Page 88 of Into The Darkness

“It’s the only way we will get revenge.”

“No!” I shouted as I paced around the room. There had to be something else that could happen, aside from freaking murder.

“What fucking house did I grow up in? Where do we just talk about murdering someone because of something their father did?” I screamed and squeezed the beer bottle that Walsh had, the glass shattering all over the ground.

“I won’t accept this as normal!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, my voice reverberating around the room. My next action was a bone-chilling, primal screech that must have echoed throughout the entire town.

“Ember, seriously, calm down.” Walsh’s voice cut through my turmoil as he approached me. I glanced down, my hand covered in blood.

“No,” I declared, my tone dripping with a darkness I hadn’t realized was brewing within me. “Sit down,” I ordered, my gaze shifting to Walsh, who promptly took a seat. My eyes then locked onto my dad, my intent unwavering. “You, too.”

He complied, probably recognizing the gravity of the situation.

“This isn’t right. I refuse to continue living like this. This wasn’t the life you intended to build, Dad. I know there’s a side of you beneath all this, a side that’s still sensitive.” I pointed at him, not caring I was leaving drops of blood on the carpet.

At that moment, an unexpected presence entered the room, their gaze falling upon the blood staining the pristine white floor. A towel was offered to me, but I reacted with a guttural growl, driving them away.

“Get out. Right now.” My command was laced with ferocity, sending the individual scrambling out of the room.

“Mom was a bitch,” I said. I loved my mother, but cheating on my dad after he gave up everything to be with her? Not fucking cool.

“What?” Walsh interjected.

“Mom was an asshole to you, Dad. We killed the guy who killed her. Everything is avenged. Instead of stooping down to their level, we have to find a different path.”

“Mom was planning to kill you?” I added.

“No.” He sighed. “She fell in love, an all-consuming sort of love. When I walked into the house that night, I saw them together. Franco called Mr. Ortiz when I confronted them which only escalated the situation.”

“Why?” I whimpered.

“I loved your mother, and I knew she loved me. But she was chasing this high she felt from Franco. He was a bad man, though. He didn’t want to love your mom, she was just a pawn in their scheme which was the downfall to all of this.”

“I swear to God, if I find out either of you kill Ash, I will personally avenge his death.”

The threat was the truth. I could not live without him. Sure, I was disgusted by him at the moment, but I knew deep, deep down I would do anything to protect him.

“Grandpa wanted—”

“Fuck Grandpa, he’s dead.” I crossed my arms over my chest, and Walsh snorted, letting out a small laugh.

“Damn, sis, I didn’t realize you had this side in you.” He shook his head in approval, and for the first time since this conversation started, my lips lifted in a small smile.

“Have you ever talked to Mr. Ortiz?” I asked. “Like a real sit-down adult conversation without threats of murder?” Maybe I was too idealistic to live in this world, but I would do absolutely anything possible to protect Ash. Anything.

“Ember . . ."My dad trailed off.

“Well, have you?” I repeated, and he shook his head.

“Arrange a meeting,” I insisted. My dad’s expression shifted, and he swallowed before mustering a deep breath and approaching me.

“Ember, you need to end your relationship with him. I’ll set up the meeting, but you have to promise not to attend that bonfire, and you can’t continue dating him,” he said in a measured tone.

“Why?” I questioned. With all the complexities surrounding us, an ultimatum seemed like the last thing I needed.

“Because, even though you might believe it’s harmless, it’s not safe. This is a mess decades in the making. Even if I can convince his father to talk, there are layers of issues we have to unravel,” he explained, his seriousness resonating with me.

I turned to Walsh, seeking his perspective.

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