DELICATE / Brandon Darrow

twenty two

twenty two
threats
FIRST PERSON

ROWAN CALLED ME OVER to the church. She gave me this new address and told me it was someone named Stinger, supposedly Brie's friend that was willing to help us out since she couldn't.

"Hey, guys," I greeted, entering the worn out church.

Elisia moved over so I could sit next to Hailey. I took a seat and copied their actions by hanging my legs over the pews just like them.

"We found what Monkey Man posed on the Zoo website," Rowan started.

I looked at them to see their worn out faces. "Did any of you guys see anything?"

"Your cousin," Hailey spoke, rasping. "I saw on these TV's last night. It looked like he was face down in the pool. It looked so real. Those curls..." her voice went quiet for a moment. "It was definitely him," I believed her and was glad she was there to find out since I couldn't. "The message was like flashing on the TV: 'accidents happen'."

We all sat silent for a couple seconds.

"Oh, Hailey," her talking about Sean made me remember something. I took my legs off the pew to straighten my position. "Is this Pig Mania's truck?" I showed her the pictures I took.

Her breath hitched. "Yes. Whose is it?"

"Trevor's," Rowan answered instead.

"That means he's possibly Pig Mania," Elisia concluded.

Hailey furrowed her brows. "Then who could be Monkey Man? I know it's not Sean— he wouldn't have scared me or especially Cynthia."

"And I don't think it's Brandon," I sighed. But that was a big mistake.

"Are you sure? It makes sense," Rowan immediately began to argue against my claim.

I gave her a look. "I'm sure, okay? There's nothing incriminating him to make me believe otherwise."

"Why are you defending him?" She became upset.

"I'm not," I furrowed my brows.

"Leave her alone," Hailey came to my defense.

"It's safer for us to assume he's helping Trevor, and yet, she doesn't want to," Rowan argued.

"Oh, but it's fine not to accuse Sean? He may be my cousin but he's just as close to Trevor as Brandon is," I don't know why I'm defending him this much. Maybe it's because of this morning. "I can't handle this right now. I'll text you guys later."

I walked away, leaving the church.

♡

NEXT DAY

I was walking down the hallway until I felt someone grab my arm. I turned sharply and relaxed when I saw Rowan looking at me. That was until I remembered the argument I had with her yesterday.

"What do you want?" I deadpanned.

"To apologize," she admitted. "I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. You have to understand why I'm a little suspicious of him. I mean, him and Trevor both make our lives miserable for no reason."