Chapter Two: Smoking reminds you of…

I couldn’t sleep, I was having nightmares, nightmares of everything that had just happened to me up until now. I could hear them in my sleep. My brother’s voice, Brad’s voice, my mom’s, and…Amare’s. But out of all the voices I hear, I hear my own, but my voice is more stoic, like a voice with no emotion. It talked over the other voices, I could hear it clear as day,

“None of them cares about you,not us, they don't care at all.”

I tried to ignore it, “No, no! Ms.Michael’s cares, she cares!”

My inner voice laughed, “She doesn’t care about you. She only likes you because she wants to date you.”

My eyes widened when that was said, she did want to drive me home…was she wanting to drive me home, her using my disadvantage to her advantage…?

“They only care when they want something from you, like your mom, Amare, and like Ms.Michael’s.”

I listened to the voice, slowly realizing the truth. The truth that nobody cares about me, not even my own family. I stayed quiet, the truth was slowly hitting me, then I realized,

“If nobody cares about you, why should you care about them? Much less what YOU do to them.”

Those hit, hit like a truck, my eyes opened, I had a straight face, a face with no emotion. I got up out of the bed then left my room walking like normally, but with some quietness to it. It was past midnight, so I needed to be careful. My mom kept her gun under her pillow so I went in there, I saw her take it out one day to check her bullets. As I went in there I stared at her. I look at the face of a mother that doesn't care about her own son. My hand went under her pillow where her head was laying on. I felt the revolver in my hand, I put my finger over what felt to be the trigger. My mom slowly woke up,

“Huh…Michael what are-”

Her eyes widened as she felt my hand under the pillow, she knew what was gonna happen. Before she could launch herself at me and tackle me, I pulled the trigger, the pillow’s color went from the clouds, to red. Her body laid there on the bed, lifeless.

“MOM?!” my brother yelled, calling from his room.

I turned my head to sound and instantly hid beside my mom’s door. When my brother came to our mom’s door, he gasped which signaled me to come out from beside the door and point the revolver at his head. He looked even more surprised when he saw me point the revolver at his head. Imagine that, you see your dead mother on the bed and before you can react, you see someone come out of nowhere and point a gun straight at your head, then you get the realization, the realization that it’s your brother holding a gun to your head.

“Michael, you-”

“Go.” I said. I wasn't having it…

I led him to the bathroom, he went in first then I went in before I closed the door.

I told him to kneel in front of the toilet and he did, then I said, “You're gonna put your head in the toilet and not take it out.”

He looked surprised and confused when I said that, until he realized what I was gonna do.

He begged. “P-please no, i'm sorry Michael, i-i’m sorry-”

I cut him off and said these exact words to him, “You're gonna accept this, if you don’t put your head in there, I will forcefully put it in there. Put your head. In. The. Toilet.”

My brother cried as he put his head into the toilet, which made it worse because he couldn’t breathe for 8 seconds from his stuffy nose while his head was in the toilet. He flayed and thrashed his arms around, I just made sure he didn’t take his head out the toilet.

***

I walked out of the bathroom then stood in between the door of my mom’s room and the bathroom. I shut my eyes and let out a big sigh of relief, then when I opened my eyes the body of my mother that was once on her bed disappeared, and then when I turnt to the bathroom, my brother’s lifeless corpse that was once in the toilet, wasn't there. Then I realized that I had already done this, maybe like a few hours ago, I was just reminiscing about it. Their bodies are already in the dumpster. I also remembered that I had killed Brad too, leaving his body in the alleyway. There was one thing I needed to make sure. I walked over to a crate, leaned my head down and pressed my ear against the crate to listen…I heard it, the sounds of sobbing, I smiled when I heard the sobbing. After making sure everything was correct, I sat down on the couch and watched tv. It didn’t feel…thrilling to kill them. It just felt like, like I’ve been relieved. I’ve cared for people, and they’ve made it seem like they cared for me, but in the end they show me their true intentions…

***

“So what makes you think this isn't a random act of violence?” Ronnie said as he leaned against the wall, staring at the body, trying to figure out himself what this could be.

“I never said this couldn't be a random act of violence. I said this could be something more than that.”

I kneeled before the body, examining every part of it.

“Okay then, uhh, other than a random act of violence…what could this be?”

Before I lifted up the shirt of the body, I looked at the forensic women to get permission to further examine it. She nodded which made me lift up the body's shirt. His body, mostly his face looked like they have seen better days.

“My guess is that this guy did something to tick off the culprit.”

The forensic woman and Ronnie nodded, “He must have pissed him off pretty badly to get brutalized like this.”

I nodded at Ronnie’s statement, “The kid must have pushed him over the edge, the murderer probably had bottled up anger, probably family problems, if he is a student, or bullying problems.”

“The kid probably bullied the murderer, pushing him off the mental scale.”

I sighed then stood up, getting an idea,

“Do you have any information on the school that this kid went to?”

I looked at the forensic woman as she looked at the body, then me with a surprised face,

“Oh, uhh…I think it was…Thinethrope.” The woman said, tilting her head to the side with her eyes off thinking.

I nodded then looked at Ronnie, “Let’s go.” I said to Ronnie while walking out the alleyway. Ronnie pushed himself off the wall then waved bye to the forensic woman.

Me and Ronnie were walking to the car until we heard someone yelling, “Hey!”

Ronnie turnt his head back making a “Huh?” sound as did I.

The person reveals to be an officer that stops in front of them.

“Officer Roff? What’s up?”

Roff panted,

“You…you guys…have a…” He sounded like he was gonna collapse, so I tried to calm him down,

“Slow down, breathe in, breathe out.”

The officer followed my words and did as I say. Finally, he calms himself, finding his footing and pacing in words.

“Cmon cmon! We don't have all day, out with it!”

The officer side eyed Ronnie before finally speaking, “The chief has assigned you to another case, the Amare case.”

My head recoiled back as my eyebrow raised in confusion. “But why? Aren't there two other detectives working on that case?”

The officer shrugged at my statement, “Yeah, but there’s an obvious connection between the Brad and Amare case, plus he says you guys are the best detective they have.”

I massaged my temples while Ronnie then says, “Then why didn't he pair us up with the other detectives then?!”

Ronnie sounded like he was crashing out as his eyes widened. “Because he said he believes in you guys, and he knows the other detectives will argue with you guys.”

Me and Ronnie just sighed, “More cases, more all nighters.” I nodded then tried to relieve the situation, “Look, we both know they go to the same school, hopefully and possibly the same class, so then we can get answers about both Brad and Amare. Two birds with one stone, right?”

Ronnie nodded to my words of relief, I nodded back, “Okay, let’s go.” The officer watches as we leave and head inside the car, he then walks away.

***

Ms.Michaels sits down, putting in the grades after the chemistry test. After she’s done, she stands up and heads out to the main office to clock out.

“Hey, Airi, I'm clocking out!” She says to Airi as she clocks out and begins to head home.

Airi, the school's receptionist, looks at Ms.Michaels with a lazy, bored expression and says,

“Byeee Kylie.” The receptionist says as she chews her gum boredly. Ms.Michaels giggles at Airi’s bored expression.

As Ms.Michaels puts her stuff in the car then gets into the car, she gets a call from Michael. She gets this happy face as the corners of her mouth tugs a lot.

She answers the call, giddily. “Heyy, Michael!”

Michael responds with a straight, emotionless tone. “I need you to come over.”

Ms.Michaels looks surprised, almost concerned in his tone of voice, he’s usually nervous and sometimes shy.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Okay, but is everything alright? Did something happen-'' Michael cuts her off, still with his voice of no emotion, “Just come over, everything is alright.”

Ms.Michaels, still concerned, reluctantly nods and says, “Okay, but if anything is wrong you-”

Before she can say anything Michael hangs up. She looks at the phone, surprised by Michael’s new change of tone, he sounds more…grim, like he’s changed. She can’t think about that right now, she starts the car and heads out, she looks out the window and sees a lot of traffic on the other lane.

She just shakes her head, knowing it’s gonna take a while for the cars to reach their destination. But there’s nothing she can do about them, for she has something else that is important to her.

***

As we both drove, we got caught up into traffic up ahead. As we sat there in silence, Ronne tried to make conversation with me. “Are you good over there?”

I just look ahead and nod, “Yeah, I'm okay.”

I wasn't good, but I wasn’t gonna say that, I wanted to share my own personal thoughts to myself, but my face showed otherwise.

Ronnie saw this and just sighed, “Grandma?”

I just stayed silent not wanting to say anything.

“So, how’s she doing?” Ronnie turnt his head to look at me while trying to keep his eyes on the road.

I looked at him then looked out the car window, “She’s fine…”

Ronne just says “Alright, just know you can tell me anything." in a super low tone,

I just kept looking out the window for a few seconds until finally saying something, “Ronnie, if I lose her, I lose everything.”

Ronnie raised an eyebrow, confused on what I said, “What do you mean if you lose her, you lose everything?” Ronnie says as the traffic that they were caught up in begins to ease up, allowing Ronnie to drive a little bit more freely,

“I mean that…man, like she’s the only one that truly cared for me and was there for me.” I rubbed my eyes from stressing over my grandma.

“Look, man, you have me, if not the whole goddamn station, you're not alone here man.” Ronnie said as the corner of his mouth tugged.

I sighed, leaning my head on my palm. “Yeah, but what about when I'm home, alone? What about when I'm going through stuff?”

Ronnie just chuckled at what I said, “What? so you want me to come over and shower you in hugs and kisses?”

“What? no! I didn’t even say that!”

Ronnie chuckled at my reaction, “I know, I'm joking…I'm joking.” Ronnie smirked while I sighed, “Look, everyone dies of old age, it’s a natural thing. Just don’t let it get to you too much, okay?”

He didn’t know it wasn’t old age, it was cancer, and it was bad. I just nodded to Ronnie whilst leaning my head on my head. “Just think of it as a…moment in time that was bound to come, no matter what.”

Ronnie’s words sorta eased me up, even though he thought it was old age, which it wasn't. But I guess she’s old, 87 too old, she was probably gonna die from natural causes, but still…I don’t want her to go. I still looked out at the window, but I gave him a nice little response,

“Alright.”

Ronnie smiled at my response, even though it was not that much. Ronnie leaned in to look through the windshield, “Well lookie lookie, we’re here.” Ronnie said as he pulled up in front of the school.

Ronnie then parked the car and asked if I was ready, I nodded saying

“Always.”

Once we were inside, we already knew to go to the main office. Before we reached the doors of the main office, I stopped Ronnie and looked at him, “Let me do the talking, okay?”

I said that because I knew if there’s a receptionist that’s a girl, he would have probably gotten distracted and flirted with her. Ronnie raised both of his hands slightly, “Alright.”

I nodded, proceeding to go into the main office. When we went inside, it was a woman behind the desk, so I went up there, she looked bored and distracted, so I politely got her attention. But first I had to clear my throat, the polite way. “Excuse me, ma’am?” She looked up at me, her bored expression changing in the amount of seconds it took her eyes to lay upon me.

She instantly stood up straight, straightened her clothes, then she looked at me with a big smile on her face which made Ronnie chuckle. “Hello, how may I help you?”

She then looked at the badge that was on my jacket, then she instantly knew why we we’re here,

“Oh, you're here about the Brad Waterwell and Amare Kell case…”

I nodded, “Yes, we’re here to speak with their homeroom teachers.” She gave me a big smile and said,

“Well lucky for you guys, they both share the same homeroom teacher.” I stroked my chin, nodding. She looked at me in curiosity, it was like she was fond of me.

“So, can we speak with the teacher?”

When I said snapped out of her curious gaze on me and pouted, “Oh…I forgot. She kind of clocked out not too long ago.”

My eyes widened and one of my eyebrows rose, “And how long ago was not too long ago?”

Her lips folded into her mouth as she raised her eyebrows, then pouted again, “Like 10-20 minutes ago.”

I looked away and mouthed the words; “Damn.” Ronnie then chimed in, “It’s cool, all we need is her name, home address, and possibly her phone number, no, definitely her phone number.”

I looked at Ronnie, then the receptionist, she smiled at me like she had a plan.

“Sure! But let me get your phone number, so I can text you the info. And so if you forget it, you’ll have it in our messages.” She said as she smiled big at me,

I nodded then exchanged phone numbers, after that me and Ronnie left the school and drove off,

I then received the text from the receptionist, telling me the teacher's name, home address, phone number, and also a kissing emoji from her, which Ronnie saw while driving and chuckled, “Stay on task partner, we can’t have you distracted by a school receptionist.”

Ronnie smirked as he said that. I just scoffed at him, “Like you're any better, you can't go a second without flirting with a girl.”

I smirked at Ronnie back. Ronnie slightly lifted his hand off the wheel, “You don’t see me flirting right now, right?”

“I’m not even flirting with her!”

Ronnie scoffed at my statement and waved me off, “Bullshit! I saw the way your thumbs were moving, you definitely typed something smooth!”

I made a sarcastic smile, then pointed at the phone, showing him the text, “All I said was thank you.”

Ronnie looked at the phone, then the road and scoffed “So, where's this Seraph street any- nevermind I see it.”

Ronnie said as he stopped infront Ms.Michaels house. Ronnie puts the car in park then looks at me, “Alright, stop flirting with the receptionist and call that teacher already.”

Ronnie said as he slightly gestured his head toward the phone. I just shook my head and dialed the teacher’s phone number.

***

As Ms.Michaels drove, she stopped in front Michael’s house. The house looked like every other house, but it feels like something more, like how everybody that’s hurting on the inside looked. They seem fine on the outside, but the inside is a whole different road, a road led away from lies, onto the truth. Before Ms.Michaels could leave her car, her phone rang, it was an unknown number, she didn’t want to answer it, but she was curious to see who it was, so she picked up,

“Hello, who is this?”

***

When I heard Ms.Michaels voice I looked at Ronnie and Ronnie looked at me. I looked at the phone then spoke, “Hello? Is this Kylie Michaels?”

***

“Yes, this is Kylie Michaels. Who am I speaking to right now?” She said as she raised one of her eyebrows.

***

“Detective Kaisen from the Detroit police department.” I said as I stroked the side of my chin.

***

“Detective…?” Then the sudden realization hit her, then she groaned and rubbed her temples, “This is about the Brad and Amare case, isn’t it?”

***

“Yes, it is. We’re here to ask you a few questions, if that’s alright.”

***

“W-wait, how did you get this phone number?”

***

I look at Ronnie once more, then the phone, “The school’s receptionist.”

***

Ms.Michaels sighs and rubs her eyes, “Oh Airi…”

***

Ronnie smiled, “So that’s her name.” He looked up from the phone then at me with a smirk. I just scoffed and told him to shut up. “Yeah, and she also gave me your home address, judging by your house having no lights on-”

***

“I’m not home, yeah.” She leaned back in the seat, seeming impatient.”

***

“Okay then, where are you, Kylie?” I said as I looked out the passenger window, staring at her dormant house.

***

She sighed and rolled her eyes, “I’m currently…at a friend’s house. Look, can we do this after I'm done? I can’t just keep my friend waiting.”

***

“Kylie, we don't have any time to waste. We need to talk now.”

***

Ms.Michaels sighed then looked at Michael’s house. The front door opened, then Michael peered from the front. Ms.Michael’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Michael. “Look, just stay at my house, i’ll be there soon enough.”

***

“Kylie…? Kylie! Damnit!”

I rubbed my face and slouched in the passenger seat. Ronnie looked at me and smiled,

“Welp, it looks like we’re gonna be here for a minute.”

I just scoffed in disbelief and covered my face with my hands. “Relax, she’s gonna be here soon enough. I just know it.” Said Ronnie as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, then continued,

“So, in the meantime, wanna smoke?”

I just shook my head and said, “No.” As he waved the pack in front of my face with a cheeky grin on him.

“Oh c'mon! Just one at least!” He said whilst keeping that grin plastered on his face. “No, I wanna keep my lungs.” Said me in an irritated voice.

“C’mon! One wouldn’t hurt ya!” When he said that, I got mad and snapped. “Well it’s killing my gran-!” I stopped myself almost immediately.

Ronnie looked at me with his grin faltering as his eyes widened. He just turned his body from me and faced the windshield with his hand resting on his mouth and nose.

“Ronn-”

“So, she’s not dying of old age…it’s cancer.”

“Lung cancer.” Said me as I sat slouched in my seat. Ronnie sighed, “How

long until it takes her?”

I just shrugged, the doctors never gave me an exact answer, only an estimate. “Weeks to days, I-I don’t know.”

Ronnie mouthed the word god, then said, “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I just looked away, “Because I thought you didn’t care.”

I thought this because he and I knew we were business partners, we didn't need to know to be best friends and all, all we needed to know is how to work together.

“What man?! I care about you! I do!”

He could’ve just been saying that to make me feel better, I didn't want to think that, but that could be the truth.

“You're just saying that because we’re partners. I bet if I wasn't your partner, or didn’t know I existed, you wouldn’t care at all!” Said me as tears rolled down my eyes.

“But you are my partner, and I do now know you exist! I know the pains and struggles you're going through right now! I know now!” Said Ronnie.

He looked really sad for me, the way his eyebrows rose, and how fast he breathed. “You know who really cared for me? My grandma, she cared from the start. She knew me like the back of her fucking hand! And now she’s fucking die!” I said as I kicked whatever was in front of me.

“She was the person that truly ever cared for me.”

Then I just started crying, I faced the windshield and wiped my tears. We sat there in silence for a good 10 seconds until I spoke, “I’m…sorry for not telling you earlier, I just thought you didn’t care at all, y’know?”

Ronnie sighed, “You're cool…” He then put his cigar in his mouth then smoked it, taking out his mouth, “Hell, I don’t blame ya. This world is full of manipulators, people that say they care, but actually only care because they want something from you. A lot of them just shrug it off, alot get broken by it, don’t know who to trust, don’t know who to trust, so they stay isolated away from everyone.”

I looked out the car window and sniffled, turning to Ronnie. “Maybe…maybe one smoke wouldn’t hurt.”

Ronnie looked back and smirked, “Wouldn’t hurt at all.” Said Ronnie as he tossed me the cigar and lighter. I lit my cigar, Ronnie lit his. We both leaned back in our seats, enjoying the view as the moon finally rose, waiting for Kylie to call back…