Old Enemy

‘Someone!’ Kieran exclaimed. ‘Someone’s behind the tree?’ I tried to get a better look at the tamarind tree and caught the flapping corner of a coat. ‘Who’s there?’ I shouted. ‘Come out!’ I stood up and shielded Kieran with my body, half expecting Rainey to show her ugly face. A figure stepped out. ‘Erin?’ I had to look twice to be sure. What was my half-sister doing here? ‘Hi, Amiyah.’ Her head was bowed, but I saw enough of her face to notice the bruises. Some had already faded. Some were still bluish-black. Her left cheek was swollen. So were her eyes. There was an inch-long cut just under her left cheekbone. ‘What…what happened?’ I pulled her to sit down at the bench and said to Kieran, ‘Honey, it’s okay. She’s a friend.’ Kieran stopped fidgeting and eyed Erin curiously. She kept staring at the floor. ‘Tell me.’ I dug out a tissue from my pocket and handed it to her. She used it to wipe off her tears. ‘I…I really didn’t want to come and bother you. But I’m out of ideas.’ Erin start