Puppeteer pt. 2 (cont. from teaser)

“Seriously, I don’t know what her problem is…” said Aiden, sitting on a rock in his friend’s backyard. “It’s like she hates me for no reason.”

“Mmn…” Alex’s dark eyes watched the other boy’s every motion. “Well I don’t see why anyone would hate you.” He stated. “Jealous maybe, but—”

“That’s it!” Aiden exclaimed, cutting off his friend and jumping up. “…But why should she be jealous of me?”

Alex laughed, though it wasn’t really a laugh. Aiden had always thought it sounded more like a murderer’s laugh. “Why?” He laughed again. “Because you’re a child prodigy, because even though you’re younger than her you have more freedom than she does. Oh, and let’s not forget that you’re the prince of the house.”

Aiden sighed irritatedly. “Alright, alright. You’ve made your point.” He walked over to the gate in the yard that lead out to an open area behind the houses on their block. “C’mon, let’s ditch.”

Always looking to please Aiden, Alex nodded, unlocking the gate and followed him out. “Where are we going?” he asked, his Vans always setting foot exactly where Aiden’s Converses had left.

“Somewhere private.” Aiden replied with a devious smile. “I found it last week.”

Alex’s heart had sped up at the word “private.” His crush on his friend had grown some in recent months and the thought of being alone with him anywhere sent shivers down his spine.

“We’re here.” Aiden said finally.

In front of them stood an old warehouse. The paint was peeling off the sides and from the outside the two of them could hear an ominous dripping sound.

“That’s it?” Alex asked, frankly unimpressed.

Aiden nodded. “Pretty creepy, huh?”

“I’ve seen worse.” Alex answered, shrugging.

“Yeah, yeah…” Aiden leaned his weight on the door, struggling to push it open. “Now help me open the damn door.” Alex stuffed his hands in his pockets and kicked it down. “Or that works too…” Aiden added.

“So why’re we here?” Alex asked, sitting down on a wooden crate inside the moldy smelling warehouse.

“I dunno. When I found this place, it seemed like a place someone might store dead bodies.”

Alex’s eyes widened and lit up at this thought. “Really…”

Aiden nodded; then frowned. Something on the floor caught his eye. ‘What’s that?’ He bent down and found a slightly old and rusted Swiss army knife. He laughed a bit as he picked it up and stood. “Look.” He held up the knife and showed it to Alex. “I could use it to take out my sister.”

“Not a bad idea.” Alex said seriously, completely missing the fact that his friend was only kidding.

“Jeez, ‘Lex. I was being facetious.” Aiden said, giving Alex an odd look. “I mean sure, she pisses me off sometimes, but I couldn’t actually kill her.”

“Well then maybe I’ll do it.” Alex said, smirking.

Though he was about to protest and say no, Aiden was overcome with a strange sensation. His head spun and he nearly blacked out. He fell to the hard dirt floor on his hands and knees, breathing heavily. “Aiden? Aiden!” Alex shook the other boy’s shoulder roughly. “C’mon, get up dude!”

Aiden coughed a few times, before sitting back on his heels and said, “Maybe I will use this…” He looked again at the rusted old knife. “Yes…I think I will.”