Page 12 of Darkness

Putting the papers on the kitchen counter, I remove my jacket and tie and throw them on the back of the stool. I make myself a whiskey, grab the papers off the counter and I sit on the couch. As I look again at the dark sky, I glance over to the building across the road, which is slightly to the right of me, yet I can still see people through the windows when they have their lights on.

I take a sip of my whiskey, then read through the papers, giving her early life only a quick scan.

Nothing important there. She started skating when she was five, entered her first competition at eight, and has been at the top of the sport since. In England, no one has even broken her record score either, which only makes me think again. Why did she leave?

I stop reading and get to the last few pages, wanting to see what she is doing here in America. She teaches Poppy skating, but even I know that’s not enough income to live off, even though Logan pays her well. She owns a flower shop - Sweet Rose, and I shake my head when it’s only a few shops down from mom’s bakery. I have to double check when I see her address.

This has got to be a mistake.

Standing up, I look over at the building in front of mine and look at the eighth floor. I glance back down at the papers to see the apartment number, which will make it on my side and the third window across. Looking over at the building and counting the windows, I see her sitting on the couch watching the TV.

She only has the lamp on, which makes it hard to see anything else in the apartment, but I can see her clearly.

She lives in front of me. I sit back down to read the rest of the information I have. Again wondering why she came to the States. The cold air hits the back of my neck again.What the fuck is that?I glance over at her apartment; I shake the thoughts out of my head and get back to reading.

Hold on, this isn’t right, something is missing. Once again, I stand up and pace the room as I continue to read. She filed a complaint about someone, no name, no address, nothing, but the police ignored it. She then filed another complaint about someone breaking into her apartment, which was again filed as nothing. She was admitted to the hospital, but nothing about why. As if she’s hiding a lot of information about herself from someone.

There are a lot more unanswered questions about Miss. White, but why do I care? Because every time I’m around her or even close to her, this fucking cold air hits me. Is it a warning?

Collapsing on the couch, I close my eyes, rubbing them to ease the pain shooting through them and hitting my head. When was the last time I had my pills? A few hours ahead of time won’t hurt. Digging through my pants pocket, I take two with my drink and lean my head back on the couch.

“You think love is forever?” Tess cleans up the cut on the side of my lip.

“For me it is.” I take a piece of her hair and bring it behind her ear, then lean in closer to kiss her. “It will always be you.”

“Cain.”

The cold air hits me harder this time, hard enough to make me sit up straight. I have no idea what the fuck is happening around me, but it needs to stop. My sight moves to

Autumn-Rose’s apartment, and I see her putting her coat on. Where the fuck is she going at eleven at night? It’s not safe for her to walk alone at this time of night.

Quickly grabbing my jacket, I get to the ground floor and wait for her to exit her building. I can keep my distance; she won’t even know I’m behind her. I follow her down the street. It’s dark, and around here is relatively safe, but you can still find some fucked up guy who thinks they can get what they want without asking. Not on my watch.

I follow her for a few blocks, then she turns, and I stop to make sure she is one hundred percent going down this road. Looking around making sure no one is following her and then she stops under the tunnel, nothing good will come from this part of the area.

The only thing she’ll get from here is drugs; and she doesn’t look like a person who takes drugs. Not with the figure skating shit she does.

“Evening Autumn,” one guy shouts. They know her name? Am I not reading people the way I used to? “I got you one.” He throws her something, and I wait for her to open her hands so I can see what it is.A cell.

“Thank you.” She gives him some money, and walks away from him to the bench not too far from him. Walking around the back of the wall so I can hear her better as she puts the cell to her ear. “I’m good, just miss you…when?” she asks and her whole body begins to tremble. “No one knows…the shop is good, busy.” A smile spreads over her lips. “How is everyone? That’samazing, so happy.” Whoever she is talking to talks for a few more minutes before she hangs up.

I watch her as she hands the cell back to the guy. “Same time next week?” he asks, and she smiles, giving him a nod.

“Thanks Gray.” She waves at him as he breaks the cell and throws it into the fire pit they have burned to keep them warm.

I should ask him what he knows about her, but I hate the idea of her walking alone.Fuck.

I’ll be here tomorrow to talk to him. I follow her home to make sure she gets back safely, before I make my way back to my apartment.

***

“You know why we have to do this, don’t you, Cain?” I look up at my grand-dad, who’s grip around my hand is hurting me.

There is only one thing I see, and that’s pain and worry in his eyes. I shake my head, not understanding why we have to leave. “We have a business which can sometimes make us enemies. Those enemies will hear about your dad, and they will come for you. If it was one family or even two, we could fight. But it’s too much for us to keep you safe.” Grand-dad kneels to my height, blocking the view of my dad’s lifeless body. “I never wanted to take you there, because it’s the worst place to be, but it’s the only place I can keep you safe.” Grand-dad looks behind him at Uncle David, and deep inside I know he’s lying to me.

“Why can’t we leave the country?” I ask.

“Because we have enemies everywhere. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.” It’s the first time in my eight years I’ve seen my grand-dad scared. But of what? Who will come after me, or the place we are going to?

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