Anna clocked out exactly at 12, not waiting any minute longer in this stinky store. The hell was wrong with the manager? She was still angry about her overtime, why weren't any police there to chastise the stupid baldie about keeping a minor till midnight.

She rolled her eyes, why would someone save a nobody like her? She was poor, ugly, and did she say poor? Anna went into the staff lounge, or more like sneaked in, hoping that the manager isn't in there. Whatever luck she had, she ended up using it all, no soul was found in the break room. Plus, she was sure that she K.Oed her luck as there was her pay laying innocently on the table. Doubting her eyes, she looked around her to spot anything suspicious. Maybe the manager was hiding, and he planned to humiliate her as soon as she takes the envelope.

Uggh, it was too late for this shit, whatever happens shall happen; and she deserves the money. Anna worked her ass off for a bunch of bucks.

It took her a minute to change into her school uniform, then she went straight into fetching the envelope that had her name written on, and ran away with it before the manager keeps her in any minute longer in this cursed store.

___________

Frosty air greeted her barely protected face, she shivered at the cold and grabbed her scarf from her bag. Rummaging through her unorganized bag, a lot of things jumped out of it as if it was Doraemon's pocket. A pocket full of mysterious surprises, at one point a tooth brush came out from there, just when did she pack it in the first place.

Aha, finally her hand touched the soft grey muffler she owned, it was her favorite one, her mother personally knitted for her, it wasn't the perfect piece of work, but just the fact that her beloved took time in doing an activity she was never good at and while thinking about her too; filled her heart with an unbelievable amount of warmth.

_____________

Securing warmth was her first priority before checking the usual amount in the envelope. She circled the knitted wool around her neck, it covered her mouth, but left her nose uncovered. The cold must have nibbled the tip of her nose, it must be red by now like a reindeer's, she chuckled at the image of a red-nosed reindeer.

Just as she was going to open the envelope, it was snatched away from her in a flash and that trapped her breath in her lungs, constricting painfully in fright. She grabbed the wrist of the stranger that stole her envelope, to her surprise it was her step brother.

"W-What are you doing?" For once, she was scared, what was he going to do with the money, it may be a small amount to him, but it was a life saving amount that will get her the shabby apartment she wants.

"So, this is how much you earned for working all day?" He snickered as he went through the envelope.

"Please, it is really important to me, return it."

"Now, why should I do that, when you are planning to use this money to leave home!"

Now, that was confusing, "Are you upset that I didn't inform you about my plans?"

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The boy doubled over in laughter, "Upset, me? Why you are not family in the first place, it doesn't matter if you are leaving?"

Anna shot him a baffled look, "Uhh, then shouldn't you be happy that I am leaving?"

Her brother grew quiet for a second, his hands slowly tightened on the paper envelope, "Why are you leaving?" He changed the topic, pink dusted his cheek. GEH, something is wrong with his large head.

"Why would I not leave?" She countered back.

The glare he threw threatened her to dismiss the sassiness, or else.

Anna let go of his surprisingly thin wrist, didn't he play sports? And crossed her arms over her chest, "What is your problem, seriously, you made my life miserable in school and at home because I'm living with you? What kind of sane person would stay at such place where all of the residents bully the 'freeloader'?! And if it was about the money, I'll work so hard to pay for the luxury I received,"

"When...When are you leaving?" He was not fazed by her outburst, instead he kept on ignoring her complaints.

Anna opened her closed eyes, when did she squeeze them shut? "That is as soon as I graduate, I'll be out of your hair, so don't worry!"

"That 's next month! What, so you weren't planning on telling us?!" Anger was present in his tone, seriously, she didn't get him, why was he making a big deal out of it?

"No, no, I was planning to tell you when everything was finalized, anyways, give it back!"

"No," He stubbornly held on, Anna wanted to grab his hair and pull strand after strand, "WHY?!"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE MY SI-" He cut himself mid sentence, and gripped the money hard, Anna worried that they'd crumple under his strength. "ANYWAYS, you're not going anywhere, so forget the money!

"What kind of bullshit is this, give it back!" Anna grasped the bony wrist, shaking it to emphasize her point.

"Hands off, you filthy orphan."

"Give it back," She disregarded the command and tightened her hold on the boy, "I said hands off me btch! What kind of girl has such strength?!" He winced at the constricting pain, and rose his other hand to strike her if she continued this behaviour.

"I don't care if you'd hit me now, just give my money back!"

The teen's eyes darkened, his smirk deepened, "So, that is what it takes to make you react?!"

Anna's mask slowly broke down as the younger boy crumpled the envelope in his hand, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Making you miserable," His laughter echoed throughout the empty street. Her eyes widened as the boy pushed her off her feet and threw it to the street. Anna's eyes widened, she can no longer rein her inner beast. The ugly monster clawed its way out, taking the boy by the collar, shaking his whole being, "THE FK DID YOU DO THAT FOR, YOU DIPSH#T!"

"W-What did you call me?"

"NOW YOU DEAF, YOU SON OF #$TCH?"

"YOU WANNA GET BEATEN SO BAD, HUH?!" The boy puffed his chest in anger akin to a rooster displaying its dominance.

"TRY ME YOU SH&T EATING BRAT!"

She gave him a kick in the crotch, and just like that he fell on his knees. K.O.

"You know that plastic bully makes you look stupid, not that you need help with that." She give him one last dirty look, before going after the crumpled envelope,

"You #&tch," It came out as a groan, in a fetal position, for a football player he was super weak.

She ran to the empty street, crouching and patting the dirt of the envelop. She tried flattening out the money, which thankfully didn't tear from the harsh treatment. Would they be accepted in such a poor state. Hopefully they do or that brat will eat her fist!

Anna sighed in relief, now that she calmed down, her brain was clear as a sky, not a single cloud of anger clouded her judgment , "Umm, I might need to grovel for forgiveness ness," She kicked him there, what if he is not able to have kids now?!

She rose her head, slowly turned to look at her brother. He was still in a fetal position, but his head was directed towards her direction , she expected to find him furrowing his brows, but no the boy was screaming atop his lungs with an alarmed expression.

"Wha-"

For a second her eyes were blinded by a harsh white light that dried up her cornea, then all was left were red and blurry black spots covering her vision. The last thing she heard was Ray's shrill scream, "ANNA!"