The Baby next Door

What is wrong with Mike?

Mean while, Mike and I had arrived at the office. He was still rather disappointing with my lack of responsibility, and we were preparing for my first meeting after my promotion. We were going to have a celebration after the meeting.

We walked through the parking lot and made way for the office rooms. This is where all the higher ends of the company resided during the working hours. Mike left me alone for a while before finally returning after a few minutes.

"Miles, come here - we have something to show you."

I followed Mike and a few of my co - workers into this office. It was gorgeous in every aspect - the walls and every counter top was pure marble and it glimmered in the sunlight.

As I was taken a back by the beauty of this office, Mike said

"What do you think about it? Do you like it?"

A smile beamed from his face and he seemed really excited about this place.

"Yea, this place is amazing Mike! Who does this one belong to?"

Now i have not been to this building in a few few weeks - because of the move and the days off i took to sort everything out, so i figured they must have done this during the time i was away. It took me a second, but as i realized where i was, Mike responded

"You do not recognize this place at all do you?

"Actually, i might have an idea if i am being honest - is this where my old office used to be?"

"Well, good of you to finally catch up. This is indeed where your office used to be. And, i am sure you noticed, but we upgraded it a bit."

I turned to Mike and stared at him in pure confusion.

"You actually upgraded my office? This is ultimately sick."

"Mike nodded his head and said, "Enjoy it - but not for too long though because we still have that meeting to attend."

I wandered around the office for a bit and just stared out the window and took it all in for the moment.

I stayed in there fore a few minutes before there was a knock on the door.

"Hey Miles, the meeting is about to start."

"I am on my way Sarah."

I make my way out of the door and followed my secretary out the office door. I walked in the meeting room and seated myself down. We sat down and proceeded through the typically boring meeting. The meeting went on for a few hours and i kept looking towards the clock waiting for it to strike 5. Once the clock had struck 5, the eating would begin.

The clock had eventually struck 5 and we slowly began leaving the board room. Now there is a rule that board members have to follow when we are in the board room, and that would be that - all mobile devices must be muted throughout the duration of the entire meeting.

Now, normally, this would not cause any problems what so ever, but on this typical occasion, it caused a lot of problems.

My wife - Kate, had been messaging me quite a bit during the meeting. Now Kate is not big on the texting train, so it worried me that she had sent this many messages.

Here is an example of a few messages Kate had sent me while i was in the meeting:

"Miles, we need to talk."

"When you get home."

"It is urgent."

Now, i am sure that any human on the face of this earth, upon receiving those texts, would freak out and begin to think about everything they have ever done. You best believe that is exactly what i was experiencing.

I was too afraid to respond to her texts, so instead i told Mike to drive me home.

"Hey, Mike. I need another favor man. You have got to drive me home."

"Miles, come on bro, this party is literally for you. Why would you want your boss, the host of the event, to drive you, the person the party is for, home?"

"Mike, seriously man. Okay fine."

I pulled out my phone and showed it to Mike.

Now, Mike is a husband for 8 years and has 2 children, so he most definitely understood why this was important for me to get home immediately.

He stared at me for a second before pursing his lips.

"Ugh fine. I do not know what you did, even if you did not do it, but you should not have done it."

I looked at him and said "Here is the funny part, i also have no clue what i did."

"Do we ever?"

We laughed as we exited the room and made way for the parking lot, where his car was located.

We drove for a few minutes before finally arriving at my front door.

I was a bit surprised to see Kate standing at the entrance of the house. She looked horrible. I could tell something was not right.

As I had gotten closer to her, i noticed that her face had the same expression that my face had when i had seen that shadowy figure in the back yard earlier.

She peered her sight around me and saw Mike sitting in the car.

"What is he doing here?"

"Well, um you guys had taken the car so Mike picked me up."

"Oh right, sorry.Tell him come in."

"What? Why, i am sure he has other things to do."

Kate gave me that look, like 'do you really think it is a good idea to argue with me right now?'

I sighed in defeat and turned around

"Hey Mike! Come on in."

Mike just stared at me in confusion. I gave him that look like, 'bro I really do not have a choice here.'

Mike jumped out of the car and walked towards the house.

"Hey Kate, how are you?"

"I am good, come inside please."

She gestured Mike to the inside of the house and we both followed him in.

"Hey, where is Ben and Karen?"

"They are asleep."

"Oh okay good. Hey, what did you want to talk about?"

"Before we can discuss anything, we need Mike to leave."

I stared at her in visible confusion.

"But - but you told me to call him into the house in the first place."

She placed her hands on her hips and pursed her lips.

"Well, i had not a choice, as it is the least we can do after he basically was your personal chauffeur for the day. Now go get him something to drink then maybe he will go."

"Right right. That does make a lot of sense. Good thinking."

She rolled her eyes and instructed me to go do what she had instructed me to do.

"Now go man!"

My vision had finally adjusted to the room when i noticed something important - Miles was not here.

"Hey Kate, in order for me to offer Mike something to drink, i need to know where he is."

Kate put her phone down and swung her head up.

"What do mean? Where is he?"

"I have not a clue but he surely is not here in the living room."

"Okay, um, why do not you go check that side of the house and i will check upstairs."

As Kate hurried away, i heard her murmur to herself, "How the hell does one lose a full grown man?"

She was not wrong if i am being honest.

Now, Kate wanted me to check a part of the house that I have never been in before, and i was sure Kate had never been there either. It was at the end of the dark passage way. 

After everything that I have experienced in this house, i was not too keen to walk down a dark creepy passage way. But if there is anything scarier than a ghost, it is definitely an angry wife, so i decided to venture forth.

I slowly walked forward down the passage and cautiously reached out into the darkness and hoped that nothing reached back. To my complete horror, something did.

It grabbed my hand and pulled itself out of the darkness.

I was petrified beyond comparison, and was unable to scream for some reason.

"Hey come on now man. What is wrong Miles?"

I stared in confusion as i analyzed the body in front of me.

"Mike? What the hell are you doing here bro?"

"Oh, i wanted to use the bathroom.I hope it was not a problem."

"There is a toilet down there? Also, why did you use the scariest toilet in this place."

"Oh yea there is indeed a toilet down there, and um, i do not think that is the scariest place here."

That worried me. Why would he mention that? Why would he say it like that?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh well, i do not know but let us not dwell on that right now."

Our conversation was cut short by laughter coming from the living room. I turned around and made my way to where the sound was coming from.

I turned the corner to see the most confusing and terrifying sight i have ever seen. It was enough to traumatize you for eternity.

Sitting at the edge of the kitchen counter, was Kate - and MIKE?!

"MIKE?! But - but, what?"

"Oh hey man, you good?"

I stared at them in pure horror because i distinctly remember just having a full conversation with Mike and last i had seen him was behind me.

Once i remembered that he - it was last behind me, i sprung around and began shaking vigorously.

I looked up to see Kate and Mike staring back at me. They just stood there.

It took me a second to actually realize what was happening and calmed myself down.

"Mike, i was just talking to you in the passage!"

The reactions from Kate and Mike were very different. Kate was confused, while Mike was shocked.

"What? No he was in the kitchen with me."

"Uh, yea I have got to go I apologize."

"Wait you can not just leave like this."

"I still have a party to host remember. You all take care."

Kate faced me and asked, "What is wrong with Mike?"