THE KEY (book one)

|seventeen|

three fifty am
I found the fastest way to Eli's home and made it to south city in thirty minutes instead of an hour. The sudden urge to go to my home and check if my mothers there fights me but I resist and keep straight and Park the mobile in the back of his; complex IX. I His light is still on and his window is open. "Eli!" I yell as low as possible but no answer. Looking around I find a couple of small rocks and pick them up.
"Eli!" I yell again throwing a rock trough the window. I wait a second but there's still no answer. "Eli! You big dummy." I yell louder and throw another rock.
"Where the hell is this kid?" I ask myself. I have a feeling he's not gonna answer.
"Errana?" He blurts scaring the living hell out of me. He's leaning out the window with a white towel around his waist.
"W-what the hell! Where t-the hell have you been! You're alive?" He yells louder. Why wouldn't I be?
"Yes...yes shhh I'm coming up. Open the front door." I demand as low as possible walking to the front of the complex. Jogging up the stairs I hear his front door slowly open. "I'm guessing you where in the shower huh?" I ask walking to the door.
"Yes... Errana where the hell have you been?" He's serious. "You're not joking?" I ask walking inside his home. "I'm not. Why would I be joking."
"Where are your parents?" I ask walking towards his room. "Working late. Erra I feel like you're not hearing me right now. Where have you been? You're all bruised up...y-you look different."
"Different huh?" I mumble frowning at the Missing Girl papers one the floor.
I look up at him as he leans against his bedroom door. "You look like you haven't slept in days." He sighs crosses his arms.
He's been looking for me. I'm debating if I should tell him what's actually going on, but I don't want to drag him into something that will for sure put him in danger.
I just stare at him and he stares at me.
I shake my head walking over to him and pulling him into a tight embrace, pressing my face against his wet chest. His heart beats at a steady pace, it calms me.
"I'm sorry." I whisper.
I have to lie to him.
"Are you okay? Who did this to you?"
He says pulling away. My eyes begin to water but I brush them away.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Me and my mom left on a small get away trip. I know I should've said something. It was just so last minute." I lie. I'm horrible at this.
"Why? Trip for what? You have bruises all over you, you liar!"
"My dad. A trip to get my mind off of finding my dads killer. The bruises are from a combat class I joined." The lie multiplies, so I avoid eye contact and pick up the papers from the floor.
Missing teenager. Errana Paxton.
"So what that's it? You give up?"
He asks from the bathroom, I chuckle.
"Are you kidding of course not. Actually that's why I'm hear." I explain, putting the papers down.
"Thats good news because I have more information on The Vipers!" He yells picking me up from behind. I begin to laugh out loud, just what I needed.
"Oh yea? What is it?" He plops me down one the bed and sits on his desk.
"So tomorrow..." He starts.
"Okay tomorrow...what about it?"
"Tomorrow night the leader of The Vipers is throwing an underground party by Blaze it."
"Main city?" I question sitting up.
"Yes his name is ... are you ready?" He asks raising his eyebrows.
"Tell me you fool!" I yell throwing a pillow at his face.
"Ramon Claw! Yep... Ramon freaking Claw. I did that." He praises himself throwing his hands up.
"Claw? Like Edith Claw? Like our leader... Claw!" I question frowning, this can't be.
"Yup I know I thought the same thing, but I asked my father and apparently she had siblings." He informs scratching his nose.
"Woah... you learn something everyday. How many siblings did she have?"
"She has two brothers. That's probably why she's so tuff."
"I highly doubt that. Tell me more about this party." It's weird that I'm with Eli right now. It's weird that I'm back in my city at all. It doesn't feel the same.
"So this party is on Danforth street next to Blaze it. You'll catch him there I know it." He says sitting next to me in the bed.
"Are you really gonna do this?" He asks and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Yes... I am. I'm eleven years sure. Why... you're doubting me already?"
He laughs.
"Never that, never that." I look up at him and start laughing myself.
I'm so happy that I came to see him, and I really don't want to go but I have to.
I sigh and rub my eyes.
"I should go. You know how my ma is." I chuckle sitting up.
"I do... I do. Erra."
"Yes?"
"Come back." At his doorway I turn and let the tears fall again.
He got me.
"You know I always come back." I say pointing at him in a teasing way, and scrunching up my face.
"I'm serious. I cant lose you."
I debate if I should tell him about the robots I saw the day I got caught, but I don't. I walk back over to him and grab his face instead.
"I'm coming back." I place a light kiss on his head.
"Now stop putting these missing papers around." We both laugh and I walk out.
"This is it." I say outside now.
"I'll see you soon partner." He says pulling me into a hug.
"Love you."
"Love you too." He says pulling away and smiling.
With that I walk away without looking back because I know I'll just end up staying. Unlocking the mobile I quickly get in and start the engine.
I'm coming back.