Page 77 of The Dark Obsession

Chapter 25

Idon’t dare breathe as we pull up to my house, tears swimming in my eyes. Blue light flashes throughout my dark neighbourhood, and several officers are dotted around the front lawn.

Rafael slows the car, and time seems to crawl.

As the car stops, I know I need to move, but my legs don’t want to comply and refuse to move an inch.

Rafael runs around the car, the blue against his skin making him seem paler than ever. He opens the door, with bloodshot eyes. He almost carries me from the car, holding onto my shoulders to support me when he stands me up. His lips brush my forehead, his hands tight on my shoulders. “Rosalie, do you want to hang back here?”

I shake my head childishly. “No.” I walk ahead of him until a policeman meets me on the pathway to my house.

“Rafael,” the police officer says, watching me with pity in his eyes.

“Tell me.” Rafael puts an arm around me.

“Knife wound to the neck; no weapon left. Forensics are searching for evidence. Happened about an hour and a half ago. The victim’s son reported a break-in and requested an ambulance. He said he was at the shop, and when he got back, his father was on the floor. We can’t find Benjamin anywhere.”

I stare at my house, trying to understand that the victim is my father.

Rafael nods before heading towards my house and striding through the front door.

A team of police personal litter my hallway as I approach the entrance. “Wait,” I whimper.

My house doesn’t look like mine anymore, there are strangers in every corner, all of them bow their head in my direction as we pass through the hall. I grab Rafael’s shirt, pulling him back, but my fingers don’t work. The material slips from my grasp and I fall a few steps behind him.

Rafael halts and faces me, shoving his balled up fists into his pockets. His angry eyes soften somewhat when he sees my tremulous body. “Wait here, please. Let me see before. I don’t want you seeing something you don’t need to.” Rafael’s words are soft, but his eyes are rigid and cold. Anger and hatred has torn his usual beauty. He turns and slowly enters the kitchen.

My stomach burns, and a high-pitched noise completely distorts my hearing. I stand, trembling from head to toe, awaiting his return.This can’t be happening.Not my father, it should be me. This can’t be true.My thoughts echo through my mind, breaking through the high-pitched screeching.

“Cover him. His daughter is here,” Rafael growls.

I hear a scramble of noise and decide it’s time. Putting one foot slowly in front of another, I walk to the kitchen. I put my hands together, clinging onto my shaking fingers, and stare at my feet as silence fills the room. I know I must see and say goodbye, to hold his hand before it’s freezing, to kiss my father before the colour in his usually pink cheeks is gone.

“No, not yet,” Rafael says, spinning me around.

“I need to!”

Rafael sighs, drawing my attention to his pale face. His eyes are dark and watery, his lips pulled down, a brokenhearted angel.

I glance to my side and notice someone, another stranger. His expression is soft, his hands cover his mouth, he watches me as I survey the familiar cupboards, trying to understand.

“Okay.” He peers over my head at what must be several people.

People shuffle together to the other side of the room, maybe to give me some space.

My heart slows almost to a stop; each breath I take seems to be endless—my own personal torture.

Rafael moves first, and I don’t dare look around. I keep my focus on his burly back.

He crouches onto his knees, and I hear the ruffle of a sheet and Rafael breathe deeply.

I fall to my knees, my tears flooding my eyes. The image of my father’s face is a blur. I scrub my eyes and look once more.

Rafael has the sheet covering my father’s body and neck; only his face is visible. His blue and now bloodshot and partially cloudy eyes stare at the ceiling.

My head thumps as I lean in and kiss his still warm cheek one last time.

His face is white, and his lips are so pale; still, he looks like he’s simply sleeping.

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