Into The Unknown

05

Chris' POV

Why does she always have to ask me these things at night? The day was going fine until she asked me that.

"I wanna know about you, Enigma," she chuckled.

I shook my head at the nickname she decided to give me. Where did that come from? I tapped my finger across the dim colored carpet as she began to ask questions.

"How old are you?"

"17," I responded.

"Hmm, okay. What's your last name," she asked kindly.

"Brown."

"Do you have a job?"

I nodded as I glanced at the shoes she purchased for me earlier that evening. I have to pay her back but I have to find room to do that from the money I send away.

She nodded as if she were trying to figure out how to word her next question.

"Any brothers or sisters," she said lowly.

I didn't want to lie to her but I didn't know if I should tell her the truth or not. I chewed my lip, contemplating the answer to her question.

"I had a brother and a sister," I said lowly. I worded my answer perfectly to avoid any questions that followed. I prayed she wasn't smart enough to figure out the riddle I left behind my words.

"Um, you said had. Why not have?"

I cursed under my breath and deeply exhaled. I began to fiddle with the loose string on my jacket before I answered her.

"They passed away is all," I mumbled.

I could feel her attitude change from curious into sympathetic in the matter of seconds.

"I'm sorry, what about your parents? Do you all get along," she questioned.

There it is. She asked the question. I didn't want to talk about my family. That's one thing that is off limits to anyone. If I don't bring it up, you don't either. Raegan was a little too curious for my liking.

"We don't talk," I spoke truthfully. She examined my face as I spoke.

"The lies are real, sir. Tell me the truth," she stressed.

"I don't have any," I whispered. I cleared my throat to hold back the overwhelming feeling.

"What do you mean you don't have any," she chuckled.

I immediately cut my eyes at her and her confident attitude quickly shut down before my eyes. I looked away from her and shook my head in disbelief.

"I didn't mean to chuckle like that," she trailed off, "Can you tell me what happened? It's okay if you don't want to."

I rubbed my chin slowly trying to figure out whether or not I wanted to tell her or not. I decided to tell her since she asked. She's always poking into things she cannot handle; therefore, I'm going to tell her the truth and everything behind it.

*Flashback*

"I'll see you later, Duke," Mijo called out.

I waved my hand up as I walked away to my house.

"Yo, Duke," Mijo yelled out.

I turned around to look at him.

"Look at that," he said pointing to the black smoke in the sky.

I stared at the smoke as it filled the sky that was once clear.

"Where is it coming from," I asked squinting at the black fog.

He shrugged and started to walk towards it. I walked behind him at a steady pace as the smoke cloud got thicker. I coughed through the smoke when I heard a loud crash.

"CHRIS," Mijo yelled. I looked down the street and realized it was my house that was on fire. I dropped my bag and began to run. I ran as fast as my feet could carry me. There was a crowd of people surrounding my yard and I pushed through them and ran onto the porch. I scanned the porch and realized everyone's shoes were on the porch.

I reached for the door when Mijo pulled me back.

"Yo, Chris, you cannot open that door it will burn you," he yelled over the flames.

"My family is in there, Mijo! I have to get them out," I hollered.

"I know, but you cannot open that door! Once the oxygen hits that flame it will explode! Wait until the fire department gets here and they will go in!" Mijo pushed me back off the porch as the fire department rushed into the house.

I watched in horror as they pulled my little brother and sister from the fire. Their limp bodies dangled in their arms as if life was sucked from them. I ran over the paramedic and reached for them.

"Step back, young man," the paramedic yelled.

"That's my brother and sister," I whispered staring at their bodies.

She stared in my eyes and waved me to sit beside her. I sat down and she rubbed the thick curls in my hair. I stared at their bodies and grabbed my brother's hand. I knew what she was about to say. I brushed the freshly colored hair from my sister's face and nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry," the paramedic trailed off.

I looked back at my now disheveled house as the firemen pulled my parents' bodies from the house. I quickly looked away from their charred figures and walked away from the house.

"You can stay with me, Duke," Mijo patted my back lightly.

I nodded slowly and picked up my bag from the ground. A few hours later, the police showed up at Mijo's house. They provided me with the information about my family's death. My father was the last to die, as he died in the hospital earlier that night.

"Are you okay, son? Do you have a place to stay," the officer asked.

I nodded slowly and stepped away from the door to tell him I would be staying in Mijo's house.

He gave his condolences and drove away. The funerals were held at once since most of our family couldn't make it. I went home through that night and didn't come out of the room. I was 11 years old when it happened. I haven't been the same since.

*Flashback over*

I looked over at Raegan and watch tears rush from her eyes as if they were afraid of her. I reached over and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of my black hoodie.

"Stop," I whispered. She nodded in agreement and smiled.

"You're a strong boy, Enigma. Very strong," she rubbed my arm slowly.

I nodded as she shifted on the bed. She was now in it and her eyes begged to be put to rest. I moved on the floor and made myself comfortable. Her light snores filled the air as I lie awake, remembering the day I hated to so much. I closed my eyes to fall asleep but my dreams were filled with their bodies being drug from the front door. That moment, I decided to sit out on the balcony and watch the ocean fight and settle against the earth.

Raegan's POV

His life has been rough and I don't think asking him about it will make anything better between us. I lied back on the bed and made up my mind that I would tell him about my night with Liliana. He has told me so much about his life; it is time I told him about my own.

This should be interesting.

Got myself on speed dial, 9-1-1. I got a hole in my heart, one bullet and a gun. Belly full of pills, running out of time sitting here waiting...