Is That Mom

Part 1 of Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

The Road to the City

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Part 1:

The Road to the City

The road ahead was long and winding, cutting through barren fields and desolate landscapes that mirrored Ethan’s own emotional state. He stared out the bus window, watching the world blur into a monochrome of grey skies and distant, faceless towns. The bus rattled beneath him, the engine groaning with every mile, but the silence inside the vehicle was louder than any mechanical noise. He had left behind the small, isolated town that had once been his refuge. Now, the city loomed ahead like a beacon of uncertainty—both his destination and the source of his deepest fears.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, adjusting the worn backpack on his lap that carried everything important to him: a few changes of clothes, a book, and the worn key that seemed to unlock the future he dreaded to confront. His thoughts drifted to Sarah, the wound of her sudden betrayal still fresh in his mind. Her departure had been unexpected, like a door slamming shut in the middle of the night. He had trusted her, confided in her about his mother’s secrets, only for her to vanish, leaving him with nothing but questions and the bitter aftertaste of betrayal.

Bitterness curled in his gut, twisting his features into a frown. He had always suspected that trust was a fragile thing, but Sarah’s disappearance had shattered whatever illusions he had left. He thought about the nights they spent talking—about his mother, about the secrets she’d kept hidden for so long. Sarah had been the first person to make him feel less alone in his quest for answers. But now? Now she was just another ghost haunting the ruins of his life.

Was she ever really a friend? Ethan’s mind circled the question like a vulture over a carcass. Had she been playing him from the start? Maybe she was part of the conspiracy, working for the same people who had driven his mother into hiding. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. But beneath the anger, there was fear. Fear of what lay ahead in the safety deposit box he was headed toward. What if the contents only led to more betrayal? More lies?

The bus hit a bump, jolting him from his thoughts. Ethan glanced around. The other passengers were silent, lost in their own worlds, oblivious to his inner turmoil. A couple sat near the front, their heads leaning together as they dozed off, while an old man two rows back stared blankly at the seat in front of him, his expression unreadable. In their silence, Ethan felt a sharp pang of isolation. He had grown accustomed to being alone, but the weight of it had never felt so heavy.

He reached into his jacket pocket, fingers brushing against the small brass key that was the only tangible connection to his mother. The key felt cold, its edges worn smooth from years of handling. His mother had kept this key hidden from him, just like she had hidden everything else about her past. Why? Why had she kept so many secrets? And why had she chosen now, years after her death, to reveal the existence of this safety deposit box?

Ethan clenched the key tighter in his hand, a wave of determination washing over him. He couldn’t afford to dwell on Sarah or the betrayal that had followed her departure. Not now. Not when he was so close to uncovering the truth. Whatever lay inside that safety deposit box—whether it was more secrets or something more sinister—he had to know. He couldn’t let fear, or the lingering ghost of Sarah’s betrayal, stop him.

The city skyline appeared in the distance, a hazy outline against the cloudy sky. The closer they got, the more the countryside began to fade away, replaced by industrial warehouses and rows of dilapidated buildings that clung to the outskirts like forgotten relics. The bus passed through neighborhoods that seemed to get progressively worse—graffiti-covered walls, broken windows, trash littering the sidewalks. It was a far cry from the small town he had left behind, but it felt strangely appropriate. This was the kind of place where secrets festered.

As the bus rolled deeper into the city, the scenery changed again. The buildings grew taller, the streets busier, the people more hurried. It was a world that moved at a pace Ethan wasn’t sure he could keep up with. But he didn’t have a choice. The city wasn’t just his destination—it was the next step on a path he had no choice but to follow.

His mind returned to the safety deposit box and the possibilities it represented. His mother’s death had left him with more questions than answers, but she had led him here for a reason. Ethan could feel it in his bones, the same way he had felt her presence lingering in the old house where he had found the key hidden beneath a loose floorboard. She had known he would find it, eventually.

The bus pulled into the terminal, its brakes screeching as it came to a halt. Passengers began gathering their belongings, shuffling out of their seats and into the aisle. Ethan remained seated for a moment, staring at the city beyond the window. The tall buildings seemed to loom over him, casting long shadows over the street below. It was overwhelming, the sheer size of it all. But there was no turning back now.

He stood, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and making his way to the exit. As he stepped off the bus and onto the sidewalk, the cool air hit his face, carrying with it the sounds of the city—honking horns, distant conversations, the rhythmic hum of life continuing all around him. For a moment, he felt small, insignificant in the face of it all. But he quickly pushed that feeling aside. He had a mission, and no amount of noise or chaos was going to stop him.

The road to the city had been long, but the journey ahead was even longer. Ethan squared his shoulders and set off toward the bank where the safety deposit box was waiting. His mind was made up. Whatever secrets his mother had hidden, whatever betrayal he might face, he was ready to confront it.