Chapter 2 - Innocents Lost
(...the Mankey kitchen...Friday morning...)
Josh sits at the table. He digs into the plate of waffles before him. He hears a yawn and looks to the entrance. His mother, in a bathrobe, walks in.
"Don't mind me." She takes a seat. She notices his plate. "I guess I don't need to fix breakfast."
"Well, I saw you sleeping, and I didn't want to bother you."
"Thanks." He slides her a plate of waffles.
She picks up a fork and cuts off a piece. "So, how did you sleep?"
"Pretty good. I have to go in later and save my job." She takes a bite.
"I'm sure you'll do great." A forkful of waffles goes into the young man's mouth.
She swallows. "I know I will, but you never can tell." She motions to her gray-stained hair. "People might be put off by it. I could pluck it, but I heard somewhere that that's bad luck."
"You might consider dyeing it."
She glances at her son's spiked and dyed hair. "You're sure about that?"
He looks down. "I retract my statement, but let me tell you, this used to be a style. It seems kinda silly to worry about your hair, anyway. You're good at your job. Shouldn't that be enough?"
She sighs. "Yeah."
(...outside the Mankey home...twenty minutes later...)
Josh is half-way out the front door. He turns back. "I'll see you later, Mom!" The door closes.
"Take care! Make good choices!"
He gets into his car. The engine roars to life. For a little over a year, Josh had called the vehicle his own. It looked pretty nice for a used car, and it was decently priced to boot. The vehicle pulls into traffic...past the car with the goons. They look at the high-schooler intently.
(...Middleton High...about an hour later...)
In the halls once more are Kim and Ron, walking to class.
"...so, wouldn't it already need to be done?"
"Maybe, Kim, but that's the beauty of homework. It can be turned in whenever."
"But 'whenever' loses you points."
Ron shakes his head. "One of our society's many failings."
So bemused is she by Ron's response, Kim nearly bumps into Josh. She manages to stop before a potential collision.
"Whoa."
"Sorry about that."
"No harm done. You're getting better at this."
"Well, I have been taking lessons." They both laugh. Ron fumes.
"Good luck with those." He looks back at Ron. "Ron, how's it going?"
"Ah, you know. Fine, so-so. whatever. Kim, we need to get to class."
She glares at her best friend. Her gaze is cut off by the ringing of the bell. "Catch you later, Josh."
"Yeah. See you later."
The teens walk off in opposite directions.
(...the cafeteria...a few hours later...)
Among the chatter of the dining students, Kim and Ron sit at a table. He's digging into a tray of vegetarian lasagna.
"Ron."
His mouth is full. "Yeah, KP?"
"Answer me something: were you replaced with a pod person devoid of manners?"
He swallows the mouthful. "Oh. Sorry."
"No. Not that...though thank you for swallowing. I meant with Josh."
A cough from his lips.
"What's the deal?"
"There's something about him."
"Please! Not the whole Mankey-monkey thing, again!"
"But they sound...
Kim joins him. "...a lot a lot alike."
"Yeah, we covered that. It's not like I'm crazy about him anymore. I've moved on."
"That reminds me..."
"Ron, he did not steal Tara from you. You just never made a move."
"And who was it that never told me I could make a move?"
Kim gulps a bit, then regains her composure. She smirks a bit.
"I know what this is about. You're jealous."
"Jealous, what? I'm not-- just what do you mean by--"
"You were jealous that I was spending all of my time mooning over Josh and that I wouldn't have any time for you."
Ron's eyes widen. He hesitates a bit. "That's...exactly right."
"Ron, we've been friends for, like, ever." She rests her hand on his. "I'll always have time for you."
He can't quite stifle the grin developing on his face at his friend's touch. Her hand's never felt quite so soft before.
"Are you listening? Ron?"
He snaps out of it. "Yeah. You got it, KP."
"Hey, Kim..."
The redhead looks in the direction of the rather smug-sounding voice. It could only be...
"Bonnie." Indeed it is. She stands behind Kim holding a tray.
"A little friendly advice: you might not want to leave that hand there too long. Some people might think you two are a couple."
Kim removes her hand from Ron's. She turns around and looks at the floor.
"And you might want to be careful of that toilet paper stuck on your shoe."
The brunette gasps. She always was one to pride herself on looking good. A bit of toilet paper on the shoe would ruin her. Her eyes frantically scan her shoes. There's nothing there. She looks up with a scowl.
"Made you look, Bon-Bon."
She storms off. Kim giggles a bit. Sure, she was usually all business, but taking the wind out of Bonnie's sails brought her some joy.
Ron, though, was stung somewhat by Bonnie's words; would people think that way about he and Kim?
(...a house in Lowerton...a couple of hours later...)
Mrs. Mankey walks a young couple through a new house.
"...and this is the living room, or it would be." She motions around the empty room. "So, what do you think?"
The dark-haired man and his blonde wife whisper to each other.
He speaks up. "We'll take it."
"Wonderful. I just need to get the paperwork."
The older woman walks by the window...
(...a car...)
...where the two thugs from last night are watching.
"I really think we should take care of her, sir", says the driver. He holds a cell phone to his ear.
"But yours is not to think. Yours is to do as you're told."
The two of them exhale.
"Now, the young lady I'm sending will be arriving at Middleton Airport at 6:00pm. I suggest you not be late."
(...the Mankey home...later that night...)
Another day, another routine...routine: Josh and his mom would talk about their days, they'd have dinner, maybe watch some TV and head off to bed. For some time, it had been just the two of them. Josh's sister Lila attended Upperton University. She rarely visited, but always found time to call home. As for Mr. Mankey...well, that was something of a sore subject around the household, so it was rarely mentioned.
Mrs. Mankey had left her bedroom to check on some things: make sure all the lights were off and the windows closed. Her nightgown billows as she rushes downstairs. She thought she heard a noise down here, but didn't think too much of it.
She shakes her head as she walks upstairs. She peeks in on her son. Her footsteps are light so as not to disturb him. The older woman leans over the young man. She kisses his cheek.
"'Night, Josh. I love you."
She tiptoes out of his room and into the hallway.
(...Mrs. Mankey's room...)
The woman lies down on her bed, the blankets over her form. Her eyes close.
"Good evening."
Her eyes dart open. She sits up and reaches for the light switch. Standing in her bedroom are the two well-built lackeys from the car. Between them is a dark-haired woman with nicely tanned skin. She looks to be in her mid-20s. Her manner of dress matches her expression: all business.
"How did you get in here?"
The younger woman glares at her...'host'. "He was right. It has been a long time for you."
"Who was right? Look, if you feel like buying a house, now's a pretty inopportune time. Get back to me after I've had a chance to sleep."
A sigh. "Games, must we?"
"What do you want with me?"
"My employer wants to see you."
"Your employer? Tell him that I've already got a job."
The goons slowly walk to either side of the bed.
"Look. We can either do this the easy way or the hard way."
The men lunge at the upright Mrs. Mankey...who jumps up before they can grab her. The lackeys fall onto the bed. The older woman stands near the door assuming a fighting stance. One of the men gets up and charges her. She crouches down and sweeps his leg, causing him to fall once more.
The younger woman groans agitatedly. She reaches into a jacket pocket. "Hard way, it is." She fires at the surprisingly spry older woman.
A dart hits Mrs. Mankey's lower back. She collapses to the ground and leans against her dresser. The last thing she sees is the young woman. Her arm lowers, revealing a tranquilizer gun. The older woman's vision gets blurry, but she can make out the woman's bright green eyes. Her eyes close.
(...the Mankey home... Saturday morning...)
It is quiet...eerily quiet. The sun peeks in through the windows.
(...Josh's bedroom...)
The young man rises from his bed. Usually, Josh would sleep in on Saturdays, but he felt there was something a little...off about the morning. He yawns a bit and stretches out his arms. He tosses off his bedsheets and gets out of bed.
(...the hallway...)
Josh walks around.
"Mom?"
No answer.
(...Mrs. Mankey's room...)
The bed has been made; it looks like it hasn't been slept in.
(...the living room...)
Josh looks out of the window. His mom's car - a navy blue vehicle she'd had for a few years - was still in the driveway. He looks back in the house.
"Mom, where are you?"