Unidentified

Chapter 1

It's 1 am. My work shift is about to end. I start cleaning the store up. I never understood why the store closed so late. But I do get some customers at 12 sometimes coming from their work. After I have finished mopping the floors I check again that I have locked the cash register and the back door. It's locked I sigh with relief and go out of the front putting the lights out. I lock the door and slide the roller door down. I walk towards my car and get in. I look through my phone to see if I have any text messages. No, I start the engine. I see that my car's tank is almost empty but I have enough to get home. I think I will just some in the morning and drive home. The city is pretty empty except for a few cars. I mean it's a Friday night after all. I should be out partying but I don't have time for that right now. With all the schoolwork I have I don't even know how I will sleep.

After a few minutes I'm outside my house door or more so an apartment. The apartment is old about 30 years so from the Soviet times. It's all I can afford right now and need pretty much. I put the door code in and got inside to get to the hall. These places give me the creeps but I always tell myself if it's bound to happen it will. I walk up the stairs. My apartment is on the sixth floor. So when I do get there my legs are giving me signals that I'm tired. I open my door and get in locking it. When I get inside I notice a pair of shoes that aren't mine... I think that maybe it's my brother cause he is the only one who has the keys to this place and sometimes sleeps here when he doesn't feel like driving all the way home. He works internationally so he flies a lot and his home is further than mine. He usually texts me first but maybe he forgot.

"Mark" I call out his name. No answer, weird. Maybe he's sleeping. I take off my shoes and set my bag down walking further into the living room. I see his phone on the coffee table and a light on in the bathroom. I sit on the couch and put on the TV waiting for him to get out. The TV is only showing some news that happened today so nothing I haven't heard. I see his phone flash as a notification comes forward. I'm curious who it is so I look expecting nothing unusual. It's an unknown number. Weird. I read the message that says "I told you so ". It gives me an unsaddled feeling but I try to ignore it and go into my bedroom, which is the only other room in the apartment. As I walk in I turn on the light. Before I can cover my curtains I see a huge mess in my closet, like someone has been looking for something. And I know it's not me cause I know exactly where I put my things. I close the curtain and go and look to see what is missing. My piggybank, my journal, my computer, and all the other money they found. I still see that some money is left behind and sigh in relief.
Who could have done this!? I have a name. "Mark!" I yell now angry. I stump in front of the bathroom. "Come out we need to talk! What have I told you about taking my stuff? And since when do you steal money? I thought you had enough on your own. I mean I could have lent you some but this is unexpected coming out right now! This instance!" I bang on the door but still no answer.
I wait outside the door before saying. "I'm coming in!" I try the door to see if it's open.. it is. I don't question it and my brain wants to go into yelling again but my body stays still. I close the door and start crying. My body was in shock at what I saw. I-I don't even know how to explain it, give it a reason. Why is all my brain asking? Why? Who? When? Is this real?

I'm thinking you guessed what I saw... I called the police after a few minutes. It was hard explaining anything. I just gave them my address and one word... "dead". The operator tried to calm me down but it didn't work. I don't blame them. As the police arrive I let them in and stay on the couch still unable to say anything when they ask me what happened. They understood that I was in shock and asked me to come by tomorrow. They called some guys who took pictures and my brother. I wanted to run to him. To confirm that he was dead. That it was real what I saw. But not right now. When they left I cried for a long time. Long enough to wake up and realize I had fallen asleep. It was 4 pm already. I had to be at work at 6. I called my manager and explained that I was feeling sick. They told me to take the day off but get back as soon as possible. I'm not sure when I will recover from this. Probably never but I hope someday. But I can never forget them.

He didn't die from a normal death or a suicide. Not even close. I found him with a knife in his back. Laying down on the bathroom floor. Blood surrounded him and still some blood coming out of him. There were multiple stab wounds on him.

That's what I told the police. They asked me if I could describe the surroundings. I couldn't remember. My memory was foggy. Still is but not as much. They said that the walls were covered in blood as well and they suspected it was a robbery that turned out bloody. I believe that story at first.. but not anymore.
And I'm glad I didn't. It brought out the truth about his past and my whole family.

Remember that text message...