Page 86 of Semblance

“We have at least four dead at the Metropolitan Condo,” one of them radioed in. My gaze followed one of the officers, who examined the body of the hotel’s concierge, still sitting in his swivel chair behind the desk, a single bullet hole through his head.

At the entrance two security guards were lying in a pool of their own blood, eyes wide and mouth agape.

“Miss, are you alright?” one of the cops asked me. I looked up at him, shook my head and unleashed a howl as I clung onto Abraham’s body.

I closed my eyes and couldn’t help but remember all the warm moments we shared together, the pleasant exchanges and conversations that touched my heart and made me happy to have a friend like him.

“You have a knife in your back. Let’s get you to the hospital,” the officer continued to drone in the background.

“I don’t need anything from you!” I screamed. “Just find the asshole and kill him. Just kill him.”

Everything that happened after was a blur—the trip to the hospital, the examination by the paramedics and doctors, and the statements the detectives took from me.

The one thing I did remember clearly was Shadow appearing in my private room at the hospital, several hours later, his fists clenched and a pensive look on his face. There was something about his presence that both comforted and terrified me.

“Shadow,” I said, acknowledging his presence.

“Are you hurt?” he asked me.

“A few bruised ribs and thirty-two stitches in my shoulder to patch up the knife wound in my back,” I said. “Hurts like a bitch but I’m not dead yet.”

He stood up and examined my wounds for a moment and then kissed me on the forehead before sitting back down.

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could take the pain away. When I heard about the attack, I rushed back as fast as I could. I needed to know that you’re okay. I need to know that you were safe.”

“I’m safe with you around,” I replied.

“Abraham…” Shadow began. “Did he suffer?”

I shook my head.

Shadow collapsed in the seat in front of my bed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he exhaled.

After a moment of silence, he finally said, “That’s good.”

“If it wasn’t for him, I would be dead,” I said. “Abraham fought to protect me. He saved my life.”

“The old man always did have fight in him,” Shadow said with a forced smile. Despite the calmness in his voice, I could see that he was hurting deep inside.

Abraham was a guardian to Shadow. What kind of cruel world was it where a man suffered the loss of not one, but two fathers?

“I’m sorry Shadow,” I began.

“Why are you sorry?” he replied with tenderness in his voice. “You weren’t the one who killed him.”

“I know he was close to you,” I said, suddenly finding myself crying. “He was a good friend to me as well. He meant a lot to me.”

“He did tell me that you had his daughter’s smile,” Shadow said. The sound of his voice cracking was unmistakable. I watched as he rose from his seat and stared out the window, his back turned to me. “The fucker who did this will pay. I’ve already put a hit out on the White Crow. With the vast network that the Midnight Society has, it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught.”

“His brother tried to kill me,” I said. “I shot him in the stomach and Abraham put the final bullet through his head. The Black Crow is dead.”

Shadow turned to me, a look of surprise on his face.

There was a moment of silence as Shadow seemingly thought of something to say. Finally, he spoke. “Good,” he said. “You did good.”

“Why would anyone want to hurt me?” I asked.

“Because I’m the idiot who ended up choosing you,” Shadow replied. “I was reckless and stupid. I should have known that if the Midnight Society was targeted, your life would be in danger without the backing of a recognized family name. I was selfish for selecting you and for that, I can’t apologize enough.”

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