Missing A Twin

Chapter 5 : Paranoia

Chapter 5

Monday morning...

Riker POV

I woke up, screaming. I'd just had a nightmare about the shooter at our school.

"Dude, calm down," Rocky said, sitting up beside me.

I took a few breaths, trying to stop my heart from racing like crazy.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Time to get ready for school."

I immediately tensed up even more.

"Riker, what's wrong? You're all pale."

"I-I c-can't go!"

"Riker, you have to."

"N-no! I'm n-not g-going today!"

"Well you might need to run that by mom."

I jumped out of bed, and ran downstairs. Mom was making pancakes.

"Mom, please don't make me go to school today!" I said, wrapping my arms around her.

"Riker... What's going on?"

"My stomach... Please. Can I just stay home?"

"Is this about what happened on Friday?"

"Mom, please!"

"Alright, fine. One day, Riker. But I expect you back there tomorrow."

"Ok, thanks..."

I sat down at the kitchen table. Everyone else came down, and we had breakfast. They all left to go to school. I was still at the table with mom.

"Riker, let's talk for a minute, ok?"

"Ok..."

"What's bothering you?"

"The shooter..."

"What about it?"

"They just kept getting closer and closer to our classroom! And I felt like there was nothing we could even do! We were just sitting there in the corner of the room, waiting to die! I was scared to death, mom! I've never been that scared in my entire life! Except maybe when I thought Jeff was going to die. But that was a different kind of scared..."

"Rydel told me you didn't want to go for a walk yesterday."

"I thought I was going to get shot."

"Riker, you need to understand that this was most likely a one time thing. I get that you're scared. But chances are, this is never going to happen again."

I sighed.

Later...

Riker POV

I was sitting at the kitchen table with my siblings. They were doing their homework, and I didn't want to be alone, so I was there with them.

There was a loud bang, and I jumped out of my chair, landing on the floor. I realized Ross had just dropped his textbook on the ground. And he was laughing at me.

"Guys, it's not funny," Rydel said, helping me up.

"It was pretty funny, Rydel," Ross said.

"Ross, he's scared. Don't make this worse for him."

I sat in my chair again. Every time I hear a loud noise, my stomach drops.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" I whispered to Rydel.