. His jet-black hair was a knotted rat's nest. Even his pale blue eyes looked swollen and red. Lorcan on the other had had only a few bruises over his snowy white skin. His shaggy black hair fell over his left icy blue eyes as he glared at Nathan.

"She's going to fucking die anyways, we all are!" Nathan snarled as Lorcan pushed him to the ground. Lorcan clenched his teeth as he turned and headed towards the door. "She'll die, just like mom and dad!" Lorcan slammed the door shut behind him leaving Nathan on the floor.

Maude sat in the garden giggling as her rabbit, Cael, hopped around her. Lorcan sighed and took a deep breath before approaching her. All the different flowers grew into a twisting perfume in the wind. Her long black hair shinned in the sunlight. Maude stopped laughing as her rabbit stopped and stared at Lorcan. She turned around and smiled as Lorcan sat down beside her on the lush green grass.

"Lorcan, do you remember when we found Cael?" Maude asked her giant grey fluffy bunny hopped onto her lap.

"Of course. Hard to think it's only been a couple years. I still think we should have named him Tiny." Lorcan laughed as he patted Cael's head.

"Now what kind of name is that for a handsome little rabbit?" Maude smiled.

"He's not very little sis." Lorcan said.

"Says the guy who wanted to name him Tiny." She rolled her eyes.

"In my defense he was just a baby when we found him, I had no idea he would get so big." Lorcan stood up and helped Maude to her feet as she held Cael. They laughed together and then Maude sighed.

"I heard you and Nathan fighting again." Lorcan took a deep breath and let go of Maude's hand.

"He was out fighting again, Maudie. He has done nothing but act out since-" Lorcan bit his tongue and looked away.

"Since mom and dad died, I know." Maude let Cael hop to the ground as she hugged her brother and rested her head against his shoulder blade. Cael tried to snuggle into them but Lorcan stepped away.

"I have to go" Lorcan said.

"Where?" Maude asked as she straightened out her blue floral dress.

"Don't worry, Maudie, I always come back" Lorcan lifted Maude's face towards him by her chin and smiled.

"Please be careful, L" Maude sighed as Lorcan kissed her forehead.

"Can you make sure Nathan is okay?" Lorcan asked as Maude nodded. Maude watched Lorcan leave down the dirt path, leaving their small little cottage behind. She knew he was going into the city again. Maude crouched down beside Cael and brushed his fur with her fingers. His fur was warm from the sun. Cael bounced away from Maude as she stopped petting him. He wandered back over towards the colourful garden as Maude went inside the cottage. There on the floor she saw Nathan, right next to the door and sitting against the wall. He had his knees to his chest and his head in his hands. Maude said nothing but sat beside him on the floor. She put her head on his shoulders as he continued to cry.

When Maude opened her eyes, there was a wool blanket wrapped around her. She rolled her shoulders and groaned. There was a sound of tiny crunching coming from across the room. Cael was resting on his back as he nibbled away on a carrot.

"Goof" Maude laughed to herself as she stood up and rubbed her eyes. Maude looked out the window to see the sun setting over the fields in a purple and pink sky. She folded the blanket and threw it on the back of the sofa. Cael continued to crunch away on his carrot as Maude stumbled in the dim lighted hall to the kitchen. A glowing light shinned from a single candle sitting on the table. Nathan sat there, silent and staring into the candle's light. He turned and gave a faint smile to Maude. He gestured his head towards a pot on the stove and went back to staring at the candle. Slowly Maude walked over to the pot. She could smell the spices and tomato before she even lifted the lid. Her stomach growled. Maude looked over to Nathan who was still staring at the candle on the table.

"Did you eat?" She said as she poured herself a bowl of the tomato soup.

"Hm what?" He asked.

"Did you eat?" She asked again as she brought her bowl over to the table and sat down across from him.

"Uh no, I'm not hungry." He said. Maude squinted her eyes at Nathan and frowned.

"Nonsense, you should eat," She pushed her bowl over to Nate and got back up to get herself another bowl. While she filled her new bowl, she looked over to see Nathan spinning his spoon in the soup. Maude sat back down at the table and sighed. "Please, Nate." Nathan looked up and their glowing blue eyes met. Quickly Nathan looked away and slowly began to eat his soup. They ate in silence until they heard the front door creak open. They both jumped and stared at the entry to the kitchen. Lorcan appeared with a black tote bag. He threw the bag on the floor.

"Eating without me?" He laughed as he went and scraped himself a bowl of soup.

"Couldn't leave me any soup?" He said as he joined the two at the table.

"Sorry" Maude laughed as she pushed her bowl over to Lorcan, but he pushed it back.

"Any luck?" Nate asked.

"Maybe, but you're not going to like it." Lorcan frowned.

"What is it?" Maude asked.

"Maybe we should finish eating before I say anything." Lorcan said. Maude and Nathan looked at each other before looking back to Lorcan who was face down in his soup bowl slurping it into his mouth. Nathan rolled his eyes and continued to eat his soup.

"You'd think we never fed the poor dog" Nate smirked.

"Hey!" Lorcan looked at Nathan with soup dripping down his chin as Maude giggled to herself.

While washing the dishes Lorcan sat across from Nathan at the table and held Cael on his lap. Maude held her dress to her legs as she sat down at the table. Now Maude and Nathan were both staring at Lorcan, but he was looking down at Cael smiling. Nate let out a little cough and Lorcan shot his head up.

"Oh right, sorry" he apologized.

"Let's hear it, L" Nathan said.

"Well I was looking for medications and I heard this deal going on by one of the stations. The said there's a medical center out West." L explained.

"Bullshit," Nate scowled, "that's even more bullshit than the grand ladies!" Maude sighed and rolled her eyes at Nate.

"We don't know if it is bullshit" she said.

"Nate, it might be our only chance." He pleaded.

"You mean her only chance, this has nothing to do with me or you!" Nate growled as he hit his fist on the table. Cael jumped into the air and scurried out of the kitchen. Maude glared at Nate until Lorcan stood up, throwing his chair back behind him.

"She's your sister!" L shouted.

"I didn't ask to share the womb with either of you!" Nathan quickly stood up and pushed his chair far back behind him before storming towards the kitchen.

"Well Maude and I are leaving tomorrow, if you get a heart over night!" Nate stopped for a second before storming out of the room. Lorcan fell back into his chair as Maude placed her hand on L's knee.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked as he grabbed her hand between his.

"What other choice do we have Maudie?" He gripped her hand more tightly.

"What about home?" Maude began to ask.

"I hope it will still be here when we return and if you want we can bring Cael. I have that that bag." He pointed to the black tote bag on the floor.

"This is our home." Maude's eyes started to fill like they did at her parent's funeral. "And you really want me to carry Cael around in that?" She cried as Lorcan held her face between his hands.

"Home is not four walls and a roof, Maudie. You are my home, you and Nate." He wiped away home of her tears with his thumb. Her skin was soft against his rough skin. Her eyes were a bright glowing blue when she cried. He placed his forehead to hers as he grabbed her hands between his.

"And Cael?" She giggled with tears still streaming down her face.

"And Cael" he said.