THERE WILL BE BLOOD || DANIEL MATTHEWS ||

XI: X MARKS THE SPOT

I smiled to Daniel as I noticed his concern stare at me, squeezing his hand reassuringly. My smile reached my eyes but dropped as soon as his head turned. I hated how good I was feeling right now.

I got lost in my thoughts as we walked. I kept thinking about Daniel. He knows he's dying, hell that we're all dying, yet he saved me. Why? I tried to come up with a logical answer, anything to explain why he did it, anything, anything, except his confession. It's not that I didn't believe him, or I couldn't believe him, but I didn't want to believe it. All my life I believed so desperately, unwaveringly, that I wasn't worth someone's love or someone's kindness. If my own parents didn't love me, why would someone else? I knew my parents love me in their own sick way. But Daniel, he said he loved me knowing all of that. Knowing all about them, all about me. And even despite of that, he's still here with me. He hasn't left my side once not even when faced with death. Is that because he loves me? He would die for me? He would put himself in my place, protecting me when no one else will? That's what someone who loves you would do. And I would do the same for him in a heartbeat.

I love him.

Oh my good, I love him.

I stopped in my tracks at that revelation. I looked next to me and was confused why Daniel, or anyone else wasn't with me. And then I looked back.

I'm a fucking asshole.

I was walking WAY ahead of Daniel, Amanda, Laura, and Allison. And I felt like a fucking dick seeing them all struggle. The gas. They're still breathing it in, and unlike me they don't have the antidote actively fighting against it and eliminating it in their body. Daniel, ever the hero was letting Laura lean on him, supporting her as he walked. Allison was walking with her right hand leaning on the wall. But Amanda was ahead of them and to my confusion, didn't seem to be struggling as much as they were. Strange, maybe it doesn't effect her as much? I thought skeptically. Shaking my head as to clear my thoughts, I walked back to Daniel and supported Laura on her right side, "Sorry guys," I smiled apologetically.

"It's okay," Laura managed to say, her eyes fluttering faintly. "She doesn't look like she'll make it that long." I thought, my heart sinking, "I hope we can find something soon."

Laura coughed and then collapsed to the floor.

"Shit," Amanda muttured, going to her and trying to lift her up.

"No we can't stop," Addison said. Amanda, ignoring her, rolled Laura onto her lap to support her. "No, we've been here for two hours. If what that tape says is true, then in one hour, the front door will open."

"We're not gonna me it that long!" Amanda argued.

"That's a real winning attitude," Addison said sarcastically.

"She knows what she's talking about," Daniel defended.

"Yeah she's helped us this whole time," I said thinking about how she knew how to use the syringe. As Addison and Amanda argued, a fleeting thought crossed my mind, how did she know what to do? I don't think she mentioned a syringe in her trap...

"X marks the spot." Laura muttured staring at something on the wall.

"What?"

"X marks the spot," she reaffirmed pointing to a picture on the wall. We all looked to where she was pointing and the picture had an X broken in the glass.

"That's what ties us all together," I said. I walked hastily towards Addison, standing in front of her as she turned it over and took off something from the back. Her face fell. "What's wrong?" I asked concerned.

"What are you doing with him?" She said in a mix of disgust and worry, looking straight through me and at Daniel. Danny quickly walked next to me and took the picture from Addison. I looked over his shoulder and saw a photo of him and his dad.
Aww, he looks so cute. Wait. Get ahold of yourself!

"This is your father?" She asked angrily, her tone threatening.

"What? You know him?" Daniel asked confused and worried.

"Yeah," Addison affirmed, "He's the guy who put me away. He set me up!" She yelled, letting the picture fall to the floor.

"Tell me that's not your father-" Amanda trailed off sadly. Just then Laura's body started seizing. Vomit started leaking from her mouth. I rushed over to her.

"Tilt her mouth to the side so she doesn't asphyxiate on her vomit," I instructed Amanda, letting me move her head to the side. It didn't help and with a sinking heart I stood back as Amanda held her like that.

"It's okay, it's okay," she told her as Laura finally stopped moving. I let out a quiet gasp as I backed away. I knew she was going to die but seeing her in her final moments, unable to do anything was different than all the other deaths today.

"I can't trust any of you. You three are on your own." Addison said walking away.

"Now we know what we have in common." Amanda said sadly, walking the opposite way.

"Amanda, please I didn't know." Daniel protested, calling after her. He ran his hand through his hair, "Fuck," he muttered, his eyes downcast and sorrowful.

I saw the broken frame on the floor and noticed something sticking out from the paper, walking over to it, I peeled the brown waxy paper back and noticed sheets of paper stapled together. I picked it up and stood up. "What is it?" Danny asked.

It was a police report. Case Number 2005-02386-DA. I scanned through it and as I read the information I realised the police report was a witness testimony. To my case against my father. In my hands were the words that cleared my father of all suspicion of abusing me, Liam, and Varia, and as I read through it I noticed there were details that were personal, too personal, details that only someone close to my family would know. And as the dots lined up I saw the signature of the man who vouched for my father.

Eric Matthews.

I looked at Daniel, my tears pricking my eyes and my cheats heaving. "Daniel."

"What is it?" He looked at me his eyes wide with distraught and worry.

"Your dad," I handed him the papers, "You're dad ruined my life. He's the reason I was returned to my father. He's the reason my dad beat me so heavily that I went to the hospital with three broken ribs and he's the reason everyone thinks I'm a liar." Tears were falling down my face. Daniel went in to hug me but I pushed him away. "Don't touch me."

He recoiled, hurt in his face. "Delilah, I didn't know."

"I-I have to go. I have to think about this." Feeling betrayed, I felt a hole in my heart swell and overcome all the hope in me, leaving only darkness.

"Delilah! Come back! Please! Don't leave me." He called out, sorrow and pain lacing his voice.

Wiping my tears with my sleeve, I ignored him and went after Addison.