Page 2 of The Devil's Weakness

“I’m fine, thank you,” I reply.

I don’t bother picking up menus, only two rolls of silverware. I already know what they want. For a couple who was once so spontaneous, they’re entirely predictable in their old age.

“How is the prettiest girl in town?” Mr. Allen winks and shoots me a flirtatious smile.

I catch Elena’s hate-filled eye roll as I place the rolls of silverware in front of them.

“Oh, you know… just livin’ the dream,” I joke with a laugh.

“You’ve gotta get out there and explore the world.”

“Trust me; I want to. One of these days, I’ll get there,” I smile at them. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

My smile fades quickly as I walk away from them.

The Allen’s are one of the cutest couples I’ve ever met. They’re the epitome of “couple-goals.” They got married in 1959 when they were both eighteen, and they never stayed in one place for too long. Traveling both the United States and the world beyond, there is very little they haven’t seen or done. They’ve walked the Great Wall of China. Visited the Egyptian pyramids. They have pictures of themselves posing in front of Mount Rushmore and the Redwoods in Northern California. Their life has been one grand adventure after another, and I am so envious of them.

Why they planted their roots in Whispering Valley, Maryland is beyond me. This is small-town USA at its finest. Nothing exciting ever happens around here. The occasional bar fight, maybe some punk kids stealing candy bars from Mr. Shepherd’s drugstore, teenagers getting drunk at field parties. I would give anything for an adventurous life outside of this town. There’s nothing here for me; except Michael.

As if the universe knew I was thinking about my brother, I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket, and my heart pumps faster.

Please don’t be him.

My unease grows as I pull it out and see a local number flash across my screen.

Shit.

I shouldn’t answer it, but what if something is wrong? What if he overdosed again, and this is the hospital trying to get a hold of me? I take a deep breath before accepting the call.

“Hello?” I whisper as I make my way to the back of the kitchen.

“I need you to come get me,” is the only greeting I get.

I breathe a sigh of relief that it’s Michael on the other end and not a cop or a doctor.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just need a ride,” he raises his voice slightly, irritated that I’m questioning him.

“Michael, I’m working right now. I can’t come get you,” I explain. “Where are you, anyway? Can you walk or call someone else?”

“I’m in Union Mills.”

Union Mills isn’t too far from here, only about a twenty-minute drive. But for someone without a car and with no money for a cab, it may as well be on the other side of the country.

“How the hell did you get to Union Mills?” I exclaim a little louder than I meant to.

This grabs Ellie’s attention, and she pokes her head out of her office.

“Sorry,” I whisper apologetically.

She says nothing, but the look of concern on her face doesn’t go away.

“Look, I need to get out of hereASAP, if you know what I mean,” Michael emphasizes.

God damn it.

“Michael, I swear to God if you’re lying…”

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