pull me back | a drag me down spin off

【six】

I finally sneak out of my room to get some water around midnight. This war between my parents and I make me feel shitty, but I'm not backing down with my stance.

Safety has always been a major aspect of our relationship, but they need to take the protective parenting skills down a notch. I'm going to be twenty two soon, they can't baby me forever.

My house is quiet and dark when I make my way down the steps. My parents have been tucked away in bed for at least an hour, so I know they won't be up. 

Making my way to the kitchen, my body jolts backwards when a faint light comes into my view. Uncle Duke is sitting at the table in the dark, looking down at his laptop.

"Jesus, Grace. You scared me." He lowly mumbles, glancing up at me through the darkness.

"I scared you? You're a cop, you should be more cautious." I love teasing him about his profession.

"I thought everyone was in bed." He sighs.

"Not everyone." I shrug.

"What's the matter? Can't sleep?" He raises an eyebrow up.

"I just came down for some water, I figured it was a safe zone away from my parents." I mumble and grab a water bottle out of the fridge.

"Oh, cut the nonsense. Your parents are trying to do the right thing." He shakes his head at my previous comment.

"And I get that, I really do, but they're freaking out for no reason. I don't understand it." I take a seat across from him at the table.

"You shouldn't question their intentions, trust me they know what's best." He takes a sip from the cup of water that is placed next to his computer.

My eyes take notice of the open files in front of him. Black ski masks come into my view as I lean further into the table, trying to get a better look at the men. Uncle Duke picks up on my curiosity and closes the file before I can get a good look.

"This is confidential business." He sternly says.

"I want to know more about the masked phantoms." I don't attempt to sugarcoat anything, I make my ambitions known to him.

"You're searching for answers you will never find, kid. Just let it go and allow your parents and I handle it." He closes his laptop and looks back at me.

"Why is everything such a secret about them? I want to know what the deal is with my parents. Don't I have a right to know?" I lean back in the chair and cross my arms over my chest.

"This isn't something for you to worry about. The masked phantoms are a dark, twisted tale that you shouldn't get involved in. Don't follow that trail, because once you do you will never come back from it." He nervously gulps, his brown eyes look down at his closed computer in frustration. I watch his adam's apple bob up and down in a nervous matter.

"I know my parents are hiding something, and so are you." I point out.

"We aren't, we just want you and your sister safe at all times." He goes back at me.

"Just because you won't tell me doesn't mean I won't look for information elsewhere." I rub my lips together and tilt my head to the side.

"God, I forgot how persistent you are. You are definitely your mother's daughter." He lightly chuckles while shaking his head.

"Yup, I have the determined gene that Savannah Jacobs has perfected for years. Do you think I would seriously give something up?" I laugh at the thought.

"It's an annoying gene. Your mom and I have been best friends for years, we've been through a lot together. She's the most determined woman I have ever met. If you tell her she can't do something, she'll do everything in her power to prove you wrong."