This Old Man

part nine

I ran home, to my mom. I warned her but she brushed it off. She went out to dinner and I stayed home alone. I got a knife and locked the door.
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When we left the car to look back at him, the old man had already disappeared. Ash wanted to look for him but I told him to go home and rest, I'd call him later.

He got in his car and the moment he sped off, I ran inside my house.

"Mom! Mom!" I screamed.

"Upstairs honey."

"Mom, he's here, he's back!"

"Oh honey, no he's not."

"Dad believed me."

"Speaking of dad, I dropped your brother and sister off at his house."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going out and I didn't know if you had plans. Since I see that you don't, I want you to stay at home because I'm not taking my keys."

"Alone? While that lunatic is outside? You must be out of your everlasting mind! Mommy, please."

"Honey, you're about to head to college soon. I can't believe you're still afraid to be left home alone."

I stormed off to the living room to grab my phone. She could leave but I wouldn't staying alone. I texted Ash.

He said he was a bit tied up but as soon as he was free, he'd come straight to my house.

"Honey, I'm leaving," I heard my mom say after a decade. By then I had already closed all the windows and curtains and locked all the doors.

"Bye," I responded dryly without looking up.

The moment the door closed I grabbed a knife and locked the front door.