The Shadow of Our Past

Ethan

"Ethan?" A thick accented voice questions from the entryway of Kira's home. "Kira didn't tell me you two would be stopping by." The worry shared between Jess and I seems to pour over through the open door into the Johnson home as Sean's face grows worried. Kira's dad looks down on us with soft yet concerned eyes, but his towering figure is still intimidating as it looms over me.

"Jess had a surprise set up for Kira and Ben, so we figured we'd drop by," I explain, glancing behind him to look for any other figures in the house. The parts of the living room and kitchen that I can see are empty, suggesting no one but him is home.

"I haven't seen either of them since last night. If I'm honest with myself I'm a bit worried." I look back at Jess and we share a look of worry. "Kira always checks in with me or her mother if she'll be gone unexpectedly. This isn't like her."

"I bet she and Ben decided to go to dinner or something. They did mention some place downtown they wanted to check out," Jess soothes, but anxiety is peaking through her tone. She told me about the last calls she shared with Kira and Ben and how something seemed off. Kira seemed reserved and Ben was frantic. That, paired with the fight they had yesterday, tells us that if they aren't here they have to be at Ben's old house. We got the address from a weary Luke, who warned us to be careful after thirty minutes of refusing to even acknowledge that the house exists. The only thing that was left was to check if they were home.

I peer up at Sean, wondering if he'll catch onto the white lies Jess and I are feeding him. But if he does know, he isn't showing it. His shoulders rise and fall with a tired sigh. "Well, if they aren't home by eight I'll start worrying." I nearly wince, hoping that he won't have to feel terrible about his ignorance if Kira and Ben are in real danger.

I shoot Jess another glance behind my back, eyes lidded with worry. She reflects my expression, but says nothing. A few moments of silence pace between the three of us before I break it. "Well, we'll just have to save that surprise for a different day. Please have Kira or Ben shoot us a text when they get home." I request, knees weak with worry and stomach flipping with a sudden nauseating fear.

He agrees and we say our goodbyes almost too quickly. As soon as the door shuts, Jess and I break into a fast paced walk for our car. "Oh god what if they're really there," she worries ahead of me.

"I don't know," I say honestly with a trembling voice, ripping open the driver side door and starting up the engine. As soon as Jess slams her door closed, I back us out into the street and tell her to direct me to the house. I follow the directions she gives me mindlessly, the crippling fears and anxieties rolling around my head making it hard to see straight. I run myself through every situation, where to go next if they aren't there, how to deal with Mike if he's there.

"Get a recording started on my phone," I blurt out without room for question while handing Jess my phone. She does as I ask, then hands it back to me. I thank the stars for my last second idea and hope it'll make a difference.

Eventually we pull up on the street of the house and Jess and I both begin to panic in the same moment. Both of our eyes are locked on Kira's distinct white convertible and Ben's plain gray car behind it.

"Fuck," Jess whispers and I lay a hand on her knee. She trembles under my touch and I tap my fingers on her jeans. The unbridled fear between us is electric. It carries a heat that feels as if the car is on fire.

I pull our car in front of Kira's, looking blankly ahead of me. "What are we going to do if Mike is here?" she worries, looking at me with terrified eyes. I blink a few times and meet Jess's frantic stare.

"We'll talk him down, bribe him, whatever we need to do to get them both out safely," I say with a calm that almost reaches my mind. Almost. She agrees with a nod and pushes open her door, not willing to wait another second. I follow her lead, light steps leading us both to the front door of the house. She positions her hand over the door, ready to knock. Quickly I place a hand on her shoulder, halting her movement. With her eyes locked on me, I give her one last bit of encouragement, "fear is where he gets his power from. Don't be afraid." Her lips part for a moment before she nods, then her attention is back on the door. Her knuckles rasp against the wood and I steel my mind.