by Allen Dark
No she said. For a quick second Aubri felt relief until she Bexley spoke again. Nepolai did. She said. Aubri fell into her hands and wept into them. She shook her head.
All my God. She said over and over. She didn’t understand why she would do something so vile and risk her freedom and more importantly her humanity. Why! She asked. Why would you do something so evil? The makeup she had on was now smeared around her eyes and on her hands. She waited for an answer. She knew exactly why but Aubri would be surprised at her answer and she probably would never speak to her again. Bexley didn’t think it was evil and maybe that’s because she’s been hanging around Nepolai. From the outside it could be assumed that she was desensitized but to her she was doing it only to save the one person she fell she had left. If she didn’t she would have been left alone. She thought.
I couldn’t lose the only person I had left. She said. She kneeled in front of her sister crying and wrapped her hands around hers. I’m not strong like you. I don’t know what I would do if I had to live in this world without you. She said. You were always by my side Aubri one among gonna do if you weren’t anymore? She asked. Her lip quivered.
She took one of her hands back to clear her eye. But she can’t just kill someone Bex. What sense does it make to take someone else’s life from someone who’s already been ready to let go? She asked. Bexley’s eyes widen. The thought of her sister giving up made her feel even weaker. Why would she do such a thing. She looked up to this person who she thought was the strongest person she ever met in yet she was given up.
What? Bexley asked.
I was okay with dying she said. Of course I didn’t want to leave you or uncle Arthur behind but it was something that I had accepted and something that I became at peace with. How do you think it makes me feel to know that the thing that is keeping me alive right now was deliberately taking from another living being. She said. Bexley’s head fell to her chest she closed her eyes. She knew exactly how would feel. She could see the guilt and Aubri’s face when she looked back up at her. She should’ve been the one feeling guilty but instead she was the one with the stolen heart. And then you put uncle Arthur in danger. What is this all went south would happen to him? Was it worth it? She asked. A Bexley knew right away that it was. She knew that she would do it again if she had to because when it came down to it her sister was the one who kept her sane and focused. For a long time she was so hell-bent on their parents death and she wouldn’t have gotten this far past it if it wasn’t for Aubri. Bexley didn’t respond because she knew her sister would be appalled at her answer. She thought that the only way it would went south was if Eric was able to tie Nepolai to the crimes and he would if she left to go find him. Aubri started up from the couch back into the hall and snatched her bag and keys from she had through them. She into door open but Bexley grabbed her arm before she could walk out. A brisk breeze crept into the house given Bexley the chills.
Were you going? Bexley asked. Even though she fell like she knew her sister she wasn’t quite sure what Aubri was going to do after finding out the truth. If she wasn’t going to do anything impulsive that would take away their freedom she wondered if she would see her sister again if she let her walk out that door. Aubri Porter arm away.
Let go me she said. You done enough trouble. She can help but look at Bexley was discussed. Horrify with the person her sister had become well she was sick. For a moment she wondered if it was her fault but she wasn’t sure if she could take responsibility for something so dark that had grown in her sister. Aubri walked out of slammed the door behind her to even Bexley there to stare the flaky white door.
Chapter 20
for the past hour Aubri was sitting in her car thinking about her future. She thought considering the situation it probably wouldn’t matter regardless her and her sister were behind bars. She was still have a murder woman’s heart. If she got out the car and walked straight up through the police station hundred seat in front of her she wondered if it would be the last time she ever saw her sister uncle again. What they consider her intercessory to Chloe Gibbs murder? Whatever happened she was still conflicted on what was the right thing to do. A man was sitting in jail for something he didn’t do and if she didn’t walk to those doors and confess about her having a Chloe Gibbs heart he would right there in prison for the rest of his life. If she did Bexley and Arthur probably would never see the light of day. Before she pulled in to the parking lot she thought about just leaving the city and just head east somewhere and stopping wearing ever she felt far away Columbus. Maybe they can pin the whole thing on Nepolai and say that they were forced to do it? She thought. But quickly realized that it would work. He can’t for someone to perform heart surgery. Aubri ran her hands down her face and let out a deep sigh before pulling the kys out of the ignition an popping the door open. She trotted towards the police station but before she can get past the sidewalk her arm yanked back. At first she thought it was Bexley and that she had came to stop her. She turned around and seen Nepolai in his hand squeezing her arm. The hairs on her neck stood up. His grip was tight and she wouldn’t be able to pull it away so easily as she did was Bexley. She wanted to run as fast as she could to the front door at the police department. He’s going to kill me she thought. She wondered if it was possible if there cameras could see a woman who look like she was being attacked. Even if she wasn’t able to run they could be out any second.
What you think you’re doing? Nepolai asked.
Let go of me. She barked at Nepolai tugging her arm surprise she was able to get it away. Stay away from me. She said turning back to the police station .
You can’t going there. Nepolai said running in front of Aubri.
Oh yeah and why not? She asked. Bexley was upset that she would hack to go into the police station and betray her sister.
Listen I know what your about to do it they might look like it’s the right thing to do but in the long run it’ll just cause you more pain. He said.
Yeah right what you know about paying? she asked. Because from what I can tell you’re the one who causes it. She said. Nepolai was quiet for a minute. You don’t even know what pain is. She said. Her eyes teared a little. She wiped away. My sister took someone’s life to keep me alive. She said.
But she didn’t kill anyone. He said.
She might as well have. She conspired with you. She didn’t care if she didn’t physically take it she still conspired and direct it for someone’s life to be taken. To her it was the same no matter how hard they tried to twisted. Aubri walked past Nepolai and almost made it to the sidewalk that led up to the police department.
Do you know why Bexley did was she did? He asked. Aubri stopped and turned around. She stared at the pavement for second.
She was selfish. She didn’t want to be alone so instead of let me go she Rob someone of the life. She said. And it was selfish to her she would rather be alone than the kill someone. That’s why she felt her sister was no better than Nepolai. Then it dawned on her. Was her sister like this all along? Was she have done it herself if she never came across Nepolai ring that girl?
Yeah, that’s part of it. He said. But mainly because she feels responsible for everything that happened to you. Aubri combed her hand through her hair and scratched it looking away from Nepolai. A part of her knew it was true. After their parents died the only had each other but Bexley struggled with blaming herself for what happened to all of them but she thought she was able to get Bexley past the guilt. How would you feel if you were the cause of your own sister’s death, or for your parents death. She blames herself for everything that happened to your family and you can’t see why she would to anything from carrying the burden of her entire families death. You believe she killed one person but the Bexley I know feels like she’s killed three and she didn’t get that heart it would have been for. Tears were flowing down Aubris face. She remember that horrible day as if it was yesterday. Because she was hurt so bad for years she had to relive it every day she woke. How
do you think it feels to be a little girl who forgot her jacket at school and because she was so afraid of her father and him what he would do to her she was missing her bus in order to find. He said. Aubri wiped her face but she couldn’t stop crying. Every emotion she felt that day coming home without her sister all the way up to the accident consumed her. It drained her of her energy and she just wanted to fall to the ground buckling her knees against the pavement. Maybe the physical pain of her knees banging on cement would take away the pain that was consuming her. She thought. She blames herself for your father getting on that road drunk that night to come pick her up. He said. Nepolai didn’t know her for long but it doesn’t take that long for him to recognize someone drowning in their own pain. When you got to deep he knew that some people never return from it and even though he was going to kill Bexley for blackmailing him he was relieved in a sense that she was able to finally breathe because of him. Your sister was so desperate that she told herself that she would do anything the matter what to keep her alive because if she didn’t she would be left left to blame.
Aubri didn’t like it where the information was coming from but she know he wasn’t lying.
You should go home talk with her even though it might be heart give it some time. And if he still can’t live with yourself I’ll turn myself in. He said not sure if he was was lying to himself into her.
Nepolai jolted his head behind him. He heard the door slam shut but didn’t see anyone. The parking lot was barely full so he should have been able to see where he came from. If someone was getting in the car surely the car were started by now but it didn’t. Being that there was no one around it was hard to see if they were getting out the car either. If they were getting out there car that means they’ve been watching him and Aubri this whole time.
Aubri screamed. Nepolai turned around and seen her with a black bag over her head being pulled away by the men he didn’t recognize at Madison’s funeral. The poll I chased after her but he couldn’t see. His vision went dark on a black bag is put over his head. A large farm wraps itself around Nepolai’s neck. A chokehold that he realized would be hell to get out of. He knew we couldn’t pull him off. Nepolai bent his body forward pulling the guy off his feet and onto his back and tossing them over her shoulder. The guy moan as he hit the cement. He pulled the bag from his head and for moment he was free. The guy holding his lower back on the ground had long dirty blonde hair. It was the other hunter he recognized at Madison’s funeral. Nepolai took his boot knocked against the hunters face at the kickball. The hunter that drug Aubri away charged at Nepolai tackling him onto the ground in between Aubri’s car and a truck next to them. Beat Nepolai’s face in blow after blow until he was knocked out.
Chapter 21
if detective Lane’s chief wanted to stay away from Gibbs’s case why were they doing any of this? Eric thought to himself. Eric thought the the information that he got would be good enough to at least get a search warrant so they can find out if the poll I had the heart in the house somewhere. But by the answer Lane gave him back at Rylen’s house he was worried that they would need more which meant more waiting for him. More time his father would have to sit in a cage in a man responsible for three murders roaming the city free. Eric had detective Lane dropped him off at his parents house. He didn’t want to go home quite yet and thought maybe just maybe there was something in the house that proves his dad didn’t do anything.
Are you sure you want to stay here? Detective Lane asked.
Yeah I’m good just let me know how it goes with your chief as soon as you know anything. He said shutting the passenger door. Lane pulled off in her cruiser and he watched as she waved them off. He stood there watching the house wondering if he would find anything useful. He walked up the steep flight of stairs and pulled his keys from his pocket. It was a while since he’s been in his parents home couldn’t help but see his mom being dragged from the house and the body bag. He turned over his shoulder and seen his dad cuffed at the bottom of the staircase. It was an odd feeling to know that he was coming home one empty house. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. There was a second door before he was inside the house. It had a coat rack in a 10 full of umbrellas. Not much has changed but he was still surprised when he seen a pair of sneakers his mom had bought him when he decided to play ball his senior year. He looked almost no mainly because after being so excited to play and be a part of a team he didn’t make it. He urges mom to return him but she insisted that he keep him because he didn’t need to be a part of the schools team to play. It was just like her never to let him give up on his ambitions and goals because she knew if you didn’t tried to the very and you would never know how it would change her life for the better. He missed that and regress his decision of not visiting as frequently as he should of. Eric pulled the second door in and walked inside and tucked his keys into his jacket. The house was quiet and the most quietus he’s ever heard it. It was weird and unsettling to him. It almost made him wish that his dad was here yelling at his mom. He missed her greeting him at the door when on he came home and smelling her cooking that filled the house. Most of all the warmth she emanated throughout the house. But now it just cold dark and almost foggy like everything in the house was avoiding itself from existence. Eric walked down the hall and wandered into the living room. It was where his mom found. Just looking at it she wouldn’t be able to tell there was a woman slaughtered here. Detective Lane did a pretty good job cleaning up the place after forensics was done taking all the evidence that they needed. He appreciated her and everything she was doing even though it seem like she was way too close with his father. He thought it was weird at first but now he didn’t really care. There was a lot of stuff he didn’t care about anymore the loss of someone so close can cause that. Cause a person to lose feeling for the things that make them human. Even if he was able to help his father become a free man and take Nepolai down he’s not sure if it would make any difference about how he feels. There was no way he was going to be able to live his life he wanted. Instead he would be forever haunted by the evil that took his mother.
A better sharp breeze swept into the living room brushing against Eric’s ear. He had a whistle to it. It was strong and forceful for second he thought maybe he left the front door open. He walked about out into the hall and looked down at the closed door. The breeze brushed against his face again and came from the dining room across from the living room. Looking at the table with a wine bottle into glasses sit at the end the table he couldn’t help but pick up the bottle and wonder what was the occasion. He picked up the bottle and read the label it was his mother’s favorite and she only brought it out when she was celebrating something. Maybe he would know if he stayed in touch more. He set the back on the table and followed the breeze into the kitchen. There was a window on the right side next to the cupboards wide open. The thin curtains danced along the breeze. He wondered if maybe his mother left it open. It could’ve been Gibbs because he didn’t like the windows to be open especially not going in the winter. If he was hot he would’ve just turned on the AC. It was also possible that it was neither. Maybe somebody broke in after they seen the chaos happening out front he thought. Nothing was taken so he doubted it. He then thought maybe forensics or detective had at opened it but that didn’t make much sense to him either. The high whistling that song throughout the house stopped when he shut the window. The house was dead. The furnace being off made every move he made 10 times louder than it normally was. It was loud and almost like soundproofing if you wanted to have a conversation without the next person in the room from hearing. He thought it was only came into the house but he didn’t pay attention to it.
Eric stood there looking out the window not sure what he was looking at. It was just a side of the neighboring house with a security light shining in, a fence in a bush that ran along it. The floor board croaked behind him. He turned around quick and seen what look to be a woman emerged from the doorway. It was dark and hard to tell who she was.
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Who are you? Eric asked trying to make out the face of the silhouette. The woman got closer creeping in towards Eric and realize what was. Bexley? With a lopsided frown. What the hell you doing to my parents house? He asked.
Why were you talking to my sister? She asked.
What you talking about? I was in the bar she came and sat with me. He said she was curious to what happened with that piece of trash you been hanging out with lately. What are you doing with him? He asked.
Is none of your business. She said.
It’s every bit of my business he’s dangerous he’s evil any kill my mom! Nepolai is my business. He said walking closer to the middle of the kitchen. You do know he was being investigated before my mom was found dead don’t you? He asked. My dad was the one investigating.
Bexley didn’t respond. She looked into the dining room inside. I do and I’m so sorry it had to be your mother but. She said
weight what you mean it had to be? He said cutting her off. Bexley crept in closer bridging the gap between Eric. She ignored him not because she didn’t want him to know but she was tired of explaining herself and what she did. Eric watched the knife drop-down from Bexley jacket sleeve. It glimmered under the security light shining through the window.
Bexley what the hell you doing? He asked. He started to remember in the bandage she had in the middle of her chest. He also realized how much school Bexley was missing because of her sister. Your sister told me she had surgery for pacer for her heart. Eric said. He looked at her with suspicion. That wasn’t true was it? He put the the pieces together. Bexley shook her head. The heart was right in front of me. He thought. Foreshadowing his encounter with Aubri made everything so obvious to him but if she wouldn’t have shown up in his house he probably would have never thought her sister was walking around with his mom’s heart. Eric’s eyebrows fell over his eyes. His nose in his chin clenched shut.
