The Five Souls - The Beginning

Chapter 31: forged by fire

It was odd watching Mr. Deren walk. It was like watching a plastic Barbie doll come to life. He was just so plastic. About halfway down the stairs, he stopped mid-stride. For the longest second, it was like he was normal again. His shoulders slumped, and he let out an uneven breath. I noticed the back of his neck lite up a little. Then he straightened back up.

"Mr.Deren, are you okay?" I said, feigning concern, placing my hand on his shoulder. He jerked away and then continued walking down the stairs. Before I could even sit down, Mr. Deren pushed the glass of lemonade toward me, splashing some out onto my blows.

"Drink," he said calmly, but I could almost sense an undertone of a threat. I looked at the others, who had the same apprehensive look that I felt. 

"so, Mr.Derek, how's Jack feeling after the other night? he hasn't texted us much," Mitchel asked

"oh, he's been fine. Actually, it's more than fine," he said, looking out the patio door.

"Mr.Deren, are you sure you are okay? you seem a bit out of it." arron asked 

"well, arron, since you insist on asking how I'm doing, I might just tell you."

He paused as if waiting for one of us to shut him down, but he continued with no one saying anything.

"It's not every day you have your son get rushed in unconscious with his friends insisting he just needs sleep," he said, giving the boys a sharp look. 

The boys looked incredibly uncomfortable.

"then you hear another boy was burned alive, and a sinkhole swallowed a political figure's house. it all seems like something off of a SyFi movie," he said suspiciously.

I looked over at the guys, and instead of worry, confusion was on their faces. Ben was the first one to speak up. "Mr.Deren. how do you know he was burned alive?"

Looking at Mr.Deren through the reflected glass, I noticed a look of realization cross his face, which then instantly returned to the distant look he wore.

"oh, you guys must have let it slip. it was quite hectic that night," he said dismissively.

"You know, since I have you boys here, I was thinking maybe Yal could help me with something in the garage." He then turned and started to walk to the garage. 

 "Like hell." arron mouthed, while Ben and Mitchel just looked at each other confused.

Without looking at us, Mr.Deren said, "Boys, are you coming?"

"Sure," Ben said, apprehension in his tone.

"Hannah, just sit here. A girl shouldn't have to do men's work." Mr.Deren said

"Are you sure? I have always been quite the tom-boy." I said, slightly offended by that sexist remark. 

"sit!" he demanded. This time, it was clear he wasn't just telling me. He was demanding.

As he led the boys to the garage, he turned on some loud 80s music and said, "Enjoy this music while we wait for Jack."

"I heard the garage door slam shut and Deren yelling. You boys just holler when you're done." When he turned the corner, he said, "Well, isn't this nice? I get to spend some quality time with my soon-to-be daughter-in-law."

This took me aback. "Excuse me."

"oh, Jack didn't tell you? he wanted to propose at the prom, but with everything that happened, I guess he never got to it."

"no, he didn't." this flooded me with so many emotions. Jack wanted to propose. I certainly wanted that, but at the same time, I couldn't imagine how it would go. We didn't even graduate. We were looking at colleges halfway across the country. I never really thought about us after school. I couldn't just up and change my future and dreams without even trying. I couldn't just follow Jack. I had to make my own decisions. I'm not some prize to be dragged around.