Taylor rushed into the living room with Tracy at his heels. “What happened?” he demanded.
“What’dya think, genius, the power went out,” Isaac snapped.
“Look, don’t start with me right now, Ike,” Tay warned.
“Guys, don’t start in, please?” Zac plead, his face illuminated by a flash of lightning. His eyes were wide and imploring, searching each of his brothers’ faces.
Tracy crossed to him and put a protective arm around his waist just as the thunder rolled. “It’s okay, Zac,” she said.
“Thanks,” he said. He then added carefully, “Tracy.”
She looked down at him. “How did you -”
“This house isn’t exactly soundproof,” Zac said quietly. “Ike and I heard everything.” He paused. “Why did you lie?”
Tracy wrapped her other arm around Zac and pulled him into a hug. “I didn’t mean to. Really. I’m sorry.”
Zac patted her back unsurely. “It’s okay.”
“I don’t even know why I didn’t tell you my name -”
“Oh, shut up,” Taylor grumbled.
“Taylor,” Isaac warned.
“What?” Tay demanded.
Lightning.
Thunder.
Isaac gave his brother a hard stare. “This isn’t the time, Tay. We’ve got more important things to worry about.”
“Like what?”
“Like whoever’s doing this to us,” Isaac said logically.
This shut Taylor up. “All right,” he said.
“Besides, I don’t see where you have any room to talk,” Isaac said quietly. “TJ.”
Taylor opened his mouth but didn’t reply. He closed his mouth again just as the phone began ringing.
“Not again,” Zac muttered.
Isaac went to the phone. However, before he touched the receiver, Tracy laid her hand on his. “Don’t. Please?” she asked quietly. “Don’t answer it.”
He gave a weak smile. “Don’t think about an elephant.” Before Tracy could say another word, he picked the phone up. “Hello?”
There was no reply.
“Hello?”
Lightning flashed and thunder cracked overhead.
“Hello?”
Silence again. Then, suddenly, an air horn blared threw the wires and caused Ike to almost drop the phone. A cackling laugh came next, and then two words: “Strike two.”
Tracy grabbed the phone from him. “Who are you!” she cried. “Who are you? Tell me that! What’s your name? Tell me your name, dammit!”
The line hummed on the other end.
Tracy set the receiver back in it’s cradle before turning back to Ike, Tay, and Zac. They were all gaping at her. She sank down into the couch cushions. Her mind was reeling. She glanced up at the guys one more time before breaking into tears.
“Awe, c’mon,” Isaac said quietly, touching her shoulder. “Don’t cry.”
Zac sat down beside her and put an awkward arm around her waist. “It’s okay,” he assured her.
“No it’s not,” she whispered, taking a moment to glance at Taylor.
Thunder.
Lightning.
“Nothing’s okay.”