Dead of Winter

"BRIAN! DID YOU GRAB MY SHIT AGAIN?" Carrie yelled from the downstairs bathroom. Brian, who sat in bed half asleep, grumbled and got up to go over to the door.

"No. I didn't!" He yelled back and rubbed his eyes. An audible groan was heard as a door slammed. Brian simply sighed as he meandered back over to his bed. He hit the bed face-first and closed his eyes for a moment but then quickly re-opened his eyes. It was Monday. He scrambled to get his clothes on, rummaging through his drawers and throwing things across the room. Then he paused. It's winter break you dumb-ass. He stopped and exhaled. Then there was a loud knock on his door. It was Carrie again. He opened the door.

"Let me guess, thought you had school?" She asked and raised an eyebrow at him.

"..Maybe." He replied. Carrie gave a simple chuckle and hugged her younger brother.

"Can't believe you're in high school and you still don't know how to get your shit together." She teased. Brian rolled his eyes and stood there.

"Could you please stop hugging me?" He asked, an annoyed tone in his voice. Carrie huffed and let go.

"I can't baby you anymore. You always get annoyed. Then again, you always annoy me." She turned towards the door. "Remember to make dinner tonight. I'll be out at work." She paused for a moment. "Go say good morning to Mom and Dad. I'll see you in the evening." She then left. Brian looked down at his feet for a moment before putting on some slippers.

He head down the carpet stairs, past the kitchen to the door to the backyard. He headed out, closing the rickety door behind him as he made his way to the garden. He crouched down and stared at the batches of flowers in front of him. A cold wind passed by.

"Hey Mom. Hey Dad." He murmured. "Nice cold weather, right? Just like that morning." Brian stared for a few moments, spacing out. He patted the ground then stood up. He didn't say anything more and left to eat some breakfast.

+ + + + + +

Later that evening, Carrie came home to a pleasant aroma. In the past whenever she tried to make something for dinner, it would either catch on fire or taste pretty bad. She sat down at the counter in the kitchen and smiled at Brian.

"Smells good, what'cha making?" She asked.

"Fettuccine." He said simply. He kept stirring the cheap noodles in the pot.

"Sounds good." She got up once more to get a drink. The crickets chirped quietly outside. Carrie took a swig of a can of beer and then said, "..So I managed to mug another guy today."

"You're seriously going back to that?" Brian questioned, turning off the stove and giving her a serious look.

"With how things are looking right now, I think it's for the better. Look, Brian, I'm not earning enough money from my job and you're not even old enough to work yet. I might as well do something so we don't end up getting kicked out." She argued.

"I don't care if we end up getting kicked out. What the hell is wrong with you?" He argued back. "I mean seriously, first you manage to mug guys off the streets. Then there was that incident with your ex-boyfriend where you ended up gauging his eye out. Then there was Mom and Dad-" He was soon interrupted by the flipping of a nearby chair.

Carrie glared at him. "First of all, how did you know about all of this? Second, don't. Don't fucking mention that. I told you we don't talk about what happened that morning."

"I know this because I know you talk to your buddies in downtown about what nasty shit you do. Let's also talk about how you shot up our parents because they were going to separate you from your equally as crazy girlfriend!" Brian yelled.

Carrie slammed her fist on the counter. "DON'T TALK ABOUT KARA THAT WAY!" She cried. "Don't you dare insult my fucking girlfriend." She pointed at finger at his face. "Say sorry. SAY SORRY RIGHT NOW."

The young teen simply stood there, staring daggers right back at her. Carrie balled her hands up into fists but then opened one hand and proceeded to slap him. Brian held his cheek, somewhat stunned. Carrie shook her head in disappointment and said, "..Just go upstairs. We'll talk more in the morning." Brian slowly walked out of the kitchen, still holding his sore cheek and head back up to his room. Why had his big sister become like this? He couldn't process any of it all. He then went to bed.

+ + + + + +

The next morning, Brian was awoken by a scuffling noise coming from downstairs. He blinked and sat up in bed. He pondered if he should really go to investigate the noise. He hesitated for a second before getting up and sneaking over to the door. He quietly opened it and slowly head down the stairs. A couple of female voices intermixed with several male ones. All of them sounded rough around the edges.

"So, what are we gonna do with him?" One said.

"I say we put 'im down. Not like he's of much use to 'ya." Said another.

"I can't do that so easily though. He's my younger brother." Carrie sighed. "I'm really sorry Kara but I don't know if I can do this."

"What's more important, me or that twerp who criticizes you for every little thing that you try to do for him?" Questioned Kara. A silence fell over the group for a while. "Well?" She repeated and looked at her with an impatient expression.

Carrie hugged Kara and the two kissed for a moment. "You're so much more important to me, Kara. I promise that. I love you and I will do this for you. We should head upstairs. It'll be easier to end his misery when he's sleeping." Carrie mumbled. Brian was horrified to hear the piece of news. He quickly and quietly sprinted back upstairs to his room. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He had to get out of the house as fast as he could. He opened his window and looked outside. It was a long fall if he were to jump down. He looked around for anything to use. He decided to use several blankets, shirts, pants, and sweaters to make a rope. The door knob rattled as a voice grumbled.

Carrie's voice came through. "Brian. Brian are you awake? Remember we have to talk about what happened last night." He trembled in fear as he continued to finish up the rope of cloth. She began to knock louder and before he knew it, they were trying to knock the door down. He proceeded to throw some of it out his window while he tied the first part to his bed stand. He then cautiously climbed out. The group of thugs had managed to break down his door at that point and they all came into his room. Carrie saw the rope cloth and called out to him. Brian made his escape, running out to the front of the house. He never looked back.