Symbiote Girlfriend: Ghost (special preview)

My big sister was always my hero. From the moment we were together, nothing could keep us apart. Siti and I did everything together, and since our parents were away a lot, sometimes that’s all we had. 

When I was in the midst of high school, there was an accident. Our parents’ plane crashed when they were returning home from a business trip. Siti immediately dropped out of college and came home to be my primary caregiver. 

While I continued on with school, Siti managed a lot at home, including our family’s security business. Siti took up training with the rest of the cadets in the company so she could better understand the business. She began training new recruits as well, and started a course of special ops. 

She took on a job at the lab of one of her old college professors, a man named Dr. Maxim Harlan. It was around this time I noticed Siti was beginning to train harder than ever before. She was building muscle mass, and talking about MMA fighting.

I went to her gym one day, taking her down dinner since she hadn’t eaten. She was practicing away at a punching bag, sweat dripping down her brow. She looks up as I come in and smiles.

“What time is it?” She approaches and takes a towel from the ground. “Did I miss dinner again?”

“You did,” I pout. “What the heck are you doing, Siti? You’ve been working off your patootie ever since you took a job at that government lab.”

Siti takes a slice of fruit from the plate and bites into it. “Just want to build up my strength is all.” She flexes her arm, showing off a bit. 

I sigh. “It’s a science lab. Who are you going to fight there, Bill Nye?”

Siti snickers, “it’s a government lab, Noi, there’s all sorts of people who come through there. Officials, dignitaries, their bodyguards, military folk. It’s good to be prepared.”

I frown as I watch her go back to the punching bag. “I just don’t like how seriously you’re taking it. Ever since you went to that lab, something has changed.”

“Like what?” She asks as she stretches her shoulders back.

“Between school and everything, I barely see you and, when we are home together, you’re down here in the gym, working out, or doing whatever it is you’re doing.” I know I’m possibly being a brat, but when it’s my best friend and sister, I feel like I’m being neglected.

“I’m working,” Siti looks me over, “so you can go to a good college!”

I balk. “I have a trust fund for that!” 

“One that I control until you turn twenty,” she snips back at me. She then turns to face me. “You don’t even know what you want to do yet!”

“Yes, I do,” I grumble. I’m not committed about it, but I really want to prove her wrong. “I want to be a doctor.” 

Siti arches a brow at me. “Since when?”

“A while.” I know she sees through this, but I’m stuck with it now.

She smiles at me. “That’s great! What kind of doctor were you thinking?”

I open my mouth to say something then instantly close it. I ponder for what feels like forever before I think of anything. “Cytologist.” I had just heard the word on TV today.

“Then maybe you’d like to meet Professor Harlan, he’s currently running some tests on cells at this very moment. Maybe he could help you decide if this is really what you want to do.” Siti gives me that knowing, smug look I think all big sisters have. “Unless you change your mind come morning.”

“I won’t,” I scoff.