Dodge Mason // Mystery Boy

30

I make my way home and as soon as I walk through the door I run to Kai's room. I slam the door open and wake up Kai from his sleep by jumping on his bed and attacking him with a teary hug.

"AGH! Oh my God! Delilah!" he yells trying to escape my grasp. "What the Hell!"

"What's happening!" our mom yells out-of-breath from the doorframe.

We both sit up and look over at her as she turns the light on. "Mom..." I tear up. I think she knows. She walks over to us and sits on the bed hugging her children. Her touch sends me into a full blown sob and Kai's sleepy face perks up and engages in the family hug.

They know.

"It's okay," our mom says rocking us back and forth. That's all she says for the next 5 minutes. When I'm ready, I emerge from her embrace and take deep breaths. She wipes the tears from my face and softly pushes my hair out of my face.

"I'm so sorry mom," I say shakily.

"Don't be sorry, honey," she smiles sadly. "I'm sorry," she laughs letting out a tear. "I wish your dad was here." The tears start from one to two to a light stream.

"Are we gonna be okay?" Kai asks.

"Of course, baby," our mom consoles us.

She doesn't address it. I don't think she wants to while Kai is here. Eventually, we say goodnight to Kai and me and my mom walk out into the living room. We shut his door and sit on the couch.

"I'm sorry mom," I start. I'm cut off by her shushing me.

"No, Delilah," she says softly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not around and that I didn't take care of you. And that I don't make enough. And that I can't protect you anymore," she says starting to cry again.

"No mom, this isn't your fault," I plead. "Besides Im done. I'm out. I'm not going back in," I explain. My mom just looks at me almost tortured.

"Okay," she lets out. "We can talk more about this tomorrow. I'll be back at 11pm if you're still awake. Get some rest and— and I love you Delilah," her voice cracks. "Just understand, you're all I have left of him too. I can't lose him again. I can't lose you," she pleads. She pulls me in for a hug and that concludes our night.

I head to the bathroom and get ready for bed. As soon as I'm out the shower I see a missed call from Heather. I pick up my phone and call her back. It rings three times and the fourth is cut off by her voice.

"Hello? Lilah?" she panics.

"Yeah? Heather are you okay?" I ask concerned.

"Yeah just, can I come over?" She cries.

"Yeah of course."

"Okay I'll be there soon," she says before hanging up. I finish getting ready and then wait out on our porch.

Heather approaches and I get up to hug her. I bring her inside and we talk on my bed.

"She said what about us?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yeah it's like she didn't even hesitate. She just spilled all of our secrets and more."

"I'm so sorry you had to see that," I say bringing her in for a hug.

Heather continues to tell me about Natalie's personal challenge. She was called in to see Natalie spill all of her secrets from the last challenge. She spilled more than secrets. Were we even really friends?

I tell her about my personal challenge. About Kai and the abandoned building. The cells and the syringe. I tell her I'm done. She understands.

"I just wish it didn't have to be this far in. I wish we didn't already do all the fucked up shit."

"You're telling me," I scoff.

Heather and I get ready for bed and she falls asleep quickly next to me. I toss and turn for maybe 30 minutes before I sigh and accept defeat. I get up and head to the living room with my notebook. I try to sketch. I try to draw anything. I make scribbles. I color the page.

This is so fucked up. I wish you were here. I wish you were here. I wish you were here.

I fall asleep at some point and am woken up by Heather.