STOP PRETENDING

THE SECRET: Hiding

How long have I been keeping this secret? How long left until Spider decides to kill that vulnerable boy?
How long?
Trying to hide the guilt that surged through my body, I finally heard the front door slam closed.
Well, at least the drama was finally over I thought to himself.
For the past five minutes, I thought I finally had her. Drawing her near to me. But I had no such luck. I used to be the guy of her dreams before, where I was the only person she could talk to - something that used to be called 'being open'. And now things were different. MUCH different.
I was still sitting on the bed - with the gun lying next to me. I glanced over at it and picked it up.
Suddenly, my phone lit up on the screen.
Spider calling.
The name was there, but the number was withheld. Well, no surprise there, I thought.
I knew what he wanted. I knew what was going to happen.
I deliberately waited for a few seconds.
One...two...three...
Three seconds. I finally picked up my phone and held it to my ear.
"Hello?"
"It's time. Meet me at the base in twenty minutes." The call ended there.
Now? I thought it would be next week. What happened to taking things slowly?
But not tonight apparently. Tonight, Spider wanted to see me. Now. His right armed man.
What was going to happen in the next twenty minutes?

Chapter three

Harry. I stared at his face on the photograph.
Is this really him? My long lost child at aged fifteen?
His eyes were glistening blue. Like mine. His dark brown hair, that fitted perfectly. Like Art's.
Could this really be my son?
A tear streamed down my face.
"My beautiful boy." I said at last. Without noticing, Kelly's arm rested on my shoulder.
"That's him, Siobhan," I looked up at her. "...but then again, that's what the police assume he looks like from now."
I smiled and stared at the image again. "Can I take this?" I asked.
Kelly's face lit up with a smile. "Sure."

We both trolled downstairs soon after until I noticed my stained face from crying. My black eyeliner was messed up.
"Crap." I said, leaning towards the mirror. "There goes my make up." I let out a light laugh, quickly using the end of my sleeve wiping away the make up stain.
Kelly appeared at my side. "Honey, you've never looked better!" She said sarcastically.
"Shut up, I look awful." We both ended up laughing.
"Come here, you cow. Lemme fix you up."

                      *                                                *                                                *
I suddenly felt exhausted as soon as I arrived home fifteen minutes later. Once I was inside the house, I quietly closed the front door - not wanting to wake Art up.
What a day, I thought to myself.
Convincing myself that Art was asleep, I suddenly heard my named being called out from Art. I sighed. So much for hoping he was asleep. It was morning after all.
Art appeared straightaway as soon as I reached the top of the stairs.
"There you are," he said, acting strange around me. He walked towards me and he pulled me into an awkward hug. Actually, I was the one feeling pretty awkward. We drew apart.
I frowned.
"What's going on?" Silence. "Art?"
He looked at me, confusion filling around his face.
"What d'you mean?" He asked. I shook my head.
"Doesn't matter."I hesitated. "Shall we go to bed?"
"You can, but I've got work," he said quickly. "I've gotta leave like now."
"At a time like this? But you always start work at 9am," I replied. "And it's nearly two in the morning for heavens sake!" Something was up. Like he wasn't telling me something. This wasn't like Art at all. I knew him so well when he was lying. When stuff like this happens, Art would always act strange.
And he knew it too.
"Art please, you're worrying me." I went on. "Are you seeing that girl again from last night?"
"What? No!"
"Then what is it?"
"You know what, Siobhan? Forget it! You need to stick your nose out of other people's business, because you're pissing me off!" I gasped with shock. And with that he stormed downstairs, slamming the front door shut.
Now what had I done?

The whole house seemed awfully quiet as soon Art left the house. His actions was strange. His behaviour was strange. All of him was strange.
So why hadn't I gone after him?
Because you didn't, Siobhan. Said a little voice in my head.
I took a deep breath.
I couldn't even enjoy the feeling of sleeping here tonight. Not with all that's going on. It was morning of course, well the large handle on the clock didn't even reach 2:30am. So how am I going to cope?
Without taking a breath moment to think about what I was doing, I took out a small suitcase from under the bed and began packing. I wasn't one of those 'fussy people" who take forever choosing several outfits when going out on holiday because I always thought it was a waste of time. I was in my early thirties for heavens sake (31 to be exact). After I finished shoving clothes in my small suitcase, I ended up dialling my mother.
As it took a couple of tries - since I already knew it was too damn early in the morning, and mum would always be the complainer of the family - she finally picked up the phone.
"Hello, mum?" I said quickly.
"Darling, why on earth would you decide to call me this early in the morning?" She shrieked. "You do know it's a Saturday, and you do know my yoga training starts at two? And —" she tailed off.
Hardly listening to her complaints, I had to stop her there.
"Mother! Would you stop complaining and hear what I have to say?"
She finally shut herself up in the end. Well, at least that worked, I thought to myself.
Finally speaking in a calmer voice, she said, "what is it, sweat heart?"
I told her everything that had happened today.
"Oh, baby." She said in a sympathetic voice. "Your father told me what had happened with Art. Why would he do such a thing? Leaving you in such a state?"
Suddenly I burst into tears. "Mum, I don't know what to do anymore...what to think," I wept. "I feel so lost without Harry and all Art's doing is distancing himself from me."
"Ssh. I know, pet." She said. "Where are you now?"
"At home."
"Well, if your suitcase is already packed, then come home. Me and your dad will look after you."
Brushing back the tears, I took a deep breath. "Okay...Okay. I'll be there soon."
"Okay, darling. I'll call your father just to let him know you coming over."
I nodded and ended the call.
At least that took weight off my chest. It was all I really needed. Comfort and love from my mother.