Chasing in the dark

CHAPTER 8

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I have blood spatter all over my face and my hands are stained a grimson red. I scrub the soap against my hands to get rid of the red stains, but it's not coming off.

I lower my head and exhale as my eyes start burning again. I'm looking at the rosé looking water in the basin. I empty the basin and splash my face with water. I look at myself in the mirror as I wipe across my face.

"We're not friends!" His words keep playing over and over in my head.

"Who wants to be friends with you anyway"  I switch off the light and walk towards my bed.

As I lay down, I can feel my body relaxing. I have a slight headache, it's probably because I haven't eaten yet. As I lay on my back, I pinch the bridge of my nose. The moment I close my eyes, I hear a knock on my door.

Knock-knock!

I open my eyes as the knocking on my door continues. I'm too tired for this shit. I close my eyes again.

Knock-knock!

Now I'm pissed! I get out of the bed and angrily open the door.

"What the he..." mini-mister piano player, what are you doing here?

He looks at me with innocent eyes "sorry to bother you..."

"Nah, it's... it's okay. What are you doing here? If your brother finds out..."

I fully look at him. He's covered in dust. What was this boy up to. He wipes at his forehead, leaving a black mark across it.

"I need your help" his voice is breaking a little. Doesn't this kid know who I am? He shouldn't be talking to me.

Wait, he needs my help? I straighten my back and open the door so he can come in.

===

I am feeling tired a bit as I watch some show on the TV... My brother hasn't come out to eat yet. I wonder what's taking him so long.

My dad finally went to bed in their room. The couch stinks of beer and pee. I'm never gonna be like him.

I decide to go check on my big brother. He is my bestfriend, but I'll never tell him that though. He always protects me, but he never has anyone looking out for him.

Now that the diner is gone and the piano, my brother has been sad. He tries to put on a happy face, but he can't fool me. I open the door slightly and see my brother rolling around in the sheets. It sounds like he is having a nightmare again. I hear him whisper something incoherently.

I move closer and see tears coming from his eyes. He is softly calling out a name... "Wake up... wake up Jae-A..."

Jae-A? That's the guy the police officers took away. The one that was helping us clean the diner. Why is my brother... I hear him again "I'll safe you... no! Nooo! NO!"

My brother wakes up in a cold sweat. He doesn't seem to acknowledge my presence in the room. He looks like he just had the worst nightmare ever.

So, I decide to go to the bathroom to get some tissues for him. When I finally made my way back to the room, my brother was busy removing the bedding.

So I sit down on the bed and hand him the tissues as I watch my brother try and reassure me that he's fine.

That's what big brothers do huh. He tells me to go warm up his dinner cause he wants to take a shower.

He thinks I don't notice the sad expression in his eyes. Dae-Seong, it's not up to you to safe everyone!

Fine, I'll go warm your dinner.