DESPERATE

44

As the echo of gunshots faded, the neighborhood was shrouded in tense silence. Neighbors cautiously peered from behind curtains and cracked doors, their faces etched with confusion and fear.

Todd and Kenzo, adrenaline still coursing through their veins, emerged from their home with a mix of worry and relief. They had feared the worst for Abbey and Cyrie, who now stepped out from their hiding place, their eyes wide with the shock of the night's events.

Cyrie's voice trembled as she broke the silence, "What just happened?"

Todd, feeling the weight of his aching body, responded with a theory, "It might've been the getaway car for the intruder who broke into my place." His voice was calm, but his mind raced with unspoken thoughts.

Kenzo's expression darkened, his brows knitting together. "This wasn't just a random break-in," he said. "He was methodically searching for something specific."

Todd remained silent, the truth gnawing at him. He knew exactly why the intruder had turned his home upside down, but some secrets were too dangerous to share.

Abbey, her hands shaking, retrieved a crumpled piece of paper from her jeans. The message was simple but ominous: I'll be back. She read it aloud, her voice barely a whisper.

The question hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. "Is it even safe for us to stay here?"

Todd's response was a defeated murmur, his shoulders slumping as he spoke, "We don't have anywhere else to go." But in his heart, he knew they couldn't let fear dictate their lives. They would have to stand together and be prepared if they do come back.

They returned to Todd's house, which was in complete disarray. They spent the next few hours tidying up the place. Afterward, they cooked and had dinner together, but no one spoke much. Each person was deep in thought. Kenzo quietly went to the kitchen and hid some snacks in his clothes. He didn't particularly like Randall, but he couldn't let him starve.

Kenzo stepped out the back door into the darkness, unsure of Randall's hiding spot. "Randall," he called out quietly, "where are you?"

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg and let out a yelp. "Ow! Why did you pinch me? You could have just let me know you were there," he said, annoyed.

"Quit complaining. It was just a pinch. It wasn't that bad. What's going on? How's Cyrie? Who were those people? They seemed really mad to shoot at you guys," Randall asked, looking up at Kenzo. He found it hard to believe that this was the same kid who had turned against him years ago.

"Cyrie's alright. I think those people were looking for Todd. They got angry when they couldn't find him and trashed his house. I can't stay long, but here's some food," Kenzo replied, handing Randall the snacks while remaining alert to their surroundings.

Kenzo stepped back into the house, leaving Randall outside. Inside, the living room was quiet, everyone seated and watching TV. The volume was turned down low, and although their eyes were glued to the screen, it was clear their minds were elsewhere. He settled next to Cyrie, their hands brushing against each other. She didn't pull away, but her gaze remained fixed on the movie. He wondered if it was the tension in the room that kept her distant. Maybe she didn't want to reveal too much vulnerability in front of Todd and Abbey.

The old grandfather clock in the corner ticked loudly, marking time second by second, a reminder of the tension they all felt. The living room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in as if harboring secrets of their own.

Abbey fiddled with a crumpled note, its message cryptic and unsettling. "What does 'I'll be back' even mean?" she mused aloud, her eyes darting toward the windows.