Being Neighborly

Chapter 39

Fuck not having a car.

Fuck having to use this rusty old bike.

Fuck my phone for repeatedly buzzing in my back pocket.

I race down the dark streets of the small town, heading towards The Underground as fast my aching legs will take me. I had to see what was happening over there with my own eyes. That video Nicole sent me has been replaying in my head since I received it. It was on my mind when I lied to Aunt Clara that I was going to Nicole's to keep studying. It was on my mind while I rummaged through the tool shed looking for a helmet. It was on my mind with every street lamp and cute suburban store that whizzed past me as I pedaled faster and faster towards my destination. 

After what seemed like hours of riding, I finally pull up to the abandoned strip mall. The dentist office sign with the cartoon tooth was illuminated despite The Underground being shut down. I hop off the bike and ditch it somewhere in the overgrown shrubbery along the sidewalk. I make my way through the front for the secret night club, quietly but quickly tip toeing down the hallway and around the corner to the last cubicle-like office. 

I stop right outside and take a deep breath. What will I do when I come face to face with Uncle Luke and Tristan's big secret? What even is their secret? Do they own the club? How would that even be possible, it's been here for years! Uncle Luke and Aunt Clara moved here just a few years ago and Tristan is only 17. How are they involved? Does Aunt Clara know? Does Tristan's mom know? Does anyone else in this town know? Wait. If Uncle Luke is somehow connected to The Underground, does he know what happened to me last...

My heart starts beating too fast for me to concentrate on my thoughts. All my energy goes towards calming myself down. I need to stop overthinking and just go down there to get some answers. 

I start walking down the hidden staircase and make it about halfway when I hear footsteps coming towards me from the bottom. Oh god, this is is. This is when I get to confront them about everything. 

But Nicole emerges instead. Alone.

"Leila!" she exclaims, taking the rest of the steps that separate us two at a time. "I have been trying to call you! Wait, how did you get here?"

"I rode a bike," I answer, looking past her shoulder to see if anyone else would follow her up. "Why were you calling me?"

"I was trying to tell you not to bother coming over here," she sighs. "As soon as I sent you that video, everyone left. Tristan and your uncle looked pissed. I think whatever that meeting was about did not go the way they expected it to go."

"Were you able to her anything?" I ask, hopeful she may have some more information.

"Unfortunately, no. I'm sorry, Leila, this is probably so weird for you. I mean, it was already weird to begin with, but this is just a whole different level."

"Let's just go home." I lead us back up the stairs, through the dentist office, and out the door. Without my adrenaline pumping, the cold night air sends shivers down my spine, raising goosebumps on my arms. I should have brought a jacket. 

Nicole borrowed her dad's car and gave me a lift back to my place, rusty bike haphazardly thrown in the trunk. The obvious feeling of defeat was circling in the small space of the car, but neither of us said anything. We both knew it would just be harder to confront the two of them about what was going on without any proof. 

We said goodnight, I collected the bike and helmet from the trunk, and went to go put them back in the tool shed. As I rounded the corner of the house, a shadowing figure caught my attention. The full moon cast long shadows on the wet dewy grass, but did nothing to reveal who was creepily lingering in my backyard. 

"Tristan?" I guessed automatically.

"Nope," the figure said. That is definitely not Tristan's voice.

"Katy, what the hell are you doing at my house in the middle of the night?" I ask, completely in shock that my class president was lurking in my backyard.

"We need to talk," she says calmly, stepping away from the shed and towards me. I don't say anything in response, hoping she would explain further what couldn't have waiting until Monday morning in class.

But she doesn't explain. Katy lunges towards me and starts attacking me.