Taste of Poison

Chapter Twelve: Paranoia

 As you showed me your scars/ I only held you closer/ But as the light in you went dark I saw you turn over/ I wanted always to be there for you and close to you/ But I'm losing this/ And I'm losing you – Broken Pieces by Apocalyptica

Something didn't feel right, and I'm so confused. I don't know this man, and I thought he was the bad cop.

Now he wants me to basically work for him and tell him everything that I find out from Zamiel?

I work for Zamiel, and now I'm doing this? Why is this shit happening to me? I'm just a plain girl that isn't that interesting yet I'm interesting to everyone else. What the fuck?

"What are you after?" I ask him coldly. "He killed a man in front of me in cold blood. Why are you so interested in his first kill when he has killed other people recently? Do you not care about them?"

Josiah looks over at me with his brown eyes narrow. "Look, I have my damn reasons. Why are you protecting him if he's so bad?"

I feel anger rise in me at his words. "Because he needs help! There's something wrong with him mentally, and he needs to be put somewhere where they can help him with his mind. He's sick."

I stop.

Why am I protecting him? I hated him. I hate him. He threatens me, chokes me, and hurts me. Why am I protecting him though?

I know something horrible happened to him. He's insane, and he needs some serious help. He doesn't do those things on purpose. Zamiel just needs somebody because I can't do it. Nobody here can. I guess I don't want to admit it, but I do care about him. I know there's a part of him he hasn't show to anyone, and I'm close to seeing it. I think that's why Josiah wants me to do this.

He knows I can find I could find out because he's already starting to tell me things. I just told this cop that I knew that he was sick so he knows that I know things about him already. Talking to Josiah, I realize that I really am loyal to him. I feel myself getting protective.

My eyes narrow. "I will only do this if you do one thing for me, cop," I growl with venom.

His eyes narrow at the change of my tone. "No. I'm not doing anything for you."

"Then I'm not finding out shit for you. You can sit on sidelines like you've been doing this whole fucking time or you can make a difference. I don't care. I'm not the type that sits back and watches people suffer," I say angrily.

He sighs. "What do you want?"

"Send Zamiel to a hospital. Send him somewhere so someone can help him with his issues. Obviously he's had a very traumatic childhood, and he just needs a little guidance and some help," I say with a frown. "That's all I ask."

He is silent for a little bit before he speaks up. "Fine." He's quiet for a little bit before he speaks up. "Where do you live?"

I tell him my address then we continue in silence as he pulls up in a Walmart instead of my house.

"What are you doing?" I ask him with a frown.

He looks at me with calm eyes. "I am a gentleman despite what just happened and what you think of me. I really do have my reasons; I'm not comfortable with telling them yet. Also," he frowns as he looks down at my bare legs and feet. "I figured I could buy some clothes for you and some shoes. If you want, maybe some makeup to cover up the bruises on your neck."

My eyes widen as I place my hand on my neck. "Oh..."

Josiah looks at me with concern. "I don't care how sick he is, Pia. He had no right to hurt you like that when you were just trying to help. I know you are, but I'm telling you, men like that are so deep in their problems and their mind..." he trails off as he shakes his head. "He will not see clearly. Like I said, I'm a gentleman, and if I see you hurt you again, I think I may have to arrest him."