How to Kill a Man in Thirty Seconds

Chapter 41: Read the Sign

It was easy to get Caroline off my tail. I asked her for a glass of water. The moment I heard her feet thudding down the stairs, I slipped out of her room and through the door labelled 'Do not Enter'. I was met with a crowded room, a lone table at the centre. It was surrounded by shelves that were overflowing with books and files.

This was Morgan's office.

Hallelujah!

I instantly rushed towards the desk, but Morgan clearly had no sense of order for it too was packed with disorganized belongings. The labels themselves were far too vague to even begin to make sense of what they meant.

I didn't have time for this. Think, Charley. Think!

The probability of anything vital being kept somewhere in the middle of this chaos was slim. Huge assumption, but given the circumstances, I would have to take a chance. Heart pounding in my chest, I pulled the drawers open, rummaging at record speed for anything even mildly interesting.

I found more files. And then some more.

So nothing.

Frustration rushed me.

My gaze suddenly landed on a small cupboard that lay in the corner of the room. I had failed to spot it before, thanks to the massive bookcase that had been cleverly placed beside it.

Caroline was probably on the way upstairs by now. I was going to be caught red handed.

Rushing forward, uncertainty engulfed me as my hand latched onto the knob of the top most drawer. I yanked it open, pulling out the first thing my hands landed on.

To our dearest Morgan, the words scrawled in cursive greeted me.

Happy sixteenth birthday, you idiot!

I can't believe you've grown so old. It seems only yesterday that you were a dim-witted kid trying to steal cookies from the jar. Remember when you tried so desperately to grab hold of them, that you fell down and broke a leg? Or that time Sammy tricked you into believing she had a real dragon egg at home? You were so completely fooled you actually skipped school to come see. Even back then, I wondered how you could have turned out to be so daft despite being surrounded by our brilliance.

Morgan, I've had a wonderful time making your life a misery. I'm also really glad I've always had a ridiculously badass best friend like you. I hope you make the best of the year ahead. Stop smoking. Stop drinking so much. Stop getting into trouble. And put that incredible brain of yours to good use for things that actually matter.

If you do that, I'm sure you'll graduate with no trouble! I believe in you, Morgan. It's time you believed in yourself.

Your ridiculously blessed friend,

Susan.

P.S. Don't forget to have a truly kickass year!

I yanked the drawer fully open and my gaze darted over the rest of its contents. They were all pictures of Morgan and mum, from when they were little to months, perhaps weeks, before my father's murder.

One particular photograph snagged my attention. They were perhaps no more than ten years old and from what it looked like, it was Halloween. Morgan, then a stout, slightly overweight boy with a mop of blonde hair was in a batman costume. My mother, it seemed was the Incredible Hulk. There were fairy lights glimmering some way off and Morgan was distracted, while my mother had grabbed the opportunity, grinning cheekily as she snuck handfuls of his sweets into her basket.

My heart sank in my chest.

I hadn't realized they had been so close.

When Morgan had been accused, my mother had set aflame all the photographs we had of him and moved to a whole new city so that her children wouldn't have to look into his traitorous eyes ever again. His name was akin to that of the devil, never mentioned under our roof. Morgan, on the other hand, had dedicated an entire drawer to hold all the memories of her that he cherished.

Morgan had clearly been in love with her.

Still was.

It was as I crouched there, that footfalls suddenly sounded outside. I realized a split second too late that they were too heavy to be Caroline's. My eyes widened.

Suddenly, the door burst open, nearly thrown off its hinges under the brunt of the force.

Morgan towered in the doorway, his gaze darting across the room before it found me.

My heart stopped in my chest.

Morgan's jaw clenched and something flashed in his eyes, a mixture of unreadable emotion passing over his face. Fear engulfed me as he suddenly made forward, removing the distance between us with a few strides.

This was it. He was going to kill me.

My heart leapt in my chest as I recoiled, terror filling every cell in my body.

"Daddy, don't!" Caroline's panicked voice suddenly sounded from the doorway, and Morgan stopped in an instant.

His fists clenched, fury washing over his pale face. His teeth were grinding together as he stared at me. His entire body was shaking all over in an attempt to restrain himself.

My eyes wide in complete mortification, I scrambled to my feet. The photograph slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with an audible CRASH. Morgan's venomous gaze flickered over the open drawer and dropped to the picture. His eyes flashed. The glass had broken, the cracks spreading like veins over the faces of the two smiling children.

I scurried to pick up the photo, "Uh, sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just... curious." My voice trembled as I straightened, "I'm sorry."

"What... are you doing here?" his voice shook with unrestrained emotion. A muscle in his jaw was ticking.

"...Sorry," was all I managed to get past my throat.

"SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT!" he boomed and suddenly, the photograph had been ripped from my hands and there was a thundering CRASH as it collided with the wall behind me. I flinched, gaze dropping to the floor. The colour had drained from his face.

"I don't want you stepping foot in my house again," his voice was filled with animosity, "Look at me."

My gaze lifted instantly. His eyes were a blue so pale, they were nearly white. And so cold and venomous, they didn't seem human. They seemed more like a viper's.

"Get. Out," he mustered.

I ran.

Past a horrified Caroline standing stock still by the doorway.

I stumbled down the stairs and towards the front door.

It was as I was scurrying across the living room, heart in my throat, that the sounds of crashing began from upstairs. Of things being thrown against the floor and shattering to pieces.

Then began the deafeningly loud, enraged wailing of a man.

And somewhere in between, the quiet sobs of a child.

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A/N- Please comment and like if you enjoyed this chapter! I will be updating again tonight<3