The Crimson Chariot

03 | Six Spilt Cups

September 13, 2012
Thursday
8:26 p.m.

Dear Janet,

Today I visited the guidance counselor. Eddard Price. You used to visit him while you were here, remember? His piercing green eyes sent shivers down my spine. I hadn't seen him up close until now. His black-rimmed glasses were perched on his nose and he was possibly one of the very few people at the school who didn't think of me as annoying.

I asked him if you ever seemed off during his sessions. He wasn't able to recall anything at first but I pushed a little further. He admitted you were stressed in the last few months leading to your death.

"Perhaps because of...exams?" he had said but I know better. It was obviously the heathens who made you stressed. I feel sorry for not noticing it earlier.

Mr. Price was of course curious as to why I asked, I believe his exact words were; "why are you so keen on knowing that?" However, I just shrugged it off and told him it was nothing. He accepted it but the look in his eyes said otherwise; he knew I wasn't being 100% transparent.

Before I left, he warned me to stay away from Ethan and his friends. He said he saw them leaving me alone at the bonfire that night, and told me they were dangerous.

I agreed to his words, only superficially of course.

It's too late to depend on testimonies now. I need solid evidence that I can use against them. And for that, I already have a plan in mind.

I will be the wolf in sheep's clothing, waiting to strike at the perfect time and take them down, one by one. They will see my wrath, Janet and they will face the consequences of their misdeeds. I swear to God they will pay for their sins, Janet. They will pay for what they did to you.

I love you.

Your brother, Jeremy

***

I'M STILL GROGGY AS I STEP INSIDE the town church. I haven't been able to get the events from last night out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes, there they were — the Death and Fool tarot cards. Perhaps the person I'm here for will help me get an answer to my question.

I see Father Eddard at the far end of the room and sigh in relief. He used to be a counselor at Sacredmore High and a person I've always looked up to. He often would come to dinners at my home because he was friends with my parents. We sort of lost touch after I moved to Pennsylvania. He doesn't know of my return and this will be our first meeting in ten years. I hope he can give me a solution to what's happening around me as he used to all those years ago.

Hearing the sound of my footsteps, Father Eddard turns around. "Amara?"

"Yeah," I nod as he walks up to me. His once blond hair is now entirely platinum. His bright green eyes are now a dull emerald. He has wrinkles on his face. However, the kindness in his features hasn't faded away.

"It's been so long! Where have you been?" he greets me. I shake his hand and smile gently.

"I've been alright, I work for the VPD now," I reply and hold out my police badge. He beams with a smile running from ear to ear, his eyes moving to the badge.

"Your parents will be so proud of you," he says and a wave of buried emotions washes over me. "I'm sorry for what happened back then, Amara. I tried offering my condolences but you shifted towns almost immediately after the accident."

"Yeah..." I breathe in, repulsed at the word accident. "This town has too many memories that I wanted to forget about." I still do, but there's a bigger reason why I've returned.