Page 20 of Back In the Shadows

I stared at my friends, aware of the expressions of dread on their faces. Dope was full-on fidgeting like a little kid caught stealing a candy bar from a store, and Kip was vibrating with nervous energy. Dread curdled in my stomach as it clenched, the tension in the room feeding my growing agitation.

“What are you hiding? I need to know so that we can find Ella before … before it’s too …” I couldn’t say it. No matter what, I had to try to stay positive for our kids and my own sanity.

“He’s baiting you,” Ryan said. “Whoever the guy is that called is baiting you.”

“To kill him? I’m happy to oblige.”

Kip’s pacing became erratic as he struggled to find the right words. “There’s no easy way to say this, Bass.”

My heart began to race as I braced myself for whatever news they were about to deliver. “Just tell me, what’s going on?” Idemanded, growing frustrated and impatient with their cryptic behavior.

“You know what. Maybe you should sit down for this.”

“Just fucking tell me!” My words lashed out, reverberating around the enclosed space, as Ryan nodded once to Kip, signaling for him to continue.

Every tick of the clock on the wall seemed infinitely louder, reminding me how little time we had. I was crawling out of my skin with the need for fucking answers.

Kip took a deep breath before continuing, his voice thick with emotion. “Bass, we’ve known each other since we were kids, and Ryan in college. After your parents passed away, Dope and I had to make some tough choices. Choices that we thought were best for you.”

My eyes widened in shock as I turned to Ryan, who avoided my gaze and looked guilt ridden. “What the hell do you mean?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger and betrayal. “I’ve only known Ryan since he started dating Cami.” But even as the words left my mouth, a sinking feeling in my gut told me that there was much more to the story than what they were telling me.

Their heads shook in unison, a silent understanding passing between them. “We met in college,” Ryan finally spoke up, his voice strained with guilt. “But I didn’t hang out with you.”

My jaw clenched as irritation pulsed through my veins. “That makes no fucking sense,” I snarled, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’re losing valuable time to find my wife and you’re giving me some bullshit excuse?”

Kip stepped forward, his eyes full of compassion but also fear. “After you witnessed your parents’ brutal murder … something inside you snapped. A darkness took hold, consuming you. Dope and I saw it happen, and we’ve been trying to help you ever since. But Ryan has seen it too.”

“Everyone has a dark side,” I spat out defensively.

“Not like yours,” Kip countered, his tone grim. “I mean, not everyone in this room has taken a life in cold blood, but you …”

Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to process his words. “I’ve never killed anyone,” I protested. “Sure, I’ve beaten men bloody, but I’ve never committed murder.” Suddenly, a terrifying thought sparked in my brain and realization dawned on me. “Did I accidentally kill someone, and you guys covered it up?” Chills rippled down my spine with the possibility, and the weight of potential guilt crushed my chest.

An oppressive and foreboding silence consumed the room, suffocating me as I scanned the faces of my three friends, hoping for some kind of explanation.

And then, with a grave voice, Dope finally spoke up. “It wasn’t an accident. You have another side to you, Bass. His name is Death.” The words struck me like lightning, my heart racing with fear and confusion. The mysterious caller had been trying to reachDeath, not Sebastian. But who was this Death? Did they mean me? Did they mean someone else inside of me? All three men stared at me intently, as if expecting me to grasp what Dope said. But how could I?

I scrubbed my face with my palms. “I don’t know anyone named Death. And why the hell would he go by that name? It’s stupid.” But before the guys could respond, Ryan dropped another bombshell.

“Because he’s a serial killer.” His voice was calm, as if he were comfortable with the idea. “One of the most wanted in the country. Since we met in college, I’ve helped clean up bodies and evidence after he’s killed.”

“Me too,” Kip added. “We’ve gotten our hands dirty to keep you safe.”

My mind reeled with this information and my stomach clenched as I fought to comprehend it all. Ryan had knownDeath since college and even helped cover up his gruesome crimes. And Kip, always the loyal friend, admitted to sacrificing himself for the sake of protecting me from this monster. How long had they been keeping this secret from me? And how would I stop this other side of myself from taking over completely? Even the mere thought that I was capable of such horrific acts sent me into a tumultuous storm of emotions, the weight of their words crushing me as I struggled to breathe.

“But also protect the families we relocate in society. When I find the women and children we need to help, I then choose sick, fucked-up men for Death to kill.” Dope gulped, his confession twisting my neck and shoulders into painful knots.

“You help this Death character kill, and the other guys clean up?” I could feel the color draining from my face as I attempted to wrap my head around what they were telling me. I was a killer, and apparently, they had blood on their hands too. “If this is true, then why don’t I remember any of it?”

“Because you and Death share the same body and mind, but you’re not aware of each other. We know you’ve tried to mask it, but you lose time, don’t you?”

Dope’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the fog of confusion in my mind. They were right. I lost time and made excuses for it, trying to ignore the truth lurking beneath the surface.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, desperate to understand even a fraction of what they were saying. Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked rapidly. “Yeah. I just put it off on my migraines and move on.”

“Which would make sense because those headaches are bad. You’re in agony when they happen.” Dope folded his arms across his chest. “It’s how we know you’re going to change soon, and Death will appear.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe that there was somethingthatwrong with me. Barking out a laugh, I waved my hands in surrender. “This is a really shitty time to joke. You guys can knock it off now.”

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