Greed - The First Sin

Chapter Five- Trapped

          Diego was tired.

          He was constantly being questioned and the only three people that were going out of their way to defend him were his mother, Danielle, and Peter. This whole situation brought him great misery, and he tried to express his remorse to Martin's parents, but it seemed they were too distraught to listen to reason.

          Every time he went to the Hue's household to 'apologize',(at his mother's insistence), it always went the same way. They were actually happy to see him, and very welcoming, from the outside, you could dare say nothing appeared to be wrong. However, a few minutes into their visit, and it would start to get tense, the memory of their son's passing weighing down on their conscience, causing them to ask him if there was anything he could have done to stop this, and other questions.

          Was there anything I could've done?.. He thought hard, his head resting on his hands. His bed creaked as he threw himself back, staring at the ceiling. His parents wanted him to lay low for the next few days, and avoid school until this all blew over. However, with much reluctance, he admitted to himself that he did indeed miss the atmosphere. The principal and vice-principal had spoken with his parents and had moved him into a few classes with Danielle, to try and cheer him up.

          What good is that if I can't go anyways? Will she even miss me, or will Peter keep her distracted? His jaw clenched at the thought of that perfect know-it-all, but he didn't have the energy to start thinking about him. The lifeless eyes of Martin were burned into his memory, the white eyes devoid of anything but still, petrified fear. Whoever had killed him had drained half the blood from his body, much like the dog from before, which also meant that Diego was a target of something.

          His thoughts were cut short by a sudden knock on his door. He stayed silent as the door opened without answer not a second later, his father walking through. A foul smell filled the room, like burning flesh and earth. He wished he could shut his nose much like he did his mouth, but the earthy smell was filling his lungs even with him holding his breath.

          "Diego, I'm going to ask you this once." His father's hoarse and dry voice had no signs of fatherly love, or affection, just full of malice, and hatred. Diego occasionally wondered why his mother married him. Was he always like this? No, Mother wouldn't love someone like this. But then who made him angry? Was it Diego? Oftentimes these questions led to a common answer.

          It had to be Diego. His mother implied one time when he had asked this very question, that his father had changed right after Diego was born. Before, he used to look the same, but he was the nicest person in the world. But then he changed, like a snap of his fingers. He got his new job, where he saved innocent lives with an organization. A noble cause, but if only the organization knew of his secret agenda.

          Perhaps he was behind the sudden appearance of Martin's body. No, that wasn't possible. Was it?

          "When did you notice the body?" He stepped forward, closing Diego's bedroom door behind him. The boy took a sharp breath, sitting up slowly. Maybe his father did do it.

          Why did he say it like that? He didn't ask me if I killed Martin like I thought he was going to say.

          "When I screamed, father." Remnant shook his head softly, taking his mask off. It still gave Diego the creeps when he did this, it was as if his face was stuck in the preservation of being burned constantly as if nothing could heal it. Perhaps his flames are too strong.

          "I said, don't lie to me." He let out a small growl, before taking another step toward Diego's bed. The small boy yelped, backing up against his bed frame. What is he going to do to me?