Keditha's Destiny

Chapter Twenty Six

"We need to search this place. Find anything we can on where Athena could've gone." I tell Kenny and Ralph. They remain motionless on the couch. "Guys... I know you're grieving but..."

"Shut up Julian!" Kenny snaps, standing up. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to hear any of your crap." He storms off into his room, his door slams loudly.

I sigh, turning to Ralph. "Raph?" I question.

"Nah, I'm good mate."

"Are you doing okay? With all this?" I ask him. "You know with Donnie and everything."

Ralph shrugs, frowning. "I didn't know him as long as you did, but I do miss him... strangely enough."

"You can still miss him, even if you didn't know him well." I assure him. I know we haven't treated him the best since he showed up, Donnie was the only one who was really nice to him. But he was apart of the team and we look out for each other.

Ralph nods. "Okay..." He takes a drink from his glass of water and looks back up at me.

"Great." I mumble, heading to my room. Lord, how could this happen? I gave my life to you, I devoted myself to you and now Donnie's dead and Athena's missing.

I scoff, shaking my head. "Diversion." I mutter to myself. "We should've left after he said that." 

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the picture of me and my wife on my dresser. I narrow my eyes. But who killed Donnie and took Athena? The man said they but it couldn't... Could it?

I drop my head into my hands. Last night felt like a blur. We were all too shocked to even look for anything. But so far, nothing seemed to connect to my parents. They were smart and stealthy. Our apartment looked like a tornado blew through it. So it couldn't be them.

Hot tears fall from my face. Both Louis and Donnie. How did I get ourselves into these kinds of messes? I mean usually they weren't bad, yeah they were chaotic but I never lost anyone.

A strange sense of sadness and emptiness filled me. A feeling I haven't experienced since my parents left. The closet thing I've ever had to family, brothers, were gone. Kenny won't even talk to me and even if he does he usually snaps at me. Not to mention my wife was missing.

Everything I love was slipping away from me.

I grab my Bible which was next to Louis's cards on my nightstand, desperate for some comfort and guidance. Running my hand across the leather cover, I inhale sharply. I thought after I accepted Christ everything would be so much easier but I was wrong.

Things are still difficult but now I have someone watching over me, someone who helps me.

I lift the leather cover and a small folded slip of paper falls out.

I place my Bible to the side so I could pick of the piece of paper. What was this? This hasn't been here before.

When I open it, a note with Louis's handwriting in it. Louis wrote me this? When did he do this?

Julian,

I know this is strange and I'm sorry. But something has happened, I can't really explain now.

I just need you to meet me in the Boxcord warehouse.

Kenny will be with me, that I promise. All of this will be explained soon, in due time. Love you brother.

Louis

Underneath the letter was another note written but in different handwriting I didn't recognize.

Be there when you get this note. And come alone.

We'll be watching.

I stiffen. Was the Louis part written when he was being held hostage by my parents? Does this mean all this was caused by my parents? Were they working with Hollister's men?

I stuff the note into my pocket, putting my gun into my Holster then exit my room.

Kenny was back in the living room, talking with Ralph. "Where are you heading?" He asks me.

"No where." I mumble, heading for the door.

Kenny blocks my path. "Don't lie to me Julian." He snaps.

I clench my jaw, looking at the floor. "Tread lightly Kenny..." I threaten.

"Cut the crap Julian! I'm tired of your stupid attitude and your rules." He snaps. "We should've gotten rid of you when your parents kidnapped you."

I bite my tongue, trying to ignore what he was saying. He doesn't mean it. He's just grieving, he's just upset. "Leave me alone Kenny."

"You're just-"

I shove Kenny into the wall, cutting him off. "Shut up!" I yell. "You're tired of my attitude? What about your attitude? I'm just as upset as you!"

Kenny only glares at me so I continue. "You didn't even know Donnie as long as I did! You don't think this is killing me? The only difference is I'm trying to continue, I'm trying to hold face for you and Ralph and because I need to find my freaking wife!"

"Julian, this is-"

I cut him off again. "You're just taking it out on me! Stop being a child and grow up." I snap, throwing the door open. Kenny flinches to the side so it wouldn't hit him.

I dart to my car. I had to get to Boxcord Lane. I had to save Athena, it's the least I could do after losing Louis and Donnie.

I race down the road, taking alleyways and hidden roads to avoid getting pulled over. I park right in front of the warehouse's door.

I say a short little prayer before exiting my car and entering the warehouse.

Nothing about it has changed since last time.

A fainted blood stain remained from when I killed the man. And the chairs still remained.

"Hello?" I yell. My voice echos through the room. But no one answers.

Hopefully they were here, and with a very much alive Athena. Lord please let her be alive.

I wander the room, running my hand across the tops of the chairs. I step over the blood stain even though it wasn't necessary. That's something I wish I could take back.

"You should reveal yourself soon or I'm going to leave. Your choice." I yell again, it was quickly followed by a echo then silence.

I sigh heavily, making my way to the door. "Fine then." I say.

"Julian."