Chapter 5: Like a ninja

The knock came again, a bit former this time, Kaliyah's head snapped toward the door, then she looked at Levi and then the door, then back at the man.

Her eyes widened with panic and her mouth moved silently before a whisper barely escaped: “Hide!”

He just looked at her, calm and still.

“Hide, please!” she whispered again, her hands flailing slightly now as she motioned toward the narrow corners of the room. But her room wasn’t that big. There was barely anywhere he could actually disappear into.

Her hands shook with urgency, pointing toward the wardrobe, under the bed but nothing would work.

Another knock.

Then came the voice: “Kaliyah!”

Her whole body tensed. It was Don!

The name made her blood run cold.

“C..Coming” she said, but her voice cracked halfway through. She turned back to Levi in desperation.

He nodded and moved swiftly toward the window.

She pushed it open just enough for him to slip out, and he stepped onto the narrow pavement outside her window.

She pulled the window almost closed, and then quickly turned to the door.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice as firm as she could manage.

“Open the door,” Don replied.

“Why?” she questioned, already standing right in front of it.

“Mom gave me the grocery list,” he said, the sound of paper rustling faintly through the wood.

Kaliyah took a deep breath, stilling herself.

She hated dealing with him, hated the way he always lingered around her, the way he looked at her and spoke to her like he wasn’t her brother, but something else. And Kate never said a word, she always acted like she didn’t notice.

Kaliyah unlocked the door and cracked it open just enough.

“Give it to me,” she said quickly, holding out her hand.

Don leaned forward, smirking slightly. “That’s not how you greet your big brother…”

“Just give me the list,” she snapped, her patience gone.

He handed it to her, but let his fingers brush against hers, causing her to flinch.

Just as Kaliyah was about to shut the door, Don suddenly shoved it wide open, forcing his way inside.

She gasped, stumbling back. “What are you…”

But she couldn’t finish.

With a quiet thud, he slammed the door and shut it behind him and leaned against it, a sickly smirk curling on his face.

He began taking slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Kaliyah’s back instantly straightened. “You gave me the list, you should go.”

But he didn’t stop. “I just wanted to have a little chat,” he said casually, his eyes dark and unreadable. “You’ve been so… tense lately.”

He stepped closer, making her feel sick.

His hand reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and revoltingly soft. “You know that, right? My beautiful sister.”

Kaliyah yanked his hand away with all the force she could muster. “Don’t touch me, just leave me alone.” Her voice trembled with fury.

Don's smile didn’t fade. “Why do you act like this, huh? You think you’re too good for me?”

She backed up until her legs hit the side of the bed.

Don's fingers slipped into a lock of her hair.

He brought the strand to his nose and sniffed it slowly, like some kind of deranged beast trying to memorize her scent.

Then he chuckled.

“You have such pretty, thick, luscious hair,” he whispered, his voice raspy “It’s like silk…”

His fingers trailed lower, brushing against her shoulder.

“And your skin…” His voice dropped, heavy with something dark and vile. “I can only imagine how it’ll feel on mine.”

Kaliyah moved backward, her legs brushing against the dresser now. Her eyes darted around. There was no more room, no more space.

“Stay away from me,” she hissed, trying to steady her voice, but it shook anyway.

And Don just kept moving closer.

“Kaliyah…” He smiled wide widely. “We’re not blood, you know that.”

“I don’t care,” she snapped. “You’re disgusting and I want nothing to do with you.”

He chuckled again, then he reached for her arm.

Kaliyah’s eyes widened as Don froze mid-step.

The sound came from the window.

She turned her head and there, standing on the pavement outside the slightly open window, was the man.

Don's eyes narrowed, he looked back at Kaliyah, then at the men. And then he scoffed.

“Oh… really?” He chuckled. “This is why you like being in your room so much? Him?”

He shook his head slowly.

“So you have a boyfriend now? How sweet.”

Then, with a smug grin, he turned to Levi.

“Don’t worry. You could just come back later, we’re a little busy right now. Or...” He gave a wicked grin. “You could stay and watch, if you’d like.”

He reached for Kaliyah’s hand.

But a voice sliced through the room like a blade.

“You wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her,” Levi said from the window.

His tone was dangerously calm yet icy. The kind of calm that could silence a room… or kill.

Don let out a dry and arrogant laugh.

“And if I do?”

Levi’s gaze never wavered. “I could feed you to some dogs or gouge your eyes out and let you play golf with it.”

Don opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“Kaliyah…come” Levi said softly.

She didn’t hesitate, she took a shaky step toward him.

But Don moved too.

And just as his fingers were about to close around her wrist, BAM!

Levi’s fist flew through the air like lightning, crashing straight into Don's jaw.

Don crumpled to the floor with a thud, groaning in pain.

Kaliyah froze, her chest heaving.

A knock came at the door.

“Kaliyah?” Kate’s voice called out from the hallway. “What was that noise?”

Kaliyah’s eyes darted from the door to Don writhing on the floor and then to Levi.

She couldn’t even speak. Levi’s hand reached for hers.

And without another word, he pulled her against him, carrying her securely .

And then leapt out the window. The movement was so fluid, like a ninja