Forgiveness

Chapter 1

I had been watching the house across the street for a few hours now, hidden just behind the tree line, keeping a close eye on any activity nearby, when I suddenly saw something -someone- running by, headed for the door and staying in the shadows as not to be noticed by any curious onlookers.

While the figure was trying to find a way in, checking for open windows and rattling the doorknob, I crept closer, finding shelter in a bush only a few feet away. The figure was now inserting something into the lock, twisting it until they could quietly open the door. Something about them seemed strangely familiar to me, but with the low light I couldn’t pinpoint anything.

With the door open only a crack, the figure slipped inside. I followed closely behind as the person snuck around the one floor apartment, clearly searching for something. After they turned a corner however, they were nowhere to be seen. All the doors in that part of the hallway were closed and I didn’t want to make any noise by opening them, so I decided to hide behind a drawer a few feet away.

After a while of crouching there, listening for anything out of the ordinary, I heard movement coming from one of the rooms. I didn’t quite dare to move out of my hiding spot yet, not wanting to be seen by whoever was in here with me, so I waited. It sounded like someone was rummaging through a drawer, the rustling and shuffling of paper clearly audible through the thin walls of the apartment. Finally, a door creaked quietly, footsteps headed towards my location. Then suddenly, everything was quiet again.

For a few minutes I waited for some kind of sound, but there was nothing. No quiet shifting, no rustling of fabric, not even breathing was audible, so I decided to check the hallway -against better judgement. The figure was waiting there, arms crossed in front of their body, wearing that oh-so familiar beige jacket, smiling slyly behind their-his- mask as we made „eye contact “. The jacket looked more blackish in the low light, but the white mask was visible well, black circles drawn around the eyes with a sharpie, as usual. I knew who this was. I would recognize that mask, that jacket, heck, the whole posture anywhere.

„What are you doing here?“, I hissed while getting up from behind the drawer. There was no use staying in my hiding spot any longer.

„Leaving a tape.“, the Masked Man answered, „Our friend has been experiencing a bit of memory loss lately. I’m just helping out. And you?“

„I’m watching the house, checking for unwanted visitors or anyone leaving.“ I said, not knowing, why I even bothered talking to him.

„You’re not doing a good job then, buddy.“, he stated.

„What do you mean?“ Heart racing, I hoped that our  friend hadn’t run off. It would take a while to track him down and I doubted, it would be pleased if it came to that.

„Well, you’re not outside, so you can’t keep an eye out for anything. Instead, you’re talking to me.“ Seemingly noticing my distress he added: „But you’re lucky. Jay’s fast asleep in his room.“

„I’m going to check for myself, thank you.“ Quickly, I walked past him, pulling my hood down over my fabric-covered face again, as I always do when I’m stressed. I checked the doors around the corner until I found the bedroom and breathed a quiet sigh of relief as I found Jay asleep on the bed, his camera recording him.

Whether I trusted him or not, the Masked Man told the truth. Of course, I didn’t expect it, not trusting him after what he – actually his alter ego Tim – had done to me. He had left me laying on the ground unconscious after falling from a ledge at least 15 feet high in that old school. It had been pure luck; I wasn’t badly injured. A few bruises and a mild concussion, but nothing more. Nothing serious.

I walked back out into the hallway, where he was waiting for me. „See? I wouldn’t lie to you…“ He paused at the end, as if wanting to say more, wanting to add something, but ultimately decided against it.

After that, we left the house, going our own respective ways. I watched him from the trees as he walked down the street, lights illuminating the familiar figure until he turned a corner.