Page 37 of Little Stranger

Anna, the blonde Malachi went on a date with months ago. Well, I wouldn’t say a date, since he freaked out and left, but still… he agreed to the date. Does that mean he’s attracted to her? Does he still talk to her?

Anna is beautiful—and to add to my list of things to be jealous about, she’s also a lovely person. The best of both worlds—someone with a great soul who looks like she was born to be a supermodel.

She’s slim and tanned. Smart. She was also prom queen, so it makes no sense for her to want to go out with Malachi, considering he’s still seen as a freak. The weird kid who never had friends until he left school—the smoker who drives around on a motorbike and needs his sister to show him how to kiss.

We finish up and go into the locker room to shower and change—I head to my locker at the back of the room, away from everyone, then I grab my things and set them on the bench, brushing my hair while they all talk opposite the locker.

“Are you coming to Abbi’s party tonight?” I hear one of the girls ask. “I heard she invited loads of guys.”

“I have my eyes on someone,” someone else replies. “Do you think Malachi Vize will be there?”

“The hot mute guy? Looks like he wants to murder everyone while giving off big dick energy?”

I pause as I go through my gym bag, eavesdropping like I’m listening to gossip. Even as my heart rate picks up its pace, I focus on their muffled words.

“Yeah, him. He was the one Anna was in the room with a few months back. I think she gave him head or something.”

“Really? I thought they fucked?”

I frown and drop my shirt, curling my hair over my ear as if it’ll help my hearing.

“Did Anna say that? Maybe they did. Hey, do you think he moans? Or would it just be like… breathy? Should we ask her if the rumors are true, and he has his cock pierced?”

I grit my teeth and shove the rest of my things into my bag, my eyes already burning.

The door opens before I can make my presence felt, and more of the girls come in.

“Oh, Anna! I have a question about the mute. Did you fuck him a few months ago at the party? And if so, does he moan?”

“Shhhhh! Olivia is his sister,” Anna hisses. “I don’t want things to be weird on the team if she finds out I’m screwing her brother.”

“So you’restillscrewing him? Give us details! Is he big? Dominant? Does he carve a satanic mark into your body with sheep’s blood while he fucks you?”

“Damn, Danara, calm down.”

“I’m asking what y’all are thinking.”

I’ve had enough—I finish stuffing my things into my bag, tie my hair back, storm from the lockers and shoulder past the girls—Danara especially. I ignore them as I march out of the locker room, burning tears starting to slide down my cheeks.

The betrayal hurts.

I hear someone call my name but fuck them. Fuck all of them for talking about my brother like he’s some weirdo. And fuck my brother for lying to me.

He snuck into my room and asked me to teach him because he freaked out on his date with Anna, but all along, he’d fucked her? Was still fucking her?

Is that why he was such a natural in everything he was doing to me?

While I storm to the bus station, refusing to drive with Abbi, I pull out my phone, my fingers shaking as they type his name to bring up his contact details. I never call—it makes no sense to call since he doesn’t talk. He probably won’t answer. But he doesn’t need to say a word—the asshole just needs to listen.

Three rings then silence, the call connecting without that usual greeting. I don’t mean to cry, but tears drench my cheeks as little puffs of air escape from my lungs, audible enough he’ll know I’m upset.

“How dare you, Malachi. How fuckingdareyou? You lied to me. You… Y-You lied. You lied and tricked me into teaching you everything, you goddamnfreak. I thought I was helping you, and I was falling for you in the process, yet all along you knew damn well what to fucking do! What sort of sicko does that? I’m your sister! And I… I was…”

I cover my mouth with the back of my hand and crouch in the parking lot, sobbing into my hand. “I hope screwing Anna was worth ruining whatever fucked-up relationship we had. You’ll never get near me again, Malachi.” I shake my head, my jaw jittering. “Never. I hate you. I h-h-hate you so fucking much.”

I can hear him breathing heavily on the other end, a message coming through.

Malachi: Where are you?

---