Chapter Three
UNCLE MARTY
Rosenberg residence. 7:16 p.m. It’s raining outside.
"Stop doing that, Josh!"
"What am I doing!?"
He looks at me with a shocked expression on his face, a string of cheese dangling from his mouth.
"You keep taking all the cheese!"
He looks down at his slice of pizza. Globs of cheese fall off the edges.
"I can't help it if all the cheese is attached to the slice I take!”
"Uh, yes you - "
I’m interrupted by a sudden clap of lightning.
"Looks like we've got a storm rolling in," says Troy from his spot on the couch.
I set down my plate and make my way to the patio door. It’s pitch black outside and large beads of rain have begun to dot the glass.
"We'd better make sure all the windows are closed. Remember last time we had a thunder storm? Mom's Persian rug was ruined!”
Troy looks at me while Josh munches away on his pizza, zombie-like and completely oblivious to what I've just said.
"Josh, get off your butt and help me close the windows."
His brain finally kicks in. "I can't. I'm eating."
"Josh."
"I’ll help you, Sarah," says Troy, setting his laptop aside and getting up from the couch.
I look at him.
Beautiful Troy. Beautiful man-god Troy.
“Thanks, but you’re a guest and you shouldn’t have to.” I set my angriest stare on my brother. “Josh."
He doesn't answer.
“Josh, are you ignoring me now?”
He shakes his head. “I’m eating.”
I snap. “JOSH!”
“It’s alright,” says Troy hastily, putting a hand on my arm, “I’ll help you…how about I go and get all the upstairs windows?"
I glare at Josh. He's making me look like a crazy person in front of Troy. Well, I'm not going to let this slide.
“Thanks, Troy. That’s nice of you. But Josh really should be helping. Josh.”
“I told you already! I’m eating!”
“Fine! Eat! You’re such a pig!”
“Hey,” says Troy calmly, looking at me with his smoldering eyes. “It’s alright.” He smiles and I melt. “I don’t mind helping. I'll go and make sure all the windows are closed upstairs, alright?”
I sigh, glaring at my brother one more time. “Alright. Thank you, Troy.”
“Hey, it's no problem,” he calls as he heads up the stairs.
“Thank you!” I holler back.
I turn to my brother. “See Josh. Troy’s a gentleman. You’re just…a pig,” I say again, wishing I could think of something better to call him.
He says nothing and I head to dad’s office to close the large window above his desk. The blinds are up and as I make my way towards it, I freeze. There’s a shadow moving past the window. It disappears a second later and I’m left staring at the dampening screen and listening to the pattering of rain sound against the siding of the house.
Is someone outside?
"Josh?”
Now I actually want my dumb brother.
There’s no answer.
"JOSH!"
"What? What the hell, Sarah!?"
I feel stupid.
"Can you...can you come in here for a second?"
I hear him groan.
“I just need you for a second.” I look back at the window. “Hurry up."
“Fine...”
You’re just imagining things, Sarah.
Rain continues to come through the screen over my window and drops of water have begun to drip inside.
Damn it.
Papers on the desk are taking on water now, but I’m not willing to get any closer to the window without my brother in the room. Not with the possibility of something - or someone - lurking just on the other side.
"JOSH!"
"What!? Geez, can't a guy just enjoy his pizza?" he grumbles as he enters dad’s office.
I ignore him and, feeling more confident now that he’s in the room, move to close my window. As I do so, there’s an earth-shattering, explosive clap of lightning that lights up the entire room.
Terrified, I scream.
Josh, standing two feet behind me, swears loudly.
And staring at us through the window, with an equally terrified expression on his face, is Uncle Marty.