The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 6i

"What's going on?" Alex asks. I look up and see her at the top of the staircase.

I rise to my feet, and Adrian nods to me, leaving the two of us to have a moment alone. "Hey, Alex."

"Scarlett, what's the matter?" She asks.

I ascend the stairs and tell her to follow me back into the bedroom. We sit down on the bed, and I begin using my imagination. How can I convince her to go back to Pittsburgh? "Alex, I need you to do something for me. I need you to go back to Pittsburgh without me. And also, I need you to not ask any questions."

"What?" She is stunned as any normal person would be. "Why? What is going on?"

"Alex, I'm in some serious trouble here. Those guys who came into our apartment last night, they were there to kill me. Given the opportunity, they would hurt you in order to hurt me."

"Scarlett, you are freaking me out. What the hell have you gotten yourself into?"

I chuckle. "I've been asking myself the same question for a while now. Alex, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do, what kind of question is that?" She says in frustration.

"Do this for me. Trust that I can take care of myself for now. And trust that I love you. More than you can possibly believe, I love you." My already tear-stained face becomes even more deluged.

"Scarlett please, tell me what is going on. We will get through this together!"

"No, we won't. The only way either of us is getting through this is if you stay away from me. At least for now."

"I..." She's trying to make sense of the situation – a situation that defies sense and reason. "For how long?"

"I don't know. I'll contact you the first second that I am able to. Adrian says he will give you some money."

"Ok, you haven't even told me who this guy really is! What does he have to do with all this?"

I shake my head. "Please, don't ask. Just do what I asked you to. This is just as painful for me as it is for you." I hug her as though one of us is dying. "I love you, Alex."

"I love you too, baby sister." Her tears join mine. I swear to myself that this will not be the last time I see her and that I will overcome whatever madness this world conjures up. Whomever William Ashcroft is, he will not be the last chapter of my life. He will not keep me away from Alex – my real family.