Into The Forest

Chapter 11: I Refuse

 Rinji. Of all people, it couldn't possibly be him. 

 Jack came around from behind me and completely froze. Cayden held tightly to the note as he slowly moved it towards Jack. 

"Here..." He said as he took the note "We'll get the bastard who did this. He'll get what's coming to him." 

The dead and distraught look in his eyes even made me mad at Rinji. "But we don't even know if it was him!" I exclaimed. The boys turned and looked at me and I noticed Jack was laughing. "I'm sorry." He said. "I can't take you seriously in an authority position..." Thats the last straw. I stood up and walked back down, passing the door. 

"Where the hell are you going?" Cayden remarked.

"Obviously to find Ryker and Rinji, we need to re group!" I shouted as I made my way back down the staircase in a panicked rush. I had one last step, but Jack put his hand on my shoulder and gave me the saddest look. "What is it?" I asked. I still knew this was a tender moment for everyone, but I had to get Ryker. "He could have killed them all ya know? I don't need to lose anyone else right now..." Tears filled his eyes as he let go of my shoulder. I turned back to them and saw sadness in all their eyes. All but Cayden. "Hey." I called out to him, curious. "What!" His eyes shot an arrow through me and  I needed to catch my breath.  "We need to find the others." We couldn't waste any more time here, not with a possible  crazy around and supposedly among us. 

Who is this madman!? I could imagine him looking at us. He's laughing. Harder. Now uncontrollably on the inside, with no remorse for those lives he took.  Completely and utterly out of his own mind. 

"Let's go find them then...If that's what you really want. Boys, you don't have to come if you don't wish. We can all meet up in the Closed Tavern once we get the guys alright?" He sounded sure that everyone would be okay. It gave me hope that we would find the others and the truth behind this all. Maybe that's why Rinji didn't want to go to the house with us...

We walked down the main street in silence with only the street lights to show us the way. "You know..." Cayden said. "I've got something to confess before we find them." I waited as he drew a breath that didn't seem to have a end anytime soon. "I was there with you...in that orphanage." There's no way. "I've never seen you until the night you rescued Ryker and I." He paused then looked away towards the ocean. "I've known you ever since you arrived at the orphanage. That's kind of rude to say you never noticed me. Don't you think?" I felt uneasy. He wasn't Keith...he couldn't be. Better to be safe than sorry... "Keith?" I asked softly, stopping where I stood. I needed to see for myself who he is. He started laughing. He laughed the same way I pictured the madman in my mind. "Keith huh? You think I'm that son of a gun?!" His voiced was raised and made me shake. Who? Who are you Cayden? "How am I supposed to know? That was years ago!" I slowly backed away. He seemed like a whole new person when he was angry. "Get away from her!" A voice echoed in the distance. 

It was Rinji. 

"Speak of the devil himself..." Cayden spat, with anger still boiling in his eyes. Ryker was following him, holding a pocket knife, covered in fresh blood. "Ryker! Why do you have that?!" I yelled and pointed at his knife. What is going on... Ryker hid the weapon and said,"This bastard is the legitimate son of your parents Kassidy!" Cayden's eyes dashed toward him, but with a different kind of attitude behind them. "Why should she or I believe your lies? Huh!"  He didn't seem to be on the defensive side, but still slightly annoyed by Rykers claims. Rinji stepped forward and started to explain. "I remember you ,Cayden. I remember your parents put you into the orphanage because you were obsessive over people and their reactions to pain.  You used to stalk Kass while she was there ever since you heard her cry. I shouldn't have let you go with those people Kass and I'm sorry. If I could have convinced you differently, you could have been spared from them. His parents got into the 'art' of torture and took him back. I doubt you ever saw him until the night of his brave 'rescue." How does he kno- "Keith?" I exclaimed. "No wait, then that means..." All along, it was you wasn't it...My pretend savior from those retched people...just to study how we deal with pain. No...that can't be right! I refuse to believe it!  "Is it true Cayden?! What is he going on about?"  I could see Ryker pull out the knife again from the corner of my eye. "How did you find all of this ou-" My question was cut short by Cayden. 

"Tell me...Keith." He spoke with enough harshness to break winter. "Why didn't I kill you first?" It can't be... "Because you knew you couldn't beat me alone. Plus I'm better with knives than you." Rinji replied with a snarl.  

Cayden's eyes fell down to the ground. "Then maybe this will slow you down." I turned to my side to see him also pull out a pocketknife and turn towards me. What?!

"STOP!" I hear Rinji say as he lunges forward taking the knife out of Rykers hand. 

It was too late...