Dear M

Chapter 8: Erick

Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I felt M's gaze on me, sharp and knowing. My eyes were glued to that door, an invisible magnet pulling me toward it, my curiosity gnawing like a persistent itch. Without warning, he rose and positioned himself in front of me, blocking my view like an imposing wall. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of his height, towering over me and casting a long shadow that seemed to swallow the room.

The others remained blissfully unaware of the taut atmosphere, lost in their laughter and games. But I felt it—a chill wrapping around my spine like a serpent. What the hell was M hiding behind that door? Just as the question teetered on the edge of my tongue, M cut through the tension with an unexpected proposal.

—Hey, it's getting late... want to stay over?"

His words hit me like a rollercoaster plummeting into a sharp drop, leaving my stomach churning. M had a knack for diverting my thoughts, shifting my focus from the eerie mystery to something comfortingly familiar. Suddenly, the door was an afterthought, and my spiraling concerns rushed back with renewed vigor.

My shocked expression spoke volumes.

 —Shit, it's late. I need to get home, I blurted out, spinning away from that door as if it held a curse.

I grabbed my bag, anxiety clawing at my insides. A taxi?... Impossible! I didn't have a single dime on me. Reality crashed down, heavy and suffocating. Everything around me faded into a blur; my thoughts spiraled into an inky void. Why did I even leave? What would happen if my dad came home and didn't find me? Would my sister kill me? If I stayed here, what could happen? Was it really as bad as it seemed?

M's voice sliced through the fog. "Hey, hey..." He snapped his fingers in front of my face, breaking the trance that had me ensnared.

I blinked back to reality. —I can't stay; my parents will kill me

Erick stood up from the couch, concern etched across his face. 

—Relax, I need to head out anyway. I can give you a ride. No big deal.

At sixteen, Erick already had his driver's license, a feat that felt both impressive and terrifying. I hesitated, the anxiety about the unknown swirling in my gut like a storm. "Okay, I'll go with him. But why...?" Another voice in my head urged, "JUST BECAUSE HE'S A FRIEND OF MY FRIEND." I quelled my fears and followed him to his car, each step feeling like a leap into the abyss.

The vehicle was nothing to write home about—a standard, unremarkable model. Once inside, the soft notes of classic rock filled the air, a welcome distraction. Bands like Green Day, Radiohead, and Oasis echoed through the speakers, each note weaving a thread of nostalgia that helped ease the tightness in my chest. I couldn't help but sing along softly, the lyrics resonating with my tangled emotions, speaking of longing and melancholy.

—Hey... what's your name?" Erick asked, breaking the soothing hum of music.

—Why do you want to know my name?" I shot back, a smile dancing on my lips as I tried to mask the nervousness creeping back in.

—Because I want to know how to refer to you.

—Maybe when I trust you, I'll tell you.

—Ha... trust me? I was at your birthday party.

—Good point... how old did I turn?" I challenged, a flicker of confidence pushing through my uncertainty.

—Okay, fine, we're not exactly best friends yet. You're, uh... lost?

—Lost?" I echoed, intrigued.

—I saw you staring at the patio door at M's house.

I almost forgot. I thought 

—Yeah... I swear it opened on its own.

—No, it didn't. But I saw that M doesn't want you to know what goes on back there at night.

—So, you know...

—Yeah, most of the group does. Ruth doesn't know, and you didn't either. But now you're part of this family, so you might as well figure it out like everyone else.

—And how do I do that?"

—Nice try— he smiled at me— You must discover it without clues. You can ask M if you want to try.

I merely smiled, the thrill of the unknown mingling with curiosity.

The conversation flowed between us like a gentle stream, and I found myself growing more comfortable with each passing moment. Erick wasn't so bad; he'd turned into a decent friend, and he brought me home, waiting for me to enter. Thankfully, no one was there when I arrived.

As I stepped inside, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a message from Erick: "Hey, I got your number from M. How are you?" A smile crept onto my face; I had genuinely enjoyed my time with him. I'd been able to speak freely, my fears momentarily set aside.

Then, M's message lit up my screen: "Hey, did you make it back okay?" I responded to M first, eager to share my thoughts. "Yeah, all good. Your friend is really nice, haha. By the way, what's behind the patio door?"

M replied, "Haha, nothing important, but next time you come over, you should check it out for yourself."