We'll Meet Again (Original Book)

|16| Confrontation

Nathalie knew this was a bad idea. It was a terrible idea. Tedric didn't even know she was there. She had snuck out in the middle of the night. Maybe she was putting too much faith in this alleged criminal. A man who had committed more than a few atrocities. A man who probably deserved to be locked up for the rest of his life.

No. No one deserves to be treated like this.

Nathalie pushed open the rusty metallic gate of the mantra that surrounded the old building. It was an abandoned, old hospital. When Jocasta said that the place was familiar, she wasn't wrong. It felt familiar to Nathalie as well. Her ancestors must have been there before. Was it Grandpa Gustave?

No. It felt way before his time.

It was late in the night. The distant streetlights were the only source of light. The city was quiet. Nathalie was completely unarmed and slightly scared, but she could do this. There was nothing that a Burgess couldn't do. Her mind was her greatest weapon.

There was something ominous about this place. Something terrible must have happened there all those years ago.

The entrance was cracked open. She walked in. The heavy door groaned loudly. It was dark inside. The only light was coming from the windows. It was a faint yellow light enough to navigate herself.

Before entering the building, Nathalie turned and looked to check if someone else was outside. She had the lingering feeling that she was being watched. It was dark in the yard surrounding the building. Greenery was running wild. A large, invasive ivy had started to spread and hook itself all over the exterior.

When she made sure that she wasn't being followed, Nathalie proceeded inside. Cement and bricks had fallen from the upper floors onto a messy pile right in front of the staircase. The staircase didn't look stable, but she was willing to take a risk and walk upstairs. It was the only way any of this was going to work.

She had to face Charles alone. If Tedric showed up, Charles would only attack him again and they'd start fighting and they'd end up nowhere near fixing the situation. That's what Nathalie had tried so hard to make Tedric understand. She knew Tedric just wanted to protect her, and she understood that, but there were better ways to approach a man like Charles.

Nathalie reached the third floor at last. It was dark, but there was enough light coming from the windows. Some hospital beds lay abandoned. There were bloodstains on the white sheets, and they looked dark red. Those stains were fresh. Someone must have laid there not long ago. There was a counter with all kinds of tools on top. It looked like a small lab set up by some scientist who had found refuge in this forgotten, abandoned hospital. Someone was there. She was certain.

The cold, metal tube of a gun touched the back of her head. Her breath hitched halfway her throat and her eyes widened. It was him. He was behind her, and a single pull of his finger could end her life. But she had to remain calm. Even when her heart thrummed hard and her blood ran cold beneath her veins, she had to remain calm. He wouldn't pull that trigger. She didn't know how she was so certain. Was she putting too much faith in this man? Was it faith or something else? A gut feeling?

"I am unarmed," she brought her hands up in surrender. She heard the soft click of him cocking the gun.

"What makes you think I won't shoot you either way?"

Warm breath ran down her ear as he stood close from behind her. Shivers ran down the back of her neck and she shut her eyes trying to keep herself calm. This was indeed a terrible idea. Nathalie had nothing but terrible ideas. Self-destructiveness was going to be her downfall.

"Charles Bellisario... the son of Sylvester Bellisario."

Nathalie was most definitely provoking him to pull the trigger with every single word she let come out of her mouth. She knew she should have faith in her plans, in herself, but there was no way that would ever happen.