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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFgQwNrqj5
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡneABBRWs33
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM7RTmLH6G
"Hello?" Areto pressed her burner phone up to her ear, glancing around her apartment subconsciously. copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JlmzSa1it
"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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GIHhjzdLC
"It's Tory." she repeated, sounding just as breathless to hear Areto's voice in response, "Thought you should know-"copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdpn4jKP0R
"Know what?" Areto accused, flooding rage just screaming to escape, "HOW DARE YOU!"copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5BRraJBc2
"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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jIN1Z6AdS
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu5CS9VCZW
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv15mtf55s
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bMQYNP5o3
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBx3epd92c
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wH8B4BRaH
"It involves me, clearly." Areto cut in, her sarcasm slicing through metal like a butter knife, "Get out of my life."copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiS68QUYWj
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UUzX9Zbj1
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡopy5x9991j
Pieces of white china crashed with a thundering boom, tiny chips shattering into tiny pieces scattered across the floor. With Areto still listening. copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlCIsKzmIv
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKpBjnKiy3
Ahh. copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWtS202c94
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 protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZq8ISShfB
"Be that way." Tory whispered hollowly into an empty phone, and slammed it down on the receiver. copyright protection66ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVmbwFyhY7
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