Ahoy Matey

Reunion

Mike? As in his brother?

Please, let him in. I wanna talk to him.

"How do we know he's not William?'" Asked Foxy looking at Goldie.

Because, dad never knocks. That's how I was always able to tell which one of them was at the door. Mike always knocked to let me know it was him. It was like our secret code.

That was enough for Sarah and it seemed Foxy as well as he followed her to the door. She took her keys from her pocket, shifting through them to find the right one as they walked. 

"How'd you know they were still in there?" 

"I didn't. I was pure luck that they were after everything that's happened this week." They reached the door and unlocked it. 

"Uh hi. I'm really sorry to intrude but I have some bad news." Said Mike once they opened the door. 

"How bad a news?" Asked Foxy, eyeing Mike cautiously. 

"Quite? It really depends on your perception of it." 

"How did he percept it?" 

"He laughed. Uncontrollably." Foxy eyes darkened slightly. 

"Well then, I guess you'd better tell us."

Sarah stepped to the side, letting him in. He looked around with the slightest hint of disgust visible through the mask he wore. He froze just as the others had. He had seen Goldie. Although, as the others had stopped, ready to pounce, Mike seemed almost cautious. Scared. His voice shook when he spoke, his eyes filled with hope and regret. They shone through his mask like beacon's although Mike didn't seem to care. 

"B-ben-n-ny?" Goldie's face lit up like a light bulb and he truly looked like a child. He nodded his head vigorously smiling as he did so. He ran forward with the pen and paper in hand. A previously scrawled message was written hastily across it. Sarah could just read the mssage over Mike shoulder.

Mikey? Big bro?

Mike read the message quickly before enveloping his brother in a tight hug. Tears were streaming down his face but he didn't seem to care as he practically flattened his younger brother. His brother returned the hug just as hard if not harder. Sarah and Foxy walked back over to the others, leaving the two to catch up. Their voices could just be heard from where the group stood. Well, Mike's.

"I am so so so sorry. I was stupid and selfish and a complete and total idiot. I am so so so so so sorry."

It's ok. I know you never meant for it to go that far. You were just messing around. Trying to impress you're friends. I always saw your face whenever they told you to do something. You never wanted to. And I saw the look of horror on your face when you realised what they were doing.

I forgive you.

Mike read the message but it didn't stop the tears from flowing still.

Does he still move?

Mike nodded after reading the message. "Only once. The other day. I found him on the clock." Goldie nodded after hearing this.

Something really bad must've happened then.

Mike nodded slightly. He couldn't look at Sarah. Not after what he'd seen. He admired the fact that she was still here and still persisting even after what had happened the past week. He hadn't wanted to come to the pizzeria today. He wanted to leave everything behind. He wanted to just stay home, ignorant and happy. But that could never happen. He had needed to come. So that's what he'd done. And it had been one of the most aggravating moments of his life.

During the day he'd learnt just how horrible his father was and it didn't stop after he left. When he'd come home he was forced to sit with his father during dinner and endure him talk about the rest of his day after he himself had left. Mike wasn't religious but he hadn't stopped thanking god when he heard his father had spared Sarah's life, let alone any pain. Mike looked past his brother at the group standing off to the side and took a deep breath. It was time to tell them.