The disappearance of James Harris

1 | Lexi

Six years ago during the fall of 1985, my brother James, died. They found his body on the side of a highway, beat black and blue, and stabbed in the chest twice.

That's what they said, and that's exactly what my seven year old self didn't believe for the life of me. For the next years, I spent my free time figuring out what happened to James.

Obviously, a kid leading an investigation wouldn't get far. I was convinced he was under a new identity in Mexico, or held captive by aliens, or stranded on some island in southern Asia. So after a while of not finding a thing, little me just gave up.

I still believe he's out there somewhere, that he's alive, but I've come to the conclusion that there's still not much I can do. Police gave up, my mom gave up, my sister gave up, the whole town gave up. There wasn't really someone that could help me, or someone that believed me. So I just hoped and prayed for the best.

--

I put down two cans of soda on the counter along with five dollars.

"You want a receipt?" the heavily tattooed girl behind the counter says as she plays with her pitch black hair.

"No," I respond

"You want a bag?" she asks

"Yeah sure,"

She gives me a plastic bag and as she takes the five dollars, I rush out the store while putting the cans in the bag.

As I walked down an empty road and open my soda can. It's fall, so we all know what that means; James' annual memorial. I've never liked the fall, not only because James disappeared during that season, also because I just don't like the rain. I'm more of a spring person.

I see a figure in the corner of my eye walking the other way, but turning around when he saw me. I keep walking, but then a voice said;

"Lexi! Hi,"

I stop and turn to him.

Owen Sienko.

"You didn't see me, I think." he said as he walked towards me with a dorky look on his face.

I keep walking and Owen follows along "Weren't you in Sweden or something?" I ask as I took a sip from my soda.

"Uh, Canada, not Sweden" he chuckled "That's on the other side of the world. I was visiting my brother, he works there."

"Right, your brother." I respond.

Owen and I used to be friends, and by friends I mean we were neighbors so we were basically forced into a friendship.

"So," he suddenly started after a long pause "How's your search going?"

"My search?" I ask confused

"You know, about James."

I pause. Is this guy seriously going to start bullying me again right before school starts? "Owen if you're here to make fun of me again, you can piss off."

"What?" he said surprised "No! It's actually really interesting."

"Sure," I answer annoyed "How come you've suddenly taken a liking in my missing brother? Since you weren't this passionate about it last year."

Owen sucks his teeth "Lexi look, I'm sorry, okay? But I'm a changed person."

I stare at him in blatant disbelief.

"I swear?" he adds hesitatingly

"Yeah sure, whatever." I say and walk away quickly, ignoring Owen's attempts to clear his name.

What happened last year? You might ask. Well, because high schoolers are mean, and being the sister of someone that was on the newspaper didn't really help with that.

I got bullied, not full on physically beat, just the usual pestering here and there. In middle school it wasn't that bad, because most kids and teachers there knew me, or knew James. So most of them were pretty nice and respectful.

But then high school rolled around and a bunch of assholes from different towns transferred for scholarships or whatever, found out about my famous brother, and decided to make my life a living hell.

Owen wasn't new, though. He knew James, he knew me, yet he still decided to join them. I don't know if it was because he felt lonely, or wanted to follow up in his mom's footsteps, but either way I didn't care. I still don't care, he's a dork. I could insult him one time and break his soul in a million pieces. But I don't.

I don't have a soft spot for him, I just don't want his cop brother or crazy mom coming after me or my family. The Sienko's are known for their... classiness? They're all prim and poky, thinking they're better than everyone and can get away with everything. Which, they could. With Owen's grandpa being the mayor once, his dad a lawyer, mom a rich psychopath, and his oldest brother a sheriff, their whole family could get away with even murder.

I stop and rethink about what I just thought.

Murder? It can't...

No, you're being stupid. It's stupid, just keep walking, they didn't kill him.

They couldn't have.