TALK OVER DINNER.

CHAPTER SIX — KARINA AGAFONOV.

After pulling away from each other, my mother ushered me into our home. As soon as I stepped in, tears filled my eyes. Everything still looked the same as it did ever since I left ten years ago.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I felt my mother's warm body pulling me in for another hug, my sister's smiling warmly at me as they watched with tears rolling down their face. I was also happy to see them.

My good arm was beginning to ache since my mother was hugging me so tightly, I understood the love of a mother even though I wasn't one yet but I am sure if I had not seen my grown-up daughter for over ten good years, I would pamper her like a newborn child.

I made a struggling sound and my mother, Annika, released me instantly. Quickly I placed a smile on my lips, telling her nothing was wrong. She patted me on the head before scrunching her face up, looking around me.

I asked, "Mother, what's wrong?"

She shook her head, signifying nothing was wrong until she spoke,

"Where are your luggages. . . Didn't you bring anything with you?"

I remembered that I left my luggage hurriedly by the railside because I saw my town in disarray and because I thought that my whole family were dead, I stupidly tried to commit suicide. I couldn't tell them that so I gave my mother the truth, partly.

She nodded her head in reply, staring at my robotic arm. I knew she was sad about it but she didn't say a word. None of my sisters did either but I was sure they knew that I had lost my arm in a battle against the werewolves. Just thinking about them made me get angry.

I looked around the sitting room, trying to see if I could see my father but it was to no avail. I was about to ask my mother but she spoke first,

"Why not go to your room, clean up, your old clothes are in your wardrobes. After dressing up, you come downstairs if you're done. I'm going to prepare something for you to eat." She said, hurriedly.

I was about to tell her not to worry, but my older sister, Sasha tutted at me which meant that I shouldn't say anything. I looked at my mother who kept looking at my body to check, probably for injuries but she didn't see any because of the clothes I was putting on, they covered every part of me.

I tapped her shoulder, "Mother, don't worry about me-"

She cut me off, her tears flowing feely down her face. "How could you tell me not to worry about you, kotik? I haven't seen you ever since you left and now I am seeing my daughter with a robotic arm and you tell me not to worry?" She spoke, her voice trembling with care and anger.

I held her as she cried into my arm, consoling her, "I'm alive mother, nothing happened to me. There's absolutely nothing for you to worry about."

She hiccuped before nodding her head as she walked away to the kitchen. Mila, my elder sister, walked to me, hugging me before skipping away to the kitchen to help our mother.

My older sister, Sasha, looked at me before doing a surprising thing. She saluted at me, "Welcome back Sgt Karina Agafonov." She said, smiling at me before walking away.

I looked around once more before going up the stairs, nothing changed despite the fact that we were not in Khabarovsk which was so confusing.

How did the people who constructed our family house figure out the exact replica? I thought to myself.

The first door I opened was that of my parents, but I didn't see who I was looking for. There was no trace of my father. I wondered if something happened to him while I was gone, but I tried to remain optimistic.

I shut the door and walked towards my room, opening it and I was in disbelief, the first thing that filled my nostrils was bleach and an air freshener I couldn't figure out.

Speaking out loud, "Does mother clean my room everyday?" I asked no one in particular.

Sasha appeared at my front, her brows arched as she stared at me, "How. . . Did you know I was standing at your back?" She asked, stuttering.

I smiled as I walked towards my bed, sitting down on it as my sister stood in front of me, standing akimbo.

"First off, I didn't know it was you, and also I knew someone was at my back. C'mon Sasha, I worked in the military force." I smirked at her.

She rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath but I didn't hear her. My mind was preoccupied with other things.

"Go wash up! Mother is almost done making dinner." She said before walking out, shutting the door behind her.

I stood up to pull my clothes off my body when I heard the door opening, quickly I covered myself up as Sasha poked her head in, laughing at me,

"What happened?" I asked, holding the clothes to my body, tightly.

She snickered at me, "Why are you covering yourself up, it's something I used to see everyday." She said.

I groaned in annoyance which made her roll her eyes at me, "What do you want?" I asked again.

Sasha looked at me differently, there was warmth in her eyes and another affection which I couldn't decipher. "Really, I'm happy you are back. Thank you for staying safe." My sister said, blowing a kiss as she shut the door.

I looked at the door for a moment, also thankful that my family was safe and sound. Incase of any intrusion, I hurried towards the door, locking it before going into the bathroom.

Stripping myself naked, I stood butt naked at the front of the mirror. Bruises, knife marks littered on my body. A tear escaped my eyes, before wiping it off. Looking at my neck, I saw that it was red. . . If I had not been saved by that Lycan, I would not be alive, nor would I still see my family anymore.

I owe a thanks of gratitude towards him, I thought to myself before hopping into the bathtub to do my business.

After I was done, I went to my closet and saw that everything was neatly arranged. I made a mental note to thank my mother once I got downstairs. I picked out underwear, and also a black round neck top, with a black cargo pants. After I was done, I went downstairs towards the dining table. Mother and my sister's were seated already and a large amount of food was placed neatly on the table like we were having a feast. I was lost for words.

Looking towards my mother who was already smiling at me, she waved me with her hands telling me to go sit. I did as I was told and sat down beside Sasha who was eating already. She was still a foodie.

"Mum, thank you for cleaning and arranging my room." I said. She waved it off like it wasn't a big deal.

Then suddenly everyone was eerily quiet. Sasha spoon dropped loudly on the plate and I scrutinized them all with my gaze.

Mila was avoiding my gaze for reasons I did not understand. With my patience wearing thin, I asked, "Would one of you tell me exactly what's going on?" I asked.

Mother cleared her throat before speaking, "You didn't ask about your father."

I looked at her, blankly, "I was going to, was just waiting for you to say something." I replied to her.

She stared at me straight in my eyes, my mother's eyes were cloudy. . . "Your father is no more, Kotik," She said, breaking into tears.

I heard my Mila sobbing quietly to herself, while Sasha stood up to console her. I was quiet as I thought over what she just said. Speaking up, I only asked one question. "What happened to him?"

There wasn't any response from my mother, instead Sasha answered, "I still remember the dreadful day vividly when werewolves attacked Khabarovsk in multitudes. We were not alerted on time. . ."

I looked at her as she trailed off. Then she continued. "Father tried to protect us when the creatures invaded our home, but they were too much for him to handle till they killed him in front of our eyes."

Another pause.

"Mother, Mila and I looked on as they bared their blood stained canines at us, growling at us. Karina, we would have lost our lives if it wasn't for the people who rescued us." She finished.

A tear slipped from my eyes then followed another, as I held onto the napkin placed on the table tightly, I tried reining my tears and anger in check but I couldn't. Werewolves not only killed my comrades but they also murdered my father and also tried to kill my Mother and sister's.

I was shaken by my mother who then held my face in her hands. She was sitting down on the chair, looking at me. "Kotik, Are you okay?" She asked me.

I stared at her, dead in her eyes, "Why didn't you tell me when I arrived? Why wait till this time?" I asked.

My mother spoke, her voice crumbling as she stuttered, "I didn't know how to break it to you. I didn't want you to blame yourself for your father's death."

I took her hands away as I held it in my hand, "Who do you want me to blame then? You? Mila or even Sasha?" They weren't to blame. It was the fault of the werewolves. "You people couldn't protect yourself because I wasn't there, if I was, none of these could have happened, my father would still be here, dining with us." I raised my voice at her.

I heard Sasha scold me, I calmed down a bit.

I thought for a moment before making a promise to myself, "I swear on my father's death and those whose lives were stolen by these dreadful creatures. I am going to eradicate them all." I thought to myself.

My father would be dissatisfied to see me crying if he was still alive but I didn't give two cents. He was a strong person who never gave up on things and I knew he would have fought for his life. He pushed me to be the best that I am and supported me when I made a decision to join the military force in the United States of America.

If he was still alive, he would have made sure to tell me to kill every single one of them since they are trying to kill us by threatening our existence. I made a promise to avenge the death of my father, damn the consequences.

After I had calmed down a bit, I asked for his burial site and my mother told me it was back in our town. I nodded my head in reply before dishing out my food, acting like nothing happened a few moments ago.

The dead wouldn't want me to cry, he would want me to come up with a plan and that's what I planned on doing, but first off I needed to learn more about the Lycan's and the portal.

It was all quiet till Mila spoke to us, telling me a lot of stories of what's happening in her life now that they moved here, the friend's she made. I also heard that my Mother started sewing clothes for customers and she really earned a lot, while Sasha was a nurse working at a place I did not know of.

After Mila was done explaining what I had missed ever since I had been gone, which took a lot of time and energy. Mila also asked me how life was at the military base but I just shrugged my shoulders in response, not giving a substantial reply.

She snickered at me, "My baby sister is a robot now, stoic and stiff." She said, then laughed at her own words.

My mother and Sasha both scolded her but I knew she wasn't trying to offend me, she was just saying the truth. I was stoic.

"You don't have to scold her, Mila isn't lying about anything. . . She was just pointing it out." I said.

Sasha faced me, "Karina, now that you're… you know, here. What do you want to do?" She asked.

I thought about what she said, I never really thought about it since I decided to come back home to my family.

I was about to give a reply when my mother spoke first, "Sasha, stop asking questions. Your sister arrived not quite long, at least let her explore the new place before she thinks of what to do." My mother replied, facing me with a smile.

I smiled back at her in appreciation, while my thoughts drifted back to how disabled I was and how much of a disgrace I was to my comrades who risked their lives in the battle.

A finger snapped in my eyes, "Back to Earth Kari, you can think about that later, you still have time." Sasha said.

I nodded my head in reply. We ate our dinner in absolute silence, and when we were done mother told us to pack the dishes to wash. I told my sister's not to bother and Mila was the happiest with that statement while my mother and Sasha decided to help me.

I carried what I could to the kitchen while my sister and mother gathered the rest. I watched as my sister washed the plates while I helped her clean and arrange. They both tried to stop me because of my robotic arm but I declined. One missing arm couldn't hold me down. "I have a robotic arm from the best doctor in the world so you don't have to worry about anything." I said to them,

We finished washing the dishes in a jiffy. Mother went up to her room, bidding us a goodnight, while I and Sasha stayed back in the kitchen to chat a bit. I got to know that my older sister had a boyfriend.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" I asked, excitement in my voice.

She chuckled at me, "At least, you know now." She replied. "Karina, you should also know something."

I looked at her, prompting her to talk, "Don't say anything, just listen. These creatures that saved us, they are different from the ones who attacked us." She simply said to me.

I didn't say anything about it, only told her to change the topic which she did. I didn't want to talk about the Lycan's, they were the reasons werewolves existed. Which meant they were my enemies. We spoke about her man and her job before going to our rooms but not before I made sure to check if everything was locked tightly.

I walked to my room, shutting the door behind me before going to brush my teeth. After I was done, I went back to my bed, laying down as I broke out with tears.

The loss of my father, the loss of my comrades who all died fighting for their lives and that of all humans in the world. It hurt me to know that I couldn't do anything for the military anymore. I could now only watch from the sidelines.

I bawled my eyes out till it ached and I didn't know when I drift off to sleep.