Untold Truth

Chapter 9

I take of my clothes in my room and examine my injuries. I have a big bruise from where he kicked me and and small one on my wrist. But it's nothing compared to my back. It's swollen and there are 10 red slashes. They will go away eventually but they'll leave scars, over the old ones there.

I take a shower and try to do my hair and makeup quickly as possible, knowing that I spent to much time in the forest and with my dad. I grab the dress my dad bought and left on my bed for me. It's a little yellow cocktail dress. I pick out some shoes to go with it and look in the mirror. The bright yellow of the strapless dress makes me look less pale but it makes my red eyes more obvious. But, you can't tell I was just beaten so that's a plus.

My dad always says that I can't tell anyone about him beating me. He says that he would get in trouble, because he's to old fashioned. He used to tell me that it was illegal to be old fashioned, and that he would go to jail. He would even say that if he went to jail, then I'd move in with my uncle in New York. But my uncle is part of a gang, and has been to jail to many times. So I was never aloud to tell anyone. Naturally after a while I figured out that he wasn't just being old fashioned. But I still couldn't tell anyone. My dad is to smart and he would find a was to kill me if I told or ran away. I used to think about suicide but my friends at school looked up to me to much.

Theres a knock at my door and my dad speaks through it, "Are you almost ready? Our guests will be here in 10 minutes." Perfect timing.

"Yes dad. I'm ready and I'll be down shortly." I say but I know he's already gone. I check again for any visible marks then take a deep breath and head downstairs to meet the Santias.

My dad is down there and in a nice suit. I smell spaghetti. He looks at me with disgust in his eyes and says, "Remember not to embarrass me." I of course can't blame him for being upset. I am a terrible daughter. How would I feel if I came home to find my daughter not home?

"Of course I will be on my best behavior. And dad, I'm sorry for earlier. It was completely wrong of me to leave the house." He looks a little happier, but for once this doesn't make me happy. I look into his eyes. I see a burning fire. I haven't looked him dead in the eyes since he started to beat me. Suddenly, I just want to hurt him. I think his power on me is starting to wear off of me. I shouldn't feel bad for leaving the house. Now I wish I could take back my apology.

The bell rings and my dad heads to the door. I hear him let the Santias in and I come out to meet them. All I see is a woman.

"Mandy, this is my daughter Karlie." He introduces me to a women in her late 20s. She has platinum blond hair and an hourglass but muscular figure. Her beauty makes me feel like a mere mortal. Her ice blue eyes tear into me and send a shiver down my spine.

"Nice to meet you." I say as politely as possible extending my hand for a shake.

She smiles down to me, "An' to you. Yo' fater 'as told me a lot aboot you" She says in a thick German accent. "Ken will be 'ere shortly. 'e 'ad to geet something out of thee car."

"No need, for I am here now," comes a joyful voice that far sounds familiar. A man with a cheery smile appears in the door way and my heart stops.

The man from the woods earlier comes towards me smiling that goofy smile that I despise so much. No, he died. If only Jack was here. I look to my dad in concern but he just gives me a fake smile. Of course he wouldn't understand my panic.

"Karlie, this is Ken Santias. He and his fiancé have recently become colleagues of mine." Ken laughs laughs at my father words.

"There's no need to be so formal, Neil." Says Ken. "Karlie, we are new business partners, but you can call me Ken." He shakes my hand, but in a weak way. My dad always used to tell me that if someone shakes your hand weakly and not strong and firmly, then they are weak and shouldn't be trusted.

"Nice to meet you, Ken..." I say trailing off. Feeling courageous I ask, "Have I seen you around the high school before?" Maybe I can hint that I know who he is.

Ken laughs. "No no. That would be my twin, Sam." He explains. Is he lying?

"You have a twin?" I ask trying not to sound to curious.

"Yes. We are rather close," he says eyeing me strangely. He knows I know something.

"Well, shall we get on with dinner?" Chides in my dad ending the awkwardness.

"Yes 'et's" says Mandy, already walking to the dinning room. My dad follows closely behind. Ken looks at me again before catching up with everyone else. My dad serves us and everyone begins to eat.

"This is wonderful spaghetti, Neil. Though you couldn't have picked a more basic meal," Ken comments in a joking manner.

"I'm pleased you like it then." There's something wrong with this meal. Everyone is to stiff.

The rest of dinner my dad and the Santias talk in some work lingo that I don't understand. I just sit there and smile pretty, as my dad would tell me to do. I don't even pay attention to their conversation, I just smile and nod.

"Would you like that, Karlie," I snap out of my thoughts hearing my name. I look around.

"What was that?" I ask. My dad gives me the look.

"I said 'ould you like to geet your nails doon with me sumetime?" Asks Mandy.

"Oh yes very much." I say. I don't know if I trust her. A funky ringtone goes off before Mandy can continue.

"Excuse me. I believe that's my phone." Ken laughs, then picks it up.

"Hello?... Yes.... Why yes I am.... No I don't.... No I didn't.... What?!" At this point Kens face turned into a very sorrowful expression. "Yes of course, thank you Officer."

Everyone at the table looks at him in question. Ken bows his head and I hear him give out a small sob.

"Are you alright Ken? You look like death." My dad comments.

He clears his throat and says, "That was the police. They... They found my twin brother, Sam, dead in the forest." Not good. They found his twin. Mandy sits up and rushes over to Ken to hug him. Shit. I want to excuse myself but that would be suspicious.

"If you'll excuse us, wee ought to be 'eeding 'ome now." Says Mandy. My dad bods and walks them to the door.

"Call and let me know when they find out more." My dad says. Mandy nods a thank you and leads Ken out the door.

I sit there in shock. How did they find the body? Didn't Jack hide it. Or an animal eat it? And would Ken find out I had something to do with it? What would my dad do if he knew that's where I was earlier?

My thoughts we're cut off like always by my dad. "Clean this up then go to bed." My dad says, obviously angry that his dinner was interrupted. He's not even upset that his friends just experienced a death. He's all about business.

When he leaves to go upstairs I think about the events of today. It was a long day. I was almost kidnapped but I was saved by the mystery boy, whom's name I now know. We became friends and he had to see me get beat. But worst of all; I helped kill a man who's twin brother I ate dinner with.