Revenge

Chapter 9 - The final goodbye

Riley's POV

My hate grew when I saw my mother's scarred face. She was so beautiful before her face was ruined by that bastard. Even with the scars, she is still beautiful. I looked around at the cowards now starting to back up towards the door obviously trying to escape my wrath. They were all the same. Them and their mayor. "They abandoned you mother. They let you suffer alone. They all knew what really happened, but they kept quiet. They let a rapist and murderer walk free" I said still observing them. "They have to pay" I said with finality looking at my mother again. It pained me to see what has become of her. What these people have turned her into. "Baby don't do this. You're better then them. Please don't do this" my mother pleaded still holding onto my face and grabbing my hand with her other free hand. She held my hand tightly still begging me not to go through with this. When she saw my determination, she grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug. She knew she couldn't stop me from what I was about to do, but she loved me regardless of what I have become. To her I was still her daughter. The daughter she had to live without for 15 years. Not being able to hug me, see me or talk to me. She had to live with the fact that her only daughter was murdered and never got the justice she deserved. What a horrible burden to bare.

I was back in the comfort of my mother's arms. I couldn't feel her touch, smell her perfume or even cry with her.

I was dead after all.

"Will you be happy?" was her final question. I pulled myself out of her arms unwillingly, staring deep into her eyes so that she could see my sincerity. "I will be. You've suffered long enough mother. Please don't suffer on my behalf anymore" I told her taking her hand in mine for old times sake. "When this night is over, I want you to get out of this town and start a new life. Be happy and forget all about this God forsaken town. Will you that for me?" I asked her. I needed her to say yes. My revenge would wipe out all the hypocrites in this down, but it could never ease my aching heart. For that I needed my mother to finally be happy. "If this will make my Riley happy, then I would do it without thinking twice" she answered genuinely smiling for the first time and 15 years. It felt good to hear her call me Riley. The name was bitter coming from the town people's mouths because this was my mother's nickname to me. She called me Riley when I hadn't done my chores or did something I wasn't supposed to, and I was about to receive either a spanking or, as I got older, a lecture. It was short for RIver LEah Yarnold. I had started to associate the name with trouble, but it was precious to me regardless, because it was the name my mother used to call me. My poor mother...

"You're so cold" was her last words and then she kissed my cheek. I smiled at her. I didn't want to take away her happiness by telling her that I couldn't feel. Then she left.

When I was sure she was no longer in the building I took away the last bit of light in the hall and made sure no one else would be able to leave. Fear had consumed the rest of the guests and they had now lost all hospitability and their true nature were starting to be revealed. They were pushing passed each other, husbands left their wives alone, the old people were left behind as they tried to escape.

Fools. There is no escape for them.

Jessica's POV

It was Riley who tried to warn me. It was her all along. "Of course! That's why she was trying so hard to gain everyone's trust. She knew that people would be suspicious of someone who looked exactly like the girl who died 15 years ago. Think about it. We know nothing about where she came from, who her relatives are or anything else about her life before she moved here. She didn't like having people over at her place and photos..." I exclaimed taking out my phone browsing through the million photos I took this evening. Mark didn't say a word. He was still processing all the information we just received. "Found it!" I said showing the picture to Mark. "She never liked photos and now we know why" I continued, looking at myself, being the only person in the picture. There was no trace of Riley in that photo.