THE KEY (book one)

|four|

We finally arrive to my complex. The porch lights are still on, which means my mom is still up. Jai steps in front of me and knocks on the door three times. It takes a while but the door swings open. She stands in the door frame both arms crossed, and lips pressed into a firm line.
She already knows.
Eli must of told her.
"Good evening M-"
"No need to explain." My mom cuts him off and it creates a pit in my stomach.
I'm gonna kill Eli.
"It won't happen again." I sigh.
"No it won't in fact Jai would it be possible if you can escort her to and from school tomorrow?"
She's joking? She has to be. I wait for both of them to laugh and I begin laughing in the process.
"You're joking?" I look at her dumbfound.
"Actually I think it's a good idea." Jai pitches in and my jaw nearly hits the floor.
"Y-you're joking right?" I repeat but by the look on her face the only thing I'm asking for is a slap.
"Okay see you tomorrow."
I look at Jai who wears a devil smirk. Boy do I wanna wipe that smile  off his face.
"You have a good night Mrs.Paxton."
"Sure will."
"Goodnight Erra." He winks at me and jogs down the stairs. I look at my mom avoiding her eyes. "Come inside it's getting cold." She orders.  I do so and head straight for the stairs. "Get down her right now!" The tears don't hesitate to fill my eyes.
I hate being yelled at.
"Errana what's going on... huh?" I say nothing. "What's happening with you? You like to bend the rules, be a rebel, mess around I get it you're a child... but The Pexagon? Are you insane! And so help lord if it has anything to do with your father!" She yells and the tears win. A child?
I don't know what to tell her. Whatever I say she'll think I'm troubled. "Errana." She walks over to me and I step back. If I say any I'll sob I know it. We stare at each other for moments then she gives in and pulls me into an embrace. "You're in pain. You're past has bruised one too many times. But you've dug yourself a hole and I fear... I fear I won't be able to pull you out one day." I melt into her arms and cry. It hurts so bad. What did my father have that he'd rather die than give it up. He choose death for himself and left us. "My child... what you're searching for goes deeper than you know. At some point you must let go." She rubs my back then releases me.
"Let go, let God." Something she says one too many times. "You keep holding this weight on you it'll follow you around forever." I clean my tears and catch my breath. "Dad... Dad would have told me to keep looking if it were you." My voice shakes. "He wouldn't have given up on you." A worried look forms on her face and  my tears begin to fall again, but I quickly brush them away and make my way upstairs to my room.
"Erra!" She yells, but I ignore walking into my room and slamming the door. I press my back against the door frame and slide down to the floor. My sadness transfers to anger within in a minutes. I grab hold of the necklace my father gave to me before he died and yank it off. His words reply in my head.
I hate him, I hate my mother, and I hate myself the most.
Holding it in my fist I get up and sit on my bed. A chain with a stone attached to it. Anyone can make it, but the value is what matters. I don't know what's so important about it, but if it means a lot to him it means a lot to me. I'm never going to stop look for his killer, I don't care what it takes. A slight drizzle of rain falls down slapping against my window. I stand and put the necklace under the floor board next to my bed. I'm not going to stop, whatever it takes.