He was looking for a clean shirt when his phone started to ring. He raised an eyebrow when he saw that Tobias, the guy who owned the garage he worked at, was calling him.

"What do you want?" He asked, as soon as he accepted the call.
"Chill boy, I didn't need anything. I actually have some good news for you." Tobias replied in his usual raspy voice.
"What is it?" Michael, for some reason, was annoyed. He blamed this on his sleepless night and an empty stomach.
"Wow, I found you a room and you're being a bitch." Michael could feel him smirking right now.
"You're not joking, right?" He was still sceptical as he knew that Tobias liked to fool around.
"I swear, man. You know about the empty room above the garage? Well, you can make it into a nice studio apartment, right? It even has a nice bathroom and kitchen. It's yours' if you want it."

Michael was supporting a huge smile now. He couldn't wait to have a place of his own. Even though he was quite comfortable in Alex's house, he always felt like an intruder.

"So what about the rent and stuff?" He asked, trying to control the excitement seeping in his voice.
"Don't worry about that. I'll give you a special discount for being my favourite boy."
"Gosh man, you're the best."
"Yeah yeah, I know. Just meet me tomorrow early morning for the paperwork." He didn't wait for a reply and disconnected the call.

                               *********

Michael was walking around the house aimlessly. Even though he had been here for almost three days, he still hadn't seen the whole house. He actually felt a bit queer that he had never visited Alex's house before.

He turned a right and was surprised to see an empty corridor. There was only one room at the end and the whole place was giving him a strange vibe.

He walked towards the door. The whole door was painted white and had a plain smooth texture, a stark contrast to the elegant interior of the whole house. He, hesitantly, tried to open the door but it was locked. This was the first room that he had found locked and he was too curious to know what was behind it. So naturally, he decided to ask Alex about it.

                               *********

Alexander was sitting in the lounge doing something on his laptop when he felt a presence behind him. He turned around to see Michael talking a seat.

"What's wrong?" He asked when he saw Michael playing with his fingers. He always did that when he was curious about something.

Michael looked at him and sighed. It was just a room he wanted to ask about. It's not like Alex will tell him that they slaughtered humans in there.

"So I was exploring the house and I found something." He began.
"Oh no! Don't tell me you found the dead bodies." Alexander gasped and put a hand on his chest just to add more effect.
"Ha ha. Really funny."
Alexander just chuckled in response.

"So what is in that room?" He asked
"Which room?" Alex was confused since their were quite a lot of rooms in the house.
"The room upstairs with a white door. It looked kinda strange to me."

Alex's eyes widened as memories that he wanted to forget came rushing in.

********

"Did you practice today?" He asked sternly.
"Yes, daddy. I am really good at it now." I replied eagerly, wanting nothing but to please him.
"Well, then, show me."

I sat on the bench and took a deep breath. I didn't want to show my father that I was nervous, he didn't want me to be weak and, according to him, showing that you're nervous was a weakness.

I placed my fingers on the polished keys of the piano. Slowly, I started to play the song I had been learning for two weeks. The song was really hard but I was getting better at it. I looked up to see a glint in my father's eyes. This made me happy but all of a sudden I hit the wrong note. My concentration was diverted because I was looking at him and I messed up my song. I saw his whole expression change, the glint was gone, now replaced with fury. I was scared. My father had never hit me and he said he would never hurt me but this didn't mean I never got punished. I knew what was coming my way and as usual I was not ready.

"How hard can it be to perfect a simple song, Alexander?" He asked, anger lacing his every word.
I knew it was wiser to stay quiet at the moment.

"I have been patient with you, my boy, but now you've made me regret it. It is really a shame. If you can't do these simple things how can I expect you to manage my business?"

He grabbed me by my forearm and dragged me to the place I dreaded. I wanted to cry and beg for forgiveness but I knew that this would only make it worse.

My father looked at me for a long second, maybe he knew what I was thinking.
"You should be thankful that you got such a caring and lenient father."

My father unlocked the door and pushed me inside. I saw that there were two water bottles beside the hard mattress covered with white cotton sheets.

"I'll come get you in twelve hours or maybe more. Hopefully by then you'll learn your lesson."
He was about to walk out and shut the door but abruptly turned and walked towards the mattress. He grabbed one of the bottles and left me alone just like that.

I didn't know how long I was sitting on the floor, staring at the white walls. The silence was killing me. The only sound was of the dripping water and it was driving me insane. I was alone, I was scared, I was hungry and the cold temperature was making me shiver slightly.

The whole room was painted white and not a single colour was in sight. Colourless, lifeless, hopeless. I associated all the motions I felt in that room with the absence of colours in my life.

I stayed quiet, desperate for some kind of warmth and sound but it didn't come. Waiting for my father or my mother to open the door and take me in their arms, tell me that they'll never do it again. Tell me that they know it scares me and they'll protect me. They never came. Not till my father allowed it.

*********

"Alex? Alexander?" Michael shook him a bit causing him to snap out of his thoughts.

"You alright, man?" He asked, his eyes holding concern for his friend.
"Hmm." Alex pressed a hand to his forehead and took a deep breath.

"So?"
"So what?" Alex looked at him quizzically.
"You never told me what's in that room." Michael was a curious person, always trying to know more and more, ignorant of the story brewing inside his friend's head.

Something inside Alex snapped. He took a deep angry breath and almost shouted, "What the hell, Michael? This is my house, not a fucking museum where you can go wherever you want and question things. Don't stick your nose in my business again. Consider this my last warning."
He walked out of the room and a minute later Michael heard his car start.

Michael had his fists clenched in anger. He was upset but as always masked it with the emotion he was best at. Anger.

He walked towards his room and grabbed his bag. Maybe he always knew that his stay here won't be really long.

He grabbed the few clothes scattered around and shoved them in his small bag.

He walked down the stairs and took out his phone to call for a taxi.

He was so focused on his phone that he didn't saw the couple entering the house and literally bumped into them.

He stumbled a bit and saw a man looking at him with wide eyes, eyes he was really familiar with. He had sharp features and looked like an older version of Alex.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't see you coming."

Mr. Black stayed silent. He kept looking at Michael. Observing him. He noticed his clenched fist and locked jaw, indicating that he was angry with something or someone. This made him smile a bit.

"It's alright, dear. By the way I'm Marissa Black.." The woman standing next to Mr. Black said. Michael could feel the waves of pride and arrogance radiating from her.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Mi-" He started to say but was interrupted.
"Yes I know. I remember your face. Now please excuse me." The woman walked away with that.

"Okay then." He was about to go out when he was stopped by Mr. Black.
"What's your name, son?" He asked.
"It's Michael Ryder, sir."

Mr. Black smiled at this. He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Call me Raymond. Sir is a bit too formal. So why are you leaving so soon? Stay for lunch maybe? We can talk and all. Sorry, I never got to socialise with my son's friends due to work. The boy has an odd choice." Raymond laughed at what he had said and Michael was low-key offended.

"I think I've stayed here for too long. Also I just found a small apartment and I'm moving there. Thank you."
"So you live alone?" 
"Yes." 

Raymond's eyes held something Michael couldn't yet figure out.

"Well, then you better get going, son." He patted his back and went inside the house.

Michael just shrugged and walked towards the taxi. He never knew he would meet Alex's parents like this. It was a little weird, to be honest.

As he sat in the taxi, he failed to see the man looking at him from a window.
"I'll see you soon, son." The man said, pulling down the blinds.

********

A/N
Hola people,
Looks like Mike and Alex are back to ignoring each other.
I feel bad but they always figure things out so it's not a big deal. Or maybe it is. Who knows.

Who do think was the man staring at Michael? He seemed kinda creepy, no? *laughs internally*

Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comment section and if you are a silent reader please press the star button cause it will mean a lot.

Goodbye for now.