The door shuddered against Reina's back, sending shockwaves through her. The long, rough knocks rang throughout their home. Hiding behind the door would do her no good now.

"I can do it." She whispered.

Inhaling, she rose to her feet. Even when standing, the door towered over her. After fiddling clumsily with the locks, the door unlocked with a clack. Slowly, it opened, whether she wanted it to or not.

A tall man stood before her with a notebook clasped to his chest. He wielded only a bushy moustache and a black Association suit against the fierce cold.

"Good day, madam."

"And a very good day to you, Sir." Tilting her head up, she smiled and blinked.

The man managed a slight curl of his lip. He said, "Your parents have raised you well. Speaking of, be a darling and fetch them for me, would you? If I remember right, I have good news for this household."

She paused and brought a hand to her chest, brushing aside her dark brown curls. "I'm sorry, Sir, but it's only me here." She looked down and cupped her hands together. "My parents have passed already. Might I have your name?"

The man squinted hard and then flicked through the notebook in his hand. He paused on a page, his face wrinkled. "My condolences." Clicking his tongue, he looked to the house number beside her and grumbled, "I had hoped to ease into my shift with this visit. But I've gone and reminded you of your deceased parents. Sorry."

Reina watched his lips curl, furrowing the hair beneath his bushy nose. "Regardless, my name is unnecessary. Just Sir will do fine."

"Then excuse me, Sir. But you... you said good, as in good news, didn't you? Then, you must mean?-"

Fixed to his notebook, he interrupted, "That's right. After carefully considering your circumstances, the Government has decreed that Reina Aeneas will remain the sovereign owner of house forty-two on Wellbrick Road. Despite her age."

Scoffing, he looked up from the booklet and said, "How fortunate."

Reina blurted out, "What. What about guardianship? Did, did you approve it?"

The man raised an eyebrow, scrunching his withered face. Suddenly, his hairy features were not so amusing. "Patient, girl. I was just getting to that."

Coughing, he gazed down at his notebook and riffled through its pages. "In addition to Reina Aeneas receiving ownership of her home. Mistress Elia of the Association has declared Reina Aeneas guardian of Rowan Aeneas."

This time, her lips remained cold, obedient and shut. Even though the heat leaking from her home warmed her back. She said nothing.

"Despite being only fourteen. In the eyes of the Government, Reina Aeneas is henceforth an adult. And her brother's legal guardian. Reina will receive a year's rations from the Government's own resources to support her and her brother."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

She knew the man was still talking, but no other word reached her. It took all her strength to lean on the doorway and not crumple to the floor. She had it, her brother, the house and the food. She'd won another year.

Behind the man, she spotted movement. A familiar figure skipped along the pavement towards them.

It was her brother Rowan, and the sight of him captured her deep black irises for only a moment. Her focus soon snapped back to the tall, rambling Association man as she stood tall again.

One of his eyes seemed intent on following the page, but the other twitched, ogling her. The corners of her smile rose as she nodded.

"In line with the Home Bureau Association, Reina Aeneas must disclose her full financial circumstances monthly to an Associate member. Once eighteen, like all citizens, she must deliver Contribution."

The man paused as he heard a patter of feet and twisted to confront them. Rowan stopped and looked between her and the stiff man, his mouth wide. Before he could speak, she called to him, "Rowan. Rowan, come here for me."

He grinned back at her, trodding towards Reina with light, confident steps. The man stared intently at the boy as he passed, but Rowan was oblivious. "Reinaaa, the swings are frozen stiff again. Can't you come back and do something?-"

She clasped a hand over his mouth and pulled him close. Even at seven, he was almost as tall as she was. Fortunately, like a soft plushie in her arms, he didn't resist.

She glanced back at the man tapping his feet on the frosty grey gravel. "Ah, I'm so sorry, Sir. He won't interrupt you again."

The man snorted and returned to his document. "Reina Aeneas will lose her adult privileges and guardianship if she fails to meet her disclosure deadlines. That is all."

He ripped the sheet out with a loud tear and handed it to her. With shaky hands, she released Rowan and reached for the page. She could not keep the paper still, so she would have to read it later. Clutching it to her chest, she breathed in.

"Sir, thank you so much. Rowan and I are very lucky to have received such care from the Government and your Association." Rowan went to interrupt, but her pale palm muffled his words. "If that is all, then-"

"Agghh HELLLLP!"

A shrill shriek erupted. Reina resisted the urge to cup her ears as her slim arms ensnared around Rowan, squeezing him tight. She followed the noise only to see the neighbour's door burst open.

Her neighbour Michael was wrestling with two black suits. He was a head taller than them both. But it seemed to do him no good as they struggled and restrained each of his arms. At the same time, a third man in dark strutted out of the house, swinging a squealing Rin from his arm.

Grunting, Michael wrenched his hand free. Crack. Then, an Associate man on his right tumbled to the frozen ground. He turned to reach for the other man with both hands-free.

"What? What are they doing to him?" She said.

"I told them to wait!" Spat the moustached man. She could feel Rowan still in her grasp. Her hands had left his mouth and covered his eyes.

The man scowled at her. "This has nothing to do with you. Go inside. We're finished for today."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a deep black baton. He spent another moment watching her. "Pay your debts, girl. If you want to keep hold of those things of yours." With that, Reina watched him stride away.

Blinking, her hesitation only lasted an instant. She tugged Rowan and ushered him inside, wrestling him into the house. With a final glance, she saw the devastating crunch to the back of the head as Michael collapsed.

Once she shut the door, she slipped down against it, barring it with her body. Rowan looked down on her. The warmth of their home was pleasant, thanks to the metal whirring of their heater in the corner. But still, she felt cold.

"Rowan." She watched him teeter on one foot. Reina did her best to muster a growl. "I told you to stay in the park. Don't you dare interrupt me again when I'm talking."

His eyes widened. "But, Reina, you said you'd come back. You lied."

"Are you calling your sister a liar?" She was twisting her dark brown bangs with her fingers. She missed their lighter, warmer colour. "Remind me what I said? Remind me what I've been telling you for weeks! Rowan?"

Fidgeting, he said, "You told me you had an important meeting soon and that I shouldn't bother you."

Inside, she smiled at his honesty. She wanted to reach out and grab his little frowning figure hidden in his puffy winter clothes. Then, pull him close. But the concern on his face never dwelled long. Soon, he was all smiles again.

"I'm sorry, Reina. But the meeting is over, isn't it? We can go back, can't we? To the park? You promised."

'He wants to go to the park? After all of that?' At some point, her hair had found its way into her mouth. She chewed her brown locks quietly while Rowan squirmed, waiting for an answer, smiling.

'No, it's not his fault. It's not. He didn't see what happened because I covered his eyes.'

"Rowan... if you clean your room. We can go to the park." It was all she could come up with.

Rowan tilted his head at her, confused. But it wasn't long before he was rushing up the stairs. Once the sight of him was gone, she pulled her knees towards her. Then, she placed the paper on the floor. Staring at it till she found the word.

"Guardian," she said. "I'm finally..." It was all she could manage to bury her head between her legs. She couldn't bring herself to move from blocking the door, but she wanted to. Her tears threatened to stain the paper, so she pushed it away.

"The park. I can figure it out after we go to the park." After a few minutes, she called out to him. "Rowan, are you done yet? Come on. I'm ready. Ready to go now."