Guilt: A Fractured Minds Novel

Chapter Forty-two

Looking at him confused I ask, "What haven't you told me Jared?"

It's then I notice the dark circles under his eyes and the way he can't stop moving. There's definitely something wrong. Squeezing his hand I ask again, "What haven't you told me yet Jared?"

He faces me on the couch and I can tell that he's nervous to how I'll react. Giving him a small nod of encouragement he finally speaks.

"Have you heard of Schizophrenia?"

I nod thinking of Father's pills and the different illness it can be used to treat.

"My knowledge is very limited."

"Schizophrenia is a mental illness that causes the ill person to interpret reality differently than others normally would. There are many symptoms of Schizophrenia such as hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, and social withdrawal. Many who suffer from this illness also, but not always suffer from Depression. There are four different subtypes of Schizophrenia: paranoid, disorganized. catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual. Paranoid-"

Cutting him off I question, "How is any of this relevant to me?"

He shifts on the couch before saying, "I was just getting to that part. As I was saying, this may seem completely irrelevant to you, but I promise that it is not. Paranoid is the type that you have. Schizophrenia is genetic and is more likely to be passed on when both parents have it rather than just one." At his words I remember my Father's bottle of pills that I found only a few days earlier that could treat Schizophrenia.

He takes me away from my thoughts once again with his words, "You're suffering from Depression and have been completely going through social withdrawals. Aren't you?"
With a laugh I say, "You think that I'm a Schizophrenic? The Depression and "social withdrawals" are because of my sister's murder-I mean disappearance."

He bites back, "The hallucinations can be anything from people, animals, sensations, and in this case it would be people. The delusion is that your sister has been murdered. You've convinced yourself that she's been killed when in fact all that has happened to her is her disappearance."

"You're the one that is a Schizophrenic here, not me. Jared you need to get some help."

At his words of my sisters "disappearance" which really is her murder I realize that there's someone that I've completely overlooked. My own Father. He hates Victoria because she is a remind of Mother who cheated on him all those years ago. He drinks to forget what he's done and everytime he sees me he's only reminded of the sin he has committed.

That night he knew that she was going to the party with her boyfriend. Seeing my Father show up I must've followed him as he and my sister disappeared into the trees to talk. When they were arguing I watched as he pointed the gun at her and shot her. Killing her he then ran after realizing what he had done. I must've forgotten it because of how traumatic it all was. Knowing what my Father had done was too much for my brain. It must've been too much for my Father because every time he sees us he's reminded of Victoria. Upon this realization I shake my head and stand up only to have Jared pull me down towards him. "You need to listen to me-"
"No. I'm going to leave because I know who killed my sister."

"Alexandria you are not going to leave me." At his words his grip on my arm becomes tighter and tighter causing me to squirm.

"Listen to me will you? The only way to get rid of these hallucinations are to kill them."

"Kill them?" I ask as reaches into the side drawer of the coffee table and pulls out a Lyman 1911 the handle is made from walnut and the rest of the small hand gun is metal. Passing it to me the weight feels awfully familiar to me. Like a hug from a friend that you haven't seen in years.

Ripping my other hand from his grasp I stand up. With the gun in hand I march towards the front door with Jared in tow. Throwing open the door I quickly cross the street not stopping to check if it's clear. Walking up to my car I can feel anger boiling over as I shove the key into the lock. Unlocking my car I get inside. Shutting it behind me it's then I realize that Jared is in the car with me.

Starting the car I shake my head as the words pour from my mouth, "I can't believe that he's been breathing for so long. He murdered his own daughter and got away with it. That monster needs to pay for what he's done. How could he? He killed a girl that he raised and was considered to be his daughter her whole life."

Pressing on the gas I drive down the street before turning around. Passing Jared's house I start the drive home. Anger controlling my actions I can feel the gun become heavier in my lap. Reminding me of what deed needs to be finished. I will avenge my sister by killing her murderer.

"Don't you think you should be thinking this through a bit more?" Jared asks as I speed up when the light turns yellow earning a car to honk at me.

"No. I don't Jared. He killed my older sister and he's going to get what he deserves." With a grin on my face I start inmage shooting him in the chest just as he did to Victoria. Gripping the steering wheel tighter I press on the gas a little more. Begging the car to go faster than the speed limit.

"Alexandria I think you're misunderstanding something here-"

"Jared?"
"Yes?" He ask his voice a laced with hope.

"Shut up." I demand him as I turn off the main road and into a less busy one. The closer I get the more eager I become to reach home and finish what I started a few weeks ago. Turning down my street my eyes find my house and take note to the fact the Father's car is parked out front. Once in front of the house I park the car and turn off the ignition pulling the keys out as I do so. Leaving the keys on the console I grip the gun in hand before climbing out of the car.

Standing in front of the house I shut the car door behind me before marching up the sidewalk to the front door of the house. Opening it I walk inside the first thing I hear is the noise from what only can be the T.V. and two set of footsteps. Jared's and my own.

Looking over my shoulder I see that he's once again followed me. Shaking my head I mouth to him, "go back into the car". Which his only reply is, "no". Becoming frustrated with him I turn around and punch him as hard as I can in the stomach causing him to double over.

Walking down the hallway to Tori's room I open the door and take one last look around her room.

"I'm avenging you Tori. I love you and I'm sorry about Nicholas." I whisper before locking her door and walking out of her room. With the door now locked behind me I quickly walk past the kitchen and into the family room where my Father lays on the couch drunk.

Walking in front of the T.V. he lets out a mumbled strands of complaints and upon raising the gun in my hand his glassy eyes widen a fraction. Gripping the walnut handle I wrap my pointer finger around the trigger. Pointing the gun at his chest I spit out the words that have been buried inside of me for too long. Seeing the gun pointed at him he stands up and takes a few uncoordinated steps towards me before stopping.

"You pathetic excuse for a Father murdered your own daughter in cold blood over your wife having an affair. This is your punishment." With a satisfied smirk on my face I pull the trigger and watch as his body falls to the carpet with a thud.

The gunshot shatters the air around me as my ears ring. Mouth open in shock I watch as her gold locket desperate to get away as her blue eyes fade of light. Almost in slow motion she falls to the ground lip parted in a vacant scream. Blood seeps through her clothes from the point of entry caused by the bullet. Eyes casted upwards to the starry sky all the while the life leaves her body. Gasps of air are desperate to draw an ounce of air into her lungs as blood falls from her nose and open mouth. I stare at the culprit in disbelief while tears fall from my eyes. She's dead. My sister has been murdered.

In the faint light blue eyes widen as she looks over her shoulder and sees my immobile form. As she turned around her blonde hair fluttered in the breeze. Mouth falls open as faint music smothers her words. The tall spruce trees sway as the wind picks up. The words form a bitter taste on my tongue as I spit out her name in disbelief.

"Heather?"