Somewhere, Out There

Chapter 2- Liar

Bae Bae and I had been messing about in the front yard for a while now. She can't fetch. No matter how many times any of us tried to teach her, she just doesn't fetch. Instead, she plays her own version of it. I'll throw a ball, she'll run after it and pick it up, but won't come back. Instead she just runs off with it until she gets bored and wants me to throw it again.
"Bae Bae! Come!" I hollered. She came trotting up to me, a slobbery toy in her mouth. "I'm not touching that."
She threw the used-to-be hedgehog in the air, caught it and ran off again.
I knelt down, leaning against a tree. Eventually, she came back and sat next to me, panting like crazy.
"Hey. Bae Bae." I whispered. She look at me. I held a small finger gun up to her face, "bachoo!"
Instantly, she rolled over onto her side, playing dead. I love watching her do it. She'll try so hard to stay still, and makes the silliest of faces.
"Ok." I smiled and she quickly stood up, shaking off the dirt and grass. I hugged her neck and she plopped down next to me. "You're the best, girl."
I was stroking her head when I heard someone call my name.
"Katie!" I turned to find Mom in the front doorway.
"What's up?"
"Come quick. There's something you're not going to want to miss."
I scrambled to my feet and hurried inside. "What is it?" The TV was on, and I quickly focused my attention on the reporter.
"After a probe was sent out to Kerberos, the Galaxy Garrison is able to further their investigation into the crash." The reporter said.
I perked up immediately.
"Despite their efforts, the crew remains missing. Pieces of their ship and equip were, however, found." Images of Kerberos and the new probe footage were shown. Everything looked out of place. Nothing was organized. But no evidence of people.
My heart sank immediately.
"The Galaxy Garrison is still searching for the members of this mission, but with this new find, it only reveals more questions that must be answered."
I kicked the back of the couch, furiously.
"Katie...?" Mom came over to me but I ignored her completely.
I pushed past her and ran upstairs. Bae Bae followed me, staying close next to me heels.
I slammed my door shut and kicked over my trash can.
"Katie!" Mom knocked on my door. "Can we talk?? Please??" She opened the door slowly after I didn't answer.
"Go.... Away....!"
Mom quickly embraced me, "What's wrong?"
"They lied, Mom! They lied!"
"They didn't lie... They just didn't know what to-"
"No!" I interrupted. "The Garrison is full of liars! They knew everything! And they said nothing!" I found myself crying.
"That's not true. And you know that! The officers of the Galaxy Garrison did not lie! They didn't know what had happened!"
"Then where are they?! Where is Dad?! And Matt?! Where?!"
"Katie! You know where they are! You have to let go! You can't keep acting like this!"
"Like what Mom?! Like I care about my family?!"
"You think I don't care? You think that I don't want them to be out there, alive, and safe? That I'm not hurting inside? You're not the only one who's suffering!"
I huffed in anger, crossing my arms and avoiding eye contact. "You could at least show it...."
"Is that how you want it to be?"
"No! You just... You never even talk about them! You don't think of them. And you act like it never happened!"
She said nothing in reply.
"How?! I thought you missed them too! Matt was your son, yet you never talk about him! Ever!"
Mom stayed silent, showing no signs of sympathy or grief.
"Yeah. You totally miss him..." I said in disbelief.
"I can't believe you....."
"Well I can't believe you either..... Some mother you are..... Doesn't even pretend to care about her own children...."
"Right... Well... If that's how you see me... Fine..." Mom stood up suddenly and walked out of my room, the door closing loudly behind her.
I got up instantly. "Mom! Wait!" I opened my door but she wasn't there. It was silent. Not a sound. I leaned against the door to her room and opened my mouth to speak but held my tongue. My thoughts were interrupted by quiet sounds of crying from inside the room. "Mom... I'm sorry...."
With no reply, I tried the door handle, locked. My eyes grew hot with tears. "What have I done? How could I say that to her? Why?!"
"Mom please say something! I didn't mean it! Please don't do this! I'm sorry!"
"Katie..." Mom spoke quietly. "I need to be alone..."
"No! Mom please! Don't shut me out! I'm sorry! Please!" I took a deep breath, holding back my tears as much as I could.
There was no reply. All that could be heard were her constant sobs. It's all my fault.
"When... When you want to talk, I'll be downstairs...." I left the door, slowly releasing the locked handle and walked to the stairs.