Loss & Lust

Chapter Four: A Warm Welcome

I took the last shower that I will be able to for a while. Letting the nice warm water roll down my skin, I began to remember that I never took my new neighbor the brownies, and it might not hurt to give him a welcome to the neighbor, despite the fact that I won't own a home in this area. So I whipped up a quick batch of brownies that my mother and I used to make, bringing tears to my eyes in the process. I put on a nice red blouse that hung off the shoulders, with ruffles on top, and a nice pair of dark jeans. I put on a slight bit of makeup, and blow-dried my long blond hair. Then I slipped into a pair of vans and walked out the door.

I knocked and almost instantly was met by a very handsome man. He just had perfectly defined cheekbones and jaw lines. He was dressed in an all-black suit but something about him was so intriguing.

"May I help you?" he sternly asked.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I just figured I'd offer you brownies as a welcome gift to the neighborhood", I say.

There is an awkward stare that both of us give before I speak up and say, "Well, I've got to get going. Enjoy the brownies". He closes the door and I walk back across the street. I then went and applied for a loan, and thankfully it was approved.

Upon returning home, I begin to put all my belongings back where they belong. While putting stuff away, I find a key that I've never seen before. I place it in my pocket and make a mental note to find out what it belongs to. After a long day of travel and stress, I realized that I hadn't had a single bite to eat all day. I order chinese food. While waiting, I messaged the landlord to let him know that I was able to catch up on rent. I then went to bed as I knew tomorrow would be a long and exhausting day.

I woke up in the morning and began to hunt for a job. I found a nice waitressing job that will help me keep my head afloat. I start tomorrow. I then head back to my parents' home. When I arrive, there is a beaten-up old pickup sitting in the driveway. As I made my way into the house, I noticed there was a man rummaging through my parents' closet. I grabbed my gun from the nightstand and headed into their room.

"Put your hands on your head and turn around slowly", I state as I turn on the light. I then called the police and they arrested the man.

After they left, I began to search in my parents' closet to see what the man was looking for. I find a lock box on the floor and immediately return to my room to retrieve the key. I place it into the lock and attempt to turn the key when i realize it's not a match. It, however, makes me wonder where the key to this box is. I continued to look in the closet when I noticed a few loose floor boards. I pulled one up and found a note with a key. The note read' "Keep this box and its contents safe if its the last thing you do.- Martha". Who is Martha, and why does the box need to be kept safe? I grab the key and unlock the box. Inside is a flash drive and a list of names. I grab my laptop and, to my luck, it needs charging. I put the flash drive back in the box and locked it. I then put it back under the floor boards. I take the key with me.

I plugged my laptop into the charger and got ready for bed. I spent the whole night twisting and turning, wondering what was on that flash drive. Sleep begins to overtake me as I doze off into sleep.