Page 17 of Poison Aches

Two figures in black storm towards us.

In the snow, I vaguely recognize one of them, but why the hell are they here?

“There she is!” one of them shouts.

She?

I realize then that I’m crouching in front of the tattered wooden ledge.

They can only see the girl, not me, but why are my uncle’s people coming for the girl?

“W-who are they?” she suddenly stutters.

“You don’t know them?” I quickly demand, to which she shakes her head, completely confused and dumbfounded.

If she doesn’t know them, why are they here for her?

“M-maybe they are here to question me,” she rushes out.

“Question you?”

“Yes, the police have been questioning me about that night.”

“Which night?”

“Three nights ago when Gramps died saving me.”

Three nights ago…

It’s like a wrecking ball just crashed into me, shattering every bone, every thought, every feeling…

Before I can stop myself, I grab the girl’s arm and shake her. “Did you just say three nights ago was when your grandfather died?”

“Ouch, let go,” she whispers.

“Tell me!”

“Yes,” she cries. “Now let go!”

“How?”

“What?”

“How did he die?”

Fresh tears well up in her eyes. “An accident.”

An accident?

“Don’t tell me it was the one by Brooke Highway?” I mutter, feeling like I’m having an out-of-body experience.

“Yes! How did you know?”

I stare at the girl.

My mother disappeared three nights ago… last seen on Brooke Highway.

And now my uncle’s men are coming for the girl.

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