102: 𝚆𝚑𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚝?
Zoey was right.
Nova hadn't noticed it until she mentioned it that one day, almost a week ago now.
Karon was completely gone.
There was no trace of her. Nova had messaged and even called her endlessly. First there was simply no response and then the messages quit going through completely. Like Nova was blocked or like the phone itself was deactivated.
Nova was in a panic. Her and Zoey were completely alone now, and that terrified her. Because the feeling of being Zoey's parent became real.
Because... Their legal guardian was completely missing.
Nova lit a cigarette, smoking as she walked through the small home. She checked everywhere, Karon's room, the living and the kitchen for any clue about where she was.
She stopped at the table. Piled up with envelopes.
Bills.
She hadn't realized how many bills Karon managed until now. Nova couldn't pay these. She had a limited amount of time before the lights and water shut off and the rent was due.
Nova knew what she had to do. What the RIGHT thing to do was. She had to tell the authorities that Karon was completely missing.
But she couldn't do that. Because then what? They'd take her and Zoey somewhere else. A foster home if they were lucky, an orphanage or grouphome if they weren't. Even then that would be separately. There was no way they'd get placed anywhere together, not when they weren't related. They weren't even in a similar age range.
It was everything Nova feared the most.
All for what? What the actual hell was Karon doing? Living with her possible boyfriend? Partying or drinking until she blacked out every night?...
Was she dead? Or kidnapped? Or in trouble of some kind?
No... No if Karon was dead surely the authorities would have already been informed. Unless it was hidden extremely well. And as for kidnapping...
Well who the hell would kidnap Karon?? It definitely wasn't for ransom that's for sure. The only other option made Nova's stomach churn when she thought of it.
Nova tossed her cigarette into the drain of the kitchen sink, drowning it in water. Then she pulled off her jacket and tossed it into the washer, hoping to hide the smell.
She went into her and Zoey's shared room.
"Hey... Zoey..." Nova said slowly. Her and her sister hadn't really talked much about Karon since she first mentioned it. Zoey truly did trust that it was going to be okay.
Zoey tilted her head, putting down her pencil. She had been doing homework, Nova was surprised she hadn't asked for her help yet.
"Come here." Nova sat down in her bed and put out a hand. Zoey slowly got up, standing in front of her and taking her hand. Nova knew Zoey could tell something was wrong. She didn't try to hide it.
"...I know you know it." Nova said quietly. "Karon is gone."
Zoey looked down, her grip on Nova's hands getting tighter. "Maybe... She's on a trip." She whispered.
"... It's a long trip... And she won't answer her cellphone. Listen..."
"She's coming back." Zoey said with a panicked look. Nova knew she hadn't said anything about it again on purpose.
Zoey was a smart kid. She knew what this meant, she knew and therefore she'd run from it as long as she could.
But Nova wasn't like Zoey.
Nova was the older sister in this situation. The responsible one. The one who knew the repercussions of running away from this. Who knew they had to face it.
"I don't think she is." Nova whispered. Her voice full of what Zoey feared. Resignation.
"No! No she's coming back Nova! We don't have to tell anyone!" Zoey shook her head frantically.
"That's not true Zoey... I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter! W-we don't need her! I-I- don't care! You're my mom! I don't need her!" Zoey said louder, tears already falling down her cheeks. "I need you!" She hugged Nova tightly.
Nova hugged her back as the little girl cried and cried into her shirt.
"You're my mom..." Zoey whimpered. "I love you."
"I love you too Zoey. I love you more than anything. But this isn't safe anymore." Nova said, stroking Zoey's hair. Her tears fell into the soft blonde locks. Nova tried to keep her own crying quiet.
"You'll keep me safe. You always do." Zoey said. Her grip tightened and suddenly Nova felt like she was unable to pull away. Literally.
Zoey's quirk held into her arm and shirt. Keeping them locked together as she held on for dear life.
"I can't keep you safe from this." Nova choked, she couldn't wipe her eyes. Zoey's grip was too strong.
"Yes you can! Please Nova! Please don't tell anyone. Give her more time. She'll come home." Zoey pleaded and Nova sobbed, she kept trying to hold it down. But couldn't. Her despair kept bubbling up.
"Zoey... I have too. I-i don't want too-"
"Then Don't! Please I'll be good! I promise! I won't take anything ever again! I-i won't ever be bad! I-i just want to stay with you! Don't leave me Nova please." Zoey was getting louder as she fell into panic. Nova felt her heart shattering.
Her little sister was begging her.
Begging her not to do something she was legally obligated to do. Pleading with her to take on the impossible responsibility of keeping them together forever.
"I'm sorry Zoey..."
"NO! No! Nova please. Please! Please I'll be good I swear, please don't leave me. No one wants me. No one wants me." Zoey shook her head, burying her face in Nova's shirt.
Nova could hear her gasping for air between each word as she descended into a complete panic attack. One Nova couldn't stop, because she was the cause.
She was adding to it. Each abandonment Zoey faced.
Her father. The man she never even met, Zoey's mom probably didn't even know who he was.
Her mother, chasing an addiction that lead her into prison.
Her aunt, who followed her own to the grave.
Both of them didn't care about Zoey. About what she saw, what she was exposed to. They told her horrible things. That she was worthless, that she was a mistake, that no one wanted her.
Karon. Who was supposed to be her guardian, but never actually out in the effort. Who had now completely left her.
And now... Nova.
Who was going to be taken away from her.
"I'm sorry Zoey." Nova sobbed, wrapping her arms and curling her body around her little sister. "I want you Zoey, I want you."
They both cried together. It was a hystarical mess of tears and hugging. Zoey's quirk still glued their arms together, but Nova didn't care. She didn't want to let go.
"I'm sorry Zoey. I love you... You're my little sister." Nova whispered, her voice shaking as she planted kisses in her hair. "I-i just can't do this. I can't. T-the house... Karon isn't paying for it. And the electricity. If it gets shut off I know someone is gonna come check on all of us."
"Don't leave me Nova." Zoey whispered pathetically. Nova sobbed and hugged her tighter.
"I don't want too." Nova whispered her voice shaking. "I love you Zoey. S-so much. I want to be your sister. I want to be your mom b-but I can't.''
"Why not?" Zoey pleaded.
Why not? It was a good question, no answer seemed good enough to either girl.
"You're the one who loves me. W-who takes care of me! We don't NEED Karon! I hate Karon! I HATE HER!!" Zoey yelled, Nova usually would have flinched at the volume. But she felt empty now. Numb. It didn't even hurt.
"..me too."
"I hope she's fucking dead." Zoey muttered spitefully.
In any other situation Nova would have freaked out over her little sister using that language. Nova wasn't even sure where it when she learned that word.
Was it Karon? Or before that, her Aunt or mom? It wasn't from Nova that was for sure.
But her cursing was the least of her worries. In fact in Nova's opinion it was completely warranted. Nova wanted to say it too.
But she didn't.
Infact they didn't say anything. At some point Zoey cried herself to sleep, her quirks grip slipping. Nova's arms were free but she didn't change their position. She laid there, half in the bed. Until she also passed out.
Holding her sister.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz