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Chapter 2

It has been one week. One week of locking myself in my home. One week of jumping at any sound that rings through my home. One week since Mack’s death, and I can't seem to erase a single second of that horrendous incident from my mind.

The guilt shoots up inside of me every second of every day. If only I hadn't been so stubborn. Why did i have to always be right. If i only listened to Mack, he would be right here with me and not somewhere, where I can't even find him. Cremate him. Say goodbye.

I startled from my spot on the couch mindlessly watching tv when my front door started banging. Shaking immensely I slowly stepped towards the door, not making any sound.

“Mars! Open the damn door right now” A voice came through the door and relief coursed through me, I immediately ran towards the door, throwing it open.

“Ana!” I hugged her tight before the door completely opened, sobs racking through my body with a mix of fear and pain.

After staying away from everyone and everything, it was so comforting to have someone with me right now especially my sister, my best friend.

"What is going on?" Ana exclaimed trying to steady herself and me.

I slowly lifted my weight off of her so that she could have the chance to move us into the apartment and close the door. As soon as she was done immediately ran towards the door and locked it, fear shivering up my spine.

After that night my paranoia was all over the place. Ana sported a concerned look on her face that spoke volumes to what I most probably looked like. I took Ana’s hand and led her towards my couch. “Mars you are scaring me. What is going on?” She repeated and I took a deep breath.

“Mack’s dead.” My voice was barely above a whisper. I lifted my eyes up towards Ana’s and she was white as a ghost. Tears welled up again as the whole scene flashed in front of my eyes.

“Wha..What?” Ana’s voice cracked as she spoke. It was quite surprising she was that shaken up considering she never liked him but i did just drop this bomb on her. “When? How did…?”

“A week ago. It's all my fault. If only I didn't force him to go see where that scream came from. Why am I so hellbent on always being right.” My hands started shaking and I didnt even notice when Ana stood up and took a few steps backwards. Away from me.

I raised my eyes to her only to see disgust and hatred and it shook me to the core, what was that look. “What do you mean it's your fault?” Ana said but her voice shook just as much as mine did, but hers wasn't out of gut wrenching guilt and sadness. There was something else in her voice, something i never heard before.

“Ana, there were some people waiting for us. They knew Mack. I don't know anything but all i know is Mack knew them as well and he called him Mr. Knight”. Ana paled further hearing that.

“What? That's not possible.” Ana bent her head down her chest and started mumbling something and I knew something was wrong. Did she know Mr. Knight? What is going on with her?

I slowly stood up and walked towards her. Placing my hands on her shoulders, I slightly shook her. “Ana what is going on with you? What are you saying? What isn't possible?” My voice pitched higher with each word and although thoughts came in my mind, I couldn't grasp them.

I didn't want to.

“I have to go.” Ana said and moved backwards but i tightened my hold.

“What do you mean? You are not going anywhere. I’m your sister. You can tell me what's going on Ana.” Even before I finished the sentence Ana was shaking her head. She still wouldn't look at me. I placed my hands on either side of her face and lifted her face. Moving her blond hair away from her face. Tears ran down her face and confusion as well as fear shivered in me.

“Ana I swear to God if you don't start speaking up, I will lose my mind.” My hands fell down my sides and I started pacing around the living room.

My confused and dysfunctional mind took a few minutes to realize Ana was out the door before i could even turn back around.

My heart broke even further thinking of all and any scenarios that could have happened, for her to give such a reaction.

She was the strong one amongst the two of us. But she was also the rebellious one. After Mom and dad died when she was twelve. It was hard raising her up all on my own. But as she grew up she was getting more and more hard to control and later on after I started my bakery when i was twenty two, she decided she wanted to co-own it with me. Happy to finally see some responsibility in her I let her. Being six years older has never been easy for me. I was given the role of a mother at eighteen and I tried my best to fulfill it but I never could. And she told me that every step of the way.

She expressed her immense hatred when Mack and I started dating five years ago. She wouldn't step foot in a room where Mack was and till the end of time never made an effort to try to work it out with him. Not even for me, her sister. Mack always disregarded her behavior as he would of a little sister and for that i was always grateful. He never held her behavior over me.

Taking a deep breath, i decided this was the last day i shed another tear. I would hold myself up and get back to work first thing in the morning.

Decision made, I wiped my tears and and moved myself towards the bathroom, wanting a long shower to wash the whole week away.

It was time I stopped thinking and started doing. I will honor Mack’s death the way he deserved it. And start a fresh start.

— — — — —

Two days later.

With a heavy heart, I took a step forward towards the busy street where my bakery was, determination filled me when I thought about my future. It was time I left the darkness and shadows behind and went back to the old me.

I still jumped when certain noises occurred. But I won't let this hold me back. It has been more than a week and I will prove to myself that I can move forward.

I was a bit worried about Ana. It has been two days since I heard from her. I've been trying to reach her out but no response. I don't know what is going on but suspicion enters my mind occasionally whenever I think about her reaction. I don't want to believe it but the signs are all over the place.

Shaking my head, and ridding myself of all the thoughts I unlocked my bakery hoping to see everything in place.

But nothing was the way it was supposed to be, the tables were covered in nine days worth of dust and the food items were ruined due to the lack of regard.

It was quite evident that Ana did not open the shop in my absence at all. It was her responsibility to take care of the bakery when I wasn't there, clearly being the co-owner comes to mind whenever it suits her.

Shaking my head at her irresponsible behavior I pulled up my phone and tried to call her again but as usual it went straight to voicemail. Worry swelled up again but I rid myself of the thoughts because this was what Ana does.

Locking the door behind me I started dusting and cleaning, my mind moving back to Mack. I still had to finalize the funeral I was planning. Mack had a brother, Joe, that I still wasn't able to get in contact with.

Everything is so confusing for me, I had no idea what to do next.

I started cleaning when there was a knock on the door. Looking at it I saw Lexi waving through the glass.

A smile turned up on my face and I moved to open the door. I hired Lexi a year ago when the crowd got way too much for Ana and me to handle. She has been like a part of a family ever since.

As soon as i opened the door, she swooped me up in a hug. “Where have you been?” Her blue eyes held worry and I had to smile at that. She was nineteen now and felt more like a sister than an employee. “I tried calling you but your phone was switched off and even Ana didn't hear from you.”

I moved towards my duster and started cleaning again. “I just wasn't feeling well. I thought Ana had everything covered.”

She rolled her eyes at that. “You know she would be counting her lucky stars that you weren't here. More time for herself.” I shook my head at that. That was our Ana.

Lexi went towards the kitchen and started cleaning there. It took us about an hour to clean off the whole place and another four hours to complete the baking. If it wasn't for Lexi I wouldn't have been done with cleaning alone.

There was still time to open the bakery but I was way too tired to do so.

I didn't feel nice asking Lexi about this but I just couldn't stay here for another second. I was way too tired. “Hey Lexi! Do you mind opening up for just a couple of hours? I would stay but I'm way too tired for my legs to work right now.”

Lexi looked up from her task of wiping the counters and smiled brightly. “Don't worry Mars, I'll take care of everything and close up. Go and take some rest and I’ll hand you the keys on my way home.”

“Don't worry about the keys. I have an extra set. You keep them with you in case of an emergency.” I said with a smile. I have never trusted anyone with such an responsibility but Lexi has proved her loyalty over and over again over the past year. And considering Ana’s behavior this past week. This was a necessary step.

Her eyes widened with shock and she stepped towards me with a wobbly smile and hugged me tighter than she ever had. My own throat closed up and I had to clear it to speak without breaking my voice. “Now come on girly. Don't get all weepy on me. Get up there.”

She pulled away with a nod and turned around, most probably didn't want me to see her that teary.

With a light heart I left the shop and turned towards my building which was just a few blocks away.

Something gnawed at the back of my head and I took steps towards the dark alley where my nightmare happened. I knew nothing would be there except pain and memories but my legs just won't collaborate with my mind. It was like they had a mind of their own.

As I stepped inside the alley, there was no trace of Mack or anyone else. Not even the blood that spilled that night.

It was as if nothing happened. I move forward where Mack once laid dead.

Life is so unfair. One moment we were planning to take vacation and the next he wasn't there at all.

I turned to move away when something caught my eye, taking a few steps forward I bent down to pick that up. It turned out to be a cufflink.

Turning it towards me, what I saw made fear shiver up my body.

The initials "KK" taunted me that my nightmare had just begun.

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