Lixorth
Alison

    “Kabur?” I screeched at my twin brother who was now standing at the mouth of the bedroom door while clogging both his ears with his forefear just in case I could make himself deaf. God fucking. In fact, right, I was also careful not to wake the entire house.

I saw Mathias fiercely. “You're crazy.”

    Mathias shrugged his shoulders, he smiled proudly. “You also know that this is a good idea. Besides, you also won't know what Dad and Mom are going to do to kill us tomorrow morning.”

     I hugged a small orange square pillow in my lap. “They won't kill us.”

    I heard Mathias laughing sarcastically. My brother rubbed his brownish short hair as he walked back and forth past me sitting on the bed. “You don't understand, Alison. You and I have let them down, it's only a matter of hours until we're both actually shipped off to Norway.”

    My stomach immediately felt like it had just been coerced. Norway, the place where my extended family threw away and abandoned children or other family members who had tarnished the Bancroft family's good name. From what I heard from my cousins, they'd be errands, take torture if they couldn't do their job well, and maybe even be completely abandoned, no one will care if you get caught in a snow avalanche.

    “Well, now you're just thinking.” Sindir Mathias's. “Follow me what I said. Pack up tonight and we're leaving in the early hours.”

    My heart wanted to listen to Mathias, but my brain refused. “Mother and Father will not kill us and nor will they send us to Norway.”

    “Stop, Alison.” Mum Mathias. His hazel eyes were fiery as he called out my name.

    “You have to stop.”

    “Both failed to get into Lixorth Magic Academy, you saw for yourself how Mom and Dad reacted this morning, right? They're ready to bake us.”

     My stomach is back on. Yeah, of course I remember all that. What was the expression that my Father and Mother showed when they opened an official letter regarding the results of my entrance exam with Mathias at the most prestigious academy in America. Dad didn't want to look at me and Mathias and Mom just took a step away from us like we were just guests coming home at the wrong time.

     “Enough. I'll go.” Mathias announced his thoughts clearly.

    For a split second, I looked at my brother aghast. Mathias is stubborn and indifferent. If he wanted something, anyone and anything would not be able to make him stop. He'd rather leave me than have to beg me to come on his run.

     “You are not serious.”

    “Alison, I ask you one more time. Are you coming with me or not?”

     I bit my lower lip, not having the courage to stare back at Mathias.

    Dad and Mom couldn't have killed me and Mathias, right? We are their real children, after all. Even though we were the first Bancroft to fail the entrance examination of the prestigious academy.

    Mathias doesn't seem to want to listen to me anymore because after that he took a deep breath and then turned out of my room. My body stiffened suddenly and subconsciously I jumped down from the bed and chased after Mathias.

     “Wait.”

     My brother stopped when I pulled his right hand. He didn't turn around to look at me at all. “If you wish I had changed my mind, you're wrong. I'll still go.”

     “I'm coming.”

    “What?” finally Mathias turned around and looked straight into my eyes, trying to find a glimpse of doubt. But this time I am sure. At least I didn't die in Norway.

    "I'm coming.” I repeated it again, this time more confident.

    The frown on Mathias' forehead began to unravel. I know he's relieved I finally picked a stupid path from him. “OK, pack now.”

     All right, packing isn't easy. Besides I have to think of anything that might help me on the run somewhere I also have to make sure that everything I'm going to carry fits in the bag.

    No. gabe.

    How do?

    And again, I actually doubt where we're going. Mathias did mention Uncle Billy's whereabouts in San Diego, but that's a hundred miles from Colorado.

     While allowing my brain to work, my body automatically moved to pick up a few layers of clothes, toiletries, utensils that might be needed such as folding knives and scissors. Not to forget I also included my savings. We're sure we need the money.

     Once again, my brain invites me to go back to talking about Mom and Dad. I knew Mathias was right, we had disappointed both of them. What does the American Magic Union say about the children of Francis and Lindsey Bancroft who failed the entrance exam to the best magic academy in America?

Oh, naw.

They will kill us.