MASKED BLOOD SUCKER

Lorene was not sleeping, sleep left her side ever since her parents chose to leave her. They left everything behind and found their home in heaven as far as she is concerned. That is what they even wrote in the letter which is her only possession, a lullaby that makes her fall asleep amid all the pain. She was slowly running her slender fingers over her sister's soft hair locks, it was tied back in a messy bun. Sienna asked Lorene to tie her hair pretty but the older couldn't do it as she was busy with the chores.

It was not easy, in fact very hard for Lorene to continue the meaningless life which is forced on her. She just had one reason to go on and that was Sienna but recently, things have been rocky and she was unable to pay attention to her sister's needs. Lorene bit her chapped lips to suck in the tears which were about to flow down.

She always wondered why it was just her. She had suffered enough in her twenty-one years of life and now she needs a breakthrough. She could do anything that it takes to provide a luxurious life for her sister. Lorene closed her eyes, she was determined this time to not give up. She had to earn a lot of money to the point, they can sit back and do nothing. How great would it be?

"Lore, I am hungry." A soft voice filled the room just then.

"Y-you were awake?" the older immediately opened her eyes and stared at her sister who was still back facing her.

"I can't sleep on an empty stomach, Lore. Why is there no bread today?"

"I am s-so sorry. I forgot to go grocery shopping. I will surely get it early in the morning."

A wave of guilt washed over her as she could feel the miserable pain in her sister's words. She is not supposed to make a kid starve let alone her blood. Lorene tried to bring the younger into her embrace hoping the warmth would make her fall asleep. Sienna just twisted her body, trying to wiggle away from the grip and almost falling off the small wooden bed in the process.

"Baby, p-please try to sleep."

"Let me be, Lore. It is just impossible to sleep when I am hungry and I can't control hunger like you."

"But you know this is a diet plan, right? This is called intermittent fasting and it helps us to get in proper shape." Lorene explained, trying her best to sound confident.

"This is called starving and we are literally like zombies now. We need to eat more to get into proper shape now. I know you are just lazy to go shopping, right?" Sienna asked, slowly turning to face her sister who had a miserable face.

"I a-am sorry."

"It is fine. This night will pass too and I am sure, I won't die but it feels just like it." she sighed, holding onto her stomach.

"I will go and buy noodles for you. Is that okay? But you should promise me something." Lorene negotiated as she was mentally prepared to go shopping at three in the morning.

"Really? You will really get me noodles? Wow! Like now?"

"Yes yes, but promise comes first." Lorene gave her a strict look and Sienna enthusiastically nodded.

"No matter what happens, you will not give up. You will never join hands in front of anyone for anything but will work hard for your needs."

"Uhh. Okay." Sienna agreed to it not knowing why her sister would suddenly ask for such a promise. The noodles mattered more than anything so she just agreed.

"Don't open the door for anyone else. I will come soon." Lorene sighed, dragging herself from the comfort of the blanket.

.

.

.

"Three dollars. That will be enough for her noodles and even I can get something. Will she need something else too?" Lorene asked herself still fondling the coins, they were a lot.

She walked to the store which was by the end of the petrol pump, people don't usually walk there alone. Lorene kept her head hung low and walked fast, her legs being wobbly because of the darkness. Oh! She is not scared of the darkness but these days a piece of news was circulating which was almost impossible to ignore.

She looked up at the closed store which sells antiques, the shop where she worked part-time two weeks ago. It is closed down, permanently as the master died or was precisely killed. The news spread like wildfire but there is still no lead for the case to be considered. It is as good as a suicide even though the man was stabbed twelve times and choked to death. The police must have known the culprit because it seems suspicious to be given upon a murder so soon.

A slow breeze brushed through her pink floral dress and a piece of paper fell next to her shoes. She stood still, eyeing the notice paper which had the shadow face of the suspected murderer with no further clues. She picked it up and crushed it before throwing the paper into the clogged drainage. People like him belong there. She despised the law in her city, rich people win no matter what.

"Noodles, focus on that...Lore. You have to be quick." she scolded herself before running faster to the shop.

She grabbed what the few coins in her hands could afford and started walking back home. The place is entirely quiet, just as the police asked in the news. What even is there to lose for someone like Lorene if it weren't for her sister? She climbed the small pavement and slid across the fence as it would save her five meters of the extra walk. She was humming some songs in the back of her head to not get bored.

Her small fancy walk was paused when a few footsteps approached from the side alley. She froze on her spot when more footsteps approached, faster than before and it took her a few seconds for her to realize it was a person being chased.