Linked

Tragedy

-Jake: Oh man I'm so sorry.

He looked confused and his eyes were red.

-Tony: It's cool.

Jake gave a quick nod before he swiftly headed down the stairs. Avi called to him to ask if he knew where Andy was but he didn't even notice that she called him. They continued their walk upstairs. There were a lot of people upstairs and they had to make their way through the crowd. Tony still held onto Avi's arm so that they weren't separated.

-Avi: Do you see him?

Tony didn't respond. The music was too loud and he was unable to hear her. The smell of smoke surrounded her nose as they passed a room with the door half closed. She let go of Tony's hand and pushed the door open. She widened her eyes when she saw Andy with a cigarette at his mouth. He was in the room with two other guys. He saw her and quickly dropped the cigarette on the floor. Tony walked over to the other two boys and grabbed the cigarettes from them.

-Tony: Get out!

He shouted after the two boys and they quickly ran out of the room. Avi walked over to Andy and shoved him. He stumbled but quickly stood firm.

-Avi: Are you crazy?!

Andy didn't respond. He reeked of alcohol and cigarette.

-Avi: What if mom was to find out about this?!
-Andy: Please! You can't tell her!

Avi sighed but still looked at him angrily.

-Avi: How much did you have to drink?
-Andy: Not much. Two cups.
-Avi: Doesn't matter. I don't want you walking home by yourself.
-Andy: I'm fine, I'm fine.
-Avi: I still can't believe that you'd do something like that! What were you thinking, huh?
-Andy: I'm sorry.

It was clear to hear the guiltiness in his voice.

-Tony: I could drive him home if you'd like.
-Avi: That's fine but I'll be taking him home.
-Andy: I'm fine, I can walk home by myself.
-Avi: I don't want you on the road alone. Especially when it's dark out.
-Tony: But you just got here.
-Avi: I know but I can't stay. I'm going to find Sasha. Tony, please bring him downstairs.
-Tony: OK.

Avi made her way downstairs. She looked and looked for Sasha for about fifteen minutes. She went back upstairs and checked all of the rooms. She was lucky enough to find her in one of the rooms making out with a guy.

-Avi: Ehem..

Sasha quickly pushed off the guy and smiled at Avi. Avi smirked at her and folded her arms as she leaned against the wall.

-Avi: Busy?
-Sasha: No no no.

She got up and pulled Avi outside the room. She leaned against the wall and shoved her hands into her pockets.

-Sasha: Heeey, wassup?
-Avi: I should be asking you that. Who was that guy?
-Sasha: Ah him?
-Avi: Uh huh?

Sasha bit down on her lips and looked up to the ceiling.

-Avi: You don't know his name do you?
-Sasha: No I don't know his name. But he's hot right?

Avi smiled and shook her head.

-Sasha: So, you found me.
-Avi: Yeah I did. I'm leaving.
-Sasha: So soon? Why?
-Avi: I gotta bring Andy home. I caught him smoking.
-Sasha: What?! That's crazy!
-Avi: I know!

The room door opened and the guy pushed his head out.

"Are you coming back?" the guy asked.

-Sasha: Yeah yeah yeah just gimme a second.

They both smiled at each other.

-Sasha: I got some business to take care of.
-Avi: Right.

Sasha hugged her.

-Sasha: I'll see you at school tomorrow. Looooove you.

Avi let out a smile.

-Avi: Love you too crazy.

Sasha went back into the room and Avi made her way back downstairs. Tony and Andy were at the door waiting for her. Andy opened the door and went outside while Tony waited on Avi to approach him.

-Tony: Sorry that you have to leave so soon.
-Avi: It's OK. I'm gonna take him home.

She looked at Andy in the car. She turned back at Tony and he brought his face to hers and kissed her. The heat rushed up her face. She stood still even when he pulled his face away from her.

-Tony: Sorry if that surprised you. I...
-Avi: It's fine.

She smiled at him and he did the same.

-Tony: I'll see you tomorrow.
-Avi: Yeah.

She walked down the steps and towards the car. She looked back at him and saw that he waved at her, and she did the same. She went into to car and gave Andy a punch on his shoulder.

-Andy: Ouch! What was that for?!
-Avi: You know what that was for. Don't you ever do something that stupid again.
-Andy: OK OK! I heard you the first time.

Andy rubbed his shoulder.

-Andy: Can we go now? I'm tired. -Avi: Oh now you're tired?

Andy gave her a fake smile as she started the car. She drove sleepily on her way home. Andy was already fast asleep with his hoodie over his head. She looked him and smiled, but as she turned back to look ahead, she saw a dark shadow in the middle of the road. She squinted her eyes in order to get a better view, when she realised that it was the same man as before; the man in the black cloak. The man raised his hand in front of him and then spun his hand into a fist. Avi felt the front of the car rise up and then it twisted. The car spun and crash-landed on its top. Avi's head smashed against the window and she lost consciousness.

. . .

The road was dead. It was 10:54pm and Avi was still unconscious. Moments later, she woke up. She slowly opened her eyes as she looked at the night sky. Her lip had a small cut and blood dripped on her cheek from the injury she received from her head. She placed her hands on the ground to push herself up but screamed in pain as she did so. It then came clear to her that she was not in the car. She looked back, but she didn't see the car. In fact, she was not at the place where the incident happened. She also realized that Andy was missing. She tried getting up, but it pained so badly. She managed to get up though, as she looked around. To her surprise, she was right in front of her house. Her eyes widened as she looked around once more. She limped her way up to the door. She realised that it was opened. She pushed the door and walked inside.

-Avi: Mom?

Her voice cracked. She called once more, but heard no response. She made her way to the kitchen, but saw no one. She tried calling again, but still no answer. She even tried calling Andy, as she made her way upstairs. It was quiet in the house. She checked her room, but one was inside. She made her way to her mother's room. When she pushed the door open, she saw her mother on the bed. She was not moving. She was laying on her back, with her eyes and mouth wide open. She ran to the bed but she fell over her own legs. She managed to claw herself onto the bed. With a closer view, she saw that her mother was pale, and her skin was wrinkled.

-Avi: Mom...?

Her eyes were teary and her voice cracked as she called her mother again. She started shaking her and she cried until her eyes turned red. She knew her mother was dead, it was just a hard pill to swallow. She couldn't believe it. Her mother was dead, and her brother was missing. Her world was turned upside down, and she had no idea what was taking place. She just sat there by her mother's side and cried her eyes out.