Tim's eyes fluttered open to the sound of birds chirping and the warmth of the sun on his face.
Lifting his head from the steering wheel, he sat up and stretched, feeling the stiffness in his neck and back from sleeping in his car. As he looked around the empty lot, he felt momentarily disoriented, but then remembered why he was there: to find Curly. He had spent most of the night searching for his little brother, but with no luck. Exhaustion had finally caught up with him, and he had pulled over to rest, determined to continue his search as soon as he woke up. Despite the fact that he knew he couldn't survive on only three hours of sleep, his determination to find Curly kept him going.
Yawning, Tim started his car and listened to the roaring sound of the engine as he tried to figure out his step.
As a wave of guilt washed over him, Tim regretted being distant from Curly these past few weeks. He couldn't help but to imagine how weak and frightened Curly must be feeling, being all alone and with no one knowing where he is.
The screams from the recorder he heard the night before kept replaying in his mind, and he couldn't stop them. Squeezing his eyes shut, he banged his head against the steering wheel, hoping to tune the sounds out but to his defeat, the screams became louder.
He slowly turned his head at the passenger seat, realizing the letter and tape recorder were placed nonchalantly on the chair. He could feel the objects taunting at him with every passing minute, his heart began to thump out of his chest as he imagined the threat of the letter as if it were alive. All he wanted to do was to throw it out, but it would be no use, the letter controlled him. It was his only motive of finding Curly.
He failed as an older brother, he thought, slamming both his hands on his face. Dreading the thoughts that came one by one, he wasn't sure if he could control them; let alone, ignore them and he knew it. However, he couldn't give up on his brother. He took a deep breath and picked up the letter and tape recorder, and hid them. Determined to find Curly and make things right.
Tim knew he should have been there for Curly when he got released from reformatory not too long ago. He knew Curly would've wanted him to, but he was too busy with the gang, his job, and all other forms of responsibility. He knew nothing could justify his absence towards his brother but he didn't want to blame himself for another second.
Groaning, Tim directed his hand over the head of the cold metal stick shift as he placed it on drive. As his mind gradually came back together, his plan was to find his sister and warn her about being alone in public or being with a small group of friends. If he couldn't be there for his brother, he was sure he'd be there for his sister.
Leaving the empty lot, Tim quickened his pase as he stepped on the gas. Not sure where he should head to first, his mind instantly landed on the mall. His sister usually hangs around by the mall and would most likely be there.
His foot didn't seem to let go of the gas petal, the low grumble from the engine grew as powerful as a lions roar. This sent vibrations to the steering wheel onto Tim's hands which gave a boost of euphoria.
Noticing upcoming traffic among the road forced Tim to slow down with a sigh. Though, he had all the time in the world at this moment, he still was determined to find Angela as quick as he can. He tends to get impatient easily and refused to deal with it. As he drove, he navigated through the congested streets, honking his horn at drivers who cut him off.
When he reached the mall, it took him a lifetime to find a parking spot and wondered what special activity was going on.
Once he got out of the car, he walked towards the entrance, scanning the crowd for any sign of his sister. He checked the food court, the movie theater, and the clothing stores, but she was nowhere to be found.
Just as he was about to give up hope, he marched out of the mall feeling frustrated as ever and went straight back into his car. Driving out of his spot and the lot, he spotted her sitting on a bench near a fountain outside of another entrance of the mall surrounded by a large group of friends, laughing and joking around as she twisted with hair with a single finger.
Tim took this as an opportunity to park his car as closely as he could to Angela. Rolling the window down, he honked his horn at the group, causing some heads to snap at the noise.
As soon as Angela recognized Tim's car and the driver, she seemingly looked annoyed while Tim singled her to walk towards his car.
Apologizing to her group, she began to walk towards the car while noticing her older brothers angry expression which made her quicken her pase a bit.
Angela approached Tim's car, fighting the urge to roll her eyes when she saw him. "What?" she spat out, crossing her arms and copying Tim's angry expression.
"Don't use that tone with me," Tim hissed, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Angela's dress. "And what did I say about short skirts, Angela?"
"It isn't a skirt, it's a dress," Angela interrupted bitterly, crossing her arms. "And it isn't short. You can't control me, Tim Shepard. Stop following me!"
"Angela," Tim said dangerously, with a low growl. "Get in the car and shut up."
"But-"
"Now!" Tim shouted, clenching his jaw tight as his eyebrows furrowed.
Angela felt her face reddening as she sensed her friends' judgmental stares. She stormed her way into the passenger's seat, slamming the door behind her.
"Finally," Tim muttered under his breath as he started the car. "I don't like the attitude you're giving me, Angela."
"Deal with it," Angela said, her voice trembling with anger. "You're always controlling me."
"Talk to me like that again and see what happens." Tim threateningly said as he stepped on the gas making Angela feel uneasy. "Just because you're a girl don't mean I won't bust your lip open."
Angela gritted her teeth, but she didn't say anything. She knew that arguing with Tim was pointless. She looked out of the window, watching the scenery go by in a blur. She couldn't wait to get out of the car and away from Tim's suffocating presence.
After driving in silence for what felt like hours, Tim seemed to calm down and was now following road rules.
"I won't ever hit ya," Tim said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Just watch your tongue."
Angela felt a mix of relief and doubt. She knew that Tim had a history of making empty promises, but she couldn't help but hope that he meant what he said. "What did you need me for anyways?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"Just need to talk to you," Tim admitted.
"About?"
"Curly."
"What about Curly?" Angela asked, keeping her voice even.
Tim took a deep breath before answering. "I just need to talk to you about him," he said, his voice low.
"Just tell me what's going on, Tim." Angela felt her anxiety rise again. She didn't know what she'd be told about her other brother but she knew it wasn't good.
"It's best if you don't...when's the last time you saw him."
Angela felt a mix of emotions as Tim spoke. She appreciated that Tim was trying to communicate with her, but she still felt cautious. "What do you mean, it's best if I don't know?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.
Tim hesitated for a moment before answering. "I just don't want to worry you," he said, his voice low.
Angela felt her anxiety rise again. She didn't know what to think or say. "I want to know what's going on with Curly," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Tim nodded slowly. "I know, Angela. Let's go to mom's and see if he's there."
"I have the right to know, he's my brother!" Angela said firmly. "Please tell me what's happening."
Tim only slightly nodded at her concerns as he placed all his focus on the road. Angela pouted as she stared out the window, feeling uneasy about the unknown situation with Curly. She wished Tim would tell her what was going on, but she didn't want to push him too hard.
The drive was long and quiet on the way to their parents house and Angela couldn't wait to get out of the sufferable silence and her brother's stubborn behavior.
As they drove further, Angela's restlessness grew. She tried to make small talk with Tim, but he was still preoccupied with his own thoughts about whatever was going on with Curly. Angela felt a pang of guilt for pushing the issue earlier. She knew Tim was trying to protect her, but she couldn't help feeling left out of the loop.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they arrived at their parents' house. Angela was relieved to get out of the car and stretch her legs. As they walked up to the front door, Angela could hear faint arguments coming from the inside. She felt a sense of disappointment wash over her as she knew the arguments will escalate.
She heard her brother curse under his breath as he pound on the door with the side of his fist. The arguments didn't seem to stop but a pair of loud gunshot footsteps stomped closer to the door. Swinging slightly opened, their stepfather, David Espinoza, was on the other side.
Angela and her brother exchanged a wary glance as their stepfather opened the door. They couldn't help but feel anxious about what was going to happen next. Tim's jaw was clenched tightly, and his eyes were narrowed in anger. Angela, on the other hand, felt a mixture of fear and apprehension. They both knew that their stepfather could be unpredictable, and they were worried about what he might say or do next.
"What?" Their stepfather snarled harmfully, looking closely at Tim with hatred in his cold hazelnut eyes, "What are you doing here." David said, demanding an answer for the question.
"Let me in and find out." Tim replied, refusing to break eye contact, "Move outta the way."
David stepped aside, his eyes still fixed on Tim. Tim brushed past him, and Angela followed closely behind. As they made their way to the living room, Tim could feel David's eyes burning into his back. He knew that this was going to be a difficult conversation, but he was determined to stand his ground.
"What do you want?" David asked, his voice cold and menacing.
"Curly." Tim replied, his voice steady and firm.
"What?" David demanded.
"Where is he?" Tim asked, his eyes fixed on David's.
David's face twisted into a sneer. "Do you think I know where that boy is?" he spat.
Tim's voice rose in anger. "I know he was here. Where the hell is he?"
"Tim, I don't know what you're talking about."
Tim's face turned red with fury. "When's the last time you saw him?" he bellowed, clenching his fists.
Angela stepped back, her anxiety rising. She glanced between Tim and her stepfather, unsure of what to do. Her tipsy mother stumbled out of the kitchen and leaned against the wall.
"Ay, mijo." His mother calmly said, putting her hand on her head, "If you're gonna fight do it outside." She furiously demanded but her slurring made it hard to understand her.
"You're drunk." Tim said, putting all his attention on her instead of his stepfather, "You don't get a say in this."
"Don't speak to your mother like that," David defended.
"I can speak to her however I want," Tim snapped, getting dangerously close to his stepfather.
David shoved Tim back, making him stumble. Tim recovered quickly and swung at David, but David ducked and punched Tim in the stomach. Tim doubled over, gasping for air. David grabbed Tim by the collar and threw him across the room. Tim crashed into a table, shattering the glass top.
Angela screamed and ran out of the room. Her mother followed, still holding her head. David and Tim continued to fight, throwing punches and knocking over furniture. David picked up a vase and hurled it at Tim, who dodged it just in time. Tim grabbed a lamp and swung it at David, but David ducked and it smashed into the wall.
The room was in shambles. Broken glass, shattered wood, and overturned furniture littered the floor. David and Tim circled each other, looking for an opening. David lunged at Tim, but Tim sidestepped and kicked David in the back. David stumbled forward and fell to the ground.
Tim seized the opportunity and jumped on David, pummeling him with his fists. David fought back, throwing wild punches and trying to get Tim off him. The two men rolled around on the floor, grunting and cursing.
Angela finally decided to go back into the living room, desperately trying to end the fight. With a shaky voice and tears in her eyes, she pleaded, "Tim, please stop! Just stop." The room was filled with the sounds of Tim and David's heavy breathing, their chests heaving in and out. Angela could hear the sound of glass crunching under her shoes, remnants of the shattered table. The smell of alcohol hung in the air, making Angela feel nauseous. The air was thick with tension and fear, and Angela could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
Angela took a deep breath and tried to steady her voice, "David." she said, trying to seem fearless like her brother but failed miserably when her lips quivered, "Please, just tell Tim the truth. He didn't want to fight."
David sneered at her, his eyes narrowed. "He always wants to fight," he spat back. "I saw Curly a few days ago. Now, I want both of you out of my sight."
Angela's heart sank. She knew what this meant. It wasn't the first time David had kicked them out of the house, but it was always a painful reminder of their situation. She looked over at Tim, who was seething with anger. She knew he was about to do something stupid.
"Don't talk to her like that!" Tim roared, stomping over to David as he grabbed an empty alcohol bottle and smashed it against his head. Angela gasped as she witnessed the tiny pieces of glass cut through her stepfather's face like fiber.
David stumbled backwards, holding his head as he felt the sharp pain across his face. Beating at Tim with deadly glares, he focused on the long scar that ran across his face. He knew that Tim was a no-good-hood with nothing but darkness along his path; he knew Tim was incapable of change. His stepson shouldn't be the one he's fighting with, especially not with Tim Shepard. "Get out," David demanded, his voice heavy and booming all over the house.
Angela and Tim gathered their things and left the house, the door slamming shut behind them. Angela felt a sense of relief mixed with sadness as she walked towards Tim's car. She knew that Tim was going to get into trouble again, but she didn't know how to stop him. She felt like she was always walking on eggshells, trying to keep the peace between her brother and stepfather.
As soon as they got into the car, Tim drove away quickly. He was clenching the wheel tightly and his hands turned red with anger. Angela felt upset as she replayed the scene in her head. She had seen Tim get angry before, and it seemed like anger was his only emotion. She made a mental note to be cautious and keep her guard up. Tim's behavior reminded her of their stepfather, who was often emotionless and unpredictable.
There was a long silence in the car as Tim drove. Angela didn't know what to say, and Tim seemed lost in thought. Finally, Tim spoke up.
"Angela, I shouldn't have acted out like that. There's too many things going on, ya dig?"
"Yeah, I do," Angela said quietly.
There was another long silence before Tim spoke again. "Angela, I need you to promise me that you'll never go to places alone, especially at night. Always be with a big group of friends."
"Why?" Angela asked.
"You're not stupid, Angela. You know why. It's not safe out there, alright?" Tim said with a sigh, "Just be extra careful until Curly's found."
Angela nodded. "Okay, I promise."
"Good. And if you ever feel like you're in danger, tell me. I'll come get you, no matter what."
"Thanks, Tim," Angela said, feeling grateful for her brother's concern.
Tim dropped Angela off at her hangout spot, making sure she was safely inside before driving away. Angela watched the car disappear into the night, feeling a little safer knowing that Tim was looking out for her.
Tim drove back to his apartment, feeling a little under the weather that he was almost out of gas. He had been so focused on his anger earlier that he hadn't even noticed the gas gauge.
As he pulled into the gas station, he sighed and checked his wallet. He didn't have much money left, and he knew that he would have to be careful with his spending until his next paycheck.
He filled up the tank and paid for the gas, feeling a little better knowing that he had enough to get him through the week. As he drove back to his apartment, he thought about what had happened earlier with Angela. He knew that he needed to work on his anger issues, but it was easier said than done.
When he got home, he flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV, trying to distract himself from his thoughts. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had let Angela down. He knew that he needed to do better, not just for her sake, but for his own as well.
The thundering sound of the front door swinging opened made Tim shoot his eyes up.
Cod was found with blood-shot eyes and slammed the door once he got in. His eyes glared at Tim as he was surprised to see him, "You're back," he stated, walking towards the fridge, "you were gone almost all day."
"Don't be dramatic it was only a few hours." Tim responded, breaking eye contact and skipping through channels, "What happened to you?"
"Classified information." Cod joked, rampaging through the fridge until he found a beer bottle.
"Ah, I see." Tim said with a grin, "You were cryin' cause you missed me."
"Hah!" Cod snorted sarcastically, "Never." Taking a swing out of his bottle, Cody's eyes landed on the table and papers stacked on top of it. "Oh," he said, "a letter got left for you again."
Tim's heart dropped when he heard the news. His grin slowly faded away as he wondered what this new letter might say. The thought of another threat made him petrified; he knew he couldn't find Curly. And every time he rests, he feels a sense of guilt wash over him. He would never sleep.
Standing up, he walked towards the table. The seriousness of his face made Cod drop every joke he had in mind.
"I didn't open it. I didn't read anything." Cod assured as he saw Tim picking up the yellow-stained letter. "I'm just a good friend like that."
Opening the letter, Tim's heart skipped a beat and could feel his chest getting tighter. He wouldn't show his vulnerability to Cod; he could never. Instead, he kept his mouth shut and silently read the paper.
Tim almost felt relieved to see that there was no threat written out but coordinates along with five photographs of bushes, tress and a river. Like a puzzle.
In the highly lit room, Tim sat at the table, his heart beating uncontrollably as he looked at the photographs spread out before him. Cod broke the silence, his voice low and concerned. "Shepard, you gotta tell me what's going on. I can help you, man." Tim hesitated, his eyes flickering with fear and uncertainty. "I'll tell you later," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to deal with this right now." Cod stepped closer, his hand on Tim's shoulder. "Then don't," he said gently. "But you know I'm here for you."
Tim took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the letters in front of him. "Curly's in trouble," he said finally, his voice hoarse. "Someone's been sending me these letters, and I don't know what to do."
Cod's eyes widened, and he leaned in closer, his expression intense. "What do they say?" he asked, his voice urgent. Tim hesitated, then nodded, trying his best to remain calm as he picked up one of the letters. "Fine," he said, his voice strained. "I'll tell you. But you gotta keep your mouth shut. Don't tell anyone."
Cod nodded, his eyes fixed on Tim's face. "Let's calm you down," he said softly. "I'm so high right now, I want to sober down a bit before you tell me."
Tim rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help a small smile. He knew he couldn't do this alone, and at least he had Cody by his side. As they sat in silence, Tim felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew he had a long road ahead, but for now, he was grateful for the comfort of a friend.