The Unknown

Chapter Two

"Jacob! Cody! Sit down and eat your lunch!" I watch on as the pair completely ignore my mother's request. She groans and stomps into the kitchen. I am leaning against the wall that connects to the kitchen. The dining room is quite chaotic. Both Georgia and Mason, who are twins and one and a half years old, are sitting in their high chairs. Both of them let out a squeak here and there as they throw and smear their food everywhere. Jacob and Cody, who are six and eight, are running around the table, chasing each other. Zach, who is eighteen, sits at the table texting someone, completely oblivious to what's happening around him. Harvey, who is twelve, sits next to him, obediently eating a sandwich. Lastly Jade, who is fifteen, sits on the left of Harvey, also on her phone. Mum, who is stressed to the maximum is in the kitchen grabbing another loaf of bread.

Looking at this madness surrounding me makes me think. What would it be like to live alone without this chaos? Peaceful. That's one thing I only get here if I'm reading.

"Remind me Mum. Why did you decide to have eight children?" I quirk an eyebrow at her. She glances up at me with a smirk on her face. "Oh. Oh! Don't answer that!"

"Sweetie, your father and I-"

"Mum! No! I don't want to know! Please stop!" I interrupt her as I stick my fingers into my ears. So gross! Desperate times call for desperate measures. "I'm going to go now."

I start heading towards the front door but she interrupts me. "Have you got your phone?"

"Yep."

"Okay. Have fun and remember to pick up the medicine from the chemist and take it to your Grandma. Preferably in the light. If not, take Blake with you."

"Will do," with that I leave the chaos of the house and bound down the five steps off the veranda. The spring breeze hits me as I step into open air. I shove my hands into the pockets of my black hoodie and pull it closer to me. My hair blows in every direction. My eyes squint from the force of the wind. I walk down the concrete footpath in the direction of Ruby's house.

*****

I slide the door across and take a careful step inside. I slide the door shut before walking through the kitchen and down the hallway. I can hear talking and laughter in the room ahead of me, but it ceases when someone shushes them. They must have heard me. I hear whispers and the shuffling of feet as I approach the room. I can't see in because, although the door is directly ahead of me, I have to turn left to be in the room.

I reach the door and turn left into the room. Someone jumps out at me and flings a broom in my direction. I scream and jump backwards, hitting the door. My eyes shut tightly as I prepare for the blow. It doesn't come. I peel open my eyes to see Josh standing there, his eyes wide and his mouth parted in shock.

"What the hell?" I yell at him. Finally he shuts his mouth and leans the broom against the wall.

"Casey?"

"No I'm a serial killer," I walk closer to him and he backs away, the guilty expression clear on his face.

"Casey!" arms wrap around my shoulders and I'm pulled into a chest. Brooke's chest. Another pair of arms wrap around both of us from my left side. I immediately recognise the perfume as Ruby's. They both pull away and smile widely at me. Considering their polar opposite personalities, it's no surprise that Brooke is first to speak. "How come you're here? You haven't hung out with us for a month!"

"I have hung out with you. Only at school though. I was pretty busy though."

"Yeah, reading," I look at Natalie, expecting to see her angry. Instead she's smiling at me. I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me. She returns the hug immediately, squeezing twice as tight as I am.