Years? What's my dad talking about? His statement echoed through my head as I walked down the neighborhood, towards Eddy's house. I really didn't want to leave home, but it seemed like I had no choice. All those cars were making a scene anyways; I could see a couple of neighbors watching from their door. Not a lot of action happens in Peach Creek, since the town isn't as big as others nearby. So people are eager to be involved in something, even if its some stupid drama. I scoffed at the thought. My life has been nothing but drama lately, but I haven't been eager to be involved in any of it. If anything, I'd prefer to stay out of everyone's way and focus on what would actually make me happy—though lately, I'm not sure what that even is. Ever since Nazz and I shared that kiss, since that fight during the Christmas party, since Kevin moved away… it's been hell. Most of our group hasn't really talked or hung out like we used to, and I know I'm to blame. If I could take it all back, I would. I just wanted things to be normal again, like when we were kids.
Or are we supposed to move on?
Is that what growing up is? Living with your mistakes and becoming better? Or do you try to fix the past so you can finally rest and enjoy the present? But if you don't let go of the past, are you really growing? It was so hard to know what the right thing to do was. I so desperately wanted answers to everything so I wouldn't have to aimlessly search, keep making the wrong choices, or hurt myself and everyone around me. I couldn't wrap my head around living a life full of regrets. I felt like I needed to know what to do now so—
"Uh Sockhead?" a familiar voice questioned. I snapped out of my trance, interrupting my overthinking. I looked to my left and saw Eddy in the passenger seat of a car. It was a silver Toyota Camry; looked like an older model. I didn't know whose car it was, and I couldn't make out who was in the drivers seat due to the tinted windows and Eddy's head being in the way.
"Oh uh hey Eddy, what's going on?" I asked with slight embarrassment.
"You almost passed my house, you looked like a zombie everything okay?" he asked. I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say, or rather I didn't know where to start. I looked around and glanced back toward my house, which made Eddy stick his head out to look as well. He noticed the multiple cars in my driveway and my parents' car there as well. He looked back at me, shocked, his face filled with questions.
"Oh, so that's happening over there…uh family is visiting?" he asked slightly worried.
"You're parents are also home, that's surprising. I thought they were gonna miss out most of the summer here?"
"Yeah, it's uh…a lot to explain and there's just too much going on at home so…just tryna clear my head and staying away from all of that." I responded slowly. I could tell I was still tired, my voice was kind of slurring. I could tell Eddy had some concern, with his careful eyes studying my behavior before he speaks.
"Gotcha, well sorry bud, I'm gonna be gone for probably the next two days. My big bro taking me to Seattle baby! Matt it's Double D!" he said excitingly. He tapped his shoulder with his hand, which made him look up from his phone while taking off his dark sunglasses. He squinted a little before recognizing me. Once he made out who I was, his expression widened.
"No shit! Sockhead right?!" he said. I looked at Eddy and rolled my eyes at him, fully knowing that he told him to call me that. It was also obvious by Eddy's laughter that followed afterwards.
"Haha! Yeah bro remember it was me him and Ed that traveled all the way to Everett to see ya." Eddy recalls.
"Ohhh so this is the big brains then. Well Sockhead, this time I'll formally introduce myself. I'm Matthew but you can call me Matt. Eddy and I gonna spend some time in Seattle, take him to some places he's missed out on. Sorry but I'll be taking your boyfriend for a few days." he mocks. Eddy hits his arm, hating that joke. But Matt laughs it all off, enjoying his own joke a little bit more than anyone would. I laughed dryly, trying not to be awkward.
"Well uh it's nice to meet you too." I said.
"Do you know if Ed is home?" I asked. I wanted to tell Eddy what happened and what I'd found, but I couldn't—not in front of his brother. I just needed someone to go to, someone I could rely on to help me think straight.
"Yeah, he texted me about an hour ago, asked if I wanted to hang out, but I told him I'd be going to Seattle. So I'm guessing he's got nothin' going on today. You sure everything's good?" he asked.
"Yeah, I guess. It's probably better if I told you everything when you're back. Go enjoy the city, Eddy," I said with a shrug. His face dropped slightly, concern flickering across it, but I reassured him with a soft smile. He glanced back at his brother, his expression quickly shifting to excitement.
"All right, let's go, bro! Before traffic gets worse!" Eddy yelled. Matt responded with a grin, cranking up his rock music until it suddenly deafened the cul-de-sac. I covered my ears while Eddy gave me one last look before the car sped off.
"SEE YA, SOCKHEAD!" he screamed, his voice trailing off as the car disappeared down the street
I took a deep breath in and out, trying to shake off the last traces of sleep. The morning sun warmed as it rose, its golden light bathing the cul-de-sac. I focused on my breathing and the comforting ambiance of our small neighborhood. After centering myself, I headed toward Ed's house.
His house was near the end of the cul-de-sac, while Eddy's and mine were two houses apart. Being so close had always been a convenience. It made it easy for us to hang out and dream up schemes when we were younger. But sometimes, I wondered—what if we didn't live so close to each other? Would we have stayed friends if one of us, or all of us, lived a street away? Or in another neighborhood?
What about the next town over? Would our friendship have been special enough to withstand that? Would we still hang out, still make memories, still cherish new experiences? Or would we drift apart—reduced to fleeting thoughts like, I wonder how they're doing?
I couldn't imagine that. To go from the everyday joy of knowing your best friends are there, waiting for you in the school hallways or at the lunch table, to becoming estranged. No longer in each other lives but continuing on with your own, with them reduced to nothing but a memory that you think about every once in a while.
Is that life? I thought. I noticed that the more I'm alone, the more my thoughts seem to spiral out of control. Maybe I never had the chance to feel out these feelings, or maybe I've become more of an overthinker than I thought.
This time, my thoughts didn't control my legs. I stopped at the front of Ed's house, noticing his red mustang parked along the curb, with the garage left open. The absence of a car meant his parents were out. They sometimes forgot to close the garage, leaving their scattered mess of tools, old car parts, and metal shelves stacked with cardboard boxes and totes exposed—likely untouched for years. I would tell him once I saw him, walking up the small steps that lead to his front door. I rang the door bell, and already heard some loud footsteps that got closer to the door. It swung open abruptly, with the sun fully shining down on Sarah. She stood there, framed in the doorway. Her silhouette softened by the sunlight spilling around her. Her red hair has grown to a comfortable medium length, in where is seems the redness that seemed so bright years ago have darkened into the common maple leaf we see around here. She seemed to have gotten new ear piercings; a pair of silver hoops dangled from one ear, while a single one decorated the other. Her flared eyelashes and subtly colored lips told me she was barely learning some makeup, completed with a white, oversized t-shirt and ripped blue baggy jeans. Those light freckles that scattered across her cheeks and some on the bridge of the nose gave her an earthy, sun-kissed warmth.
Though, knowing her, there was nothing really warm or earthy about her. She still had that cocky attitude but that brat we used to get annoyed of seemed to have died down. It looks like it turned more into of a self-assured confidence; a more nuanced assertiveness. She didn't need to be loud or annoying to get what she wanted. Now, it's a subtle wield of fearlessness that communicated all of that. She already seemed to have started asserting that dominance, with her leaning against the doorway and raising her eyebrow. She gave a smug look at me, wondering if she had a grudge on me too or if she's just been Sarah.
"Mornin' dork, looking for lumpy?" she asked. Her voice seemed to have deepened a little more from last time. Ed and her were about 3 years apart, so I figured puberty's doing it's thing.
"Yeah, is he downstairs?"
"Of course, think he's playin' something. I could hear his TV from here." Sarah stepped aside, allowing me into their home. The house had a worn, lived-in feel, the kind that gave off a comforting vibe—the type you'd appreciate after a long day. The faint sound of Ed's TV echoed softly from the bottom of the stairs, adding to the cozy, familiar atmosphere.
But there was something new in the air: the warm, inviting smell of freshly baked brownies. The scent was unmistakable, blending with the slight warmth radiating from the kitchen. My stomach rumbled at the thought of food, which reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything since those burgers yesterday. Peering around the corner, I glanced into the kitchen, hoping the brownies were done. Though instead of brownies, I saw Jimmy.
He stood at the edge of the kitchen island, phone in hand, waiting for the brownies to finish. The island was a mess of scattered ingredients—flour and brownie mix dusted across the surface in untidy splotches. From where I stood, I caught his side profile, and I couldn't help but notice the changes. Jimmy used to be one of the smaller ones in our group, but he'd grown taller, his presence feeling more grounded now.
His blond curls, slightly longer than before, framed his face perfectly, though he still retained that baby face that seemed to never go away no matter how old he got. He wore a blue flannel shirt, left open over an off-white, almost beige undershirt that complemented his blue eyes. Black straight-leg pants completed his polished look—intentional and carefully put together, something so Jimmy about it.
After studying him he noticed me, in where he looked up with a soft smile.
"Hey Double D. What's goin' on?" he asked cheerfully. His voice was still light, as if it floats in the air after speaking.
"Hey, just…gonna go see Ed." I said. I keep noticing my slurred speech, wondering if I'm more tired than I thought. He gave me a nod, in where the oven beeped, telling that the brownies were done. Jimmy gladly put on some oven mitts, opening the oven door. The freshly baked brownies filled the kitchen with an even more delicious smell. I know that Jimmy baked this as well, and it wasn't any of that store bought stuff. Jimmy really took on a passion for cooking and baking. He always loved making treats for us whether it be for birthday parties or a random act of giving. Everyone always wondered what he would bring next, and no matter what it was, there was never any leftovers. He started to enjoy culinary as an art, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what he wanted to do with his future. He seemed to look around to find space in the kitchen but the clutter provided him no space. I scurried towards the island where I put some of the ingredients away giving him some space to set down the brownies.
"Thank you Double D, sorry it's a mess I get lazy to clean up sometimes." he confessed. I told him it was no problem, still eyeing the brownies. He sets it down gracefully, taking off the mitts. Sarah walks in and sniffs the air, a smile forming cheek to cheek. She moves towards us without haste, bumping me out of the way.
"Man Jimmy, these smell amazing! I can't wait for some." she exclaims with excitement.
"Not yet, it's gotta cool down! Wait a few more minutes okay?" Jimmy says, backing off Sarah's hunger. I chuckle at the duo, still having that dynamic bond that I've grown accustomed to seeing. I didn't want to seem like I'm waiting for them to offer me any, like staring at them with puppy eyes.
"Right I'm gonna go check on Ed." I said while backing out of the kitchen. Their interlapping voices disappeared as I went down the stairs, with the sounds of explosions and gunfire filling my ears instead. I then see his door halfway open. I can already tell by the light of the TV reflecting off the door that he was playing some sort of FPS. I walked in and saw him on his chair, leaned back with controller in his hand. He looks up at me briefly, smiling before focusing his eyes on the screen again.
"Heya Double D! You look tired!" he shouted, trying to be louder than the TV. I didn't bother responding back until I found his remote and lowered the volume, finally being able to hear myself think.
"Damn Ed, this is why you got hearing problems." I said. Still focused on the game, he points his face but not his eyes in my direction, with an ironic response of:
"Huh? What's that Double D?"
I didn't try to repeat myself—the sight of his bed made me tired and lured me into It's comforting sheets. Back then, I would never even sit on his bed, but recently he's gotten better about his hygiene. His room was actually breathable now, though there was still a faint trace of his natural scent lingering in the background, but that's how you know it's his room. I laid down, sinking into the new mattress as it engulfed me in memory foam, with his thick blankets wrapping around me. My gaze shifted to the TV and noticed him playing the new Call of Duty, He kept dying over and over, his frustration growing with every respawn. I chuckled at the sight before my eyes wandered across his room, taking in the space he called his own.
It was once a chaotic mess of comics, toys, and random junk; though some of that is still noticeable to a degree. But it was a lot more organized, and actually had a theme. His childhood fascination with strange and creepy things hasn't faded and that's one of the few things that made Ed, Ed. Shelves lined his walls, crammed with a mix of action figures, collectibles and other bizarre trinkets from our childhood. New posters of movies and sci-films still adorned the walls, they were even framed and it gave off a more official look. His desk was filled with comic books, some manga, and what looked like some overdue homework. I noticed a record player that sat on shelf, surrounded by a mix of vinyl soundtracks from movies and some rock albums. Some parts of his room that kept that 'Ed charm' was some laundry scattered in a pile in the corner of his room, and the creaky old window above his TV, which he probably uses more than his own door.
My eyes then fix directly at the ceiling, where I felt my heavy eyes start to close. It became harder to keep them open, and without knowing, I went to sleep.
The creaking of Ed's stairs woke me slowly, my eyes struggling to open. As they did, a ray of golden sunlight pierced through Ed's window, blinding me and worsening my already blurry vision as I tried to wake up. I squinted, rubbing my eyes as I lifted my head slightly to see who was coming down. It was Sarah, holding a small plate of brownies. She didn't notice I was awake at first, but when she got closer and saw me stirring, her cheeks flushed red, and she abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"Uh, sorry, dork—I mean, Double D. I didn't know you'd wake up so easily. I'm used to my brother staying dead asleep through anything," she stammered, scrambling for an explanation.
"Uh that's fine, don't worry. " I said, yawning as I pushed myself up from Ed's bed. She lingered there awkwardly, her expression shifting as if she were trying to muster the courage to say something. The silence felt heavier with each passing moment, so I spoke again to break the tension.
"Are those some of Jimmy's brownies?" I asked quickly.
"Uh, yea—yeah. I was actually, um—Ed's about to eat them all, and I noticed you didn't have any yet. They're pretty good, so…I didn't want you to miss out," she said, her voice trailing off. Her cheeks reddened even more as she realized how flustered she sounded. Before I could respond, she set the plate on Ed's desk with a quick motion and spun toward the stairs.
"Uh I'll be—I mean we're all upstairs, whenever you're ready." the scurried steps up the stairs echoed through the basement, ending with the slam of a door. I sat there in silence, wondering what that was all about. I then turned to the brownies, where three seemed to be stacked with care. I walked towards the plate and immediately smelled the aroma of sweet chocolate, in where it swayed me to take a big bite. I was in bliss; a soft, spongy texture with a rich taste of chocolate invaded my palate. Jimmy outdone himself again. Some might say brownies aren't a complex recipe, but there's a subtle art to getting them just right—a balance of flavor and texture that separates a good brownie from a great one. Jimmy had definitely mastered it, it left me gluttonous for more. As I chomp down on the last brownie the sun started to set, in where the ray of sunshine that blinded me earlier turned into a gold shower that broke through Ed's window, casting me in an orange glow. The silence of his room was accompanied by the dust particles that danced in the sun, briefly captivating me as I swallowed the last bit of brownie.
Okay, I thought.
I need to figure out what the fuck is going on.
I took out the crumpled photo from my pocket, examining it more closely this time. Our exposed solace was captured, frozen in time. Looking back at it now, I felt a chill—not just from the unsettling thought of being stalked, but from remembering the grasp of her arms once wrapped around me. In that moment, I probably felt weird, uncomfortable even, but now, a deep sense of comfort and warmth surrounded me. I probably took that hug for granted—I really wanted nothing to do with her. I felt like even being in contact with her was doing more harm than good, and it looks like I was right. But there was something about her. Something odd. Something that made it hard to stay away. Maybe Kevin knew that feeling too. Maybe that's why he'd been so strung up on her for years. I didn't really know their full history; there were a lot of things they never talked about. But as far as the cul-de-sac was concerned, it was love at first sight for Kevin. He was never the affectionate type, at least not in public. Yet somehow, Nazz had been swayed by him. Maybe she'd seen a gentler side of him, one only she got to see. But in the end, it made no sense. Nazz, the heartthrob of our high school—if she didn't want Kevin anymore, she could've had anyone else. So why me? What about me had made her risk everything? Or maybe the better question was: what thought did she have in her head that made her willing to lose it all?
These thoughts were pointless. I crumpled the photo back into my pocket and headed upstairs. The muffled chatter from above grew louder as I left the basement behind, stepping out of its void and back into the warmth of reality. The sound of laughter guided me in the right direction, pulling me toward the dining room.
When I reached it, I saw the three of them at the table: Ed, Jimmy, and Sarah, with an empty platter between them, scattered with crumbs of brownies. They turned as I entered, and Ed's energy immediately shifted toward me.
"Double D! You're awake, finally!" he exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. His expression quickly fell when his eyes landed on the empty platter.
"Aww, sorry, I think I just ate the last of 'em…" he said with a frown.
Jimmy chuckled softly as Sarah glanced up from her phone, her expression sharp.
"Don't worry, lumpy. I already saved him some, knowing your fat ass," she said mockingly.
Ed's face twisted in surprise. "Oh wow, you actually saved some for Double D? You never do stuff like that…" he teased, a grin spreading across his face.
Sarah's eyes widened in anger as Jimmy laughed louder, clearly enjoying the exchange. Sarah didn't say a word, but the fire in her gaze said everything. Ed, unfazed, laughed it off as he sat back down. I tried to laugh it off, though really I couldn't pay much mind to their banter. So many thoughts circled my head, so many questions unanswered…
"You good Double D?" Ed provoked. I snapped out of my trance, quickly responding to him.
"Huh? Yeah sorry, it's been rough since last night, I didn't get much sleep…" Ed's face grew with a concern. He knew me too well, just like Eddy. He knew it was more than just a lack of sleep, but didn't know if he wanted to pry out information in front of Sarah and Jimmy. I could tell my lack of energy was dragging the mood a bit, but I couldn't help it. I didn't mean too, but what could I even focus on with what I've learned in the past 10 hours? Maybe coming here was a mistake, maybe I just needed to be alone for a while.
"Double D, you can talk to us." Jimmy said abruptly. Surprised by his statement, I looked at him, and then noticed all three shared the same expression. The type of expression that showed care, with an underlying tone of emotional availability. It took me a while to process their attention, though I think I was more hesitant with what to start with. I took a deep breath, and started from the beginning.
As I finished, I'm left with an uncomfortable silence where I couldn't tell if I said too much or not. I took turns looking at all of them, where I saw empathy, outrage, and lament. I then remembered the photo in my pocket, where I forgot to mention in the midst of everything else that I've explained.
"Yeah, then there's this." I said. I uncrumple the photo and lightly toss it at the center of the table. The light from the ceiling fan shone a glare where it signaled Ed to pick it up so they could all see it better. They looked even more shocked than before, now concerned for my safety rather than being angry at some lame prank.
"What the fuck, do you know who took this?" Ed asked angrily. His tone threw me off, I didn't get to see the angry side of Ed too much.
"No… but what I assume is this could be the same person—or people—that stalked us the other night to make sure I wasn't home. So they've been watching me since the start of the summer," I explained. Their expressions fell again as they stared at the photo, trying to decipher it even though there wasn't much to go on.
Jimmy took the photo and studied it carefully. He brought it closer to his eyes, squinting, as if he'd noticed something. Then he asked a question that sent a chill down my spine.
"Uh, am I seeing this right, or does that look like someone to you?"
I took the photo carefully, looking intensely at where his finger pointed. I didn't see anything, it was just Nazz and I in the center, in front of her house. He pointed again, to the far right where the side yard was. It was nothing but darkness in that spot, but as I continued to stare I started to make out a silhouette that made me question if it was my mind playing tricks or I started to finally contrast the colors better. I blinked hard and then focused in on the spot one last time. A tall, slender figure seemed to have been peering through the side yard, but seemed to be staring straight at the camera like it knew where it exactly was. My heart dropped instantly, with having an instant flashback of me comforting Nazz about her experiences with the Peach Creek Ghost. I told her that she had nothing to worry about…and here I am scared to death at the possible sight of him.
My sunken face immediately caught everyone's attention. It felt like my heart had skipped a beat, leaving a hollow ache behind. I looked up at them, distraught painted across my face; my reaction confirmed Jimmy's fears.
Sarah snatched the photo from my hand, her eyes narrowing as she studied it herself. Ed hurried to her side, craning his neck to see what had shaken me so badly. At first they were confused like me, but Ed seemed to have caught on quicker, letting out a
"Whoaa…that's creepy. He's staring right at the camera!" he shouted. Sarah finally caught on too, though she seemed more shaken than Ed.
"What the hell is that?" Sarah asked, her voice sharp. She looked at me, expecting an answer, but I couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze. Instead, I stared at my lap, my hands cold to the touch.
I didn't want to make any more of a scene. The Peach Creek Ghost was something only Nazz and I really talked about. I hadn't heard anyone else mention it, but maybe they were just as hesitant as Nazz. Maybe they thought they'd sound crazy too—like me. Or perhaps they saw no point in spreading an urban legend that didn't serve any real purpose.
But he's here. He's real. And for some reason, he's attached to us.
My mind raced with questions I didn't want to say out loud. Could the Peach Creek Ghost be one of our stalkers? Is he something else entirely? Whatever the answer, one thing was clear—he wasn't just a story anymore. I never confirmed this conspiracy with Nazz and now I'm regretting it, maybe I made her feel stupid by dismissing her antics; I should have told her the truth. I should have—
"HEY DORK!" Sarah yelled right in my ear. I jumped and gasped, once again lost in my panic.
"Damn Double D you got a hearin' problem all of the suddden?" she said, sitting back down.
"Nah, Double D's been spacing out more than usual. I guess I can see why now…" Ed said, still staring at the photograph. He's been more cunning over time, I thought. I probably did seem noticeably shaken today but he's realized something's been up for a while now, not sure if Eddy's even caught on.
"You got any idea who this could be?" Jimmy said, taking the photo again. I turn my head towards Jimmy, a little hesitant to say the words. But I knew that they have to know at some point, if this involves our safety, but I don't want to make it sound dumb at the same time; I didn't know how to exactly put it.
"I... I don't know. To be honest, I think that guy in the picture has been around a lot longer than we think," I said shakily. My voice trembled with fear, but the way their attention locked onto me felt like I had just started telling a scary story around a campfire.
"I've... encountered him a couple of times. I've seen him watching from afar. I've seen him up close. He disappears in the blink of an eye." My voice rose without me realizing. "He's been around my most vulnerable moments, and at this point, I don't know if he's real or if I'm crazy—but he has to be REAL!" I shouted frantically, the words spilling out of me.
I noticed their shocked reactions, their wide eyes and frozen postures. It was a signal to pull back. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before speaking again.
"The first time I saw him was during our freshman year, when we built that race track in Rolf's yard. He was... watching us. Standing right behind Ed. And Ed had no idea." My tone softened, but the fear still lingered. "He's the reason I crashed. When I turned back to see if he was there, he wasn't. Ever since then, he's been appearing at some of our most sensitive moments. At least, that's when I notice him the most. Other times, he appears randomly, like a bystander in the crowd. And then, the next moment, he's just... gone. Like a ghost. So I started calling him the Peach Creek Ghost."
I paused, letting the words sink in. My voice lowered as I continued, trying to steady the fear creeping into my words. "It's become a pattern, and I think I'm starting to theorize his appearances. But all I know is that if he's around, it can't be a good sign for anyone involved."
I gulped, the dryness in my throat making me stumble slightly. "He's become some sort of omen for me—or rather, for us now. I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to cause panic. Or worse, if I talked about him, maybe he'd start showing up for everyone, and bad things would happen. I thought maybe, if he only showed up around me, I could minimize the damage. But now, it's clear he's been around more than I thought."
Their stares bore into me, unnerving me and pulling me out of my thoughts. I coughed lightly, trying to gather myself, and continued.
"Nazz came to me that night because she's afraid of the Ghost too. She's seen him. Twice, actually. She told Kevin—and she even told you, Sarah," I said, my eyes shifting to Sarah. Her expression grew grim as she processed my words, her silence doing most of the talking. Guilt seemed to weigh heavily on her shoulders.
"No one really believed her; they dismissed her feelings" my voice faltered for a moment, but I pushed through.
"I knew more about the Peach Creek Ghost than anybody, but I didn't tell her. I thought I was helping by reassuring her, by saying he won't hurt anybody. But now I know I was wrong."
I hesitated, the weight of my next words pressing down on me. "She came to me for a reason, she wanted someone to believe her so she didn't feel crazy—the exact same reason why I was afraid to tell anyone. I feel so stupid." I finished, a little bit of tears forming from my eyes. Their long silence was something I expected. I didn't know how they would process this information—there really isn't an ideal way to. You just have to absorb it all and do with it what you will. The important thing is, I finally told someone. It felt like a weight had been lifted, knowing I wasn't completely crazy. Still, their unchanged expressions unnerved me. They all seemed stuck in a thousand-yard stare.
"God dammit…" Sarah muttered, breaking the silence. Her hands clenched tightly as she stared down at her lap.
"She called me, scared to death," Sarah continued. "It sounded like she was crying over the phone, but I couldn't tell for sure. At first, I thought it was about her dad—maybe he did something—but after a while, it was clear it was about someone else. She felt like she was being followed, like someone was always watching her."
She paused, her voice lowering as if she were struggling to admit something. "She was on edge for weeks, but I didn't know why. I thought it was just Kevin and his group playing dirty tricks on her. I kept telling her it was just them being dicks, but she denied it every time. She thought it was something deeper than that."
Her tone shifted, guilt creeping into her voice. "I'm not gonna lie—she did sound crazy. But I wasn't trying to invalidate her feelings. There's been…a lot of things going on with her and I was thinking it was all getting to her. But now I know." She ended with a somber tone, one that had a sense of self reflection.
"Sarah, it's fine. I expected everyone else to act that way, but I think it's gotten to a point where we need answers." I reassured. Sarah looked at Jimmy, hoping to find comfort in his direction. Jimmy was staring at his hands that were entwined on the table. Something seemed to be bothering him, and Ed caught on as well.
"Has…has anyone checked up on Nazz recently?" Jimmy said with a haunting tone. Ed looked at Sarah, who then looked at me, with their eyes widening with fear. I looked back at all of them, with a sense of doom looming over me. I immediately got up from the table, running out of Ed's house to go to Nazz's.
"Wait, Double D!" Ed yelled from afar. His voice faded fast, like the sunset that once illuminated our small cul-de-sac. But I didn't stop running.
How could I have been so neglectful? All this time I thought they were after me, but it's obvious they have it out for Nazz too and I barely even thought about her. What could have they done with her? Something worse? I thought of every scenario possible and none made me feel better. All that mattered now is that I make it to her.
Gasping for air, I finally reach the front of her home. All the lights were off, all the curtains closed. I looked at her window from the second story, which seemed to be open; a light breeze swaying the curtains in the air. I quickly go up to the door, ringing on her doorbell. No answer. I rang it again, but no answer. I started banging on the door, yelling her name. But once again, no answer. I ran around her house, climbing her fence and dropping down into her backyard. Nothing seemed out of place, her pool was covered in leaves and other debris from what looks like a season ago. I go up to her sliding doors to see if I can see anything through the vertical blinds. Though it was hard, there was a bent slat that made it possible to peek through. No lights were on, but the dying sunset was at the right angle where it shined through. All I could see was a disordered living room. It looked like clothes were on the ground, dirt on the walls and some photos on the ground. Even though I could only see half of the living room I could tell the rest of the house was in a mess.
"Double D! Where'd ya go?!" a familiar voice echoed. I could tell that was Jimmy, but before I could answer I climbed out of her backyard first. As I turned the corner to her front yard, the three of them were there waiting for me.
"No luck?" Sarah worried. I shook my head, still a little out of breath. Sarah looked back at her house with concern, looking at her window. Ed then pointed at what we're looking at, giving an idea.
"Double D, I can boost you so you can climb on top of the garage roof, then shimmy on over to her window. I think you can reach it." I looked at him, then back at the house. I judged the distance between her window and the garage roof and it didn't look like I could.
"Uh Ed I'm not sure, it looks like it's too far away." I hesitated. Ed's expression became stern, looking at me with urgency. I understood what he meant by that look, he was right. I had no time to consider any other options, we don't know what state Nazz could be in.
Ed wobbled side to side as I climbed onto his shoulders, feeling Jimmy's hands steadying both of us as I got higher. I perched on Ed's shoulders, but I was still too short to reach the roof.
"St-stand on my shoulders!" Ed instructed, his voice straining slightly. He moved closer to the wall so I could balance myself as I carefully placed my foot on his left shoulder, then his right. This time, it was just enough—thank God I'd had a bit of a growth spurt. With some effort, I clambered onto the small roof of her garage, awkwardly beach-whaling myself up before slowly standing.
I glanced down at the trio, their hopeful faces urging me on. I edged closer to the wall of the house, where her window was just to the left. It was farther than it had seemed from the ground. I stretched as far as I could, but my fingertips barely grazed the window frame.
There was only one option: I'd have to jump slightly to grab the edge of the window. The thought sent fear through my body—I wasn't exactly built for feats of upper body strength. But a surge of adrenaline, fueled by the thought of Nazz in danger, propelled me forward.
I took a deep breath and leapt, just high enough to grab the edge of the window frame. My left hand latched on tightly, but the momentum sent me swinging wildly. I quickly reached up with my other hand, desperate to steady myself I pinched as hard as I could, hurting my fingers, but the panic made my left hand's grip slip.
"Shit!" I heard Sarah gasp, followed by Ed's tense, seething breath. My heart raced as I scrambled to regain control, kicking my foot against the wall to stop the swing. Pain shot through my toe, but it was better than falling a story to the ground.
With gritted teeth, I pinched down as hard as I could, digging my fingertips into the frame. They protested with pain but I did not want to fall from this height. As soon as I stopped swinging, I pulled myself up higher and crept through the window.
"Be careful, dork!" Sarah shouted.
I pushed the curtains aside, revealing the desk below me where Nazz's laptop usually sat. But it wasn't there. Instead, dozens of papers and polaroids were scattered across the surface. The photos looked strange—some out of focus, as if someone had accidentally pressed the shutter button. Others were landscapes, mostly of our neighborhood. A few stood out as older photos, clearly taken years ago. Some showed the group together, a few selfies here and there, and candid shots of memories I didn't even recognize. It all felt... uncanny.
Carefully, I dropped down onto the desk, making sure not to make any noise. My eyes darted around the room, scanning for any sign of Nazz, but she wasn't here. The room was mostly in order, except for the closet. The doors were left ajar, and it looked like someone had rummaged through it, as if searching for something hidden away. A trail of photos led from the closet to the desk I was investigating.
Is she trying to find a photo of something? Someone? I pondered.
I hadn't realized Nazz was so into photography. There were so many polaroids, some dating back to early middle school. I turned my attention to the desk, where most of the photos were scattered. Each one was dated with sharpie on the back. Some had notes about the time and place, while others with implicit phrases, almost like poetry.
There was a weird, compelling force that felt like it was telling me there's something up with some of these photos. I couldn't place it at first, but as I looked through them, I noticed moments that didn't match my memory. There were events I didn't recall, even though we used to hang out almost every day. There was a photo of us at a school rally, though it wasn't our school. The colors were wrong, everyone was wearing a sort of red color, almost burgundy instead of white and a peach/orange like color; the logo was also wrong. It didn't look like a peach, but a pumpkin. Now I know for sure that's wrong, but why did it seem so natural? In this photo we're all cheering, patriots of what seemed like our "home" school. I turned the photo around, seeing what she wrote. It was in small letterings, smudged but I could faintly read out what it said.
Last Pumpkin Hollow rally!
What…? I blinked my eyes hard, trying to convince myself I misread it, or maybe it was her messy cursive. But no, no matter how long I stared I saw Pumpkin Hollow…as in Pumpkin Hollow Jr. High? There's no date but this must be from our last rally in 8th grade. It was a special one, as it was held after our finals. A last hoorah, before transitioning into Peach Creek High School, but none of this aligned with what I remembered. Everybody looked the same, dressed the same—I even remember some kids in this photo from years ago. I gently placed the photo back down onto the desk, a little creeped out. I started to feel a buildup of pain in my head, which meant another headache was coming. Not now… I pleaded in my head.
"Double D you okay?!" Ed shouted from below. I snapped out of my daze, and peaked my head out the window.
"Yeah! Sorry, just investigating…I'll be down right now." I walked past her bed to head towards the door, still shocked and confused. But every time I would try to figure it out, my head would pulse with pain.
No, I need to focus on finding Nazz. I thought to myself.I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. All the lights were off, and with the moon now rising, it was getting harder to see. I flicked on a nearby light switch and froze. The entire hallway was filthy. Clothes were scattered everywhere, dirt streaked the walls, and shards of glass from broken picture frames littered the floor. Carefully, I tiptoed around the glass, hearing soft crunches as I treaded. The deeper I moved into the house, the more trashed it seemed. Did they do this? I thought, panic creeping in. I couldn't tell if anything was stolen, but so much was broken. Where was Nazz? And why wasn't anyone home? Her mom would have definitely called the cops by now if she'd seen this mess. My worry grew as I checked every room upstairs and downstairs. There was no sign of her. This only worried me even more. I decided to get help from the others, so I started to head to the front door.
Before I could unlock it, I heard creaking behind me. A groan followed—a deep, guttural sound, like someone trying to get up after being hurt. My heart pounded in my ears as I spun around. There was no one there.
The noise continued, a low, exaggerated moaning that sounded like a mock ghost impression. I followed the sound to the one room I hadn't checked: the bathroom near the kitchen. My breath hitched as the bathroom door swung open. Out stumbled a large man, shirtless and wearing dirty boxers. He dropped to his knees, letting out a loud burp before gagging like he was about to vomit.
He then looked up, turning on a nearby light though struggled to. Once he turned it on, he looked around the house with squinted eyes, figuring out what the hell happened.
"What the fuck…?" he mumbled. He shuffled through the destroyed living room, swaying slightly as if the world itself was tilting under him.
That's when I recognized him. It was Nazz's dad, but he looked completely different. His hair was unkempt, his beard wild, and his stench filled the room. Mr. Bartonschmeer really let himself go, I know Nazz briefly mentioned that he isn't around as much anymore, I can see why. He finally turned toward me, his eyes narrowing in suspicion before twisting into anger.
"What the fuck?! Who are you?! What the hell happened to my house?!" he roared.
I was too stunned to speak, caught between shock and guilt. He looked hungover—possibly still drunk—and clearly didn't recognize me. With no one else around to explain, all the blame fell squarely on me.
"Answer me! You fucking did this, huh?! Trying to rob me, you prick?! You destroyed everything!" he yelled, his voice cracking with fury.
"No—no, please, Mr. Bartonschmeer! It's me—" I stammered, but before I could finish, he lunged at me.
"Oh shit" I uttered. He lets out a disgusting roar, trying to tackle me but with his impaired mobility it was easy to dodge. He didn't let up though, surprised by how one can move so much after probably drinking all night.
"Please! It's me, Eddward! Your neighbor!" I pleaded, but my words didn't reach him. He kept trying to grab me, his large hands swinging wildly in my direction.
The chase turned into a chaotic blur as I darted around furniture, dodging his lunges. His movements were erratic, but his sheer size and persistence made him difficult to evade. Out of options, I made a break for the front door, hoping to escape.
"YOU FUCKER, STOP MOVING! I'LL KILL YOU!" he bellowed. He lunged again, this time putting all his weight into it. At the last second, I feinted left, then quickly darted right. He stumbled, crashing into the kitchen counter and toppling a couple of barstools. He groaned in pain, clutching his side as he tried to get back up.
I didn't waste any time. Sprinting to the door, I fumbled with the old lock, struggling to twist it open. My breath came in short gasps, my heart racing as panic set in. Finally, with a loud click, the lock turned, and I threw the door open.
Ed, Sarah, and Jimmy stood outside, their faces filled with concern.
"We need to g—" I started, but before I could finish, a heavy weight crashed into me, slamming me onto the grass.
"Agh! Fuck!" I cried out, the air knocked from my lungs. Nazz's dad had tackled me, his full weight pressing down on my back. He grabbed my arms, twisting them behind me like he was trying to arrest me. I squirmed and kicked, but his drunken strength held firm.
"Lyle! Stop! It's us! Sarah and Jimmy! That's Nazz's friend! Eddward, remember!?" Sarah shouted, desperation in her voice. But it was clear Lyle wasn't listening. His drunken rage had full control.
Ed and Jimmy rushed in, trying to pull him off me. Lyle swung his free arm wildly, shoving them away as he clung to me. I could tell they had trouble getting around his arm, which seemed more beast than man. I screamed "STOP!" but it made no difference. He was relentless, his grip tightening painfully as I felt the sickening tension in my shoulder, certain he was about to dislocate it.
I struggled harder, but it was futile. His arm, thick and powerful, felt more beast than man—an overwhelming force I couldn't escape. Just as the pain became unbearable, a tall figure stepped in from the shadows, pushing Ed and Jimmy aside with ease. He towered over Lyle, his presence commanding, and without hesitation, he delivered a swift, devastating right hook to Lyle's face. The impact was so sudden that Lyle stumbled backward, falling onto his back with a guttural moan.
Lyle tried to get up, his movements sluggish and clumsy, but the man gave him no chance. He delivered another brutal punch, square to the jaw, sending Lyle sprawling back onto the floor, unconscious at last. The tension in my body began to ease as I shakily sat up, cradling my throbbing arm. My eyes darted toward the man who had saved me, my mind racing. For a brief, heart-pounding moment, I thought it might be the Peach Creek Ghost. But as I focused, I realized he seemed younger, shorter than him but just by a little. He didn't carry an ominous presence either, so this is someone new.
"Guys! Double D, oh my god!" A familiar voice broke through the haze. I turned toward the sound, and my heart skipped a beat. Nazz was running toward me, her voice trembling with panic, her teary eyes shimmering in the dim light casted from the street lamp. Relief flooded through me as I watched her come closer, descending down onto her knees to wrap me in her warm embrace.