Inside My Head (Silent Moment Series: Book 6)

Chapter 21

 Joseph straightened up and left the school, rejoining Jade with a composed stride. Together, they headed towards the library to find my mother.

Mom's determination was unwavering, her voice firm. "No, you're wrong," she insisted, her resolve clear.

Jackson, however, was equally adamant, his frustration boiling over. "No, I'm right. You can't see it because you've replaced your addiction to pills with this obsession," he retorted, his words cutting through the air.

Mom's confusion and anger were palpable when Jackson, in a fit of exasperation, swept half of her medical supplies off the table, sending them clattering to the floor. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her voice a mix of shock and anger.

Jackson's response was loud and impassioned, his voice rising in desperation. "I am trying to get you to face the truth!" he exclaimed, the tension between them escalating.

Mom, her voice laced with a bitter edge, snapped back, "You think I'm blind to the truth? You want to know why I'm so desperate to save Marcus? It's not because of any addiction. It's because he's good, he's true. He deserves to live, while we... we don't. You and I, we were complicit with Blodreina during the darkest times. Marcus was the only one who dared to oppose it. Did you ever stand up to that?"

Jackson, his voice cracking with emotion, struggled to hold back tears. "I was just doing my job," he managed to say, his defense sounding weak even to his own ears.

Mom's retort was scathing, her voice choked with emotion. "That's the excuse of every war criminal," she said, her words a mirror to their shared guilt.

Joseph, having heard enough of the heated exchange, turned to leave the Library, his mind already moving on to his next plan.

Jade, puzzled by his sudden departure, questioned him. "Where are you going? I thought the mother was key to your plan."

Joseph, his tone laced with a cold calculation, replied, "Oh, she is the key. The entire game, in fact. The Super Bowl, you might say. But if we're going to win this, I need a better coach."

With that, he made his way back to the tavern, his steps purposeful. There, amidst the noise and the drunken revelry, he found the man he was looking for – the unsuspecting piece in his intricate game of chess.

Joseph slid onto the stool next to Murphy with an air of casual curiosity. "Penny for your thoughts?" he inquired, trying to engage him in conversation.

Murphy, ever the skeptic, retorted with a raised eyebrow. "What's a penny?"

Joseph offered a sly smile, "It's an old saying. Means offering something small for your thoughts."

Murphy let out a resigned sigh, placing his drink on the counter with a heavy thud. "Let me guess, Bellamy's got you convinced we should ditch this so-called paradise for a shot at surviving in a wasteland?"

Joseph's smile widened slightly, his demeanor relaxed yet calculating. "Why would I want to leave my home? But that's not why I'm here. Fill in the blanks for me, John."

Murphy paused mid-drink, a hint of confusion crossing his face. "You've called me John twice now..."

Joseph glanced over his shoulder, his gaze landing on a photo of his original body on the wall. Murphy's eyes followed, slowly understanding the implications. Before Murphy could fully react, Joseph interjected with a preemptive calmness. "Okay, before you freak out, I have a question for you."

Murphy's realization was swift, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "You're not Kegan."

Joseph leaned in closer, his voice a blend of confession and manipulation. "To be honest, Kegan's dead. My parents killed him to bring me back."