Page 2 of Marked By Shadows

“Micah?”

I glanced up, blinking away the brooding, to find Lukas towering over me, holding out a cup of coffee. The noise of the police precinct rushed back around me in a blanket of sound, voices, computer keys, doors, life in general arose around me. I took the cup.

Handsome, polished, and now clean shaven, hair trimmed, Lukas had pulled himself together in the last few hours. I hoped Skylar had helped.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Any news on Alex?” I replied, deflecting the question.

He shook his head. “They are still questioning him.”

“Did he do something?” I knew Alex hadn’t. Much like my own disappearance, Alex had vanished for a month, returning with no memory of the time passed. Unlike my event, traces of him had been found. Bits of video of him around the country, at least that was what I’d been able to deduce from the conversations around me. The idea that something had taken over Alex’s body for a month, used it to travel around the country and perhaps do things that might be dangerous or illegal, seemed to be coming to fruition.

Lukas, as Alex’s twin brother, really appeared bothered by the idea, though he’d been the first to bring it up. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it yet. Relieved that he was back? Worried he’d be taken again? Grateful someone else had experienced something similar to me? Mostly I felt numb, which sent my mind into a spiral of questions into my relationship with Alex. Did we have one? Had his time away changed him? Or me? We barely knew each other before he’d vanished, so did that mean we should start over, or continue on with what we’d begun?

Lukas sat down beside me. I sipped the coffee, which was disgustingly dark and thick, but I needed the caffeine. He said nothing for a few minutes, leaving me to think and overthink. I should have brought something to work on. My hands ached with the need to move even if it was only to slow my brain down. Overanalyzing was one of my best skills, and bad habits.

“It wouldn’t have been him,” Lukas finally said.

“No,” I agreed.

“I don’t know what they have, don’t have, or are even thinking.” Because him being a police detective didn’t mean he got access to everything. Lukas ran his career by the book. Likely why he had no complaints issued against him, and had one of the best solve rates in the city for the homicides he investigated. People talked to him, could relate, and feel comfortable around him since he didn’t come across as a total douche. Most of the time at least.

He had overprotective big brother down to a science. The past month of Alex missing brought him down hard, demanding answers I didn’t have and blaming me for things I couldn’t possibly control. Unreasonable, but understandable. I worked hard not to be angry with him. The car ride across the country to retrieve Alex from a hospital in Georgia had been brutal, Lukas brooding the entire time. He gave off waves of anger, irritation, and terror. If I never had to be trapped in a car with him again, it would be too soon.

He ran his hands through his short hair. “I don’t know what to do.”

“About?”

He turned to glare at me. “This thing that took Alex.”

I sighed. “What is theretodo?”

“I’m supposed to just accept this as fact? Something took him, took control of his body and used it to do what?”

I did not have answers to that. Wasn’t sure anyone really did, not even Alex. And honestly, it’s what everyone expected of me. When I’d returned, everyone had thought I’d pick up life again where I’d left off, like it hadn’t changed me. And I tried, but couldn’t help always looking over my shoulder, or thinking about what might happen if it came for me again.

“You haven’t been taken again,” he said softly.

“Not because of anything I’ve done or haven’t done.”

“You haven’t gone back into the woods.”

Not the same one, no, but it wasn’t like I hid from trees or never left my house.

“Maybe if he doesn’t go on the cemetery tour with you?”

“He vanished from my garden,” I pointed out.

“Fuck,” Lukas swore and jumped from the seat to resume his pacing. He paused and looked at me, his gaze intense. “I have some money put away. I could help you find a new place. Help you move.”

Instead of replying I raised a brow, waiting for him to come up with his own answers. Running changed nothing. Moving led to more of the same; I had tried it a dozen times. Even on the rare occasion I went home to visit my parents or another relative, the odd night noises followed.

I liked my place. Felt safe inside. Especially when Alex stayed over. Funny how short of a time I’ve actually known him and yet I felt so comfortable being with him. Maybe because I already knew and trusted Lukas for so long? Perhaps it didn’t relate to Lukas at all. Alex had his own personal charisma that he kept locked away until someone knew him a little. A lot like his snark, which reared its head when you least expected it. He made me laugh, smile, and relax. I loved that about him. Huh. Love…

A month gone, after having only known him a few days and I still thought about him relentlessly.

“Stupid idea, I know. None of this makes any sense.”