I’ll just die here … all alone in this dark grave.
I hear a thundering sound and when I cringe, I moan in pain. Suddenly light glares angrily over me, and I squeeze my burning eyes closed.
I can’t make out what the sounds are or where the light is coming from. Then something touches me and I scream. I scream as loud as I can, but no sound comes out.
~*~
Chapter Fourteen
Seth~
They found her. They found Lacey!
Dad’s been charged with murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and a long list of other stuff.
My own dad is the monster everyone’s been so afraid of. How did I not see it? There were so many clues. The constant walks to think about the plot he was writing. The sand on his shoes! The weird hours he went for those walks!
He says he did it for the books. He needed material and practiced on the girls. The last best seller he had has been taken down. That book is about how he killed Mom.
She never left us. He killed her and I never knew.
I’m fucking stupid.
I could have stopped it all. Why? Why didn’t I see it?
~*~
It’s been a week since Lacey’s been found. Only family is allowed to see her. Not that I tried. I’m scared her family will freak out. I knew Lacey for one day and then Dad tried to kill her! I don’t think they’d be happy to see me.
Aunt Janice came to stay with me. She’s selling the RV and found a nice house on the other side of town. I’ll be closer to school, walking distance. Not that it matters. I’m not sure what’s going to happen when I get back to school. I was always popular, and now I’ll be known as the son of a murderer.
My whole world’s been tainted black by what Dad did. I haven’t been to see him. I’m not sure I ever want to see him again. I want to put as much distance between myself and what he did. I want to be my own person again.
I want the town to stop looking at me as if I was the one that kidnapped the girls and killed them. There are some that look at me with pity. That sucks just as much.
I just want to be Seth again.
~*~
School’s starting next week. Aunt Janice has been helping me to change my last name to Mom’s maiden name. I’ll be Seth Harper soon, just a few more days they said. She’s also taking care of all Mom’s stuff. I don’t care about the inheritance she left me. I only care that I failed her. I’m nothing more than a failure.
We’re moving to the new house today. I’m so grateful for Aunt Janice. She’s not pushing me to move on, to get over what Dad did and what happened to Mom. Aunt Janice understands me. We both grieve for Mom in our own way.
We look so much alike, Aunt Janice could pass as my mother. We have the same light brown hair and blue eyes. I’m especially thankful that I look nothing like Dad, and everything like Mom’s side of the family.
“You ready? Will you grab that last box and help them load?” Aunt Janice asks. We’re giving everything of Dad’s that the police didn’t take to goodwill. I want nothing. The few things I have of Mom are going with us.
“Sure,” I mutter. I take the box to the truck and throw it on. Every day I feel something different. It ranges from hating Dad, to being angry, to feeling disgusted that he’s my father.
Aunt Janice mentioned that I should see someone. I didn’t even answer her. No one can help me.
What’s done is done and I’ll have to pay for Dad’s sins. I hate him for what he did, for destroying our lives!
~*~
Chapter Fifteen
Lacey~
I’m finally getting to go home. Mom and Dad both took the day off so they could come get me. I make sure everything is packed and sit on the corner of the bed. It’s high, so my feet barely touch the floor. I swing my legs, seeking some comfort from the swaying motion. I’m so sick of the sterile smell and bright lights. They do nothing to lighten the darkness surrounding me.
I used to be a peaceful person, always content with my life. I wanted to go to college and study something that would make a difference to the world. I had plans. I had dreams.
Now I can’t remember any of