Saving Cayli

[Natalie Grey]

"Jay!"

He rushed past in a cloud of fury, ignorant to the ire of his little sister. Cayli grimaced, peeking back into the room to check mom remained oblivious. Dad was gone of course, disappeared the very moment he could, some excuse tripping off his lips. Cay rolled her eyes. Jay moved mountains to be here, and he spared her barely two words since they left the hospital. Ignored every message. She breathed out hard, baby blues bouncing to the door he nearly wrenched from its hinges. Natalie's room.

"Mom, I'll just be a sec, 'kay?"

She closed the door softly behind her, lips pursed, and crossed the hall. It was locked when she tried it. A soft knock brought no answer, but big brother hardly stormed out on himself now did he? Cay frowned, tried to let her mind slip back into the weird lull that had preceded her first touch of the gift that apparently made her sick enough to scare her folks half to death. Gentle, gentle, blah blah blah. She let her thoughts empty out, one tiny flower reaching out to the sun's warmth. Let her fingers wrap carefully around the handle, and waited.

Waited.

WaAaaiTed.

And the door clicked open.

Cay grinned down at her hand. Stepped lightly inside. And paused, blinking. Natalie's things lay strewn like carnage. Something like... ash? piled in little clouds on the floor. And there was a hole leaking drywall. A fist-shaped hole.

It stank like burning.

An uncomfortable feeling sunk into the pit of her stomach. This was not the Jay she knew. Was it? Mom and dad treated him differently these days, like something broke when he came home from the marines. Dad especially. Cay swallowed drily, shot a quick message to her brother.

What. The. FUCK? What did you do???

That ought to get his attention. She never swore. Least not in front of him.

Her feet trailed a careful path, but there didn't seem to be anyone else here. "Natalie?" She called the name soft, pausing by the shut door. Knocked softly, and went in.

Oh. Oh, this was not good.

Cay hovered in the doorway, uncertain.

Natalie was on the floor. Her face was blotched. Cheeks wet. Though her eyes were utterly dry now, the pink against the pale blue haunting. Alcohol wafted strong. Her head was pressed back against the wall, listless. Cayli couldn't even begin to fathom what might have happened. She glanced over her shoulder, like by some additional piece of magic an adult would appear at her side and relieve her of this strange obligation. 

"Are you... are you hurt?" The question wrenched like a betrayal. Jay wouldn't have done that. He couldn't have done that. But she couldn't imagine the words he could have said either. "Should I get someone?" Her brows furrowed. Natalie had sent her away earlier. She said she hadn't been okay then, whatever that meant, but now she looked utterly broken.

"Like who?" A grim smirk twisted. Natalie's eyes looked like they glazed then, but she closed them quickly.

"I can't just leave you on the restroom floor, Natalie."