The Fear Between Us

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Predatel

"Is the photo you had in your hand the one by your mirror?"

"Yes, it is." I say with tears falling down my face from the memories, "Why isn't Josephine in the photo? Is she not your sister?"

"Jo... I have something I have to tell you." I say as Jo finally looks away from the sea and the glittering stars in the twilight sky, "What is it?" She asks me as she stares into my eyes, what time is better than this?

"No, no she wasn't. She was my best friend." I say with a smile, did I love Jo? Rosewood stares at me for a moment before clearing her throat, "So, who else is in the photo?" She asks as she turns it around to see a date scribbled on the back 30 December 1902, "It's my mom and dad? I don't know I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you're doing great so far."

Silence fills the room for a moment as Josephine takes down the notes of what I've said so far, "You said there were men? Who are they?"

"I have no idea it's a blur."

"And the guns?"

"They had long nuzzles, they were also narrow and metal, it was cold when it pressed against my skin."

"And a barrel?"

"No." I respond as Rosewood stops for a moment, "No barrel? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why?" I ask her as she taps her pen on the book, "One like this?" She asks as she unbuckles her gun and hands it to me.

The weight on the gun is heavier and it has a metal handle, I press the gun against my cheek as I close my eyes making Rosewood panic for a moment, but I take the gun away and shake my head, "No, it's not that one." Rosewood thinks for a moment before she opens her mouth and then closes it again, "What is it?" I question her as she looks at me quickly then looks away, "Nothing, it's probably just a coincidence... But there is one more model that it could be." She says as I sit up immediately, "Really? Where?" But Rosewood looks at me unsure, "Josephine, where? You tell me what you know, and I tell you what I know remember?" I insist as she sighs putting down the notepad and pen, "It's an M1911, it's a classic and I have only seen it once with the..."

"The General." I complete the sentence in disbelief, "Exactly... But he only shows it off on special occasions, he says it was a gift from the president four years ago."

"How long ago?"

"Four years, why?" Rosewood repeats as I allow for the information to sink in.

Rosewood's words hadn't even reached my brain before the flashbacks began to flood my brain again. The loud bang and the bright lights from that night take over my senses, "Get on your knees!" The memories begin to play out almost as if it happened yesterday. The look on Josephine's face when they held the gun to her head, "Wait, no! She didn't mean to! She didn't mean to! We're sorry!" She wails as they drag her away from me, "We told you to stay put!"

"Kill her and let Aleekseeva watch as a lesson." Commanded a much older guy while the others forced me down to my knees so that I could watch. Josephine's glance was quick and short, but it spoke a thousand words as she merely mouthed, "I'm sorry." Before the bang sounds and the sea begins to rage. I only remember chasing after her, dreaming of catching her, but instead, I watch her cold body fall beneath me at a distance that I would never be able to reach yet I still stretch my arm out towards her.

"You just remembered something didn't you?" Rosewood questions but I ignore her, "I can't do this anymore, you have to leave." I merely say as I make her leave before sinking against the door towards the floor.