Page 51 of Deviant

“Don’t say it like that, E.” She grimaces.

“Sorry,” he replies, sounding genuinely apologetic, which is a first for Elias since he’s not known to apologize for anything.

Nora’s older brother has always been a conundrum to me. One I can’t quite figure out.

He’s neither friendly nor kind. Nothing like Nora.

He’s neither fun nor outgoing. Nothing like Aidan.

He’s a black cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky, reminding us that life is never perfect.

He’s real.

Honest.

And honesty can sometimes be ugly and cruel.

I always admired that about Elias.

Even when Nora says his brutal honesty is his worst quality, I always thought it was his best.

He’s real in a town full of fake people.

“We’ll find a way to help her, Nora. Just trust me, okay? You just need to be patient with me,” he pleads with her.

“And if you can’t?”

When he doesn’t reply, she knows his answer.

If he can’t find a way to get their mother the hospital care she needs, then their mom is as good as dead.

“You have a month, E. That’s it. If you can’t save her, I will.”

“For fuck’s sake, Nora. How the fuck do you intend to do that?”

“Easy. I’ll get chosen.”

To this, he lets out a scorn-filled cackle.

“Right. Cause that’s how it works. You just get chosen because you say so. Not only that, but you intend to win The Scourge when men bigger and stronger than you never return from it.”

“Hey, just because they’re bigger doesn’t make them smarter. I could win. No, scratch that, I will win.”

“No, you won’t!” he shouts furiously, finally losing his temper. “Just fucking forget this half-brain plan of yours and use that energy to spend quality time with Mom. That’s what she needs from us. Not idiotic ideas of getting yourself killed to save her. Or do you think she would survive you being chosen for the Harvest Dozen? Cause newsflash, baby sister,she wouldn’t. She’d die of a broken heart long before her disease could kill her.”

“She might.” Nora’s shaky voice is barely above a whisper. “Or she might fight it a little longer because I’m giving her hope.”

“Hope?” he repeats the word like a cruel joke. “Hope has no business in Blackwater Falls. You know that.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe hope is exactly what this town needs. What we need. What Mom needs.”

I hear Elias let out an exaggerated exhale, sounding tired and exhausted with this topic of conversation.

“It’s late, Nora. How about we talk about this in the morning?” Elias retorts, no longer willing to continue this discussion with his sister. “I’ll stay here with Mom for the rest of the night. I’ll wake you if she worsens.”

“Fine. Whatever,” Nora responds with a bite.

“Nora?” Elias pleads before she leaves him alone in the living room. “Just let me handle this, okay? I’ve been taking care of this family all my life. Just trust me when I say I know what I’m doing. I’ll find a way to help Mom. Just give me some time, okay?”

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