Murder Academy

Chapter 1

        I stared down at the ground as I walked home, gripping the worn straps of my backpack. I learned that you shouldn't make eye contact with anyone in the neighborhood. Here you're most likely to find a homeless person wanting money for alcohol or a prostitute looking for a client. It’s not a great place to live; shops have wooden barriers on the doors and windows, walls are decorated with graffiti and gang symbols, but none the less it’s where I live with my mom, and we can’t afford anything else.

I looked up only when I got to the apartment building. It’s an old, run-down building that’s managed by a creep who always seems to smell. I walk down the first hallway and past the elevator with an Out Of Order sign taped to it that had been there since we moved in. I made my way up the stairs to the second floor and head down that hallway to my apartment. I slowed when Sugar walked out of Walter’s apartment.

“Hey, Sugar.” I greeted. This has been a weekly thing between us.

“Oh, hello Michael.” Sugar replied in a quiet voice, as she spoke she stuffed a $100 bill in her top. “What are you doing here?”

“Um, I live here.” I told her for what felt like the hundredth time. She nodded and fixed her dress that just barely covered her women parts. “Well, good-bye.” I nodded then walked away. I stopped at apartment 312B and took out my keys. I unlocked the door and stepped inside the apartment. I locked the door behind me and dropped my bookbag onto the floor.

“Mom, I’m home!” I called out walking to the kitchen.

“Oh, good.” My mom said. She was sitting at the table in her work uniform. “Sit down.” I did as she said and sat down across from her.

“What’s going on mom?”

“Robert called today.” I froze and stared at her. Robert was the estranged father of mine who lives somewhere with his perfect family. He had an affair with my mom and surprise! Here I am. He occasionally sends me money, which I refuse, though my mother saves it for when I head off to college. Other than the occasional money he solem bothered us. I haven't seen him or heard his voice in ages, and from what I know this is the first time he's contacted us in years.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked her with mock confusion.

“He wants to talk to you.”

“No.” I told her and got up from the table.

“Michael, don’t be like that. He’s your father, though lord knows I resent the man.” She called out. I turned around to face her.

“He’s a douchebag, mom. He thinks that he can just send money once a month, and that would make up for not being in my life? No, I don’t think so. We don’t need him! We're better off without him and you know it.” I told her my voice sounding uneven.

“None of that changes the fact that he’s your father, Michael. Just talk to him you might like what he has to say.”

“I said no, already! Why cant you just let this go?” I yelled at her.

“Are you forgetting who the parent is here? I don’t care what you say.”

“You’re my mom you’re suppose to care about what I have to say! Do my feelings not matter to you?” I shot back.

“Of course they do! But what about my feelings? I’d feel better if you would just talk to him. I can’t give you what he can, Michael. For god’s sake I work at a hair salon! He has money, he can give you the future you deserve.”

“I don’t need money from him! I can make my own future, I’ve been doing fine without him!” I told her.

“Dammit, Michael! I’m done arguing with you. I have to go to work. This conversation is finished.”

I groaned out of aggravation, but I kept my mouth shut knowing that what I was about to say would just set her off and walked to my room. I slammed the door behind me and threw myself onto my bed. I heard the phone ring out in the living room but we both let it keep ringing. Finally it stopped and the voicemail picked it up.

I heard a knock at my door and then my mom’s muffled voice telling me she was going to work. I didn't reply, causing her to sigh. She walked away and then the door opening and closing sounded through the silence. I sat up in my bed and waited a couple minutes before leaving my room. I walked into the living room where the phone was. The red light was blinking letting me know there was a voicemail. I hit the button and waited for the operator.

“You have one unheard message. Press one to listen.” I dialed one and then waited.

“Michael? This is Robert Parker...it’s your dad.” I cringed at the sound of him addressing himself as my dad.

“I just wanted to call you because I wanted to offer you a spot at Newmyst Academy. I went there so It’s only right. It’s a great opportunity and you shouldn’t pass it down. I’ll wait for your call.”

There was a beep signaling the end of the the message. I rolled my eyes. “It’s a great opportunity and you shouldn't pass it down.” I said to myself.

“Yeah, Okay Dad.” I scoffed. I turned around to find my mom standing in the doorway, lips parted. “‘Mom?” She shook her head as if to clear it.

“I forgot my keys.” She announced.

“Did you hear the message?” I asked. She ignored me and started looking for her keys.

“I’m not going.”I said with as much firmness as I could manage.

She let out a sigh and grabbed her keys. She shook her head again before turning to face me.

“We’ll talk about this when I get home.” She replied. She turned away and walked out the door.

“There’s nothing to talk about, I’m not going!” I called after her. There was a second pause before the door slammed shut and there was silence in the house. With a sigh I walked away from the phone and turned on the tv to one of the few channels we actually got.