Being 16 or whatever meant that Areto del Mer apparently could supposedly drive. Living in Dartmouth, she'd left home five years ago, that being legally two. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCtrSUMUTs
Her beat up dark green Mini Cooper was exactly nineteen years old. She'd bought it for five hundred bucks from some old man selling his life away to drugs. The stained grey fabric in the interior carried deep lacerations, its former polished look long faded away. Far worse, the signals and inner lighting system stopped working ages ago, though every year it passed the smog check. Least minimal maintenance as possible, living life low, nah. With a hand always outstretched with decision brushing the thick curtain aside for choice, now that's something. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uZymipHOa
It'd been several seconds before Areto realized her phone was ringing. The number was foreign, probably a prank call or some advertisement. Yet something told her that this would not be the average exchange with the recipient on the other end. Just the usual day, eh?copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeLncT7bBY
"Hello?" Areto pressed her burner phone up to her ear, glancing around her apartment subconsciously. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkZUHmGVAk
"It's Tory." Tory blurted. She didn't know how else to break the news. Immediately, Areto doubled over gasping, fumbling with the phone. The line crashed and crackled with static as the phone on Areto's end fell to the floor. She needed to work on her composure. Oh yeah. She picked it up off the carpet, and placed it back on her ear. New start, right?copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58ItlkshxN
"It's Tory." she repeated, sounding just as breathless to hear Areto's voice in response, "Thought you should know-"copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnGydEEiZl
"Know what?" Areto accused, flooding rage just screaming to escape, "HOW DARE YOU!"copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCVkuHkT24
"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh." Tory stammered like a broken record, over and over and over. Being her exact opposite, she gripped the phone like it was her dear lifeline. She broke sweat, slime turning her hands sticky. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19zT8i9eUe
Now Tory found Areto's fierce deep voice even more terrifying, "You banished me. The whole family, but you especially. Now I don't waste my time on lowly traitors or trashy losers. You've made your choice, live with it."copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMEET5bYw8
The last word was as quiet as a whisper, quiet as a drop of water, yet it was just as forceful and effective as Areto could ever wish. The fact that Tory had banished her sister was too harsh. The fact of the memory. Self-pity overwhelmed Tory. Silent fury seared through her boiling face. Her hands fruitlessly clawed at her flaming cheeks in attempt to hide them from the world. Life was so unfair to her! Why me?, Tory wanted to ask. Only she couldn't. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ZPqiN5UE
Tory recoiled like acid was thrown at her face at the words traitor and double agent, processing the whole conversation that just took place. That couldn't be who she was. Shame engulfed her, and stars danced at the corner of her eyes, the harbinger to a dizzying spell. Her hands clutched her flaming cheeks, trying to hide her face. Fire seared at her throat dry, making her head spin and those dancing lights swim. How could she escape? copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmXD770sIi
One last try. Areto was a woman of steel, who could cut iron with words. The thought of persisting was bewildering, but she carried on barely keeping self-control. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37ytRWKAJE
Babbling streamed out of a seething Tory, "I'm not calling for myself. For Toby. He's in trouble! You could even say desperate. But-" copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjO2CYO0bb
"It involves me, clearly." Areto cut in, her sarcasm slicing through metal like a butter knife, "Get out of my life."copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXo5z9xFMa
She knew Areto was a woman of cold steel, that had not changed at least. Despite, Tory was shocked speechless, having nothing else to say. She didn't know what held her back from ferocity taking hold. Tory wanted to throw things, shatter glass, wreck stuff. How dare Areto deface her, shame her! copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnCb7Mo0Oj
Tory was shocked speechless, having nothing else to say. And from that, she realized where her anger stemmed from. Yeah, Areto might be all right and righteous, that didn't make her any better. How dare she deface, shame her! Tory wanted to throw things, shatter windows, break plates. She wanted to wreck her older sister, and for a moment, she didn't care about what happened to her life. Her hatred detonated, and Tory threw the vase full of flowers on the floor. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG2f2zD3hA
Pieces of white china crashed with a thundering boom, tiny chips shattering into tiny pieces scattered across the floor. With Areto still listening. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlmdNkMBoL
Tory started to hyperventilate, face turning redder than a tomato. She wished the worst on her sister. Hopefully you'd fall onto the street from a five story building, hopefully a dog ate you, hopefully somebody'd shoot you. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk0C07MQkP
Ahh. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJpRiIAuKK
Areto hung up, a comfortable silence descending inside her car. A slow rasping laughter echoed in the small enclosure. Ah, nearly fooled herself with that nonchalance.copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNs8i3hiAQ
"Be that way." Tory whispered hollowly into an empty phone, and slammed it down on the receiver. copyright protection194ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFh58rF6Ij
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