Drowned In Silence

4. Departing

Departing

Elliot

“I don’t think that’s the right move, bro. That town is a cesspool, you never know what you could find. If the people who live there need help that bad, then we would get more requests to go there,” My brother says over the phone.

Spencer might get on my nerves once in a while, but when it comes down to business, he always comes in with some common sense.

“I don’t give a fuck, ‘bro.’ The old man on the phone explained her description and I want to check it out anyway. He said she even has a weird birthmark on her neck. She might be the girl in the photo!” I reply. I grab my wallet and keys from the kitchen counter and shove them into my pockets. Black cargo jeans may not be attractive, but they are definitely practical. I grab the mirrored mask off of the shelf near the door and the duffle bag that sits on the floor on my way out. You never know what kind of idiots will be around these places.

“A lot of fucking females have long black hair and green eyes. Do you really think that the girl from the photo would be in that place? I really doubt it. If you’re so damn sure of it, then I will go too. I don’t want you going to that shitty town by yourself. Deal?”

I give him a warning from the back of my throat, but don’t reply directly.

“Elliot… Deal?” He repeats between his teeth.

“Accepted. You’re probably the only one I won’t kill for being an asshole once in a while. How long do you think it will take to meet me at my house?”

“Probably about thirty minutes or so. But if you really want to leave first, I will take my own car and meet you there. Stay out of sight, out of mind. Good luck, call me if you need me. Oh, and bro?”

“What?” I snap.

“Keep your wits about you, not only could she be in danger, but that town might also be a lot of trouble.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks, I’m headed out now.” I click the red button, hanging up on him before he can spout some random shit about our annoying ass parents or how he’s upset that I’m doing this anyway.

I love them to death, and they have treated me like their own son since adopting me, but when they want to sit there and talk politics and religion all day, it wears you the fuck out.

I pull my keys back out of my pocket, I honestly don’t know why I tucked them in there anyway since I knew I’d be going out. Old habits.

A 2023 BMW M3 sits in my driveway, matte black on matte black. The interior is a beautiful black leather, with an Alcantara dash and matching steering wheel.

I never imagined myself getting a newer car, let alone a BMW, but regardless, I fucking love this goddamned thing. It goes from zero to sixty in 4.1 seconds. This bitch is fast as fuck, and I use that to my advantage almost daily.

I slide into the driver’s seat and push the start button, it quietly revs to life, giving me more satisfaction and a bigger ego boost than I probably need. Buckling up and coming down the driveway, I receive another call.

“Hello?”

“Elliot, My Dear, are you coming over for dinner tonight? We made a casserole, and I’m afraid no one except Ernie will eat it. I’m just so worried it will go to waste,” Mom asks.

I really thought I could get away for the evening without hearing from at least one of our parents, but luck must not be on my side.

“Unfortunately not, Mom. I’m headed out of town for work. It’s nothing to do with your cooking, you know how much I love it. I just need to step away for a little while and take care of business. Spencer is bound and determined to come with me too,” I tell her. I roll my eyes, she’s always trying to get me to come back home. She may be a pestering lady, but she knows how to kill it in the kitchen.

“Of course, hun. You just text me when y’all make it home, okay? Be careful! Love you!” She sing–songs before hanging up.

I really should go over and spend the evening with them soon. Pens and I practically lived there until we started our own business. We had our own places, but we still ended up at home. There is just something about the comfort of a decent family. They adopted me after my biological mother died. Me and Spencer were friends and went to school together, but I was over there almost everyday. Mr. and Mrs. Martin always fed me, bathed me, and did other things normal parent’s do for their kids, so when my crackhead mom died, they just took me in permanently.

When they showed up to get me, they did exactly what I would have done. They both took me in and loved me. I was broken. Broken because my mom died and broken for fucking attention. I didn’t leave until I bought my first house, and still, no one else from my past has ever come to look for me, at least to my knowledge. Not even the piece of shit Father my mom ran away from when she learned she was pregnant with me.