Chapter Sixty-Eight

I slept fine for some time, the chilly wind brushing comfortably against my hot skin, relaxing my body as a cold drink in the summer.

However something disturbed my sleep in the middle of night, making me feel bothered, turning and rolling, in a half-awake haft-asleep state that made me take my time to finally open my eyes, brushing the sleep from them and yawning, only to notice two things: that it was still dark outside, and that my brother was nowhere to be seen.

What the…

I half-sit in place supporting myself on my elbows, frowning as I turn my head around and don't find him anywhere, including his makeshift bed on the floor beside me.

He wouldn't have defied me, would he?

But he has never disobeyed me before… not this way, only fighting to get what he wants sometimes, but not hidden, not…in secrecy.

No, no, maybe I'm just overthinking, he could have just gone to the bathroom, that's all, right?