Chapter 1: Armani

The morning sun filters through my faded curtains, casting a warm glow on the movie posters lining my walls. My bed, a tangle of old sheets and a thin, worn comforter, creaks as I stir. A sharp pain shoots through my arm, jolting me out of the comfort of my dreams.

"Okay Jackie," I yell out to my little sister. When I arrive at her door it's covered with crayon markings and stickers from her favorite shows. I knock three times before turning her pink doorknob.

"It's time for-" I begin before she collides into my stomach. "School," I wheeze. I move her curly black hair from her face, and hiding behind is a wide infectious grin.

"You can't make me Mani," she laughs uncontrollably as I pick her up.

"Oh, you're going to school," I respond in a purposely deep, gravelly voice, a game we've played a hundred times before. Sure enough, her laughter grows, filling the space between us with warmth and lightness.

I carry her down the stairs as she plays in my hair, occasionally pulling on one of my dreads too hard.

We walk onto the cold marble floor of the kitchen. The cold surface tickles the soles of my feet. I sit her down in her seat and begin making us breakfast.

"When is Mama coming home Mani?" Jackie asks, flipping through cartoons. "She should be home any day now, right?"

"Yeah Jackie," I sigh loudly. "Any day now."

The skillet sizzles and cracks, the maple aroma filling the room transports me back to a time when our home was filled with warmth. I catch a glance at an old picture of my mother stuck to the refrigerator. A reminder of the mornings we took for granted. I look back to see the eggs are beginning to burn, I quickly collect myself and serve my sister and I.

Once we finish breakfast I scurry up the stairs. I snatch a hoodie from my closet, slip into black track sweats, and jump into my shoes. As for Jackie, I dress her in her favorite Barbie shirt matched with blue jeans and her pink converse. After an hour we rush out of our house and sprint for the bus stop. Bringing a conclusion to our chaotic morning.

After a while of Jackie showing me her drawings on her tablet the bus finally arrives. Jackie skips onto the bus and rushes down the aisle to find her friend. Her name is Hayley, she lives a few houses down from us. She jumps into her arms and they quickly begin discussing their fourth grade gossip.

I settle into the familiar worn seat at the back, the buzz of my friends chatter and the occasional flash of a smartphone capturing candid moments filling the space. My friend Thomas reaches out, his long fingers snapping after making contact with mine. His smile infects all who happen to inhabit its domain. Thomas stands out, for more reasons than his incredible height of 6'2 at 15 years-old. He has a magnetizing aura, you can get a feel for what a good person he is just by his smile alone.

The imaginary glow is quickly snuffed out by a smog of mango-scented poison blowing into my face.

A red device leaves his lips, I grab it and wave it in his face.C'mon man, this is getting concerning," I chuckle, gently placing the vape back in Thomas's eager hands.

"Besides, don't you have a track meet today?" He just smiles, a kind of smile that always seems to know something you don't, and casually brings the vape to his face.

As he takes a drag, a mango-scented smokescreen briefly surrounds us. I find myself looking away, caught off guard by my own thoughts rather than the act itself. It's strange how the most mundane actions can suddenly seem different, depending on who's doing them. He leans against the back of my seat.

"So that means you're finally gonna come?" he asks, I turn to face him, feigning disapproval. He watches me with a wide smile. Thomas and I used to run track together, we did the baton pass event, we were undefeated. Just thoughts about it fill my body with a rush of adrenaline, nothing ever compared to that feeling. But I can't lie to myself, watching Thomas, a part of me longs for it once more."Not if you die from lung cancer," I point at his vape. "But yeah, I'll be there." I say before slumping down into my seat."Cool!" He responds after ruminating on my confirmation, he's been asking me to come to one for ages. Being around Thomas felt great, but at the same time, it's easy to become someone's shadow. It's a strange feeling not knowing if you're known for who you are, or who you're with. I'm still working out if that's how I want to continue living.

The bus, with its raucous laughter and carefree chatter, feels like a different world compared to the quiet responsibility waiting at home. Here, I'm just another high school student, but beyond these windows, I'm everything for Jackie. It's a jarring shift each day, one I've come to accept as my new normal.

The school day blurs into a rapid succession of moments, each one slipping by like sand through my fingers. Laughter with friends, fleeting yet precious, weaves through the hours. As I step onto the bus homeward, a sense of duty anchors me; ensuring Jackie's safe return is my priority.

Watching my friends embody a lifestyle that is not bestowed upon me leaves me yearning for more. I still choose to smile, because the raucous and unbridled joy reminds me that there's still hope for me. There is still life to live beyond this.

As I stand idly in the kitchen, fixated on the time on my phone, anxiously awaiting the "I'm here" text from my friends. I occasionally look up to see Jackie and Hayley watching cartoons. I jump suddenly when I hear the alarm system.

"CHARLES GLOVER DETECTED: OWNER PERMISSION GRANTED," the metal door slides to the side to reveal my father. His dark skin is a stark contrast to the suit he meticulously wears, its dark fabric stretching across his broad shoulders. His imposing figure is crowned by a long gray beard, distinguished by a single black streak. I look down, almost instinctively, to see his mismatched shoes. I see past the elegant façade he parades around. My sister runs up to embrace him, I nearly gag at the sight of his hands touching her."

I missed you so much sweetie," He swings her around and holds her in his arms. I want to scream, get your dirty hands off of her you pervert.

"How are you, my son?" I look away from him. "I said, how are you?" He puts my sister down and inches toward me. His voice has a hint of impatience, I can't bring myself to meet his eyes, as memories flood my head, eventually my eyes follow.

"How's your coworker," I clench my fist as my voice betrays a slight tremor as he grabs me by the collar.

"Mani, look outside," Jackie yells from the other room, we don't acknowledge it. "It's a flying bunny!"

Our heads simultaneously jerk our heads to the window that hovers above the living room. The figure crashes through the window.

My eyes, fixated on the window, slowly guide down to the floor, there's a vivid red streak that runs on the floor, indicating the point of impact; Hayley. Jackie trembles below this enigmatic figure, her fear palpable in the cold air that flows throughout the house.

My instincts pulse, urging me to shield my sister from whatever has invaded our home. The unexpected visitor, a flying bunny intruder?