Sinners Paradise

Chapter 17 : Empty Shell

Lina slowly made her way towards the dense woods. Everybody that was down at the bottom of the hill notice her as she look like a zombie strolling down a beaten path way that disappear deep in the thicket woods. The Woods was completely quite with only the rustling sound of the girls feet dragging as her eyes wander up to see a fallen tree in the pathway. Lina turn and flop herself on top of the log, her head hung low as she mutter to herself.
"So..was I mislead..did he not kill my parents..." Lina sat alone in silences as her eyes were fixated to the disturb ground under her feet. Her hands curled around her thin body as her knees touch one another.

The leaves on the trees rustle along with the tall grass with a rhythm as a elder man walk up and lean against one of the tall thick trees. Lina only advert her eyes as she slightly tilt her head to the side to see who was there as she could feel another person's presence in the area. The bright red tint sky reveal him as he stood in silence looking at the girl with a dull expression as he held his arms cross his chest. "Your..friends with Dante.." Lina mutter as she sat straight up and watch as the man walk out into the small opening and stood at a angle from where Lina was sitting.
"Calling us friends is a stretch..but I'll accept it." August spoke with a small smile appearing on his face.
"Do..do you want something?." Lina ask quietly as she watch him stop in his tracks and only let out a small sigh.
"I've been over hearing your talks with Dante these past couple days. It's quite and intriguing turn of events."
"How..how do you mean by that?."
"It's just..it has been lingering in my mind since you first came here. The first words you said. You never went into detail."
"What.."
"Why all this time. And you never been pacific on why you your heart is so set on thinking Dante is your parents killer."

Lina eyes grew wide as her breathing grew uneven, her eyes drop to the ground as she could hear August footsteps growing louder as he was coming closer to her. "The description the newspaper had, it was rare to see one, but, it actually gave a small description of a murder running around. I remember that article...and than that night...I saw that watch from his pocket..the article said that the killer carried around a pocket watch.." Lina spoke as she heard the crunching sound of the log as it move as August sat down only a few inches from her.
"Things don't add up with what your saying" August mumble which cause Lina head to snap up from facing the ground.
"what do you mean?." Lina ask, her voice a little shaky as this was the first time she has actually spoken to this older man since she arrive.
"The watch Dante Carries is his fathers..if that watch is the same watch you saw when your parents were being kill..how did Dante get his hands on the watch?..his father should have went straight here after committing such a crime." August glance out of the corner of his eye to see how Lina was reacting to all of this. It was clear that she never thought this through in only went by what she saw with her own two eyes.
"There is still a possibility..that there's more of one of that watch floating around out there." August continue as he look away from the girl as her head fell.

August slowly stood up, a few bones cracking in his body as he fix his white dress shirt. His eyes trail down to the girl for a moment before he shut his and let out a long breath before opening his eyes. "Let me ask you something..Lina..did you love your parents?." August ask as he narrowed his eyes down at the girl as she didn't move a muscle.
"Your grown quiet now...I say that's a no...I've thought on what type of person you are..at first I though you were similar to Dante..he love his mother and sister dearly and tragically lost them thanks to the cruelty of a world we had to endure due to others scarless mistakes..but no...you never receive and once of attention from your parents did you?."

Lina head shift a bit as she only move so he could see the side of her face as she force herself to speak up. "How could you tell?." Lina ask quietly which lead to Dante hang his head low before lifting it back up to answer the girl. "You were looking for answers..however..you never shown any real emotion implying that you really were devastate about the situation."

Lina shift her head back so she could avoid the way he was looking at her. It almost reminded her the way the people treated her when her parents were killed. However, his eyes did hint a small amount of empathy. Just enough to lead the girl to weep. August turn his body as he made his way away from the girl has he head I got he direction of were the camp was locate at. He only stop for a moment as he look over his shoulder to see how she lift her hands up from her sides and cover her face with them as her quit weeping grew into sobbing. He close his eyes yet again and turn his head away from the girl.
"All you wanted was love. To be happy..but the world we live in. It was not a place for a girl with a pure heart like yours to strive in. It instead shatter your intentions until you were left and empty hollow shell."