"Darius Kincaid..."
Someone was calling me?
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking, to adjust my vision.
Josh wasn't beside me.
I sat up, turning my head back and forth.
No... dad is going to kill me.
"Darius Kincaid, are you here?"
My focus shifted toward the door.
There he was. Standing beside a mean looking lady.
She noticed me staring.
"Are you Darius Kincaid?"
"Yes."
She gestured for me to follow.
I did.
I'm sure we're going home, but I wasn't too glad about it.
"Boys!"
I turned around to see Kyra approach us.
She didn't look happy, but was back to her usual self.
"You good?"
"Do I look good?"
"I feel you."
Those two really liked complaining.
It's as if they booked a room in a bad hotel. They kept at it until we arrived outside.
The sun sent a blinding ray of light our way.
I couldn't see it clearly, but in front of us stood two figures.
One wore a black t-shirt buttoned near the chest. Those jeans gave him away.
Uncle Elroy.
Next to him was a really thin man, wearing a light Grey flannel suit, covered in green stripes. A neat and expensive silhouette.
He wasn't my father.
Maybe a lawyer.
Behind them was an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, our family car.
"What took you so long?"
"Your father isn't happy with you."
"That doesn't mean I should sleep here."
The thin man stepped in closer.
"You should be thanking your father, without him you'd be behind bars."
"I wasn't talking to you."
The man shut up without putting up a fight.
"You good boys?"
"Yes, we're..."
Before I could finish Josh joined the battle.
"Not until you answer us."
He turned away, ignoring them.
He and Carl walked toward the car.
We followed.
On the way home, Kyra couldn't stop complaining. Her behavior was getting tedious. Uncle Elroy felt the same.
The car eventually came to a halt along the street.
I opened the door, hesitantly stepping out.
There it was, a raised front door just above the steps, waiting for us.
Our home.
On the steps sat a seven-year-old girl.
"Daddy, they're back!" she said that without looking at us.
Another freaky sister.
"Carl." said uncle Elroy. "I want you to park at the back."
"Should I leave afterwards."
"Yes, and thank you for your help."
Carl nodded and drove away.
I felt my body stiffen a little, but I forced it to move.
On the way, I kept thinking up ways to cool my father down. Sadly, nothing.
Eventually we stood in front of a dark brown oak door. Uncle Elroy twisted the knob, slowly opening it.
My heart beat faster as my father came into view. He sat behind his office table, wearing all black, busy with paperwork. He didn't even glance at us as we entered.
Kyra barged in impatiently, both her hands hitting the front end of the desk.
"Dad, what took you so long?"
He didn't respond.
He proceeded with his business, as if she didn't exist.
His silence was enough to muzzle the rest of us.
"Why won't you look at me." Kyra snapped. "Do you think mom would approve of this?"
She paused, awaiting a response. "You know ever since you left her behind in Ne..."
Before she could finish the man gave her the coldest stare I've ever seen.
Kyra cried in confusion.
"Stop it!"
He paused, putting his pen down.
He pushed his chair back, the scrape loud in the silence.
Then unexpectedly he stood up, slowly approaching her.
His gaze was fixed on her.
Kyra stepped back, scared.
When he was a foot away, he extended his hand slowly, making Kyra flinch and close her eyes.
She awaited impact.
But instead she felt a hand grasp her forehead.
She opened her eyes, slowly meeting his gaze.
Then, a sharp blow to her chest.
Kyra dropped to her knees, coughing blood involuntarily. As she gasped for air, she watched the drops of blood on her hand.
"You ruin me."
"I hate you as much as I hate this planet."
After saying that she stormed out of the room.
Planet?
"You may leave." my father said.
We did as told and left, leaving him and uncle Elroy behind.
I was glad that he let us go.
Maybe our punishment was spending the night in a juvenile room.
"That was crazy right?" Josh said.
"Yes I think so."
"Come on man, you can say more than that."
His voice didn't reach me.
Kyra mentioned mom earlier.
I left him, chasing after Kyra.
"What's up with you?"