Trouble in Tiltown

Cursed

My fingers rubbed the mug of hot chocolate as he explained everything to me. Every now and again, he would stare at the front door as if he were waiting for someone to barge in on us.
"Abraham's father, he used to be the leader of the group." He admitted.
"You mean cult?" I corrected.
His head snapped up to face me, "If that's what you want to call it." He said before going on.
"But Abraham's father didn't want to involved anymore. Not with him, the group, or even the town itself. He had said that this town was a different kind of cursed. So, he left. But before he left town, he had finally introduced in Abraham to everyone. Elouise, you." He spoke.
My back leaned back into the wooden chair as I took in the chunk of information.
"So West's and Abraham's father left town and left the cult group to Abraham. Why him? And why even have a group?" I questioned him as I sipped on the hot chocolate. He fiddled with his fingers that laid flat on top of the table as he kept his eyes on the hangnails.
"Because West didn't have a good relationship with either of his parents. His father hated him, don't ask me why because I don't know. As for creating a group, he wanted to keep this town under control." James confessed. I stood, pouring the little amount of my hot chocolate I had left down the sink before leaning my back against the counter as I looked down at James.
"Don't do that." I said as he picked at his nails. He looked up at me as if he were a five year old getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
He laughed, "Don't do what?" I nodded at his fingers as he hid them down by his sides.
"I do it all the time." I said before squatting down before him. "It's a way to deal with stressful events in life, I know, but it ruins your nails." I stated.
"Then how do I deal with stress in life?" He asked, scoffing and shaking his head. My eyes looked around the room as I tried hard to think.
"Things are going to happen in life. You just have to believe in yourself that you're going to get through it. We're all strong enough, you just have to believe that you are." I said before standing back up.
"And sometimes, getting rid of things that cause you stress." I finished up.
He sighed heavily before standing up, "Then, let's get rid of Tiltown. Together, you and me."
"What?"
"Oh, you're right, that's too little people. You, me, Jerrick and Kat. Maybe even West." He corrected himself. Just then, I hear sirens outside and watch a group of families running out to the sidewalk.
"What's going on?" I asked aloud before pushing him aside gently, making my way outside with James behind me. At the end of the road, I see a man walking with a can of liquid as he poured while walking. Gasoline.
"Is that... West?" James asked as we both watched.
"On his radio show, he said he was going to get his revenge on Abraham and Tiltown." I confessed to James. James looked at me before looking back at West who was coming closer our way.
"He can't do that, things will only get worse!" He exclaimed as he began breathing heavily as panic overcame him. I sighed to myself before rushing up to West, who kept his head down as he continued pouring the liquid.
"Hey, West, you got to go back home." I spoke to him calmly. He ignored my efforts and continued walking at a slow pace. I placed my hand in his wrist in attempt to stop him, except he swung his arm back up and hit me in the face with his fist before going back to pouring. Falling back, I caught myself with my elbows. My hand held my face as I winced in pain. Footsteps hurried over before helping me back up from the road.
"Are you okay?" James asked with sincerity. Before I could answer, the sound of the pouring liquid stopped. West had turned around to face us both.
"You're friends with a killer now?" West asked me as he took something from his Jean pocket. His face stared blankly at us, not an emotion in sight on his face.
My eyebrows furrowed together, "The killer is your twin brother." His eyebrows raised, however the rest of his face appeared unbothered by emotion.
"No, no, no. The real killer is Tiltown." He snarled before dragging a match across the box and holding it in the air. As he went to drop it, a cop tackled him to the ground. As the match went flying in the air, I threw myself to the ground to catch it, extinguishing the fire in the palm of my hand as I winced loudly. James picked my back up as we both walked to the side of the street, watching the police handcuff West and throwing him inside the cop car. As the cop got in with West, his head turned to the side but his eyes keeping low.
"What's going on here?" An old man from across the street yelled out. A cop from another vehicle stepped out, his hat hiding his face.
"It's okay Eric! It's all fixed now. Everybody go back inside your homes." The cop said before taking his hat off and smiling widely to all the families who obeyed by walking back inside their homes. Once his eyes landed on us, we both stood in shock. Abraham was smiling at us, in a cop uniform. We both stood still as he strolled over to us before putting his hat back on.
"Hi boys, there isn't a problem is there?" He asked innocently though it hid a threat underneath. Suddenly a hand grips onto my arm tightly as I looked to James who swallowed hard, not looking away from Abraham.
"I'm not so sure." I spoke with suspicion. Abraham stared at me for a few seconds too long as his smile turned into a darker grin.
"You might wanna take care of your bruised eye there, son." He says before walking away. Just as he drove away with the other police, James breathed heavily.
"Were you holding your breath?" I raised my eyebrow at him.
As he placed his hand on his hip, he looked at me.
"Tiltown isn't cursed. Abraham is."