Risk ☣ m.c

xvii

I laid in my bed staring up at my empty ceiling, the words of Erin seemed to be stuck on repeat. She was talking in riddles, as if I was supposed to catch onto something. I've never really been good at riddles, so whatever game she's trying to play I'm obviously failing.

Maybe I could get those riddle help books? Would she like me more if I understood what she was talking about? What do I care, it's not like I still like her. Okay maybe I lied, I do like her. A whole fucking lot actually.

I looked over at my alarm clock to see it was just after midnight. Bored and unamused, I sat up to place n'The Amazing Spiderman' into the DVD player, but only to find that it was missing from the case. Well there goes my life. Contemplating on what to do seen as I couldn't be bothered looking for the movie, I spotted an old notebook that Erin had given me four years ago resting on top of my drawer. It was a book covered in brown leather, and the paper inside was papyrus. Slowly glancing over the un-used notebook, an idea some how simmered into my mind of writing letters to Erin, maybe that way she will listen to my words that i have to say.

And to write a letter, I did. By the time I began to writing the letter I realised that I will most likely never come around to showing them to you, but that didn't stop me from pouring out my thoughts in ink onto the pages of papyrus.

-

"Michael that's the last pizza delivery for tonight, you can go home." Jade sighed turning off the lights off in the store. I nodded my head making my way out the door and towards my red 85' Holden Ute. It's a shitty old thing, and tends to break down quite often.

When I pulled into my drive way, I was  greeted by my mother in tears and a police officer.

"Are you Michael Gordon Clifford?" The tall and toned officer asked, studying my appearance. His hair was brown and short, and a three day growth covered his chin.

"Yes?" I answered as if a question, whilst slightly shaking my head slightly. Why am I so fucking socially awkward? God, I just fail at life. Suddenly my mum let out a loud sob. "What have you done to my mother?" I asked slowly, scanning the man. He let out a slight sigh.

"I'm am going to take it as if you are Michael Gordon Clifford. I'm Constable Jones. Seen as you were reported as the last person to see Erin Neiva Brown before her disappearance, we formal-"

"She what?" I spat, my fists growing white from clutching them so hard. The police officer gulped before continuing.

"Miss Erin Brown has been reported missing for the past two days, but hasn't been seen since the twenty-seventh, that being when your mother seen the two of you talking out the front of your house." And just like that my world shattered, my only thoughts were praying that Erin was safe.

-

After what felt like hours of being interviewed by the police, I excused myself for a while taking a step out side. I sat on the kurb of the road for a while until someone cleared their throat from behind me, indicating that they wanted to hold a conversation. I turned to see Mr.Brown, Erin's father. His black hair had been brushed back, as his face was freshly shaved.

"How ya going Michael, been a long time aye?" He started holding out a hand for me to shake. I looked him up and down before shaking my head and facing the deserted road again. It disgusted me how well he was taking the fact that Erin was missing, the showed me sort of concern about his only daughter. After a while, I realised he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Do you have any clue where she is?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the pavement. He sat down beside me, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"Son, she's trouble, she always has been and always will be. I've given up on trying to keep up with her." He answered shaking his head. "And I think you should too. She does this too often to worry about. It's like the boy who cried wolf. She has ran off too much for me too get worried."

"But what about the ending? What if something eventually does happen to her? How cold you live with yourself?" I argued, the presence of the man getting on my nerves.

"We are talking about Erin here, the girl who's vandalizing buildings on weeknights, goes to frat parties without even being in collage, break and enters private properties, sneaks round with guys, for gods sake she has even robbed the corner store. This has all been the past two years. So I don't think she can get herself into anymore trouble than what she already is in." he laughed, patting my shoulder. "I sure wish she stayed friends with you, you seemed to always keep her inline. What happened between you two?"

"I- We just." I thought for a moment, is it really worth telling him? "I'm not sure what happened."

"Yeah she was a crazy girl, she talked a lot  about some voice in her head or something. You're lucky you don't have to put up with her." He smirked, running a hand over his smoothed out hair.

"Actually, I'd do anything to put up with her." I snapped glaring at him.

"Why? All she is, is some fucked up reject who's getting no where in life." He replied furrowing his eyebrows.

"Look, that's your daughter you are talking about! And she is not a fucking reject, you know who's a reject? I am! I am a fucking reject, I am that nineteen year old with a fucking job delivering pizza, hopelessly in love with a girl I have no chance with, socially awkward, never had a girlfriend, I barely have friends for fuck sake!" I yelled, storming off into my house and straight into my bedroom. After a few hours of calming down I began to write another letter.

                  Dear Erin,                01.12.14

-

Yeah, yeah, I know it's shit. -Kyah