Out From the Shadows

Chapter 6

I have never been this nervous in my time on Earth. Not even when I attended my mother's funeral. My hand starts to get moist from the warm air and my nerves. I'm worried that it might gross Almarie out, but she doesn't give any clues that she notices. Father would be so upset, first for our untimely exit and second for us walking around unsupervised. I understand that I'm the only heir to a multi-million dollar trading industry, but I'm still a man who wants to explore the world on his own and make his own decisions. Father doesn't understand this and it hurts to watch Almarie have to go through some of it.

******

We match each others' steps and we swing our arms back and forth. We could be mistaken for a couple, and we might as well be. I look over at her and catch her facing me. We have been walking for quite a while in silence; with the buzz of electricity from the power lines above and the sound of horses neighing in the distance. It has to be now, or else I will never have the courage to do it ever again.

"I suppose you have reached the conclusion that Josephine isn't my real mother. They married 4 years ago, she being one of my mother's best friends from childhood. My mother, Caroline, was the most captivating, elegant, and pure person I had ever met." I give her a moment to digest the information I just provided and to prepare for the next piece I'm about to drop on her.

"I was fifteen when she was murdered. She was taken a week before my birthday and we found her the day after." I stop after I register that Almarie has quit walking a couple paces back. I turn around to face her and she looks rigid. Her countenance shows a combination of shock and disbelief, thankfully no pity. I received enough pity at the funeral to last a lifetime.

I glide back towards her and she meets my gaze. I take this as a sign to continue.

"We found her body thrown carelessly on the doorstep, wrapped in an old bedsheet. Father and I mourned for days. I refused any help from anyone, sulking in my room. After the fourteenth day of this routine, Something snapped inside of me. Someone did this to her and I wanted to find them. So I started to piece together clues and it took nearly five years to find where she was taken." I take in a deep breath and study her face to check for understanding. I find that in her eyes, but she has gone extremely pale. She seemed to have a thick skin, so it's surprising that she is so shaken up because of my story, but maybe I don't know her as well as I thought.

I confirm this theory when she throws herself at me and wraps her arms firmly around my neck. Her chin rests comfortably on my shoulder yet she doesn't shed a single tear. Being inexperienced when around women has finally caught up to me at this moment. I think the best course of action is to wrap my arms around her waist, so I follow through.

This moment says a lot about Almarie. That she isn't as cold and distant as she was when we first met. Looking back on it, it was kind of funny that I thought she was stunningly beautiful and then later finding out that she was mine. I finally have found someone to be happy with and it has been long over due.

Almarie is first to pull out of the embrace, leaving her hands on each of my shoulders. She starts to massage my shoulders with her thumbs in a loving way.

"I'm sorry this happened to you, but I still don't get how this pertains to me." She asks in a light whisper. I had almost forgotten that I didn't finish explaining.

"When I arrived and searched the place she was held captive, I found items left by the killer. There is a manhole an hour away from here in another wealthy district that leads to a hidden passage along the sewer. The bedsheet my mother was wrapped in had some filth on it. There was a petite hallway with three rooms connected to it. The closest room was completely barren while the farthest one had a small trinket and another bedsheet. The middle room was bloody. The floor was covered in blood. The bed in the corner was covered in blood splatter. The walls..."

I couldn't get anymore words to come out. Almarie sniffled and I saw a tear glide down her cheek. A sight I never thought I would get to see.

"You can stop now." She swipes the tear from her face and gives me a forced smile. I bow my head for a moment then look up. She holds her hand out to me, patiently waiting. I take this gentle offer and we backtrack the way we came. Along the walk back, my hand slides to her waist and she leans into me.

"The trinket, I went around to sellers to track down the owner of it. One seller told me he remembered selling it with a chain, maybe a bracelet, but he couldn't reveal the color or material. Another person brought it in a couple years back, asking for the chain to be fixed, the trinket still intact. He said someone from Omaha district, your district, brought it in. "

I don't have to tell her how the seller knew it was someone from Omaha, you can just tell by the way they look, dress, and speak. She just looks at me, her eyes showing no feeling at all. I feel emotionless too. Maybe this whole marriage thing might work out. She seems to be warming up to me; I know that I have felt strongly about her from the beginning, so it's up to her to figure out what she wants. Me? This life? Her old life? I don't really care if it's not what I want, as long as she is happy.

She is officially the only thing keeping me grounded, keeping me sane. As long as she wants me by her side, I will be there.

No matter what.