Behind the Glass (Book 1)

Day 33

OK guys, let me say something before you start reading this chapter.

I love all of you.

Please don't hate me.

_________

I finally slept easy last night. I cannot remember the last time I had a good night's sleep.

I walked out to breakfast and actually ate.

25 and Kris looked at each other as I shoveled the glop into my mouth.

"I know I asked this yesterday," 25 says. "But... are you okay?"

"Never better!" I chimed.

"What happened yesterday?" Kris asked.

"My assignment's friend said the deaths have been investigated as murder cases. If we are caught, this could all be over."

25 and Kris heads tilt. "Eh?" They said in unison.

"I will explain later. Come on, we are going to be late!"

I dumped my bowl in the sink and ran to the Caves.

~

I found Scott staring down at his phone, biting his nails.

He holds the phone to his ear. "Pick up, pick up..."

He is silent then sighs. "Alex, please call me back. I'm really worried about you. You might have just overslept but you're always here in the morning. So please call me back. Thanks, babe."

Scott sighs and covers his eyes with his hand.

A few minutes later, Scott's phone buzzed. He scrambled for it and sighed in relief.

"About time you called you little--"

Scott stops.

"What is your relationship with Alexander Kirk?"

Scott loses his balance slightly. "I'm, uh, I'm his... friend."

"Are you sitting down?"

"Just tell me sir. I've been calling him all morning." Scott pressed his lips together and shut his eyes when the man on the other line sighs.

"We found him this morning. We tried CPR, but it didn't work."

Alex.... is dead?

Scott lets out a small gasp. He drops to his knees. "How?"

"This is a strange case, sir. It's nothing like anything I've ever seen."

Scott squeezes his eyes shut.

"We found him in front of his mirror. He's been drowned. I'm sorry."

"I-it's fine. Thank you, sir." Scott's voice was breaking.

"Please accept my condolences."

Scott nods. "Mm-hmm."

He hangs up.

His breaths came out in short huffs.

He screams and slams his phone onto the ground. He swears loudly.

He buries his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.

"Alex, I'm so, so sorry. I'm so sorry. I should've believed you."

He rocks back and forth, his fingers tangled in his hair. He screams again.

This one was from the bottom of his stomach, guttural and inhuman. It was a scream born from pain and pure anguish. I could hear every ounce of pain and heartbreak in that scream.