24 Dreams Of You And Me

64) Bittersweet

"Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil."
-Niccolò Machiavelli

***

George Peterson was sitting on his couch inside the house with Robb and Rachel sitting in front of him.

"When Maureen was born," he started, "Lizzie and I were ecstatic. We had been trying to have a child since years. The first few years, we were a happy family. I'd take them out on vacations and we'd enjoy a lot." His eyes gleamed.

"But then my company suffered a great loss and I had to leave my job. The market was in a massive depression and I couldn't find a stable enough job that could support my family."

"Is that why your wife left?" Rachel asked.

George remorsefully shook his head. "No, she left because I did something horrible."

Robb frowned.

"Maureen got sick, real sick. So when the local doctors said we have to take her abroad for her treatments, I refused."

"Why?" Robb asked.

"I didn't have any money!" George bursted out. "I couldn't afford to take my daughter outside the country and pay for the expensive treatments!"

"But what did you do?"

"I took her to a faith healer.."

Rachel bit her lip. "But that didn't work.." she guessed.

"No, it didn't." George confirmed. "My daughter died and my wife left. She said she couldn't take it and I don't blame her. Lizzie had begged me to take Maureen out, she said she'll work anywhere she gets a job but the motherly love was blinding her. No job she would've gotten could've paid for the treatments."

Robb sighed. "And you thought a faith healer would be the answer?"

"That was all I had left. Prayer."

"She didn't have to die. You could've done something about it!" Robb raised his voice a bit and Rachel grabbed his arm, a gesture signalling to remain calm.

"This is all I ever thought about. I was alone and depressed. And I had no one else to blame."

"How did you end up with them?" Rachel asked, referring to the soldiers.

George shook his head. "I-I don't know.. they just found me maybe. They said I could see my daughter again, be with her forever. If I did what they wanted me to."

"Which was to kill us." Robb filled.

"Yes, and believe me, when I met Maureen, I had decided that I would. But then I couldn't.."

"Why would they risk it? Why not just turn him and make him loyal?" Rachel asked Robb.

"Probably because we would've just killed him. They knew we wouldn't hurt him otherwise and this way the root stays protected."

"They said if I don't kill you, they'll kill me." George said lowly.

"No one will kill anyone." Rachel said in an assuring manner. "We'll protect you."

Robb glanced at Rachel.

She smiled at George. "Come with us. Robb and I are trying to break this spell so that he can go back to Earth and I'll return to the spiritual realm. You have to come with me. You and Maureen."

"A-Are you sure?" George looked at Robb.

"Of course!" Rachel exclaimed. "You may be dead but this isn't where your spirits belong. You both should go to your new home, where you belong."