Sacred (II)

XIII

Present Day

*A few months later*

It's been a few months since Ray's car accident and Charlotte's visit. I haven't heard much from her besides the few conversations we've had for the weeks. I wonder what she's doing right now. I rolled down the windows and turned off the car. I'm waiting for Ray to get out of his last physical therapy appointment so he can get his referral and go back to work as a lawyer.

Being his replacement isn't fun at all. I have to go all over New York City to track and find whoever needs to be killed. I'm used to having a few people on my list but not 7 names, I'm not sure how he does it on a regular basis. I looked out the window, glancing at the date displayed on the radio. May 12, 2024. My birthday was tomorrow and I haven't heard from Charlotte. Which has bumped out,

Would she really forget my birthday? I thought.

"Hey. Sorry, I was late, the therapist kept talking." I heard Ray suddenly say as he opened the passenger door and threw his bag in snapping me out of my thoughts. I sighed in annoyance as his bag landed on my lap,

"Why didn't you have Sasha come and pick you up?" I grumbled as I pulled the gear in reverse. I saw him give me a glare in my peripheral vision,

"Because she's busy with other things," he muttered. Sasha is his new sectary slash sex buddy, to put it bluntly. She is kinda obsessed with him, but Ray doesn't care.

"She would drop everything to pick you up," I commented with a small smirk,

"Well maybe, I didn't tell her," he muttered lowly as if he were ashamed.

"Why not?" I questioned, he turned his head, looking out the window ignoring me.

"Well since you don't want to talk about that, have you heard from Charlotte?" I questioned trying to come off as I wasn't bothered.

"Nope. I haven't." He answered too quickly, I gave him a side-eye not believing him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He questioned while rolling his eyes.

"Because I don't believe you," I stated.

"Why don't you believe me?" he asked with a hint of amusement, I sighed and focused my attention on the street.

"Nevermind. Doesn't matter." I mumbled.

"Alrighty then," he said with a bright smile to mock my misery.

***

I sat on the couch watching a movie, on the edge of my seat as I watched the main character finding the last clue to her husband's killer. I wish that Charlotte would call me, at least to know she's alive and well. What if she forgot about me? What if she just ghosted me and I'm here like a clown waiting on a call that would never come.

Knock Knock I heard from the front door, I waited for a few seconds as I watched Johnathan open the door and talk to the person at the door. Johnathan closed the door and walked towards me,

"She said her name is Carol. Do you want me to let her in?" I nodded and reached over to pause the movie, I don't feel like having company. My 29th birthday is in a few hours. I really just want to relax and watch a movie.

"Hey, Henry. How are you?" She asked with a nervous laugh as she walked through the hallway and into the massive living room. She looked out of place standing in front of the doorway, she wore ripped blue jeans with a weird looking crop top with a weird smile on her face. I stare at her for a moment before I spoke,

"Is there a reason you're here right now, at this time?" I asked more harshly than I intended, but I don't care. I'm too stressed to have company over. Carol latched her hand on the strap of her crossbody and pulled moving the strap in between her fingers as her face flushed red, matching the color of her hair. I resisted the urge to cringe as I watched her fumble her words,