Whispers of a Ghost

Chapter 7-

The house was quiet. Too quiet. Something wasn't right.

Usually, the television was blasting from the lounge or your brother was playing music in his room or something, not just silence. It was eerily silent, and you didn't like it.

Cautiously, you walked further inside to find your father and Susan at the dinner table, and you silently cursed yourself for not getting home earlier. Neil was not going to be happy.

"Sorry, I had to stay back late at work." You said, the lie easily falling off your tongue as you sat down in your usual spot and Susan handed over a bowl of spaghetti. "Thank you, this looks amazing."

She smiled happily at you from across the table before you started to eat, but you were hyper aware that your father hadn't said a single word yet.

Why didn't he rip into you about being late?

"Is Max still at her friend's house?" You asked, pointily looking at Susan who nodded.

"She's having a sleepover. Oh, I was going to ask if you could pick her up on Sunday? She said you knew where her friend lived."

Right, Max wouldn't want to tell anyone about El or the fact that she was staying at Hoppers cabin in the woods. Nobody was meant to know El was alive.

"Absolutely, I can take Billy's car since he probably won't be using it." You replied, taking another mouthful of pasta before realisation hit you. "Where is Billy? Is he still feeling unwell?"

"God knows where that idiot has gone." Neil muttered, speaking up for the first time causing your head to snap in his direction. "He took off a few hours ago. He's gone, fuck knows where."

Billy was gone? Why was Billy gone? He had a high fever this morning and didn't want to get out of bed when you left for work and now, he was gone. No wonder his car wasn't out the front, but where would he go?

"Do you know where he went? He's not well, he shouldn't be out driving by himself." You responded, your voice getting a little raised, but you couldn't help it as worry started to rise in your stomach.

"I just said that I didn't fucking know."

"How don't you know? He's your son and he was hurt and-"

Neil slammed his fist down against the table, the plates and cutlery clanging loudly from the impact. You snapped your mouth shut and stared down at the bowl in front of you.

Don't talk back.

That was rule number one.

You and Billy had learnt that rule very quickly when you were kids. Never talk back. But you just broke that rule.

Part of you was waiting for a plate to be hurled across the table for your disobedience. It wouldn't have been the first time. But Susan was sitting at the table and Neil had never hurt you in front of her... not yet at least.

But, to your shock, your father went back to eating. So, you slowly went back to eating as well, trying to ignore the tension in the air.

"Susan, dear, didn't you say you were going to have a shower after dinner?" Neil casually asked after a few minutes of silence.

Susan glanced in your direction with an uneasy look in her eye. It wasn't a question and Susan clearly knew that.

"I did. I'll go have a shower." She replied, giving Neil a tight smile.

She walked out the room, her eyes pointily avoiding your gaze because she knew what was going to happen once she was gone. She always knew, but she never did anything. Not that you blamed her, if she tried to stop him, he'd turn his anger onto her as well.