Hello Neighbor: Hidden Shadows: Unofficial AFK Book

CHAPTER 11

   "Nicholas, you have 30 seconds to get down here!"

   "Okay Mom!"

   Today's the day. I'm gonna have a sleepover with my friends. To be honest, I'm kind of excited. My only 3 friends in the world will be there, and we pretty much get to do whatever we want. Although, I'm a little nervous about the last time that happened at... (Never mind)

   "Now Nicholas!"

   "Coming," I yell, yanking my bag downstairs, nearly tripping. I look up to Mom, who looks hilariously annoyed, then dad, who looks like he's about to melt into laughter.

   "What took you so long?" asks Mom.

   "Lu, he's 13. Give him a little mercy, will you," Dad convinces, with the same humorous smile on his face.

   "Come on, Nicholas," says Mom. I continue to follow, until something touches my arm, nearly causing me to faint.

   "Oh, sorry. Narf. Didn't mean to scare you," says Dad. I only stare at him. I guess he picks up on this, relaxing his face, and mine too. "I guess I meant to say way, have fun."

   "Okay," I mumble, still shaking from the scare. I go back to following Mom to the car, forcing my bag onto the other seat in the back. I hop in, embracing the color tinted across the house. I'm suddenly lost in my thoughts again, thinking about when we would leave this house. 

   We've moved about 8 different times already, I think. I wouldn't be surprised if we moved to another country next. If we could afford it. The car starts moving, making my jump again, having nothing more to do but to stare out of the same window for a few more minutes.

   "I don't remember the Esposito's place being that far away," I say to Mom.

   "Well, it's probably just the best option after all. I mean, we wouldn't have to walk," says Mom. Good point. I don't really like wandering outside of the house anyway anymore, unless I'm with someone or a large group of people. Good thing she caught that when I did. In the blink of an eye, we already arrive at the Esposito's.

   "Do you need me to walk you up, or are you good," Mom asks.

   "Yes."

   Mom stares at me for a second, observing my desperate face. She gets out of the car and we both walk to their doorstep. I glance up at the massive structure that Enzo calls a 'house'. I examine all of the windows, making me take a few steps back, making me slightly uncomfortable. The door opens, being met with Mr. Esposito standing at the door.

   "Hey, it's the Roth's" says Mr. Esposito. I realize how far I've backed away from the house, with Mom throwing her hands up at me as a 'what are you doing.' I slowly waddle back to the doorstep embarrassingly, looking back up to the face of Enzo's father.

   "How are you Nicky?" asks Mr. Esposito.

   "I'm fine. How are you?"

   "Pretty good myself. You can go ahead and put your things in Enzo's room. First room on your right."

   I nod.

   "I'll be here tomorrow morning, okay?" Mom says.

   "Okay," I reply. She kisses my forehead, then I rush to the stair rail. I pause. I observe the long stair case, making my stomach sink. I resist, but I rush up the multitude of steps, covering my eyes with my hand to keep me from freaking out. I make it up. I look back down, seeing nothing behind me, except for the scratched-up carpet fur sticking out from my trail. I try to move on, making my way to the first room on the right, seeing three figures sitting at a TV.

   "There you are," Trinity says. 

   The other two in the room shift their heads to me.

   "Took you long enough," Enzo says. I'm not sure if it was a joke, or if he meant it, but as far as I know, everything is supposed fine. I look over to Maritza, who is looking at me again, almost making me want to dash out of the door, although I don't. I look around to find somewhere to place my suitcase, finding another suitcase in the corner of Enzo's bedroom. I carefully roll it against the wall, finding a seat behind Enzo.

   "You suck at this game," Maritza giggles. It takes me a few seconds to get what she's referring to, then seeing the game that Enzo had been playing this whole time.

   "You've never tried it either weirdo," Enzo hisses back, making Trinity laugh. I hadn't said a thing this entire time, now wondering if they even want me here, or if they notice me. I only glare at the vast amount of pixels that paint across the TV screen.

   "Hey, Nicky? You want to try?" Enzo asks, handing me the controller. I hesitate on if I should or not, mostly because I don't know how to play it.

   "H-how do I play?" I ask nervously.

   "A to jump, B to attack. The other buttons do the same thing, really," replies Enzo. I shakily take the controller, unpausing the game, then nervously mashing the buttons on the controller, having no clear idea of what I'm doing. I eventually get the hang of it, completeling the rest of the level.

   "Wow, you're pretty good at this Nicky," Trinity says.

   "I am?" I ask confusingly.

   "I mean, I couldn't even complete this level. And this is the first one," Enzo replies. I look back down at my controller, having no idea what to do next. I look back at Enzo.

   "Do you, want this back?" I ask. Enzo gives me a look, along with a silence that erupts the room. I look back to the other two, who have the same look on their faces.

   "What's going on? What did I do?" I panic.

   "Are, you okay?" Enzo asks.

   "You, just seem a little, I don't know," Trinity adds. I start to get scared again. Why are they acting like this? Is it the bags under my eyes? Is it the fact that I'm too paranoid to go to sleep now? Or maybe that I've been feeling afraid since I've been back.

   "I'm fine," I convince dully, although I'm really not. 

   The other three share a look across from each other, then acting like that awkward pause didn't happen.

   "Okay," Enzo says. Everyone and almost everything goes silent for the rest of the night, switching turns on a controller, barely saying anything to each other. Although it barely helped that my friends are my friends again, and I should feel lucky that they even wanted me here. The clock has hit 11:49 P.M, and we all start to head to sleep.

   At least I hope I can sleep. I've been having to put a pillow case over my head to fall asleep at night for the last 2 weeks, and it's only toned my fear of sleeping down by a very small amount.

   "Nicky? What are you doing?" Maritza asks me, while forcing my pillow case over my head. 

   "Safe," I mumble, curling myself into a ball laying on my side on the bare floor. "It's safer in here."

   Everyone just looks at me now, barely moving an inch after I just spoke. They all stare at me like I've been speaking a foreign language.

  "Nicky?" a female voice says.

   "Huh?"

   A long pause goes by, then I hear footsteps passing by me, then hearing a clicking noise making the room go dark. My arms tighten around me, fearing that something is out to get me, making my way to the corner of the bedroom.