The moments in which footsteps sounded up the stairs and the doorknob turned felt like an eternity and a fraction of a second, at the same time. I felt my heart lurch upwards as the door opened, revealing the very figure that had fuelled many a bad thought through the previous weeks.

Debra.

She walked in a peach-coloured silk nightgown that stopped at her ankles, showing off her stocking-clad feet. The colour matched her complexion as she came in, a huffing and sweaty mess. She looked around, clueless at first before her eyes landed on me with fiery recognition. She let out an angry shriek at this, making the curlers in her hair shake with the action. A shriek that I was much too familiar with.

"Hanna!" She let out, nearing me.

Both Demir and Emut stood up as quick as light at this, their positions defensive as they surveyed the rounded woman at the door. She flinched back, a look of defiance still on her face along with shock. It was then that Richard rounded the corner.

"What's wrong, De-"

He stopped mid-sentence as he looked around the room, a confused look on his face. He was still wearing his work attire- a white button up shirt, cream office trousers and brown suspenders that struggled against his stout beer belly. His eyes landed on me and his mouth pulled into a frown as he neared behind Debra. She stood eyeing me with her hands against her hips.

"What is the meaning of this?" He said in his meek alpha voice and I nearly rolled my eyes at the look of hatred in their eyes as they looked me up and down.

Emut surveyed the surroundings before turning to me, a confused look on his face.

"I thought you said that all those from Earth were beautiful?" He let out, oblivious of his insensitive words and I pursed my lips to prevent the laughter as I turned to see Debra's face redden even more so than it already was. She pushed forward, her smell of overpowering body cream and pancake syrup invading my nose, making a wave of nostalgia hit me.

"Where the hell have you been?! Do you know how far Richard has driven, looking for you?! Do you think money for fuel grows on trees?!" She exclaimed at the top of her lungs and I felt too exhausted to answer, the sheer events from the previous hours overwhelming me. A good thing for her too as she was far from done. She huffed loudly before gesturing to Demir and Emut, with rounded hands.

"And, is this the kind of company you arrive with?! I'd be damned if I raised a harlot!" She screamed before turning to Richard, her face puffed out from anger.

"Say something, Rich!" She scolded and he stood up straight at this, clearing his throat as he looked up to make eye contact with the males who towered over him significantly.

"I would like you to leave my home immediately. My wife and I don't tolerate such obscene behaviour in our house." He said, in a voice that was straining to be deep. He stroked a hand through his thinning hair as he eyed Demir and Emut sternly, but they didn't move. Instead, they looked to me as though they were waiting on what I wanted to do. Yet, before I could even think of what to do or say, I heard another dreaded voice.

"Mum, Zug Zug spilled my nail polish. I want a-" She halted to a stop as she saw me.

Sierra.

She was wearing her signature black hoodie that rested against her mid-thigh, showing off her long legs. Her brown hair was in a messy bun, showing her fair, freckled face and I stilled as she looked me over.

For a while, I had called this girl my sister yet I hardly knew her in the many years I had been here. Her eyes were scrutinizing my attire- my burgundy tank top and mid-thigh shorts and combat boots. Her eyes met mine then, a look in them that threw me back to the unbearable memories.

4 years ago

"Make sure it looks good. Mum and Dad are gonna be home any minute." Sierra squealed, clapping her hands as she gazed out the window excitedly.

I smiled slightly, nodding quickly as I put the candles onto the cake before stepping back and examining the final look.

"It's done." I commented with a clap of my hands. Sierra nudged me out the way then to see my handiwork- the cake, the gift wrapping, the snack table and the decor.

She eyed it warily before turning to look at her phone and taking a selfie near the decorations and gifts. I watched as she captioned it, awaiting her response to see if anything needed to be amended. It was a good 2 minutes until I let out a cough to get her attention and she looked to me, her nose scrunched up as she looked me up and down.

"At least, go and get changed. It's their anniversary and the guests are gonna spend their time thinking about how icky you look." She let out with a snort before gazing into the mirror and fixing her hair.

I eyed my attire at her words. I was still dressed in my pyjamas that were now covered with flour. I had long since tied my hair back whilst making the small snacks needed for the guests.

Meanwhile, Sierra had a yellow blouse, blue jeans and yellow tinted sunglasses resting against her hair- a picture of perfection.

Sighing heavily, I made my way up the stairs as Sierra answered the door for the guests with cheery enthusiasm. I wasn't too upset about her comments, however.

Rather, it made me smile, thinking about the dress that Sue had gifted to me for my 16th birthday 2 weeks ago. She was the only one that had remembered and I recall having cried at the gift as we sat in the small break, in the cafe.

I walked over to my bed, reaching under and grabbing the hidden box. I opened it up, smiling at the beautiful patterns along its material.

I spent a good 10 minutes then, having a quick body wash, making sure to keep an eye on if Debra and Steve arrived. I smiled when there were only more guests, but no sign of their car.

Slipping on the dress, I turned to look at the full length mirror. It was a sleeveless dress of a soft pink colour, with floral patterns and rested on my lower thigh. It notably tightened in at the waist before flowing out delicately at the bottom. I unclipped my hair, letting it flow down my back. I had always had long hair, for as long as I'd known.

I smiled at my reflection then, feeling more content than I had in a long time. Sue had remarkably good taste for a woman who claimed she didn't know fashion.

I let out a gasp when the door opened, turning to see Sierra enter. She looked as though she was about to speak, but stopped short when she caught sight of me. I watched, nervous, as she looked me up and down, an indecipherable look in her eyes.

"Where did you get that?" She muttered and I put my hands up hurriedly.

"No money was spent. It was a gift from a work colleague." I rushed out, but she didn't seem to be listening as she looked at me.

It happened in a split-second, but I could still recall seeing her face morph into annoyance before she stomped out, the door slamming behind her.

I chose to ignore it; it was a very common thing for Sierra to do. She had the type of mood that could switch instantaneously. She could be laughing along with Debra then screaming for a new phone the next. Instead, I turned to throw my pyjamas in the laundry basket.

I heard the sound of the familiar sputtering engine and rushed to the window, seeing Debra and Richard's familiar figures as they stepped towards the door. Hurriedly, I moved to grab the bracelet given by Marie from the box and placed it around my arm, loving the look of the delicate silver as it rested against my slender wrist.

I made my way to the bedroom door to leave, but flinched back when it opened. Debra was stood there and I smiled as I opened my mouth to say 'happy anniversary', but Debra gave me no time to speak before looking me over.

"Change immediately." She said with a snap of her finger and I looked down to my attire in confusion.

"What's wrong?" I asked and Debra tutted heavily, her shawl still wrapped around her form. She hadn't even removed her outside attire before coming up to me?

"Oh, just look at it. It practically screams that you're begging for attention! Honestly, Hanna, you don't think it's a bit too much?" She asked, a tired yet dark look in her eyes as she eyed me. I stuttered at her words. I had thought I looked good, but if I was showing too much, perhaps it was a mistake.

I nodded hurriedly, moving to my closet of hand-me-downs.

"Oh, okay, I'll change. I'm sorry." I said, hoping that Debra would appreciate my understanding behaviour. She had always hated it when Sierra wouldn't see reason or when she was too stubborn on wanting her way. If she saw me listening immediately, she'd see that I wasn't stubborn.

But, Debra didn't even spare me a second glance before she hurried out and I heard her jovially greeting the guests along with Richard. After I changed, I made my way downstairs. Thankfully, Sierra didn't seem to be in a bad mood anymore and I let myself try to enjoy the rest of the night. Maybe, I'll even let it slide that they thought that Sierra had made all the preparations.

I never saw that dress again since that night. The box was empty when I checked, but I didn't complain. After all, Debra had said she hated whiners.

The look that Sierra was giving me now likened to the one she had given me in the room. Even more so when she looked to the males beside me before a flicker of anger lighted her face.

"What is she doing back?" She asked with pure malice and I watched as Debra let out a loud hacking laugh.

"Oh, isn't it clear, honey! The world doesn't provide 3 meals a day, a roof and fresh clothes. The spoilt girl has realised that now!" She exclaimed and I cringed at every shrill in her voice. How had I not realised how loud she was before? The boys looked at each other at her voice before turning back, but chose to say nothing. They looked to me again, almost as if they were assessing what I wanted and giving me the time to do what I wanted.

Richard grunted in agreement, folding a hairy arm over the other.

"Nothing like a splash of cold harsh reality to change someone's tunes." He added and Debra nodded at his words almost proudly.

I sighed heavily at their words, turning to look to the door.

"Look, I don't have time for thi-"

Debra interrupted as she usually would, a shrill sound leaving her mouth.

"Oh, we have all the time in the world! And, I'll let you know what's gonna happen." She shouted before pointing a pudgy finger to the males.

"I'm going to call the police on these hoodlums for their breaking and entering. And, as for you, young lady! You are in so much trouble!" She yelled before leaning forward and yanking my arm roughly, making me fall towards her.

It all happened so fast.

In the space of a few seconds, both Demir and Emut pulled me back by each arm before standing in front of me protectively, their weapons faced towards Debra as though she was a potential threat. Even more so than when facing the Chigaru, they both emanated unlevelled power, even in just their stance. Debra was a mere fly in their formidable path. I let out a deep sigh, watching the chaos unfold in front of me.

This was going to be a long day.