The night hours crawl by slowly. Bernadette sleeps peacefully, her presence looming even in slumber, casting an intimidating aura. As dawn breaks, the first rays of sunlight filter through the bedroom window.

Dylan sleeps sprawled out in his small cot, fists clenched, his breathing synchronized with Bernadette's steady rythm.

Meanwhile, Léa lies on her back, hands behind her head, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling with a vacant expression. She struggles to blink and takes deep, steady breaths. When sunlight finally reaches her, Léa feels a surge of energy. She glances at Bernadette, then at Dylan, and like a stealthy ninja, she slips out of bed silently, tiptoeing towards the bedroom door.

Before leaving, she casts a final look at Bernadette. I have to do it, she repeats to herself.

She crosses the kitchen, carefully avoiding the creaky spots on the floor, and makes her way to the living room. There, she grabs her backpack, opening it with utmost care to minimize noise, and places a few clothes inside before closing it again. Moving with stealth, she retraces her steps through the kitchen towards the front door. With a trembling hand, she grasps the door handle, freezing as she peers outside. You can do it, she urges herself once more.

As she slowly turns the handle, she jumps at the sound of Dylan’s sleepy voice, “Léa? What are you doing?” Léa looks towards the bedroom. Dylan stands in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

She hesitates for a moment, watching him with disgust. “Enough is enough. I’m leaving. I can’t live like this anymore, not with you.”

Dylan remains impassive. “If you leave, Grandma will be furious.”

Suppressing a bitter laugh, Léa retorts, “As if you ever cared about anyone else.”

Dylan pauses, pondering for a few seconds. “Léa, come back to bed. I won’t tell Grandma. I promise.” He attempts a charming smile, hoping to soften his sister’s resolve, but it falls flat.

“Don’t play that game with me. It won’t work. Not anymore.”

As the siblings face off like wary alley cats, a noise comes from the bedroom. Bernadette murmurs something in her sleep. Panic sets in, freezing the children in place. What will she do if she finds us up at this hour?

Dylan steps aside and peeks into the bedroom, seeing Bernadette still asleep, having just turned over. After a long, tense minute, Léa and Dylan exhale in relief. The standoff resumes. “You know, Dylan,” Léa asserts, her voice low and accusatory, “I’ve figured you out. I know who you really are. You’re a monster, not even human.”

Dylan, thrown off balance, searches for words, but Léa cuts him off. “I’ve had plenty of time to think, and it all makes sense now. The mysterious flat tire on your teacher’s car, the bleach in Mom’s eye drops, the ink in the dryer—it was all you, and I know it.” A chilling silence descends as the siblings lock eyes. Dylan lowers his head as if in shame, but a sinister smile slowly spreads across his face. He looks up at Léa, his gaze icy. His smile hints at mischief. Léa musters her courage and demands, “Say something.”

Dylan stifles a hysterical laugh, cautious not to wake Bernadette. “So what if it was me? You’ll never be able to prove it.” Léa clenches her fists, suppressing the urge to strike him, feeling her anger rising as Dylan looks at her provocatively, taking a few steps towards her. He strokes his chin thoughtfully. “You know what frustrates me the most? I couldn’t pin any of it on you.”

Tears well up in Léa’s eyes, but she holds them back. “So, Léa, is that why you’re running away? It would be a shame if I woke Grandma to tell her you’ve suddenly left, and that I couldn’t stop you.”

Léa glances at the door behind her, hesitating as Dylan watches her intently, eager to see her reaction. In a sudden burst of emotion, Léa grabs Dylan by the collar and raises her fist, but he remains composed, speaking calmly, “If you hit me, everyone will think you’re attacking your dear little brother. No one will believe you after that.” Her hand trembles as a tear rolls down her cheek. She releases him, and Dylan assumes a triumphant stance, a smirk playing on his lips.

Dylan turns and signals for Léa to return to the bedroom, but she hesitates, stepping back. “You know, Dylan, I figured out why you insisted on apple juice this morning.”

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“Oh really? Go on, I’m listening.” Dylan taunts, leaning casually against the wall. Léa takes a deep breath. “You planned this. You drank your juice quickly and then… you peed in the glass, so you wouldn’t need to go to the bathroom.”

Dylan remains silent, waiting to see if she knows the full story, replying with a brief, “Go on.”

“You knew I’d leave at some point. You waited until I left the bathroom, then snuck in to pour your mess on Grandma’s clothes. Afterward, you quietly went about your business, waiting for her to find it.”

Dylan smirks. “Nice theory, but Grandma would have noticed the glass.”

Léa shakes her head, frustrated. Does he take me for a fool? she thinks. “I’m not stupid. You played the part and washed your glass to remove all traces of what you did.”

Dylan simulates applause to mockingly congratulate Léa on her discovery. “It’s just sad you figured it out so late and have zero proof.”

Disheartened, Léa nods reluctantly. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

“Now that you’ve uncovered one little secret, can we just go back to bed?” Dylan suggests, feigning innocence.

Léa shakes her head defiantly. “No, and I think I’ve figured out the computer room incident too.” Dylan's curiosity peaks as he focuses intently on her. “Oh, do tell. But I doubt you have all the details,” he taunts.

Léa pauses, recalling the events. “Your scheme started long before, during lunch when you emptied the dental floss dispenser.” Concentrated on her words, he nods without speaking. “You played the part well when you gave it to Grandma, but you kept some hidden.”

“That’s an interesting theory, but it explains nothing.”

Surprised, Léa begins, “What? Are you kidding me? After lunch, you insisted on using the computer, giving you time to set everything up.”

Dylan quickly interjects, “But I wasn’t even there when it all went down, so you can’t prove I orchestrated any of it.”

“True,” Léa admits reluctantly.

Dylan grins victoriously, ready to declare his innocence, but Léa presses on. “It was when you asked for help. You knew Grandma didn’t understand computers, but you asked her for help, knowing she’d ask me. Once in the room, you waited for the perfect moment, using a distraction to tie the floss to a button on my jacket. Then, at the precise moment, you found an excuse to leave.”

Dylan rubs his hands together. “Oh, we’re getting to the good part.”

“Just as I stood up, the floss pulled a jar down.”

Léa's eyes betray a hint of vulnerability as she recalls the chaotic moment. Dylan draws her attention back to him. “Do you think I tied dental floss to every jar in the room?”

Quick on her feet, Léa retorts, “No.” Then, with a sigh, “No, that part’s still a mystery. I’m stumped on how you arranged the rest.”

Dylan suddenly bursts into laughter muffling it quickly to avoid waking Bernadette, while Léa shoots him a glare that screams, “Don’t be stupid and wake Grandma.”

After a tense silence, listening for any stirrings from Bernadette, Léa turns to the door, hand poised on the handle. “Can you at least explain how you pulled off that trick?”

Proudly, Dylan lifts his chin. “Only two jars were rigged. The rest was sheer luck, pure brilliance. It was magnificent.”

Léa whirls around, scrutinizing Dylan intensely, searching for any sign of deception. “Luck?”

“I was as surprised as you two. I admit, tying the floss to your jacket was child’s play, but I didn’t expect the computer keyboard to launch the rest of the jars, haha.”

Léa stares at him, mouth agape, struggling to find words. “You said two—what about the other floss?”

“Simple. When Grandma entered, I quietly pulled the other floss tied above the window. As easy as a lie,” Dylan explains nonchalantly.

Léa closes her eyes in dismay. “You’re insane. You broke her things, even the window. Besides destroying her things, you broke the window. Didn’t you think it would hurt her?”

Arms crossed, Dylan’s tone remains detached. “I don’t care about her or anyone else. She’s just another pawn on my chessboard.”

My brother is a monster, Léa thinks to herself. “I was right, you’re not human,” she says, looking at Dylan as if identifying a body in a morgue.

“You know, Léa, life here is so boring. I hate this place, this town, these people.I just want to have fun, and this is the best way I’ve found.” Dylan admits without remorse.

Léa looks at him with pity. “Now that I know, I almost feel sorry for you.”

Surprised, Dylan barely has time to respond before Léa speaks loudly, “I see you watching us, Grandma. You can come out now; we’re done talking.”

At those words, Dylan freezes, a chill coursing through his veins. An overwhelming sense of dread fills him. His entire world unravels before him, and every hair on his body stands on end.

Silently, he begs that this is all a nightmare, praying fervently that Bernadette isn’t standing behind him. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he turns to face the source of his terror.

Dread contorts his features as he meets Bernadette’s gaze, looming over him. Her presence feels suffocating, her eyes piercing into his soul. With a swift motion, Bernadette slaps Dylan hard, sending him sprawling. Fear fills his eyes as he realizes the gravity of his actions.

Bernadette’s breathing is so heavy with anger that Dylan feels like he’s facing a bull. He wants to cry, but the emotional shock renders him speechless. He feels as if his life is ending tonight. This is a nightmare; I want to wake up, is all he can think. Grabbing Dylan by the ear, Bernadette drags him to the punishment wall, tossing a chair aside. Dylan tries to justify himself, but Bernadette, consumed by rage, starts to spank him relentlessly, tears streaming down his face.

Léa watches from the window, her expression blank. As sunlight filters through the hanging plants, it casts a greenish hue across her face.

Léa murmurs softly, “Oh, my dear brother, I promise you, from today on, you and I will have some interesting times together, just you and me.”

THE END