The Empty Room

Chapter 2

 {From the perspective of Edgar Jones, oldest sibling}

Out of desperation, I opened the door to see if it was Taylor that had given me the note. Instead, I found Tristan huddled up in a corner, shaking. With disappointment in me, I sighed and slid down to sit next to my brother, rubbing his back. "Where did you find this?" I finally asked. "It-it was on her door," Tristan said in a shaky voice. He continued, "Do you believe it?" He looked at me earnestly, wondering what I could reveal. The four words on the note kept ringing in my head. I am coming back, I am coming back...

I simply shook my head, "Just go back to sleep." I walked Tristan back to his room and waited for a little while before returning to mine.

I am coming back, I am coming back...

Sitting on my bed, I found it difficult to think. Confusion and hostility filled my heart and suddenly, I hated her. How could she have left me? Didn't she understand? Without me, there was no way she would survive out there, the small and weak girl she was. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and clear my mind. In a rage, I threw my towel on the ground and slammed the door shut. If I had let this go on for much longer, my desperation might have taken a hold of me.

***

In the morning, I decided that it would be best for Mom and Dad to see the note. However, regret soon followed quickly. At the dinner table, I looked around to see my family sharing the same restless night that I did. Mom's brown hair was sticking out in all places and her eyes were still swollen from crying. Tristan looked frightened and sat very still, not daring to move an inch. Dad, on the other hand, looked menacing as if he wanted to hurt someone. When I handed Mom the note, she burst into tears again and left the kitchen table. Dad took a look at the note, scrunched up his face, and spat out, "What type of practical joke is this?" He automatically looked at me. "I know you have a connection to her, but your games are not funny to me, kid. Get outta my house and don't come back until I tell you!"

Time seemed to come to a stop. Did he really just call all of this a game? Did he think all of this was just a prank? I felt the uncontrollable anger and annoyance rising up in my throat again.

"I didn't write it. Taylor wrote it and she's coming back!" I snarled. Dad widened his eyes in a threatening way. "Take that back. You don't speak to your father like that."

"You're not my dad, you are a monster that claims to be my father. I am not taking back anything I said and you cannot make me." He tried to formulate words but before he could say anything, I stormed out of the house and slammed the door behind me.

A pang of remorse followed me out, but I couldn't care less. If I died out here, it was his fault. I lay down on the cold concrete steps and everything went black.