Voices in My Head

Chapter 16: Nothing

Even when confused with a chaotic storm of emotions inside, life still moves on. And it seems life just doesn't want to slow down for me.

Mom and Ryan were called that I missed school again. I sat outside the office, listening to my music, waiting for them to finish talking to the principal.

I really didn't mean to skip school. It's just that life interferes. But nobody was going to take that as a reasonable excuse.

When they came out, Ryan was ticked off as expected. He grabbed my arm and forced me to get up from the seat I was sitting in. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared murderously at me. My mom eyes widened as she clutched his arm, trying to make him let go of me.

I stared blankly at him which just irritated him further.

"You've been taking things for granted too much lately. Get your stuff out of the house."

Luckily, the hallway was empty so no one was there witness the generous, kind CEO Ryan Barnett lose his self-control.

"Ryan, don't kick him out." My mother pleaded. "He'll do better. Won't you Allan?"

I wanted to scream at her.

Why do you look at me like that? With those begging eyes for me to agree? Don't you want me gone? I was a nuisance to you. Wasn't that why you never interacted with me before? Because I was too much trouble. Why are you like this now?

"Be quiet, woman. I didn't need to provide for him, but I did because that was what you wanted. I gave him schooling, shelter, food, and clothes. And this is how he acts. He doesn't respect me, just sleeps all the time, and doesn't do a thing to help out. If this brat wants to be a brat, then he can be a brat somewhere else but not in my house."

He shoved me back and I almost collided with the wall. He sharply turned around and walked away, my mother trailing behind him but every so often she would turn around and look at me with sad eyes, like she was sorry that Ryan did that.

I sighed and sat in the chair, just staring up at the ceiling.

"Wouldn't it be better for everyone if you were dead?"

I'm going to have to go get what few possessions I have from that place soon.

"No one would have to deal with you."

No family (not like I had one in the first place). No place to crash anymore. No support.

"They could've been alive then."

I'm really all alone. But it's not like I wasn't alone before.

"But you just had to be born, just had to kill them. Didn't you? What right does a monstrous freak like you have to take away them from their perfect lives?

I stood up and plugged my earbuds in.

"You tried to be happy and now they're all dead. Because you were too selfish. Because you only cared about yourself."

I needed some fresh air.

"You should've died back then."

"Hey."

I almost crashed into the person if I didn't hear his voice. I looked up and was surprised to see Dante leaning against a brick wall of a building. He pushed himself off the wall and stared at me with those piercing black eyes, like he knew exactly what your next move will be.

"There's someone I want you to find for me."

"So why didn't you?"

The ride was quiet and awkward, well for me it was awkward. Dante didn't seem to notice the awkwardness.

He was actually a good driver. I was a little shocked but didn't dare voice that.

He drove up to a fairy normal place. It was a nice-looking, average house. Painted white with a black shingled roof. The porch was clean and even had a porch swing. There were flower pots filled with beautiful, colorful flowers decorating the place.

The inside was even more surprising. It looked like something out of a home magazine. Big space, huge kitchen, and even a sparkling chandelier in the foyer.

Is it mean to say I didn't expect Dante to have a house a this?

I just didn't think he lived in a fancy place like this.

Dante either didn't notice me staring a bit in awe or he was used to it because he didn't comment on it. He just went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of lemonade from the pitcher sitting on the counter.

I rubbed my left wrist, feeling out of place. Dante said he wanted someone found, but I don't get why we had to go to his house.

"Do you want a glass?"

I jumped a bit at the sudden voice. Dante held out a glass of lemonade for me. I took it, not knowing what else to do.

This is...weird. How else to describe it?

Dante is actually nice to me. His tone was more patient than the times before. And it's weird and awkward. How am I supposed to act?

"You know," Dante stared at his glass, a clouded look in his eyes, as if he was reminiscing on a distant memory. "I told you I recruited you because of your fighting skills."

More like Raiden's fighting skills.

"But mainly, I recruited you because of your computer skills."

He turned to face me, a sad smile on his face. He was staring at me, but at the same time, it was like he wasn't staring at me but at something only he can see.

"You're different from anyone I ever met. Your eyes seem to change every time I meet you. It reminds me a lot of her."

Who's her? The person I have to find?

"She was like me. Intelligent. Worthy. A cunning mind and clever tongue."

Sounds like a perfect match for him.

Dante sighed, an unusual behavior. He finished the rest of his drink and set it on the counter before leaning against the beige-colored wall.

He wasn't his intimidating self anymore. He acted like a normal teen. His voice was still full of power but it was calmer. I didn't understand why he was so...at ease? (I guess?) with me.

"She disappeared 2 years ago. And I have no idea where she is. All I know is she's not dead; she's alive out there somewhere."

How would you know if she was dead if you don't even know her where she is?

It was as if he could read my mind. Well, I wouldn't put it past him. The guy has a weird way of knowing everything.

"A couple weeks ago, around the time I recruited you, I found her necklace."

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a long silver chain with an oval shaped locket on it.

I still don't understand how that has to do with him knowing his lover is still alive. But I'm not going to question it because I gave up questioning the guy's logic long ago.

Dante held the locket up so I can see. It looked fairly new and clean. The front of it had a rose engraved on it.

And for some reason, when my eyes saw it, they sparked with recognition.