Hidden Evil

Torn (Bradley)

I walked out of the hospital angry. Something deep inside me told me that Braxton was right. What if I was doing this for myself instead of for Max? Part of me wanted to give up on all this and leave the house alone, but the other half wanted to keep going back for more. I don't know what to do. As I walked into my home, my mind was so clouded that I didn't notice my mother standing there with her arms crossed.

"Bradley Andrew," my mom said sternly.

I sigh. Great, here we go.

"Where are your backpack and skateboard?"

Shit. I forgot I left them behind at the house. I searched my mind, trying to find an excuse, but I couldn't think of anything.

"Um, I," I stutter.

My mom stared at me, waiting for an answer I couldn't give her. I sighed, bowing my head in shame.

"I left them at the house."

My mom's gaze hardened, and I wanted the ground to just swallow me whole right then and there.

"You mean the house that I've told you repeatedly not to go to?"

I blinked back tears as I nodded my head. My mom walks over to me, grabs my shoulders, and shakes them as she speaks.

"Why do you keep going back there," my mom asks with desperation evident in her voice, "what is going on, Bradley?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat before speaking.

"I want justice for Max!"

My mother just stared at me, her eyes telling me she was trying to understand what I said.

"Justice," my mom questions, "justice from what? A ghost? For the love of God, Bradley. Please be reasonable. How on earth are you going to get justice from a ghost?"

"By speaking to it!" I shouted.

"Speaking to it," my mom shouts back, "Bradley, every time you've gone to that God-forsaken house, you've been attacked! Do you really think that the ghosts will not just attack you one of these days?"

I didn't answer. My mom sighs and kisses my head.

"Go get cleaned up for dinner."

I nodded and walked upstairs, thinking about what she said. Damnit, she was right. Both her and Braxy were right. I'm going to end up dead. I can't do that to Braxy. He'd go off the deep end. Even though I knew they were right, something kept attracting me to that house. I quickly washed my face before heading to my room to change into more comfortable clothing. When I walk into my room, I close the door. I sigh loudly as I run my fingers through my hair. Today exhausted me so much. I walked over to my bed and curled up on it. I thought about everything my mother said. I thought about everything Braxton said. I even thought about the things I said. s**t. I said some mean things to Braxton. I went to reach for my phone, but I couldn't find it. Then I remembered. It was in my backpack. I guess I have to go back to the house anyway. Fuck