Chasing a Broken Butterfly

Chapter 19:

"What's your reason for report?" the officer behind the desk grumbles.

It smells like coffee and rotted wood in here. Everyone around me is either shuffling papers or sitting around and laughing about something. I guess not too much happens in our old town.

"Someone has been breaking into my house on more than one occasion," I begin to tell him.

"What's your address?" the officer interrupts. I look at his badge and see the name McKinley engraved on it.

"3280 Pinecrest Drive," I respond. "And I know this seems weird to ask, but I really don't want to bring my mom into this, she already has enough to deal with ever since my dad died and..."

"You're the one who's been crank calling us," the officer interrupts again. He doesn't even question it, he just says it so matter of fact.

"What?" I'm confused by what he just said. "No, I haven't called you guys. I wouldn't anyway, because I'm hard of hearing...so I wouldn't be able to." I flush at my admittance to my disability. I don't know why I do, but I do every time I have to say that to somebody.

"We're not falling for it this time, kid. We've received about 5 calls within the last week reporting a residential burglary and every time we go to that location, there's no reported signs of a break in. If it helps any, it's written down here in our notes that a young female is the caller. Says her name is Elle. Do you recognize that name?" Officer McKinley stares at me with a bored expression on his face.

"That's me..." I squeak. I don't understand. Whoever has been breaking into my house is deliberately trying to target me. This isn't a prank anymore, I can feel it, but I don't want to believe it. Because then, that means this whole situation is dangerous.

"But that's not me calling, I swear!" My voice starts to rise in panic. "Do you really think I'd play the role of the boy who cried wolf?" I protest. I've got to get it into this man's head that I'm being serious.

"Yeah, just like I'd like think that you damn townsfolk wouldn't call 9-1-1 to ask for toilet paper, but that's happened before," Officer McKinley huffs. "Now, if I were you, I'd go back home and sit down with your parents. A little quality time might help with your need for attention. Next time you play around like that, you can be sure we'll charge you for felony," With that, Officer McKinley dismisses me with a wave of his hand.

I stand there with my jaw open in disbelief. I cannot believe that he thinks I'm joking. How can I prove that it wasn't me calling them? And felony charges? It's all too much. Whoever this person is has me right where they want me. Vulnerable with no one to go to. Not even the freaking police believes me. How did my life become so screwed? After a few moments, I recollect myself and make my way back to my car. I put the heater on blast and sit for a minute. I need to figure out what else I can do about this. I'm not just going to let this...this creep come into my house and possibly destroy everything my mom and I have left.

I need to talk to Mikey.

I pull up to his driveway about 15 minutes later. It's a Saturday, so the streets are empty this early in the morning.

I knock at his door, but it sounds as if I'm pounding with the quietness that surrounds the neighborhood.

No one answers.

I go around to the left side of the house to his bedroom window and knock gently. Nothing.

"You're asking for this Mikey," I mumble. I grab ahold of the window pane with my bare hands and push upward to lift it up. It takes a moment before it budges, but it opens. Thank god his house is a one story.

I grab ahold of the window sill and lift myself through. My landing is rough, but I'm in. I take a quick look around and find Mikey asleep on his bed. He looks so innocent when he's asleep. Almost cute...with the way his brown hair comes down over his eyebrows in soft waves and the way his full lips are parted ever so slightly. How did I never notice any of these things? And why am I noticing them now? This is strange to me...

I walk to his side of the bed and crouch down to get to his eye level. I shake his shoulders to try to wake him, "Mikey? Mikey, wake up I need to talk to you." Stubborn thing doesn't wake up.

"Mikey, dammit! I need to talk to you about something. Wake up or else I will pour cold water all over you," I threaten. I know my nerves are just getting to the best of me and I'm taking it out on my best friend.

"Ok ok..." He breathes. He doesn't even open his eyes and still remains laying there. He's acts like such a child when it comes to waking up.

"MIKEY!" I yell.

Mikey's eyes snap open and his face is masked with shock, "WHAT THE HELL?"

"I need to talk to you," I repeat slowly.

"Damn it, Elle. If you needed to talk to me, why couldn't you wait until later when I was awake like a normal person? Geez..." He rubs his eyes and sits up, his blankets now on the floor in a heap.

I roll my eyes at his words. "Yeah, well abnormal circumstances call for abnormal behavior, Mikey." I sit myself on his computer chair that's positioned right in front of his bed. I spin myself a couple of times silently, unsure of how to start. I feel Mikey's gaze on me, waiting for me to speak. I stop myself and turn to face him. I look up and see his facial expression change from one of annoyance to one of caution. Guess my face says it all.

"Has the prank turned for worse?" He asks with a worried voice.

"No Mikey...it's not a prank. It's worse," My voice comes out in a whisper.