Staring at his reflection, he watched as the face in the mirror contorted and changed, then blinked, the image gone once he looked again. He'd been dealing with this from the moment he moved three years ago. His doppelganger. A constant reminder of the monster he became the moment her blood was on his hands. He'd moved two houses by this point in the hopes the monster would leave. But they were both bound to each other.
The doppelganger was always so angry anytime he saw him. Marcus always assumed he was because he hated being bound to him. Sighing, Marcus washed his face, following his daily routine. Leaving the bathroom, he checked himself out in the mirror once more, deciding he was decent enough to leave the house. As he left the memories of that night 3 years ago flashed across his mind and he shook his head to get rid of the images. It was too bright outside in his opinion and way too early to be up, but he had an interview to get to, so he sighed getting in the car and starting it up, backing out of the driveway and starting the fifteen minute drive.
Leaving the building Marcus was sure he wasn't going to get the job. No job wants someone that can't even compose themselves during an interview. He cursed himself for his stuttering and nervousness. Not to mention HE was there once again in the window's reflection as he walked in. So already a bad start. He huffed a little as he got back in his car, seeing the doppelganger in the rear-view mirror, sitting in the backseat. Marcus wondered if he had a self driving car wherever he was. He once again had that angry distorted look on his face. "Will you at least scoot over so I can drive. You can keep being angry, but move over so I can see." The doppelganger huffed, but moved. He never spoke, but sometimes he would comply. Marcus guessed he must have failed his interview also and wanted to get out of there.
He pulled up into his sister's gravel driveway, the rocks crackling under the wheels of the red ford focus. He never really had enough money to update cars. Parking, he stared at his sister's nice house. She had moved to the west end of town a little over a year ago and seemed to be happy there. One kid and a caring fiance even though the kid wasn't his.
Walking up to the house Marcus wondered how she'd react to seeing him after nearly three months of radio silence. He knew she was home though. She was a stay at home mom and her beat up silver Honda was in the drive way. He took a breath, knocking on the door. After waiting for a moment he heard her voice, "Coming!" and heard the locks click shortly after. The door opened and she stared. Her green eyes that matched his mother's seemed to widen and then she seemed to shake out of the initial shock, blinking. "Oh my god. Marcus? What happened to you? Come in!" She opened the screen door and stepped back, letting him in. "It's been three fricking months! I tried reaching you by your phone and even asked mom and dad if they'd heard from you." He moved into the living room as she followed, questioning him. Her tone was a mix of accusatory and worry. "Where have you been? What's been going on?"
Sighing he sat down, sinking into the soft gray couch cushions, "I've just been busy with life, ya know. Just... seeing the sights and getting my head right." He wasn't completely lying. He'd seen the sights that's for sure. Just not from his own point of view. Angry Marcus, as he so fondly called the doppelganger when he wasn't being as much of an ass, had a knack for continuously trying to find a way to kill them both off in his world. So, he'd seen many sights thanks to this. But, he wouldn't dare mention this to Grace.
He blinked, the snap of Grace's slim fingers in his face bringing him back to the here and now. Looking up into her angry green eyes, he gave a failed attempt at an apologetic smile. She huffed and moved to the other side of the room, plopping down on the sofa. Her soft brown hair fanned around her slightly red cheeks, making her look more of a mess than she usually looked. He guessed that being a mom was much harder than tv shows made it seem. Granted. His biological mother wasn't any better. An addict to anything she could get her hands on till the day she died. That didn't change that he still loved her though. She tried her best. Life just dealt the worst cards it had to offer her.
"Marcus!" Grace snapped at him, seeming more worried and frustrated by the second. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing, Ace." He sighed, already wishing he hadn't come to see her. "I've just been dealing with a lot of mental health things the past few months."
"Is that what you mean by getting your head right?" she tilted her head, green eyes meeting his brown ones. There was nothing but love and concern there and he knew he should be grateful for the sister he had, but something in him always made him wary of people that showed care. Maybe it was the silent reminder that he wasn't born into this family, but adopted into it.
"Yeah... It's what I mean. I've just been trying to process a lot and I'm still trying to sort through it all." He watched as her lips pursed together, a sign that she was still listening, but also trying to think of a solution. Only thing is this wasn't something that she could just fix with some tools and elbow grease nor could she fix it with her tarot readings and crystals. Hugs and kisses wouldn't work for it either, as if he would ever accept those anyways.
"Well.... Maybe the family and I can help you through it. You know. We've always wanted to be there to support you." He was thankful for her not mentioning his adopted status.
"There isn't much anyone can do. I'm going to therapy and I actually went to a job interview today." He threw the conversation change out there and to his relief Grace took the bait.
"Oh? How did that go? When do you hear back from them on if you got the job or not?"
"It went okay and I'm not sure. They said in a few days most likely." He effortlessly lied to her about the interview.
She nodded, accepting this as a decent enough answer. "Are you hungry?" She got up, heading into the kitchen.
"Sure. What ya got?" Marcus checked the time on his phone as he got up and followed, wondering where Lizzy was. It was only a little after noon, so he figured she was still in school.
"So... what's been going on with you?"
"Nothing really. Just been doing the mom thing. As well as preparing for the wedding. Are you planning on being there?" she paused, turning and looking at him as he looked over some of the things on the walls.
"When is it again...?" He wasn't sure if it would be a good thing to go, but the least he could do is try.
"July sixteenth. Of this year." She watched him, waiting on an answer.
He looked back at her after a moment, "Yeah. I'll do my absolute best to make it." He gave her a smile.
She smiled back, seeming to be currently content with his answer.
The wedding was only 4 months away.
He'd still be alive by then.
Hopefully.
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Hey, guys! So, we took a hiatus and took all of our old work down. Needed to sort things out mentally. But, we're back. Hi to anyone new. This is our attempt at a short story. It'll be at least 9 more chapters (We hope).
But. Thanks for reading. Let us know what you think. We haven't written in a while and this was based off a 5-6 worded prompt.
Oki! Laterz!
~The BlackKey System~
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