The Mysteries Of Baker Town

Part 5: Questions

     My head.. it spins so fast I don't know which way is front or back. I have so many questions I can barely hold onto one. What had just happened? How? What am I going to do?

     I take a long slow breath and slowly get to my feet. I head to the kitchen after a moment in silence. I find a clean glass and a gallon of water in the silver fridge.

     I pour some water in my glass and find a nice spot on the couch closest to the kitchen, and farthest away from the side table.. I gulp down the water and set my now empty glass on the coffee table.

     I go to open the wooden front door but before I can even set my hand on the handle my father bursts in with a not so happy look on his face.

     "Dad?"

     He ignores me and heads straight down the hallway for the door closest to the staircase. I now recognize this as the bathroom. He closes the door behind him and after a couple minutes of stillness with only the tick of the clock above the couch to accompany me, he barges out and makes his way to the kitchen.

     Two cases of beer are neatly placed on the bottom of the fridge. He takes one out and gulps half of the bottle down before he sighs and finally looks toward my direction.

     "What do you want now?"

     He sounds irritated and awfully upset. But why?

     "What happened to mom?"

     I let the words escape, the words that have raked my mind over and over again for over 13 years.

     "Annika. We have been over this. Your mother is dead."

     He looks down at the ground pitifully. He has always had a weak spot when it comes to my mom.

     "Dad.. what happened to mom?"

     I repeat my question but with a little more power.

     "Did you hear what I said?!"

     He yells this time and stomps into the living room, tracking dirt with each step he takes.

     "Your mother is dead!! Gone!!"

      I let a tear stroll down my cheek but I wipe it away with my cheap gray sweater before it leaves my face.

     "I want to know Dad! Please!!"

     I say with a cracked voice. His eyes bulge and veins pop out of his head as his blistered left palm meets the right side of my face. I feel a quick sting as it lowers back to his side.

     I touch my face which is now red and wet with a river of tears, and I slowly look down. I left myself fall to the ground, halfway on the rug. I cry. Hard. My father takes a long gulp of beer and looks at the ceiling.

     "I'm sorry Annika.. sweetheart.. I didn't mean it.."

     He says as he lowers his gaze. My eyes sting. They blur as I get up onto my feet. I look my dad in the eyes and collapse into his arms. I cry even more but I let his strong stand support me.

     His tough brown jacket wipe my red and tear covered face. His scent overwhelms me. He wraps his arms around my back and leans his head on mine. I don't know what to think or say.

     So I don't. I walk out of the door and onto the dirt road. I feel my fathers eyes still on me as I leave the cabin. A single tear slides down his face onto his boot. I look to my right.. pink and orange light the sky below. The sun is setting.

     "Are you alright?"

     I hear a young voice to my left. I don't turn my head. I don't move. A smooth hand touches mine and I finally look up to see the sad face of the mysterious boy looking at me..

     "Yes."

     I lie. I look like a fool right now. His gentle green eyes gaze over my body. I don't move my hand. He squeezes my hand tighter into his. I look deep into his gaze.

     He smiles.. that same smile from moments before. Don't cave in.. I tell myself. Don't. I feel his other hand touch my shoulder. My eyes are still red so it so obvious that I have been crying.

     "Come.."

     He lets me go and walks toward his cabin, the one I seen him in earlier. The one I seen the nice man Jeremy in. I look to my cabin but quickly look back.

     I walk behind the mysterious boy. Faster until I am right behind him. He grins and takes my hand once more. This time I smile back.