The Breaking Point

Chapter 1- At Fault

"He's at it again."

"Poor girl"

"She must be so helpless."

"It wasn't her fault"

"I bet she has more bruises now" concerned whispers from a crowd that stood by a white two-story house while they constantly hear glass breaking. The whole Ville Valley neighborhood feels uneasy about the commotion in the late afternoon.

Inside a dim living room was a man dressed in a black shirt and navy blue pants having a breakdown about his missing 6-year-old son. "Where is Mikey!?" he said while shouting angrily at a girl who is helplessly curled up on the floor with her messy long brown hair covering her face. Her hands are placed above her head while she is uncontrollably shaking in fear as she cries, "I-I'm s-sorry!" with a shaky voice she tried to speak.

Most of the windows are shut, with thick sky-blue-colored curtains reducing the entering sunlight, and the white sofa pillowcases were torn up all over the floor. There are shattered plates beside the girl on the floor with a trail of blood droplets that were traced from her feet.

"I'm sorry! I should've not taken my eyes off him! It was all my fault!" She cried out"I- I searched! I s-searched the whole place and there wasn't a sign of him. I left no stone unturned! I-I swear!" She feels mixed emotions of guilt and fear inside her chest, thinking it was because of her that her 6- year old brother had gone missing."

The man looked down at her feeling all disgusted, hurt, and miserable while the flashback of the short while he spent with his son came to memory. "How could you!? If anything bad happened to him. I might just lose my mind, Katherine!"

The man slowly went down on his knees in front of the girl, who was terrified. "He was the only one that I had left." The people outside then decided to knock on their door, worried about what he had done to the girl.

"Sir,"

"Officer Ben"

"Please, be easy on the girl."

"We know it hurts, but hurting her won't solve anything."

He glanced at the locked wooden door and returned his sight to the girl in front of him.

"I never had yet to lay a finger on you, but I decided to do damage to my environment rather than hurting you," he said, clearing his name from being accused of causing abuse.

After he calmed down, he decided to comfort the girl by calling her calmly. "Hey...Look", he said, while slowly placing his hand on her cheek, but only having to make a small movement towards her made her flinch away.

"No! Don't touch me!" She screamed and it made the man feel guilty about everything. The girl is now afraid of the man in front of her that he once saw as a good father figure. She now thinks of him as one of her abusers, as if he was never good towards her.

He distanced away before saying another word. With a cold expression, he said, "I'm sorry, go to your room." The girl stood up and ran upstairs without even a glimpse at him, while bloody footsteps were left on the staircase as she went. He turned his attention toward the people outside the doorstep and announced, "Show's over, everyone. Go home". The people outside backed away from the doorstep as they signaled to the rest of the crowd that it was finished. Everyone started walking back to their own houses to go back to their own lives. "I do hope the girl isn't hurt" a lady dressed in a flowered patterned dress spoke as they all went.

Meanwhile, police In a black motorbike came and parked just by the road. A guy in a dark-ish blue police uniform dramatically hopped off the black motorbike while taking off his black shiny helmet as he fixed his hair upwards and folded his sunglasses, looking all handsome in his late 20s. The people looked stunned. It is either they couldn't believe how the police officer is good-looking or, having a police officer show up just after what happened, people started gossiping "Did someone call 911?" Yep, It is definitely because of a sudden appearance and not about his looks.

The officer gave a confused look as to why people were gathered near the said house. Regardless of that, he walked toward the front door and knocked 3 times before saying: "Officer Ben, This is Officer Roy from the Grey VV's City Police Department, may I come in?"

The man that was inside the house swept up the pieces of glass from the floor and moped up the stains of blood. "Come in", he replied. "I am assigned to assist you in your investigation of your missing son's case, Mikey Benison." Officer Roy introduced himself more, while the man known as officer Ben left him comfortable on the sofa while he did some chores. After Mr. Benison had done cleaning. He stood in front of officer Roy to shake hands while welcoming him for the case. "It's good to have you on the case, Officer."

Officer Roy smiled as he felt welcome upon being involved in his first-ever case. He paused for a split second and asked "By the way...I encountered a gathering of people leaving that seemed to be from here. What was all that about?" He questioned.

"They all have mixed emotions on their faces, with worry and relief"

"Oh, that? That was nothing. People nowadays keep meddling with other people's personal issues." Officer Ben explained.

" My daughter and I had some talk that involved breaking glass, that's all." He added with a peal of awkward laughter.

Officer Roy laughed along but still felt a bit of worry about the incident.

After a short pause, Officer Ben got on with the case regarding his son with a serious expression as the Chief officer.

"About my son", Officer Roy automatically understood that they were now on investigation duty.

"What do we have so far?" Officer Ben added.

Officer Roy opened a white folder that contained a printed list of papers about the case. There was a small squared picture of a 6-year-old boy colored in gray and white. The boy had long squinting eyes with a broad, joyous smile. Under the picture, the boy's name is displayed in small fonts: 'Mikey Benison'.

Officer Mr. Harry Benison flinched forward after hearing his son's name. He must be missing him a lot ever since.

Officer Mr. Jay Roy noticed how his chief reacted but didn't bother to say a word about him although he understand how Officer Ben felt because he does have a son too.

"According to our information files, your daughter Katherine Malare (16) was last seen with your son Mikey Benison (6) on the date of May 19th, 2023, Friday at 4:30 pm on their way to the local park." Officer Roy read while Officer Ben patiently listens. "Standbyers claim to have seen them either playing tag or laughing with each other." Officer Roy takes a deep breath before continuing.

"Katherine stated that they decided to play one more round of hiding and seek before returning home when it nearly started to get dark at 5:15 pm. But after counting to ten and beginning to search, she couldn't find him for about 5 minutes. She called out his name in fear of losing him and there was no one to ask about where he might have gone because everyone left the park a while ago."

Officer Roy stooped reading just as Officer Ben said "Let me read it from here." Officer Roy nodded and agreed.

"Katherine found Mikey's green glow-in-the-dark ball under the slide, which made her very worried because she well knew that Mikey is well attached to this ball."

"She said that she once again scavenged around the park before completely running for help, she remembers a white van parked in an unusual alley. From that Katherine wasn't able to describe what happened next after feeling a handkerchief cover her mouth and nose, which caused her to blackout."

Officer Benison had quite a heavy feeling about what he had done earlier to Katherine without knowing anything.

"Katherine woke up to a flashing light toward her eyes, some people that do jogging during the night found her and brought her to the police station after she cried about her brother is missing."

While the two officers examine more of the files meanwhile in Katherine's room.

Katherine was standing in front of her tall mirror while talking to herself.

"Do you think they'd find out?" She asked as if it was from her reflection,

It's odd but it has always been like this for a while.

Katherine shook her head and said "No... Cops are stupid" She replied to herself giggling.

Before she could say another word to talk to herself her phone lit up with a new message, she picked it up and a dial named Nick sent

"Look through your window"

Katherine glanced at herself in the mirror one more time before walking toward her bedroom window. There was a view of the next door's black roof and there is a parked dark blue motorcycle under the shade outside the fence.

"BOO!" a terrifying person held both of her shoulders.

Katherine immediately screamed for being shocked. Laughter from the person behind her filled the quietness of the room and Katherine laughed with him too.

"Nick, How did you get here?" Katherine asked as she turned to him.

"Well, I was originally going to climb up to your window as usual for fun," He said.

"But Mr. Benison caught a glimpse of me by the window just after he tied up the curtains.

I did not know my dad is here too, Mr. Ben called me in and advise me to use the front door instead of climbing up to your bedroom window plus he said it's dangerous."

"Well, it is" Katherine laughed.

Nick wearing a plain white shirt and black pants sat on Katherine's desk chair as he watched Katherine sit on the edge of her bed.

He watched her thighs as she sits up, to her soft long brown hair, and her face while staring at her emerald green eyes while she checks her phone, He gulped.

Katherine looked at him stunned by his awkward stare.

She reached out a pillow from her bed and tossed it to Nick's face as he went back to his senses.

"Your drooling" Katherine giggled.

"Quit checking me out," She said while throwing another pillow at him.

Nick caught the pillow and hugged it tightly "In your dreams"

"So what brings you here?" Katherine asked.

"What do you mean?" Nick asked confused.

"It's a Friday"

"board game night"

Katherine paused as she slowly opened her mouth while slowly remembering.

"Ohh... It's Friday"

"Cool"

"I'll go find scrabble"

She added while she stood up to open her Cabinet.

Nick watched Katherine in her 4'6 body struggle to reach the high shelf from where the board games are kept.

Just when Nick stood up to help her reach a knock came from the bedroom door. "Nick, Katherine. May we come in?" It was officer Roy's voice. Nick opened the door and greeted "Hey dad" They both flinched after hearing a fall behind Nick,

They both turned to see Katherine carefully standing up from the floor "I'm fine, I reached it"

She announced holding up the scrabble board game. "Hello, Officer" Katherine walked towards the two and formally shook hands with the officer.

Nick leans on the door over Katherine with a silly smirk "What's up dad?" Nick asked, "Need us for something?"

Officer Roy stood up properly while placing both of his hands on his belt and said "No, actually here to tell you that your dad and I will be going on an investigation trip tonight."

He said looking at Katherine, "He couldn't tell you directly because of the father and daughter conversation you had that involved glass breaking..." Katherine listened to every word he said while nodding.

"Ok..." She said. "I'll be honest, It sounds concerning. Well, that's all, also Clarice"

Officer Roy pointed behind him downstairs "If you two would need anything, your mother is back downstairs"

added. Nick looked at Katherine worried after hearing about the father and daughter thing,

"Cool, I'll see her soon" Katherine smiled

The officer turned around while saying "Enjoy your game"

"Nick, use protection!" He added halfway down the stairs.

Both of them blushed while they watched officer Roy leave.

"What-" They said syncing.

Katherine and Nick both played on her bed with the scrabble at the center.

"Didn't you hate your brother?" Nick asked which caused Katherine to look at her. "What?" She said.

"I mean... You weren't very welcoming towards Mr. Benison and his son back then"

He said. Katherine kept quiet thinking about what he said.

She placed the letters. 'A K E' horizontally

starting from the 'L' in Nick's 'B L I N K'

"Are you saying I'm at fault?" Katherine asked him while they look at each other.

"N-No" Nick objects, he noticed that he looks quite hurt from what he concluded.

"I'm just thinking what ifs..."

"So... That's how you think of me?"

"You think I hadn't accepted them still?" Katherine started asking continuous questions.

"No! Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that" Nick apologizes feeling guilty for hurting her feelings.

He placed 'B R I D G' vertically going down above Katherine's 'E' in'L A K E'

"Score hehe," Nick said announcing that he won more points.

But Katherine wasn't about to give up yet. Using her remaining letters, she put 'U N D E'

Connecting to the 'R' of Nick's 'B R I D G E'

Katherine wrong down her score on their score paper and celebrated "Ohhh, I won!" She happily announced.

"What?" Nick asked with disbelief. He took their scoring paper and saw that Katherine's total score is 46

while he had a total score of 43. "Hah! That's what you get for doubting me" She laughed.

Nick smiled, he takes this as her way of forgiving him. "Fair enough"

They both turned to the door when they heard a knocking, it was Clarice holding a place of sandwiches.

"I see that you two are having fun"

"Mom" Katherine greeted as she stood up to go to her, she gave her a warm embrace. Clarice handed the place of sandwiches to her "Here are some snacks," Katherine took them and replied "Thank you"

Nick smiled while he looked at them, thinking that what if he still have a mom.

He examined Katherine's winning Scrabble game and found it odd how their last words are matching to some kind of clue.

L A K E...

U N D E R...

B R I D G E...

"Lake under the bridge?" He whispered under his breath...

"Hey"

"Nick" Nick came to his senses and looked at Katherine, she looks worried. "A-are you okay?"

She asked, "I'm fine" he replied.

Nick glanced to the door and saw that Clarice left. "Oh... She left"

"Yeah... I asked her to join us but just when she was about to agree she had an important phone call and went somewhere."

Katherine explained.

"I wasn't able to greet her," Nick said sadly.

"Well, she saw you having deep thoughts so she didn't bother.."

"What were you thinking about anyway?" Katherine asked.

"It's nothing, wanna watch a movie?" Nick decided to change the topic.

With that Katherine agreed.

While watching the movie they chose, Nick can't stop thing if those words meant anything.

Lake...

Under...

Bridge...

"Was it... a sign? or a mere coincidence..."

He whispered under his breath. "What is?" Katherine asked beside her.

"The movie. That- that scene where they..." Nick tried to explain.

"Your hiding something..." Katherine replied looking down.

"No, It's just. I'm troubled."

"You might feel offended If I tell you"

Nick explained

"Try me," Katherine said.

Nick took a deep breath before explaining "When we played that scrabble game, I noticed the words we had before it ended."

"Lake, Under, Bridge," Katherine said thoughtfully. Nick looked at her "You noticed too?"

Katherine nodded, "Do you think there's something to do with Mikey?"

"I'm not sure..." Nick said.

Katherine took her phone out and the light of its screen lit her face, ringing a dial she placed it near her ear.

"Hello?" Her dad said from the speaker.

"Hi..." Katherine said.

"Look, if it's about earlier...-" Katherine didn't let him finish and said.

"No, This isn't about that. I know it's my fault, I lost sight of him."

Nick looked at her angry because of what he said. He snatched her phone from her ear

"Hello, Mr. Ben."

"Nick! you're still with her... it's 8 pm, why haven't you got home?" Harry sounded concerned, knowing that he and his daughter are alone in one room.

"Don't worry sir. I won't do anything bad to her." Nick assured him.

"We called because... have you tried investigating the lake near the park under the bridge?"

"No reasons, we were just thinking"

"See you around sir" Nick ended the call.

"Your dad doesn't like me, does he?" He said returning the phone to Katherine.

She laughed at him "Yea"

"Hey, look at me for a moment" Nick turned to sit right in front of Katherine.

He held her chin and then slowly made her look him in the eyes.

Her green eyes sparkled and that made Nick feel butterflies in his stomach.

"I want you..." He paused to see if Katherine knows what he meant but she asked "You want me to what?"

Nick continued. "I want you to... Never say it's your fault"

"Cause it is not."

"I don't want to ever hear you say that it's of you that this happened"

"It's just life, ok? We will find him."

"I don't ever want you to be miserable, Ever."

Katherine nodded and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," She said.

"You're the best best friend I ever have"

Nick felt shattered hearing her say he was only a friend to him.

He painfully smiled and said while standing up."Well, it's pretty late. I better get going."

He collected his motorcycle keys and his jacket "I'll see you out" Katherine suggested while she stood up.

Nick nodded and they both went downstairs, she held on to his helmet while he started up his ride. "Bye"

"Bye," Nick said while wearing his helmet on.

Katherine watched him ride away until he was out of sight before going back inside.

She went back upstairs to her bedroom and closed the lights while leaving her night lamp open.

"H-he wants me?" Katherine blushed while she lay down on her bed, she hugged her pillow tightly and rolled to her side.

"No... I'm probably just delusional."

She reached to the side of her bed and turned off the night lamp before going to bed.

The next day...Katherine woke up to the sound of her beeping alarm, at 7 am in the morning. She sat up and turned it off while rubbing her sleepy eyes. She went down and saw her dad and officer Roy having another meeting in the living room "Good morning" said Katherine while stretching "Good morning" her dad and officer Roy greeted. Katherine kissed Clarice on the cheek and greeted her good morning then she helped prepare pancakes for breakfast. Katherine smiled at the star-shaped pancake "Mikey would love this" Clarice said as she squeezed her tightly with a side hug.

They prepared 4 plates with 2 pancakes each, Clarice served the two to her husband and Jay Roy.

Katherine spread the butter before applying the syrup and ate piece by piece.

"Katherine, come here after you are done," Her father said.

"Ok" Her voice echoed from the walls.

After Katherine had breakfast, she sat down on the couch just as she was told to come.

"How did you and Nick know about the lake?" Her father asked, she looks confused "What? Did something happen?"

Katherine asked. "We found this." Officer Jay Roy sad while placing a bag of plastic on the coffee table.

Katherine looked inside and looked shocked. "This... This is the same shoe Mikey was wearing that day."

Tears flowed down her eyes. "Did you hind him?" The officer shakes his head "We just found this drifting in the water after Nick told us to search under the bridge. Now tell us, how exactly did you two know about it?"

Officer Roy asked with his interrogation voice. "It was just a guess" Katherine replied seriously.

"Do you just think of this as a guessing game Ms. Malare?

"No...It was just coincidence"

"Are you most aware that you are our number 1 suspect, because of how you treated Mikey back then and for being the last person to be with him?"

Katherine felt heavy guilt about what he heard from him.

"Nick told me that it isn't my fault even under that circumstance, but his father thought of the exact opposite"

"I feel attacked" Katherine was deeply thinking until she finally gave an answer.

"Yes," She said with a nod "I am aware of that"

She looked at the other side and saw his father attentively listening.

"He probably thinks of that way too.."

"I have no doubt about it"

"What else happened that day" Officer ben spoke.

"Nothing more than what I told you when you last asked...

We played tag, Talked, and Joke around. I bought him a glow in the dark ball for 5$ and a spiderman balloon for a dollar..."

Katherine said confidently.

The two officers looked at each other, it's as if they both have the same thought in mind. "Did this spiderman balloon happen to have drawings of stars?" officer ben asked.

Katherine nodded and said, "Yes, I lend Mikey a Marker that was in my pocket, he started to draw on it"

"Did you find the balloon?"

Officer Roy took a sip from his coffee and her father said "We, found it deflated in a tree"

"Oh..."

"That's all the questions he had, You can now continue with your day."

Katherine stood up and took the dirty plates and mugs with her to the kitchen.

"How was it?" Clarice asked while she sits in at the table."

Katherine told her everything, from beginning to end.

"It's all my fault is it?..."

"Aww, sweety no..." Clarice said comforting her while softly rubbing her cheeks.

"Cheer up, a lot of things happen unexpectedly." She added.

Katherine faintly smiled.

Although she loves her mother's comfort, it still doesn't stop her to be hurt about it.

After Katherine and her mother bond while doing chores on her way back to her room she overheard the officers' conversation.

"Mikey must still be in the woods near the park," Officer Roy said.

"Agree, I'll make a schedule of a search party later by 2 pm."

"Ready up the guard dogs whenever you head back to the department." Officer Ben said.

"Roger that." Officer Roy said.

Katherine went to her room after hearing everything. She pulled up her phone and texted Nick.

"Search party, 2 pm"

Nick replied seconds after she sent her text

"Good morning" With a heart emoji

"Where?"

Katherine then replied.

"Woods near the park. But be here at 1 pm so we can hang hehe" With a laughing emoji.

Nick then replied with a salute gif and sent

"Roger that!".

Katherine threw her phone down on her bed then she laid down too.

"Saturday... What Should I do?" She said while staring at the ceiling.

She looked around her room and saw that it is quite messy, she stood up and picked up the pieces of paper.

She shook off the dust from her pillows and Blanket as well as fixed up her bed.

Katherine dusted off the dust from her bookshelves.

After all of her chores are done inside her room, she picked a book from her bookshelves and reads quietly.