Almost Easy

Jimmy and Matt found an overhead bulb when they ventured into the hidden shed room, the light giving them a better view. What the view was, they weren't sure yet, because it seriously looked like an office. There was a desk with a rolling chair and two filing cabinets pushed against one of the walls. That was it.

Now, an hour later, the pair managed to break into every drawer in the room. They aren't sure why they did it, maybe it was the curiosity, but the men felt the need to destroy every lock before they even sorted through one stack of papers. Destruction seemed like fun at the time, all thoughts that this is his sister's private property set aside.

“This is just junk. Bills, taxes.” Matt says, sorting through a filing cabinet.

“Lucky you. This is a solid drawer of receipts.” Jimmy responds, moving on to the desk.

He sits in the leather chair, feeling it sink and squish under his weight. Opening a drawer next to him, Jimmy was faced with even more paper dividers. He skimmed through the files, his interest being regained. There were letters, stories, and poems organized in a strict order-but it seemed off. Why would she try so hard to keep her personal literature hidden? She wouldn't.

Jimmy pulls all the files out, messing up her organized pattern before checking for a false bottom. Matt walks over when he notices what his friend is doing, interested to know the final results. It was obvious that there was something under the wood, but Jimmy couldn't figure it out. Finally, in frustration, he punches it as hard as he can.

His hand breaks a splintering hole into the wood, a low hiss exiting his mouth. He would regret that later, that's for sure, but it worked. Carefully, he pulled the splintered wood off by the hole he made, revealing a whole new layer of organized files. Jimmy and Matt share a look before Jimmy starts shifting through them.

That's when the real fun began. Files labeled “Moving Plans”, “Missions”, “Rules”, “Exits”, and “Structure” pop up. Jimmy doesn't know where to begin, so he closes his eyes and pulls one out. “Exits” plops down onto the desk and suddenly he's afraid to read into it. So many different things could be an exit. Including suicide.

~\~\~\~\

When the sun started to set behind the hills, Jimmy and Matt decided it was probably time to go. Both of their stomach's growled uncomfortably from the neglect, having been in the room for at least four hours without eating anything. The problem was, now that they broke into everything, Jimmy didn't want to just leave all of his twin's personal information out in the open. What if someone comes to take it?

That's why he sent Matt into the house to find two garbage bags that they filled with her papers. They took everything no matter what it's importance was, making sure to swipe up useless things. Not a document was to be left behind, especially if it had her name and address printed on it. Their goal was to make it look like someone raided the place and didn't have enough time to sort through anything.

“Can you write 'junk' on that bag?” Jimmy asks Matt, tossing a black permanent marker at him.

“Why? This is all of her important stuff.” He responds, opening the cap to the pen.

“Exactly. If someone decides to steal this shit, they'll take the one labeled 'important' or 'personal'. They'll leave the junk bag behind.” Jimmy explains, picking his garbage bag full of crap up off the ground.

Matt nods in understanding, writing the word 'junk' before capping the pen and standing. The pair exit the hidden room, leaving it in slight disarray, before locking it back up. It was now completely dark in the shed, causing the two men to stumble out while effectively knocking lots of stuff over and cussing like no tomorrow. Neither of them remembered to grab the flashlight.

The sky was a lighter shade of dark blue, pinks and purples dreamily streaking the clouds. In this light, Marina's garden looked even more beautiful. It gave her flowers a romantic setting, and if Jimmy wouldn't get punched in the face, he might have actually grabbed Matt's hand. He thought better of it, though, because his face was kind of important to him.

Jimmy led Matt over to the side gate, using a key to open the padlock that secures the door. They hustle through it, shutting everything back up so they can hurry and get the hell out of there. That romantic setting Jimmy had mentioned earlier faded the second they switched sides of the fence, and now the damn creepy ass tree that stood in the front yard was making him uneasy.

The tall man's boots crunched against the gravel of her front driveway, rocks being kicked along in front of him. His black car was right where he left it, parked directly next to Marina's old beat up one. She took so much pride in her ugly little car and Jimmy couldn't really understand it. Sure, she paid for it herself, but it was still junk. People don't flaunt junk.

But she's not like normal people. Jimmy reminded himself, digging his other set of keys out of his pocket. Marina was far from being the same as everyone else, and that saddened him to think about. Sure, he should be happy that she was happy, but he couldn't help but feel burdened. After high school she kept no friends, didn't talk to anybody or really leave her house unless she had to work or go shopping. No one invited her to parties or events, clubs or raves, or even over for dinner. She was alone.

Now that he thinks about it, Jimmy could have made more of an effort in her life. Hell, she didn't even speak to her family. It was obvious why when her whole life all the people did was pity her and whisper behind her back, but he could have helped that. He could have worked to dispel their gossip, stand firm that he didn't tolerate what they were saying, or just glare them down. He could have done anything and in the end he chose to hold her arms length away until she stopped trying to speak to him. And now he was regretting it.

~\~\~\~\

“Hello again, Marina,” Brian says, setting his tray of food down next to the blond woman.

Marina jumped at the sound of Brian's voice, not expecting him. Today, she hadn't been observing the room like she usually does. Instead, she was hanging her head slightly while moving her food around, taking a bite every so often. She still felt bad for what she said to Rachael today and for some reason, a dark cloud was hanging out over her head. Even when faced with the book she had almost finished, all she wanted to do was look out the recreation room window at the garden.

“It's good to see you, Brian,” She greets him politely, looking up at his beautiful face.

“I couldn't help but notice that you're sitting her all alone and-if I remember anything from when I first came here-being alone really fucking sucks. Especially in the corner, which I'm shocked that you picked,” He told her in a joking manner, smiling widely at her.

She offered a small smile back, not saying anything in return. Yeah, being alone does suck, but that's what she's used to. Alone is all she ever was at home and now... Now, she still wants to be alone. Despite the change in her life, she doesn't want friends. Friends that, potentially, are really crazy.

Taking the hint, Brian just starts eating. It's obvious that Marina doesn't want to talk, and he won't make her. The darkness lingering in her mind saddened him, though, so he knew he had to sit with her. If he couldn't change her mood at all, he'd settle with being able to say that he tried. That way, later on when he needed something, he could cleverly blackmail her in a friendly way.

Brian is good at that.