Murder at a Funeral

Four Days Earlier

It had been three days since Olenna's death, but Charles Prescott was still in shock. He knew she hadn't been well, mentally, with the Alzheimer's disease, but other than that, she was in perfect health. Despite the conversation he had with Adeline on Sunday, Charles still felt that something wasn't right. He thought he could trust his step-sister, but nothing she said was adding up.

Although he and Olenna weren't as close anymore, Charles still considered her his mother, especially since he had lost his real mother at such an early age. She had died when he was only six. When Olenna entered their lives, Charles was apprehensive at first. He wasn't sure who this strange woman was or what she was doing with this father. But eventually her company grew on him and Charles began enjoying the time he could spend with Olenna. He had forgotten what it was like to have a motherly figure around. Someone to love and care for you. Ivan had done a good job raising Charles and his sister, but there's something about a mother's love that is so different and unique. So caring and tender. Warm and unconditional.

Charles always knew that Olenna was closer with Arielle. They were girls, after all; an incomparable bond that Charles could never quite achieve. Regardless of Olenna's relationship with Arielle, Charles and his step-mother were still close as well. When Olenna was in their lives, it was wonderful. At last, they were a family of four again – something Charles never expected to have once his mother died.

When Ivan and Olenna weren't busy working, they would take Charles and Arielle to the zoo, go for long road trips, take them sight-seeing, whatever the kids wanted. It was an unexplainable feeling to be wanted again, and Charles appreciated every moment that Olenna spent with them. However, once she left, Charles couldn't help but feel abandoned. Two motherly figures in his life had left him, and he didn't know how he would cope. Ivan tried to keep it together after Olenna left, but he was heartbroken. It was difficult enough having to watch Olenna leave, but having to watch his father deal with it was even worse.

Ever since Charles and Arielle were young, he could tell that there was some barrier between the two of them. She was different, Arielle. Charles always found that he was a kind, caring young man. He was timid when it came to talking to girls, always too nervous to say something and mess it all up. He was righteous and honorable; never cheated, lied, or stole. He was a selfless person who always put the needs of others before his own. But unfortunately, any good karma that he deserved didn't seem to come his way. Charles found himself constantly being used and abused by people, always having his kindness taken advantage of. Charles tried to toughen up, to stand up for himself and know his place. But he could never be that kind of person. He could never be like Arielle.

It came naturally for her, and it still puzzled Charles to where she got it from. Their father, perhaps? He was strong and independent, but still kind and compassionate. From what he heard of his mother, Leona didn't have a mean bone in her body. But there was something off about his sister. Arielle wasn't just assertive and dominant – she was different.

He loved his sister dearly, but he couldn't help but fear her at times. She was wise, deceitful, and cunning. She always knew how to get what she wanted, when she wanted it. She was beautiful, with her dark green eyes, porcelain skin, and curly brown locks. She used her looks to her advantage. She knew how to work people. How to grab their attention, reel them in, extract what she needed.

It wasn't as though Arielle was a bad person, but she definitely wasn't kind hearted or honest like Charles. He could never live with himself if he treated people the way that his sister did. Sometimes, he believed, that it was because Arielle didn't grow up with a steady female role-model in her life. Charles was older when their mother passed away, and was mature enough to deal when Olenna left. But Arielle was much younger. So small and confused to be having such an unsteady childhood.