The Gardner's children ran heartily in the middle of the street. It was raining heavily but the sound couldn't diminish their hearty laughter and the pit pat of their feets on the wet tarred road. Most of the residents of the small town were indoors cause of the rain and also it was evening. The hustle and bustle around day seemed to be calmed after sunset and it was more quiet as it rained.
"Slow down, Rebecca!" Reginald Gardner, her twin brother said. She stopped abruptly at his words, bent down while holding her knee and tried to catch her breath.
"If you keep that up you'll catch a cold." Levi, their elder brother scolded Rebecca.
"I think walking in the rain is way more worse. If we run we'll get home faster and then we can change into dry clothes and avoid catching a cold." Levi just stared at her blankly.
"Whatever floats your boat." He could only sigh helplessly and let her do as she pleased.
"Let's go, Reggie " She zoomed off with her twin brother. Levi didn't argue, what mattered was that they got home safely and didn't catch a cold. He couldn't afford to take care of a sick person, the additional expenses would add more on his plate and the responsibility of taking care of his two siblings without their parents was already a lot.
As he casually walked towards the house that once belonged to his parent, which was then passed on to him. His mind deep in thought, wondering how their lives would be if their parents were still alive. That unfortunate accident had changed their lives forever.
He reached their front door and was about taking off the wet coat and his boots before he saw someone wandering aimlessly in the rain. He wondered who the person was, who would walk in their secluded neighborhood at this time and in the rain.
He stood there contemplating if he should let his curiosity get the best of him or take precautions as it could be a killer or someone dangerous.
As he was contemplating, a car passed the stranger, barely missing the tiny figure. As the car's headlight flashed on the figure, he could see that it was a little girl.
Even though the car almost hit her, it didn't stop. Out of concern he rushed to where the girl stood.
"Are you alright? " He asked, concerned.
The girl merely looked at him; her eyes dead and lifeless.
"Hey!" He called out when he didn't see any reaction from her.
He was creeped out, this could turn out the wrong way. This weird little girl freaked him out and he could feel a shiver go down his spine. He took a deep breath and decided to take that gamble.
He picked her up and took her to the house.
.
.
"Levi! Who's this?" Becca asked, surprised.
"I don't know." He replied. "Bring my shirt and my pants from my bedroom." He ordered Reggie. Reggie left immediately to do as he was told.
"You can't bring a stranger to our house. She could be a ghost or a killer..." Reggie came back with the clothes.
"Here you go." He handed them to Levi.
"Hey!" Finally, the girl turned to look at him.
"Your clothes are dripping wet. Here are some dry clothes. " Her eyes moved to look at the clothes in his hand.
"I think the first thing to do is ask her who the hell she is and where she's from..."
"Becca!" He shouted in annoyance.
"I rest my case. But just for precautions, I'm sleeping with a knife this night." She turned around to leave. "Let's go and make dinner, Reggie. " Reggie followed her to the kitchen.
"You can go in there and change." He pointed to the direction of the guest bathroom.
Her hands shook as they stretched out to collect the dry clothes from Levi's hand. When she collected them, she walked slowly towards the bathroom.
.
.
Clover could hear the hearty chatter coming from the dining room as she quietly approached it. Levi's clothes were a little big on her but she was happy with whatever she could get. A sweet scent wafted around the house, signalling that they were preparing dinner.
"Where's she?" Becca asked.
"She's changing in the guest bathroom." Levi calmly answered.
"You left a stranger in our bathroom!" Becca couldn't believe how chill her brother was.
"So what do you expect me to do? Keep a watch by the door?" Levi felt Becca was being a little too paranoid.
"Yes." Her answer made Levi roll his eyes.
"What if...?" Levi raises his hand to stop her from talking.
"I know what I'm doing and I'm the grown up here. I can see things you children can't." Becca rolled her eyes at his words.
"Then at least go check on our guest." She could only sigh helplessly. "I'll serve dinner." She added.
Clover had overheard their conversation. But she didn't harbor any hatred for the cautious Becca. She was trying to protect her family and she greatly admired her for it. It was something everyone needed to learn in order to survive.
Clover walked feebly into the dinning room as Levi was about to come get her.
"She's here already." Levi said.
The Gardner's children stared at her with bewildered gazes. That look on their faces said everything and Clover could tell what they were looking at. Her pregnant belly.