Chapter 0 | Before

"Eli, I'm hungry."

The statement was accompanied by a sudden weight on Eli Godfrey's back. He groaned into his pillow, fingers clutching the sheets.

"Eli, get up." Cecily whined into his ear, blonde strands of hair brushing over his cheek. When he made no move to stand, she began to tug on his dark hair. "Eli, I'm hungry."

"Cecily." His tone matched hers. "I'm tired."

"Shut up, Eli." She giggled, rolling off his back and onto his bed. It was quiet for a moment as she stared up at the ceiling, and Eli was almost asleep when - a spray of water had his eyes shooting open in surprise.

He rolled over, lifting himself onto his elbows as a giggling Cecily darted out of the room, squirt gun in hand. Eli rolled his eyes, wiping away the liquid on his cheeks with the bottom of his shirt. 

"C'mon, Eli!" Cecily called, presumably from down the hall.

With a long groan, he reluctantly lifted his legs and swung himself to the side. He heard the fridge open as he flexed his fingers.

"I'll start throwing eggs if you don't hurry!" His little sister threatened, making Eli groan louder. He rolled his shoulders, yawning yet again. Lazily, he rose to his feet, stretching his long arms over his head. A crack suddenly sounded from somewhere in the kitchen.

"Cecily . . . " Eli growled. 

"Oops." Cecily said innocently as Eli traveled down the hallway, scrubbing a hand down his face.

"I know that wasn't what I thought it was." Eli threatened.

"I don't know what you're talking about, big brother." She said as Eli rounded the corner. He spotted a mischievous grin on her face over the breakfast bar as he stepped into the living room. Egg in hand, she continued. "Man, I would hate for something to happen to this perfectly good egg."

"Alright, alright. I'll make you some pancakes." Cecily's smile widened as he waddled into the kitchen. "If . . ."

Her grin dropped. "If? If what?"

"If - " Eli went on playfully. "If you say 'Eli is so amazing I would lick his toe'."

"Ew!" Cecily giggled as Eli neared.

"Ew?" Eli scoffed, opening the fridge. "Guess that means you don't want any pancakes."

At his dismissive shrug Cecily whined. "Eliiiii!"

"Cecily!" Eli retaliated, rummaging for the milk. "Say it."

"No." His little sister folded her arms, stubbornly glaring at his back.

"Fine." Eli said, placing the milk on the counter and crossing his arms to imitate her stance.

"Fine." She tossed her chin up, staring down her nose at him in a pout.

They stared at each other, Eli smirking. Cecily's lip began to wobble as he raised a brow, eyes unblinking.

"Ugh!" She sulked, throwing her hands to her hips. "Fine. Eli is so  . . .  awesome . . . I would . . lick his toe." She said everyword with distaste and reluctance and when Eli laughed, she stuck her tongue out at him.

Cecily hopped onto the counter as Eli grabbed the pancake batter from a cup board above the stove and began to make her reward. He mixed the batter with some milk and butter in a bowl before moving to turn on the stove.

Cecily turned on the radio near the window as Eli set a pan on one of the burners. Yawning, she waited for the commercials to pass while Eli plucked the eggs from the fridge before pouring some batter into the pan.

" . . . and now, Ginny Wigmore with Black Sheep." Eli groaned as Cecily grinned and burst into song.

"I've got lots of jealous lovers that all wish they had me back." She began, wiggling her shoulders.

"Better not." Eli said under his breath, grabbing a spatula.

"Got a pistol for a mouth, my own mama gave me that." She jerked her chin, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

"For true." Eli agreed, grabbing another pan and turning on another burner.

". . . I'm a baaaaad woman to keep!" Cecily threw her hands up as Eli sprayed the second pan with vegtable oil. "Make me maaaad , I'm not here to please!" 

Eli rolled his eyes.

Twenty minutes later, the pair sat on the couch in the living room, picking at their pancakes and watching cartoons. Bugs Bunny flashed on the screen, Cecily laughing at some action and Eli shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

A shadow passed across the floor through the blinds of the sliding glass door behind the couch.

Eli kicked his feet onto the table, nearly spiling a glass of milk. Cecily shot him a look and Eli shrugged sheepishly. She rolled her eyes, tossing her feet next to Eli's.

Just as the television show was coming to an end, a thump sounded on the door. A scream sounded from outside. Eli paused, meeting Cecily's gaze.

Another thump.

"What's up, D-Doc?" Bugs Bunny said through a sudden round of static.

Eli set his plate on the table, dropping his feet.

Thump.

It was like someone was banging their head on the glass. Eli rose from his spot on the couch, moving towards the sliding glass door.

"Eli?" Cecily murmured.

Eli held up one hand, signaling for silence.

The closing music to the show began to play as the sound of a crack filled the room.

Thump.

Just as Bugs Bunny appeared on the screen with his closing line, all hell broke lose.

"T-That's all, Folks!"

The glass shattered.