chapter 15

Lewis had barely recovered from Barbie when he heard a knock on the door. He lifted his head from the couch with a groan.

The knocking continued, aggressively. Before he could answer, he heard his name clearly and he recognized the voice immediately.

“LEWIS!” His mother yelled through the closed door.

At least, someone who would believe him was there, unlike his girlfriend who had refused to believe him.

Lewis dragged himself to the door and opened it. The moment it swung open, his mother rushed inside like a storm.

“My son!”

Still standing at the door, she grabbed his face with both hands, turning it left and right like she was inspecting a damaged object.

“You’re alive!”

Lewis stiffened as he let her do her thing.

Behind her stood his younger sister, holding her phone, looking curious rather than worried.

Barbie looked satisfied with the presence of his mother and sister. She could not be the only one listening to the lies their son was spitting.

Lewis narrowed his eyes on her. “Did you call them?”

Barbie shrugged. “Well, someone had to.”

Lewis’s mother suddenly began wailing dramatically.

“Ah! My poor child!”

“Mum,” he said but she barely heard him.

“Where have you been?” she paused, searching his face again. “You've been all over the news. I was so scared when I saw the news.”

Lewis sighed as he rubbed his temple.

“Mum, I'm here now,” he said.

His sister stepped inside the apartment, glancing around.

“Mom thought you were dead.”

“I did not!” his mother protested as she entered his apartment. “I knew he was alive… somehow and somewhere.”

“So tell us. What happened to you?” his sister asked.

Eager to find someone who would believe him, Lewis narrated how he was kidnapped and taken away by some men. To make it more realistic, he mentioned Paulo and Derek's name.

When he was done with his narration, his mother and sister stared at him as if he just told them the sky is red when the sky was clearly blue.

Barbie shook her head, ashamed on his behalf.

“Honestly, I think he’s either on drugs or he has gone mad,” she said.

Lewis turned toward her slowly.

“I am neither,” he defended.

His mother, who was still staring at him, asked. “Are you on drugs?”

“Mum, no,” he answered quickly.

Lewis ran both hands through his hair again as his hope morphed into frustration.

“I just told you guys that I was kidnapped,” he repeated.

They kept staring at him.

“Why wouldn't you believe me?” he asked.

Barbie snorted.

His mother frowned.

His sister raised an eyebrow.

“Of all the stories in the world, Lewis. You chose Derek Stygian.”

Lewis blinked at his sister's reply.

“What?”

He turned to his mother, his final hope.

“Mum?”

“You should not pray to meet that man,” his mother said.

“I’m not praying to meet him! I already met him!” he snapped.

His mother waved her hand dismissively.

“No, no, no.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Lewis retorted.

If he had known, he would have listened to Derek's threats and kept quiet. Lewis thought his family would believe him but none of them did. Now, he thought everything might be a dream or Derek was far more dangerous for him to get involved.

“Wait,” she said. “Let me check something.”

She started typing on her phone quickly. A moment later she turned the phone toward Lewis.

On the screen was a photo of Derek. He was wearing a tailored suit with his black shirt half buttoned. His hair was neatly done to the back, shiny even in the photo. He had the same cold eyes and permanent frown.

Lewis immediately pointed. “That’s him!”

Even if he was asleep, he would never mistake Derek's face for anyone else.

His sister looked between the phone and Lewis.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am!” His answer came quickly.

His mother gasped quietly.

“Lower your voice!”

Lewis frowned at his mother's reaction.

“Why? Do you believe me now?”

His mother moved closer and whispered urgently.

“I don't believe you but you must never tell anyone this story.”

“What?” Lewis spat.

“Even the police will not believe you,” she said.

“Why would they believe me when you clearly didn't?"

His mother shook her head again.

“People like Derek Stygian are not involved in regular conversations. You can't just make up a story about him.”

Lewis pointed at himself. “I didn't make up the story, mom!”

His sister looked thoughtful. Then she asked, “You know what the problem is?”

Lewis turned to her, his frustration morphing into something stronger.

“What?”

“You are hiding the truth from us.”

Lewis stared at her in disbelief. Could his life get any worse? He thought.

First, his life-threatening encounter with Derek Stygian. Now, his family's attitude towards the truth. How could they of all people treat him like this?

After a moment of silence, he said. “What else is there to hide?”

His mother grabbed his arm. “Listen to me carefully.”

“Okay.”

“You must never say that name or tell that story outside this house. It must be between the four of us.”

“Why?” he asked as his frown deepened.

“Because if it is true… then you are lucky to be alive.”

‘If it is true?’ That meant she didn't believe him.

But then, he remembered Derek’s threats. The calm way he talked about cutting tongues and feeding his body to his hyenas.

Chills ran through his spine as he shook the thought away. Maybe he shouldn't have told anyone the truth, he thought.

His sister clapped her hands once and she got everyone's attention.

“Alright. We need the truth now.”

Lewis groaned. “What truth?”

“The truth about the exact thing that happened to you,” she answered.

Barbie nodded in agreement.

“That's the only truth,” Lewis insisted.

“That can't be the truth, Lewis. I thought we've settled that,” his sister argued.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

Without giving him an answer, his sister started typing again.

“How about this?” she started.

Lewis looked at her.

“You got lost in the woods.”

“What woods?”

“The woods outside the city.”

Lewis frowned.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“You were helping someone,” she continued.

“Helping who?”

“A lost hiker.”

Now, his eyebrows were furrowed, drawing lines on his forehead.

“And that makes more sense,” Lewis asked.

“At least, it's better than yours,” Barbie retorted.

His sister nodded in agreement. “It’s still better than saying Derek Stygian kidnapped you.”

“I hate all of you for doing this to me.”

“We are doing this because we care about you,” his mother said.

“No, you don't,” Lewis replied.

“Now, listen to a more realistic story and forget about Derek Stygian.”