Puppy Dog Eyes

Be Careful

Damon's POV

He was dead, truly dead with his cold body as proof.

How dare he try to be my big brother again.

Who the hell did he piss off so bad to make them commit murder? Surely he couldn't have done anything that bad, right?

I can't believe he's gone. My only sibling just ...gone.

I walk out of the room with my parents following behind me.

I could tell my dad wanted to break something but he was trying to stay calm for mom's sake. It was admirable to a certain degree.

Sure the guy was an asshole but he didn't deserve to die like this. The only thing I can hope for now is that they catch the killer.

I plop down into one of the uncomfortable chairs and pull out my phone to search for the name 'Demon'.

Her sleepy face pops up on my screen making my heart stop for a moment.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"So I just saw the body, he's definitely dead." I laugh but no humor was in my voice.

"Damon I'm so sorry this happened. I never would have guessed you had any siblings, no one even mentioned him when I met your parents."  She turns on a lamp, showing off her face better.

"I asked them not to talk about him after he left for college." I run my fingers through my hair, thinking over my next words carefully. "I hate to say this but I really need you."

"I'll stay as long as you need."

"Thanks."

"Tell me 'bout him."

"Huh?"

"Your brother, what was he like?"

"Well... when we were younger he was the best brother ever. He always looked out for me and made sure kids would stop picking on me. He sat with me at lunch instead of his friends, he made me feel cool. It sucked not having any friends but he was always there to play with me."

I didn't realize I was crying until one of my tears fell on Lylah's face. I wipe the phone and then my face before finishing my story.

"Then we got a little older, he went off to middle school and became annoying, conceited, just every bad personality trait you can think of... but he was still my brother."

"Damon please don't cry, I wish I went with you." I could see her eyes tearing like mine.

"I'm good, I'm good." I wipe my face once more. "Just wish I knew who did this shit."

"What do you think the motive was?"

"Hell if I know, he said he was going to apologize to someone else he screwed over or something along those lines."

"Makes no sense, guess they didn't want to hear him out, must have been something crazy."

"Guess so." I take a deep breath and look up at my parents hugging in the corner. "My parents are crushed about Damien and I can't do anything to help."

"Damien?"

"Oh yeah that's my brother's name."

"Oh- hm wish I could have met him, even though you claim he wasn't nice." She plays with her shirt, looking away from me every few seconds.

"Actually you did, you remember the day we went out to eat with Joaquin and that guy with white hair came to the table, well that was him."

"W-what? No!"  Her mouth drops open.

"Yeah that was the night he came back to make amends."

"No..."

"Look, I'll let you get some sleep, we can talk tomorrow." I look over, watching a lady probably in her early thirties being pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse.

"Uh yeah okay." She nods and ends the call quickly before I could say goodnight. That's the second time she's done that.

"L-luna." The croaky voice got closer. The lady in the wheelchair points to my phone.

"Now now, Sasha be good." The nurse pats her shoulder.

"That was Luna, I know that face anywhere." She complained.

"Don't scare the nice boy."

"Let me see my baby, please." She pleads as they get farther and farther away.

"Hey wait!" I stand and walk towards them. "Let me help." The nurse gives a soft look and nods. I bend down to the odd woman, opening up my phone before showing her a picture of Lylah.

Her face lights up soon after, it was something familiar about her smile even though I've never seen this woman a day in my life.

"Y-you know Luna?" She asks.

"She's my girlfriend." I nod even though the words felt weird on my tongue.

"Please take care of her, she's all I have. She means well, even if she switches sometimes ." She holds my hand in hers.

"O-okay."

"You're a good boy." She pats my cheek and releases my hand.

"Thank you for that, you made her night." The nurse smiles.

"I figured why not help, I lost someone I can't get back, she can- well in a way."

"You have a good night." She gives a final nod before pushing the chair away.

"Be careful boy, she needs you!" Sasha waves with a bright smile as they stroll into the elevator.

She looks so... familiar.