The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 55.5: In Vain

Part 4/7

Everyone immediately turned around, and there, Big Brother was standing with his arms hung loose by his sides. Even though everyone had grown, so had Big Brother. He still towered over everyone there, including Connor and Little Kayla.

“Hey Big Brother,” Franklin said with a small wave. Big Brother squinted his eyes.

“What are you guys talking about? And what was that bright light I saw earlier?” Big Brother asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nothing,” Connor quickly said. Jeffrey waved at Big Brother.

“Hey! It’s been so long!” Jeffrey cried.

Big Brother looked at every cousin, and then a smile crept up his face, a tear slowly growing on his right eye. He outstretched his arms.

“Good, what are we all waiting for? Bring it in!”

Everyone rushed forward into one massive group hug, and Big Brother hugged them as tightly as he could. Connor let out a groan.

“Uhhh, you’re squishing me!!”

Everyone laughed, and Big Brother let go.

“Ahh, that felt good. Three years without you guys, it’s really driven me mad. A lot’s happened, but here we are. Back together again.”

“He sure is right,” Franklin thought, “A lot’s happened…”

So why did he choose to forget?

Emma began to jump up and down in the air.

“Come on guys, we should do something, and fast! Let’s play a game, like, hmm, I dunno what should we play?!” Emma cheered. Little Kayla smiled and wrapped her arms around Tanya.

“You know we can’t play card games, Tanya doesn’t know how.”

Tanya rolled her eyes and smiled back.

“I do now, though.”

Everyone chuckled, but then Jeffrey let out a “hmmm”. All eyes turned to him. He was grasping his chin, pondering and thinking hard.

“How about a classic… HIDE AND SEEK!”

Everyone cheered in approval, erupting into chatter and enthusiasm. Big Brother grinned some more and gave the thumbs up of approval.

“What a good idea, I guess I’ll be seeker first, howzabout it?”

“Sure thing. Let’s start in the living room.”

The seven made their way out of the room, down the quartz halls, and into the dining room, where the smell of fresh ice lingered in the room. A cooler was left open, and there were an assortment of drinks in there for them to choose, with a large potted plant nearby. Franklin grabbed a soda, but everyone else chose to ignore it. That was, except for Big Brother. He reached his hand inside, pushed the water aside, and grabbed a carton of chocolate milk.

“Okay, I’ll count to… 100, like we usually do. Then, I’m going to try to find you. Understood?” Big Brother decided. Everyone saluted him, even Tanya.

“Aye aye, captain!”

Big Brother smiled, “Alrightie.”

He turned around and put his hands over his eyes.

“1… 2… 3…”

Everyone quickly made a rush for their hiding spots. It had been so long since they had regrouped at this joint, but their traditional hiding spots were still fresh in their memory. Even though they had not played hide and seek the LAST time they met, it was still there like it was yesterday.

Franklin quickly clambered atop his bed, covered the blanket over himself, and began to breathe as slowly as he could. He laid his body out as flat as he could, and he could hear the others rush past him, their footsteps slamming on the marble. Franklin smiled to himself. He was definitely going to win, this hiding spot was so bad that he knew Big Brother wouldn’t even bother to check.

“Heh heh, this is going to be fun…”

Two minutes later, the blanket atop him was lifted away. Franklin blinked his eyes as the light shined on his eyes, and Big Brother was standing over him with crossed arms. Connor was standing beside him too, a naive grin on his face.

“What the- How’d you find me already?” Franklin asked. Big Brother smirked.

“Your foot was sticking out, better luck next time, alright?”

“Alright… I’m getting up, you got me, at least I wasn’t last,” Franklin said while eyeing Connor. Connor gave him a grin.

“How’d you even get found anyway?”

Connor’s smile grew.

“I tried to climb up the walls but I fell and he found me like that,” Connor replied through his grin, his right eye twitching.

“Oh, well let’s find the others then.”