The World As We Know It

Chapter Twenty-One

Things were going to change. I was done losing people, done running, and certainly done with Kane's little cult. Fuck him and his stupid knife. He wanted a fight? Well, he had one. Fuming, I picked up the menu for the tenth time and scanned through it. I was getting a burger. I didn't care how undignified I would look eating it. I was mad and hungry. Where the hell was the server?

"Taylor."

I peered over the menu. Sebastian still wore the same concerned look he had back at the house. Granted, my outburst about "burning my enemies" had been a bit gleeful, but I was perfectly sane. Just really pissed off.

"I'm fine."

He put his head in his hands.

"I'm having trouble believing that. You learn that your family, the one you had no memory of, died horribly in front of you. You have a small outburst, threaten to "burn your enemies", then march right to this diner. Do you see my issue?"

"I was hungry," I grumbled.

Sebastian waited until the server had left with our orders before continuing.

"I might have believed that had we not walked past ten other restaurants on the way here. You came to this specific diner. Why?"

This was where I realized I wasn't who I thought I was. This is the same booth where I learned my memories were lies. That spot in front of the door is where my life fell apart before my eyes, leaving me with more questions I could possibly answer. This diner is where I started to learn the truth, and I needed to know more.

"I want to jog my memory. Learn something useful for once."

Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Taylor, you're not thinking clearly." He sighed. "Hell, I'm not thinking clearly. We just lost our child! This is much better than running, but this isn't how you handle death."

I crossed my arm defensively.

"No, it's not. That will happen tonight when I bawl my eyes out. Right now, I get to be angry. It makes me feel better."

The server returned with our food. My water watered at the greasy monstrosity before me with its delightfully melted cheese. Ecstatic, I bit into it, relishing how juicy it was. God, I needed this. Avoiding my partner's questions was just a plus. Sebastian sipped at his wine glass disapprovingly, though I wasn't sure if it was because of my answer or how I was eating. Probably both.

"We need to talk about what happened," he said finally.

I swallowed, wiping my face with a napkin.

"I'm pretty sure we don't."

His face darkened.

"Taylor, that was my child, too. I have every right to know what exactly occurred, start to finish."

I pushed my plate to the side and leaned on the table.

"Look, I get you're pissed, upset, whatever! I'm sure you need to talk about it. It's healthy, and it helps with the grieving process. What you don't need to know is what happened in that forest, okay? I gave you the basics."

He leaned forward, arms folded over his chest.

"Yes, the basics. That consisted of saying that Kane beat you and forced a miscarriage. I want to know exactly how he laid his hands on you so I can repay the favor."