NUMB

24 - Maryse's escape

!W! Use of strong language.

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The deafening silence hovering over their heads was like a small paper cut for Alec, it wasn't visible, but painful. He had just now poured the majority of his past in front of his family and friends, leaving the parts where he had actually murdered with will instead of being forced to. That phase started months before he met Valreen, the phase when he started to believe that he was gone into a hellhole that nobody could escape from, but he did with the help of Valreen, and he'd be forever grateful for that.

While telling his story, he didn't fail to notice the expressions of Jace and Luke. While Luke had a sympathetic and horrified look, Jace was in tears. He had a recollection of their uncle, who betrayed their family and sold him to Night Ghosters. He remembered the night and how he escaped. Apparently, he was conscious when the fire slowed, and he took that as a chance to run and call for help. He took the pendant to tell people who his family was because Izzy used to be popular in town, but at some point, he fainted again and woke up in a hospital where Celine worked, with no memories of who he was. The gap between that was just darkness for him.

But for Alec, cold streets, blood and violence were all he remembered. That was the definition of his childhood. "Ummm... please say something."

"I can't believe you went through so much, Alec," Victoria said and wiped the tears falling on her face. "Knowing how people treated you, abused you, it's just so amazing to see that your heart is still pure. You kept pushing us away, but after knowing this, it was justified. I just wished you trusted us and opened up to us instead of giving us the cold shoulder. Nonetheless, it's good to know that you're willing to let us into your life."

"If I'm really your father and this happening because of something I did, I'm really very, very sorry, Alec," Luke said in a broken, strained voice. "No parent wishes something like that for their children, and if because of me these people are after all of you-"

"Da... sorry, commissioner, please don't." Alec said, "We still don't know why these people want to ruin everything. You were a cop back then too. And cops and criminals are known to be enemies throughout history, except for a very few exceptions. The fact that these people went after all of us says in itself that whatever would have happened, it would be in the right."

"I agree with Alec." Jace said, "you can't blame yourself for it. Doesn't matter whether you remember or not. These people are psychopaths, they aren't hesitating to attack us in daylight. Whatever would have happened back then, I'm sure it would be big and bad news for these people."

"How are you both not mad at... your parents?" Luke said after a long, tired sigh. "No child deserves a life like that."

"All I remember is missing my parents day in and day out." Alec sobbed. "And if I blame someone, it's god, not you or mom. And these people. Because my last memories with my family, my parents, is a happy one. I don't remember a time when you both used to be bad."

"You're too good, kid." Luke said with awe.

Before Alec could retort, he felt wetness over his lap and noticed that Izzy's tears were soaking in his pants, who had her head placed on his lap while she was trying her best to keep her eyes closed. "I... Sophia?"

"Is she awake?" Victoria asked and a second later, Izzy sat back on the couch beside Alec, eyes red and full of pain and empathy. "Sophia, are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," she said, voice hoarse and low. "Alec, I'm so sorry. I thought you were a douchebag when I first heard about you, listening to this... I... I feel bad for thinking like that. I shouldn't have judged."