Locking the front door, I left Issac's house key in the usual flower pot next to Issac’s horribly carved pumpkin. As I continued on my normal route home, the sun was fading away and night was emerging quickly. The street lights were flickering along with the Halloween outdoor decor from other neighbor's front yards. The Autumn wind started to pick up speed attempting bite my skin. This damn cold front is so annoying…
As I turned at the end of the street, I found a group of teens standing under the dim street light. They were dressed in a uniform that I wasn’t familiar with or had ever seen any student wear in my small suburban town. For starters, the uniform was way too formal. I couldn’t think of any schools in my district that were able to afford that kind of uniform, unless they were super rich private school kids.
The two boys were dressed in a black jacket with a white button down shirt. The girl who I could hear clearly yelling at one particular boy with almond shape eyes and short dark brown hair, was the one causing the commotion. She had a similar fashion like the boys, but was dressed in a very short black school skirt despite the icy breeze flowing through.
The only person I found who was not in the argument was the other male in the group. He was casually leaning against the light pole scrolling on his phone. I was almost taken back at how tall he was. He could easily touch the tip of the light bulb if he wanted to. I couldn't help but admire his height but also felt a tinge of envy.
As I grew closer toward the odd group, the pair were too deep into their own argument that they didn't even notice I was heading down their path. I was surprised that nobody in the neighborhood could hear them or the Karen from next door who enjoyed calling the cops on kids for ‘disturbing the peace’.
“Can your damn spirit guide work any slower?” The girl in the group groaned so loudly that I was able to hear their conversation from a distance. She was shivering with teeth chattering unable to stop the cold October breeze from attacking her skin. Another fierce and roaring freezing air pushed through causing the girl to pull back a strand of her dark blonde hair away from her face.
“Hey! He’s doing his best!” He responded defensively, appearing to be just as annoyed and cold as the hysterical girl cursing at the wind.
“I swear we should have just let Alex sent out one of his summonings to find the damn thing!” she continued to curse off at the boy. ‘Jesus, cut the guy some slack… hold up summoning?’ I thought feeling bad for the guy but then was utterly confused by the situation. "But no, you sent your summoning to find nothing but jack shit!" She continued.
"Like your lame ass spirit guide could do more!" He seethed his arms crossed against his chest protecting his hands from the cold.
"Yeah but Alex…" She started but was quickly cut down by the boy's cold response. "Alex does not give a shit. As you can see!" The boy shouted as he pointed to the unbothered giant who was still calmly on his phone ignoring the both of them.
Well this is getting ugly...
As I was steps away in crossing the group, I debated in walking to the other side of the street avoiding them all together. However, the cold breeze made my decision very clear-get the fuck home and out of the cold.
To make the situation less awkward in my pathetic mind, I decided to create a scenario in my head that these teens were probably some weird goth group playing Pokemon go or something along those lines to justify why they were talking such nonsense. I figured they were going to ignore my presence like the students in my class so I convinced myself to push on.
“God, this place sucks ass!" The girl groaned as she was ready to start another rant before she locked her dark eyes on me
"Oh great a geeky normy coming our way” The blond girl rolled her eyes and turned her head away as if she smelled something really bad. Great, we got a goth version of Regina George in town.
“Hey you can’t just say that to her!” The boy beside her responded angrily in my defense. Goth Regina continued to roll her eyes and had her hands deep in the pockets of her black midnight jacket, walking up to my face with a disgusted expression. “It's not like these dumb powerless humans can see us.” She said tilting her head to the side staring at me as if I was a dumb animal.
‘Dumb and powerless humans?’ I paused for a brief second pretending to go along with this fiasco. The girl's face was inches from mine and I could tell they were taking this game way too seriously. I held back my confused expression for a good 3 seconds before I bursted out laughing at these weirdos.
“Can you please get your stanky ass breath out of my face." I said wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. "And before you go on hating on my sweatshirt…" I added remembering I had a description of CHAINSAW MAN on the front of my oversized black sweatshirt.
"Why are y’all standing under the street light looking like the goth kids from South Park.” I retorted with a smirk. As much as my appearance gives off a dorky and awkward vibe, I was never a push over when it came to individuals picking on me just for the hell of it. I'm not a fighter by all means but I did have one thing. A smart ass mouth.
Before I could say anything more, I was confused why the group looked at me like I had formed a third head. The tallest in the group was the first to speak, his voice deep but yet softly spoken “Megan, I thought you put the barrier up.” He said finally putting his phone back in his pocket with an annoyed sigh. I honestly didn't think he was going to ever look up from his phone.He had a very distinct amber colored eyes that would have made me blush if I wasn't so weirded out by their little game.
“Alex I swear I did.” The blonde girl promised her voice shaking sounding like some scared child.
“Alright, I see what’s going on here..." I said as I continued to walk slowly away from the goth wannabes.
"You do?" The boy said who looked just as nervous as the girl.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your guy’s dungeon and dragon game or comic cosplay…” I answered completely not realizing they were role playing a game. I mean that’s the only thing I could think of as to why they were being so weird.Like who the hell says “Barrier"?
“Sorry for calling your breath stanky. If I knew that was the kind of role you were going for I wouldn't have been so offended but you did an amazing job acting like a bitch.” I applauded as I continued to walk past the odd group.
“Listen Bi-” I could hear the girl almost shout but was abruptly stopped.
“Just leave it alone.” I could faintly hear one of the guy's sigh as I continued on my way back home fighting the cold breeze.
As I arrived to the house I was surprised to see that my mom's car wasn't in the driveway. She still isn't here? My first assumption was that she was having coffee with the baker’s wife. My mom loves to talk and can keep a conversation going for hours if you let her. I on the other hand was not given that gift.
I sent her quick text wondering what time she was planning to come home but there wasn’t a reply. Figuring this was going to be the only time I can catch up on my assignment before my mom came back with the latest gossip, I decided to take this chance to work on my paper. I mean she's probably on her way back by now.
290Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAMITEG9Ny
After 10:00 PM, I started to worry. I paced up and down from the kitchen to the living room attempting to rationalize my mother's absence. I was clearly not successful. My heart was pounding as each minute past. Should I call the cops? What do I do? Am I over reacting? My mom normally never stayed out late, let alone on my birthday. She could be just planning a surprise party-yeah right who the hell would show up besides Issac.
I tried to push down any negative thoughts that could have happened but they kept flowing. What if she was in a car crash? Or somebody kidnapped her? All of these thoughts sounded crazy as I continued to fixate on the worst outcome. Okay, MK, I need to relax, why would anyone kidnap my 40 year old mother?
I sat on the couch waiting for the door to open so I can say ‘Where have you been?’ For some reason, in the pit of my stomach, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I would have checked her location using my iPhone but I remembered that I told her I would get around to setting up her new phone in sharing her location with me. If words could describe how stupid I feel and the feeling of being the worst of all daughters for not just doing a simple task this was the moment.
At 11:00 PM, I was ready to call the cops. But a knock came to my door with flashing blue and red lights beaming through my window. I hurried to the door and paused taking a deep breath. Everything was going to be okay. It has to be okay.
“Hi, I’m officer Jackson and this here is Nicole. Are you Mikaela , Gabriella’s daughter?” A police officer asked with a woman who was petite in size stood beside the older man who wore a grim expression.
“Yes. Where’s my mom?” My voice sounded normal but my heart was punching my chest.
“Mikaela, I’m very sorry but your mother passed away. I’ll tell you everything you need to know but you have to come with us for right now.” The man answered with no ounce of empathy, it was just as if he was reading an overly used script.
You know how you sometimes feel that you're dreaming and that’ll you'll eventually wake up because this can’t be your reality. I have to be dreaming, because it doesn’t make sense. My mom just said she would be back in 15 minutes to get my birthday cake and the next she’s gone. My thoughts were already frantically thinking on my next move. Who do I begin to call? Who do I stay with? All my family members live in another state, there's no way I could live with them. What about school? -
“Mikaela, please come with us.” The woman said halting my racing thoughts for a brief moment and bringing me back to the reality of the flashing blue and red lights.
“I’m gonna go grab my charger really quick, hope that’s okay.” I said turning away from the door and heading upstairs. My body felt like a robot, everything was automatic, cold, and empty. I didn’t even remember the woman or officer allowing me to get my things. I just did what I felt like doing.
I found my charger on my dresser and just as I was about to turn around and head back down stairs, I turned to my mom’s room. Everything was exactly how she left it. It was as if she was going to be right back. She still had the list of clients on her desk with future appointments. I guess those are canceled now...
I didn't want to leave this place but I also didn't want to be here. I didn’t want to be anywhere. It was an odd feeling of just being stuck. I glanced at the balcony where my mom was able to make a quick exit to water her garden in the backyard. Memories of us attempting to start our own vegetable garden, fluttered into my thoughts. So no more vegetable garden, no more of anything with me and her.
I don’t know when I’ll ever come to this room so I just wanted one thing before I go.
“Mikaela, were you able to collect everything?” The woman called out. I can hear her flat shoes climbing up the steps as the wooden stairs creaked warning me to make a decision.
Remember when I said I wasn’t the rebel type...
I’m not sure anymore.
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