✓ DYING MOURNINGS, original

seven : realizations

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𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 : 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

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tw. suicide

"Is that--?"

I didn't let Pandora finish before I was taking her arm and I heard a stern voice behind us snap, "Girls--"

We moved fast, our feet shuffling against the ground as we made it to the big doors and threw one open. The rain hit us instantly and I stuffed the photograph I had stolen under my shirt as we made a mad dash across the street and to my car. I fumbled with the keys before it finally unlocked and we were pushing ourselves inside.

I started the car and pulled out of the parking space without even attempting to slow my racing heart, catching one last glimpse of the church and seeing a distant figure standing in the doorway watching us leave. 

Monster, monster, you're a monster!

I didn't get a good enough look at him but through my rearview mirror, I noticed he was wearing a black suit and didn't go back inside until I feverishly turned back onto the main road towards campus.

Pandora sat dazed in my passenger seat, her eyes staring forward as she asked, "That was your dad in the picture, wasn't it?"

I nodded, keeping one hand on the wheel to reach up and wipe the rain from my face before peeling the picture out from under my shirt. We stopped at a light and I got a good look at what was written on the back. It looked like fresh paint, or Sharpie. I handed it over to Pandora and she took it gently, the ink smearing against her fingers. "Whoever put it up wanted me to find it, it was there for a reason."

"Any clue who the other guy in the photo is?"

I shook my head and looked over at the image, the other man was handsome, younger than my father. "Not a single one, could've been someone he worked with or someone he helped through the job."

"Did you ever meet the guys he worked with?" she asked, laying the photo against her knee as the light turned green.

I turned my attention back to the road and shook my head, "Not really. Only times I went to see him was to drop off lunch and I did that, I don't know, maybe twice? I barely remember anyone he worked with, but even then, I only ever said hello to them in passing." Or said nothing at all. 

"Maybe he didn't work with him then, just a friend outside the business?"

"I've still never seen him before," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But, granted, I never did meet many of my parent's friends outside work."

"Definitely ask your mom, she has to know more than she's letting on," she told me before holding the picture up. "What I don't understand is why leave this for you? 'Cause, obviously someone knew you were coming and I would say Ace, but even he's not that clever. Like, what's this supposed to tell us?"

I laughed as I said, "Maybe it's the guy who really killed my dad."

Pandora laughed, too, but I knew the photo was a link. Just another clue to add to my long list of questions. I knew the photo meant more, it was left there for a reason and I just didn't know whether it was good or not. It was a warning to ward me off, or it was a welcome home, inviting me into the game I didn't know I had been a part of this whole time. Ace told me to come here for answers and I might just have found something that could clear up all the accusations and newfound secrets, only it came with more questions then answers.