I Am Deaf

Chapter 40

Rin POV

"So, Len?"

"Mmmm?"

"I'm gonna call Rinto."

He sat up, his blond hair in a wild mess.

"WHAT?"
"Yup." I said casually. "I'm definitely gonna call him. Using my phone. And I have to tell him about my deafness."

"But...I mean...you can't..."

"I know." I murmured. "You're gonna be my... translator."

"Whatever."

I brought out my gold metallic phone and redialed the last person who'd called me.

Er, the only person who'd called me.

"Hey, Len?"

"Huh?"

"What does your voice sound like?"

"Huh. I've never really bothered to find out."

I imagined that Len's voice was sweet and calm, like liquid chocolate. Miku's was like thick maple syrup. Gumi's was sweet, yet...texture-y, like the carrots she liked. Rei's was sinister yet cocky, a bit arrogant. Neru's was like... a sheet of paper. Millions of possibilities for her. Dad's was like deep thunder, like rocks against rocks. Rinto's would be like sugar-water; sweet yet transparent. Kaito's... Calm, yet torrid towards Miku.

"Whoa." Len stared at me, and I realized I'd spoken aloud. Oops.

"Well, anyways..." But Len held up his hand.

"Shush!"

He listened for a minute, then voiced to me. "Say hello."

"Rinto? Hello?"

"Rin? Oh my god, Rin!" mouthed Len.

"Rinto! Where are you?"

"Who cares about me? How are you! Where are you?" Len tried to keep up with my brother's fast paced questioning.

"Rinto, I'm fine. I'm at... a friend's house. I need to tell you something... It's important."

"Thank god you're alive! I'm coming, don't move, honestly. Just listen to me once!" Len looked flustered. "I'll be there in half-an-hour at our house, okay? And... Wait, let me just come."

Len collapsed backwards. "He hung up."

"That was rushed, and weird." I frowned. "Almost doesn't seem like him, at all."

"We'll see."

Rinto POV (Mwa ha ha ha ha ha!)

My sister's alive!

OH MY GOD!

I grabbed the backpack I had, and thought over what to say to her.

I'm sorry, first of all.

Dell was coming after us. I figured that if I separated from you, he'd come after me, instead.

I was coming back, but on the news, saw that I had apparently died.

I had to go into hiding again.

I tried to find you, but Dell caught me.

He told me to leave and never come back, or he'd kill you.

That was pretty much a summary of what had happened...

I grabbed my bus pass and ran to catch the bus. It was just leaving.

Impatient, I drummed my fingers against the leather seats.

I wonder what had happened to Rin. I wonder if Dad was still beating her up. I hope she at least had a boyfriend, but that may have been too much.

I sighed deeply.

Wait for me, I'm coming.

I got off the bus and tore towards the street where we lived.

I put on a smile, genuinely, at seeing Rin again.

Then I turned the corner.

And the first thing I saw was a sign, dug deep into the ground, saying:

FOR SALE.