Maelstrom (Inferno 5)

I quirk an eyebrow at her.

“So you tried to talk to Mom?” I ask, curiously.

Luna nods as her hands fall to her side. “She didn’t have much to say so it was pretty one-sided for the most part, but we did manage to talk about the house and how she likes things kept around here.”

“What?”

The outraged squawk from just behind me makes me jump. I don’t even have to turn around to know that Kalen is probably crimson from his head down to his toes.

“Hm?” Luna asks, glancing past me at my brother.

“She talked to you?” he all but shouts.

I raise a hand to cover my left ear, then turn to give him a level stare. If he starts to treat Luna like he did all the others, we’re going to be back to the drawing board trying to find someone else for Mom.

“Would you relax?” I bark at him. “If you want to ask a question, ask it in a tone that won’t knock my hearing out.”

He gives me a withering look as he steps around me and enters the kitchen. Kalen takes another few steps until his body is practically a barrier between myself and Luna, and I watch as his fists tighten by his sides.

He's going to lose his shit and we’re both going to end up being casualties if I can’t calm him down.

“Wanna do me a favor?” I ask, thinking as quickly as I can.

“Not particularly,” he snaps as he turns to face me.

“Great!” I say cheerfully as I walk over to the fridge and reach on top for the can I keep Mom’s benefit money in. “We ran out of milk. Can you run to the store and grab some?” I ask, forcing a few dollar bills into his balled up hand.

“No, I—”

“Kalen, just fucking go,” I snarl.

He grunts as he gives Luna an angry parting look, then leaves the kitchen. I hear the small closet door in the living room open then close as he retrieves his jacket, then sigh at the banging of the front door as he slams it on his way out.

Milk.

Who knew something could cause so much emotional damage to an already fragile situation?