DEADLY DEVOTION by Hazel Spark

Emily ran around the house with her little sister Ava chasing her. Her long hair flowing in the air as she ran.

"See if you can catch me". Emily giggled, stopping to stick her tongue out mocking her little sister and running off almost immediately.

"I'll catch you Emily". Ava screamed, running faster. She was determined to catch Emily and laugh in her face for mocking her.

"I want to see you try!!". Emily yelled back, laughing and shaking her head childishly.

Ava stopped exasperated. "Emily, i don't feel too well, I'm feeling dizzy". she called out softly. Emily stopped immediately becoming worried and running back to her.

"Are you okay?". Emily asked worriedly patting Ava's back softly.

"Caught you". Ava giggled, tackling Emily, her eyes lit with playfulness.

"You cheat!, you deceived me". Emily gasped, touching her chest in feigned disappointment.

"And you fell for it, i won, you lost. lalalalalala". Ava stuck her tongue out, saying in a singsong voice.

"You two are at it again, your noise is getting too much in this house". Aunt rosette said coming to the living room. Ava and Emily immediately stood erect ready for her daily dose of scolding.

"You're nineteen, Emily, and you have the mentality of a child, you still run around playing and laughing in the morning like a child. Who plays around first thing in the morning?". Aunt rosette chided pulling Emily's ear.

"Ow ow". Emily whined struggling to remove her hand but the woman's grip was firm.

"Mom, aunt Rosie is yelling at us again". Ava screamed loudly.

"You ava, you're even worse, you're sixteen for crying out loud and you're in no way acting your age". Aunt rosette pulled Ava's ears along with Emily with her free hand.

"Mom!!!". Ava screamed again, aunt rosette had to cover her ears.

"Rosie, leave the children to play". Laura said, coming out of the kitchen, dusting her hands on her apron and removing it.

Aunt rosette shook her head exasperatedly.

"You made them like this". She scolded and Emily's mom laughed.

"Emily, come and help me, I'm going to see the less privileged". Aunt rosette said, picking up her basket.

"What do i get to do?". Ava asked, turning her head to the side, looking at Aunt rosette.

"Go help your mom out in the kitchen". Aunt rosette waved her hand in the air turning back to Emily. Ava groaned but still went to the kitchen, grumbling.

"Emily, come on". Aunt rosette urged.

Emily nodded, dusting her dress and standing up. She followed aunt rosette into the room and they began sorting out everything that they needed. Aunt Rosette was packing the new clothes while Emily packed the gifts, they were not rich but they always gave to people poorer than they were.

In the kitchen, Ava picked up the vegetables, standing beside her mother.

"Mother, why is Aunt rosie being mean to us?". Ava asked momentarily dropping the knife.

"Dear, she's not being mean. She just wants the best for you girls okay?". Laura smiled and Ava nodded, turning her focus back to the vegetables. The door opened and she looked up.

"Dad!!!!, mom, dad's home". She smiled rushing out, Laura behind her with smiles on their faces.

"Dear me!!!, what's wrong with your face?". Laura shrieked, then some men entered into the house. Ava raised her brow.

"Dad, are they visitors?". She asked, she knew her question was silly as the man in front walked like he owned the place. Before he could reply, the one at the back, he seemed to be a guard or something like that, brought out a gun shoving Mr Adams to the floor.

*

"I feel bad for all those kids out there, having no relative to rely on. They're all alone". Emily mumbled.

"Don't stress yourself child, they have pleasant futures in store for them". Aunt rosette moved closer, patting her head. Emily nodded, wiping the stray tear from her face.

Suddenly a loud noise was heard from outside and Ava's loud scream broke out throughout the small house. Aunt rosette and Emily immediately dropped the items in their hands and rushed outside to see the source of the commotion.

Emily saw her dad was on the floor,his head bent along with two men with other people at the back. She immediately went over to Ava who was now crying. The man looked at Emily for a second and she looked away, feeling a jolt of electricity vibrate through her. Emily looked at her dad, he was now kneeling, she felt a lump in her throat at the sight.