Arduous

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

[Anne, 12:21, Catherine's Funeral]

I watched as the coffin was laid in the hole. The only ones here were Mr. Zonde, Joe, and myself. Catherine's body had been flown over to Ottawa, via private plane. Now she was laying in the dirt.

I didn't cry. I couldn't cry. My tears had dried up a long time ago.

I sighed in anguish. How many others had to die? I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't go through this anymore. My two best friends died just in the last week. Adam, a good friend, betrayed us. It was starting to get to me now. All this death was not for me. Will never be for me.

As I turned, I saw Mr. Zonde waiting for me at the white Honda, with Joe in the driver seat. I took the backseat, my eyes never leaving the cemetery.

I opened my mouth to say something but Mr. Zonde beat me to it. "They say Nana was in the prison of the Kremlin."

"What?" I exclaimed. "No, that can't be right! She was kidnapped while we were with the Russians!" I shook my head in disbelief. There was no way the Russians would have taken someone from their own mafia.

"Then they must have kidnapped her back, because we found her DNA in the building." Mr. Zonde explained, not even looking back at me.

This was the end of it. So much death and I barely even noticed it before. "I want out of the Canadian-Mafia." I blurted out.

Mr. Zonde turned around with raised eyebrows. He shrugged. "I knew this day would come."

"Are you going to kill me if I leave?" I inquired.

Mr. Zonde chuckled. "No, Anne. Those raised in the mafia have the option to leave at any time, but once they hit the age of 25, they are permanently stuck with us. If you want to leave, you are allowed. You can finish high school, go to college, live a normal life. You can do all of that if you want Anne."

"I do Mr. Zonde..." I pleaded.

"Call me dad."

"What?"

"I think it is time for you to call me dad."

"Well... um... Dad, I want out of the mafia. I want to go to high school, and go to college to become a veterinarian."

The car rolled up to our little cupcake.

"Alright, Anne. You are officially out of the Canadian-Mafia." Mr. Zonde patted me on the shoulder as we walked into our house, Joe behind us.

"It's that easy?" I wondered.

"Yup. You officially have a free life."

I nodded in understanding. "Thanks Mr... dad."

I wandered down the stairs. I passed Catherine's bedroom, her door closed. My stomach dropped in a way I couldn't explain.

I reached my room and sat upon my bed. Catherine had always been there for me. Now that she was gone, a piece of my heart was missing as well.

I wished she could have been here for me. I was starting anew in my life, striving towards an education. She wouldn't agree with getting an education and, instead, say, 'murder is fun, murder is great'. She wouldn't agree with it, but she would support me. She loved me and I loved her.

I flopped onto my back, the ceiling starting to get blurry once again. I wiped at the tears, hating them.

Catherine was with me, will always be with me, and I shall always remember her.

It was time to start my new life. It was time to start looking to the future. With or without my sister.

I sighed.

Now, how was I going to tell Sally and Frederick?