My Brother's Keeper

From the time I was small, my mother told me I was my little brother's second mother. Hence, from age four, every mistake Danny Hartley made became mine to bear. When Danny dirtied the floor, I scrubbed it clean with a rag, inch by inch. When Danny stole, I wrote the apology letters.

Then, I turned seven, and Danny accidentally hurt the convenience store owner's son. When the heavyset Hugo Osborn came to our door, Danny pointed at me without hesitation. "Sienna did it!"

Mom did not hesitate either. She shoved me toward him.

"Mr. Osborn, I didn't raise her right. That's on me. Take my daughter. Beat her, scold her, do whatever you want."

What she had not known was that once Mr. Osborn took me away, I would never come back.

"You hurt my son, so I'm going to beat you to death!" The heavyset Mr. Osborn grabbed me and snarled at Danny, who stood frozen in terror. "I'll make sure you learn what happens when you go around hitting people at your age!"

He yanked me forward so hard that I stumbled. I looked at Mom, desperate for help. I wanted her to say something—anything. Just once. However, she would not even look at me. She just kept bowing and nodding at him.

None of this made sense.

Mom had already paid the medical bills for Mr. Osborn's. She had even given him 200 dollars to buy candy with. Mr. Osborn said he had forgiven Danny, so why was I still being punished?

A strange sensation on my arm snapped me back. Mr. Osborn was stroking my skin with his thumb. When I looked up, I saw the odd smile on his face. I tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

"No! You can't take her!"

Danny rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Mom's legs. Tears poured down his cheeks.

"A child who has done something wrong needs to face the consequences!"

Something flickered across Mom's face, though I could not quite place it. Then, she frowned, her expression turning severe.

Danny only cried harder. He dropped to his knees and started slamming his forehead against the floor. "It was me! I hit your son, not Sienna! Please, just let her go!"

The sight jolted me into action. I fought against Mr. Osborn's grip, trying desperately to reach Mom. She pulled Danny to his feet and stepped back. "Whatever you want to do, she's yours to handle."

When she turned away, the truth finally hit me. She was really leaving me behind.

I watched them walk farther and farther down the street. Panic clawed at my throat. I wanted to scream after them.

Before I could make a sound, Mr. Osborn's hand clamped over my mouth. He dragged me into the storage room behind his shop.

Inside, his expression softened. He offered me candy and said he would be good to me, that I did not need to be scared. I was not hungry, but I forced the candy down. All I wanted was to leave.

Unfamiliar touches ran over me, freezing my whole body, and an inexplicable panic welled up in my heart.

I struggled to reach the warehouse door, but suddenly he pinned me down violently, his strength so great that I could not move.

His movements grew rough and menacing. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through me, and I wanted to scream, but he clamped his hand tightly over my mouth, his eyes darting about in panic, as if terrified of being seen.

“Be good. If you listen to Uncle quietly, I’ll take you back to your mom.”

I stopped trying to pull away. It hurt so badly. I wanted my mom.

When I stopped struggling, the his smile widened.

“That’s right. Only good, obedient children get to see Mom!”

I finally couldn’t take it and struggled to run away, only to be dragged back again and again. After what felt like an eternity, I lay there motionless, staring blankly.

Only then did the boss say softly in my ear, looking satisfied. “That’s my girl. I’ll go get you something nice to eat.”

He left humming under his breath.

Twenty minutes later, he threw two pieces of bread and a water bottle through the doorway.

"Stay here and wait for your mom. If you tell anyone about this, you're dead. Understand?"

I forced myself upright. The threat in his eyes made my stomach twist. I nodded quickly.

I had seen that look before. Mom used it on me all the time. Whenever I refused to take Danny's punishments or cover for his mistakes, she would stare at me just like that. Then, she would threaten to give me away to someone else, and I would always give in.

Mr. Osborn did not wait for an answer. He just walked out and shut the door. I reached out to stop him. However, when I looked down, my hand had turned transparent.