When waking up, I could hear knocking at the front door. Looking out my window, I can see a woman. It must be another one of Dereck’s friends. When rushing downstairs, hoping to get to the door first, Dereck beat me to it. 

Indistinct chatter outside the front door. I went to sit on the couch. Dereck came walking into the house. 

“Who was that, Dereck?” 

“It was Linda’s mom. She said Linda didn’t make it back home last night. She’s very concerned, bro.” 

“Have you tried calling Linda?”

 He said, “Yes, multiple times.”

 Hmm, this isn’t sitting right with me. My brother is a mystery. He’s always been this way. Could my brother know something that he’s not telling me? Could Dereck be the one that has done something to Linda? Maybe she’s just trying to get Dereck’s attention? 

”Hey, Dereck, what are you doing later?” 

He said, “I’m getting ready to have a company over.” 

What the hell is wrong with this guy? Linda goes missing and is about to have company over. 

“I said, why are you having company come over if Linda has gone missing?” He has skeletons in the closet that he doesn’t want to let anyone know about. But don’t we all? 

Confrontation with Dereck

Dereck started walking toward me, and he looked intently into my eyes. The feeling I have right now; I can’t move. Dereck was so deep in correspondence with my eyes that I felt like I had lost my motor skills. My heart even began to flutter. I also tried to be as dominant as him toward me. Staring into his eyes, I felt nothing emptiness; it was like he had lost all sense of his humanity, and it scared me. The hair on the back of my neck inclined up, following a cold sensation behind it. 

Dereck said, “You shouldn’t feel a sense of responsibility toward someone you hardly know.” He then walked away and went upstairs. 

I started thinking, was that a threat? I didn’t know what to think. Dereck probably is just hurt, having a feeling of betrayal. My body came to responsiveness. This is the first time I’ve ever been afraid of Dereck. I just wish he could know I’m always here for him. Dereck: Why does every girl I date or get close to tend to go missing? Is it because I’m cursed? This just keeps me wondering what could have happened to Linda. It was getting late, and Dereck said earlier he would be having company come over. That means a girl was going to show up at the house. It was going on at 9:00 PM. For once, I wish Dereck would take a break from dating.