When Shadows Rise | I

Ch. 28 | Talk to me

A/N: This is probably one of the longest chapters I've written. But I feel like I owe it to you guys, since I made you wait this long for an update 😅 anyways, enjoy!

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Like any overprotective father would do when he and his child were being hunted by ninja assassins, Seth drove Talia to school this morning. He didn't even wait for his daughter to have her say in the matter; it wasn't a request, but a requirement. Talia knew that there was no changing his mind, so she went along with it. Besides, maybe it wasn't all bad. Now that she was alone with him, she could take advantage of the few minutes she had to talk about the things they didn't get the chance to last night.

"Abba, can I ask you something?" Talia asked when her father made a left turn.

Her father gave her the side-eye before replying, "You already did."

Talia made a 'pfft' sound. "No, I mean, like, an actual question."

"An actual question? There are no actual questions. Just questions."

"I. . . this may sound a little bizarre and unexpected, but. . ."

Talia took a moment to collect the words she was going to say out loud inside of her head. Her father was clearly waiting for her question.

Finally, Talia asked: "Are you okay?"

Seth blinked a couple times. He was not expecting that question in particular. He was so taken aback, that he didn't know what to say for the first few moments.

"Why do you ask?"

Talia frowned. Her phone vibrated from inside her backpack. She checked it, and it was a message from April, asking of her whereabouts. Talia sent her a quick reply before setting her phone aside.

"Abba, with the things that have happened in our lives so far. . . losing our home, losing Imma, and now being hunted by a ninja leader and his assassins. . . this is as hard for me as it is for you. I just want to know how you're feeling."

Seth looked straight ahead of him, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. Of all days, why did there have to be so much traffic today? "What about you?" He turned Talia's question against her. "If I had to guess, the nightlights in your room are because you have nightmares— nightmares about her. Her death follows you."

Talia couldn't help but sigh when her father completely ignored her question. "I did say that I've been having trouble trying to make peace with sleeping. But you did not answer my question. Are you okay?"

The light turned green. Seth almost immediately slammed his foot on the accelerator. "I am fine, dewdrop. You don't have to worry about me; it should be the other way around."

Talia folded her arms in disbelief. "You're my father. How can I not worry about you? You won't talk about Imma, especially not with me, and you lock yourself away at work. I really think you should talk to someone and that's why I say that we should try grief counseling."

Seth gripped the wheel once hearing the word 'grief counseling'. "I don't need to talk to a therapist about my feelings. This is my problem and my problem alone."