Everything's Changed

46

It had been a few weeks since Abby's unexpected visit and it was the New Years. It was a weekend and the girls were on a three day trip getaway in the mountains. They rented a small cabin for the six of them. There was one bed and everyone else either slept on a couch or in sleeping bags on the floor.

Clarke's mother left a week after her arrival on Christmas with Marcus and Malik. Marcus had gotten a call from Troye and Clarke overheard some of their conversation. It wasn't very pleasant but she still eavesdropped. She knew it was wrong but she had know what it was about, knowing Troye was working with Cage.

Marcus's phone rang as him and Malik finished a game of Mario Kart. Marcus got up and exited the dorm to answer his phone, knowing that no one wanted to hear anything from Troye.

Clarke, unintentionally, had been returning from the bakery and she had been around the corner. She was curious, yes, but she didn't want to pass by. So she just stood there and listened.

"Hello." Marcus said quietly.

"I need some help." The phone blared.

"That's your business, not mine." Marcus whispered. "You got involved with Cage, you deal with it."

"No, it's not that." Troye said. "I did something bad."

"Well, you've been doing bad since you joined that damned cult." Marcus sternly said.

"Just listen to me." He stuttered. "Cage, he killed hundreds."

"What do you mean?" Marcus asked. "He's done that before."

"No, no." Troye said. "He killed an entire town, children, elders, adults, happy people."

"And why are you telling me this?"

"Because I was part of it and I need to get out of here." Troye said.

"I'm not helping you." Marcus said. "You murdered people, you joined the gang, you brought this upon yourself and the family name."

"You don't understand." Troye shouted. "He's going to murder Atom! Remember him?"

"You mean your cousin?"

"Yes, he threatened me." Troye said. "And I carried his order out so I could save Atom's ass."

"What did you do?"

"I had to kill, someone that isn't very important, to save a life."

"You killed to save a life. I know you know who this is." Marcus scowled.

"I can't." Troye stuttered as he sniffled. "I can't tell you."

"Tell me!" Marcus whisper shouted. "Tell me."

Clarke knew Marcus wasn't a violent person. Hell, he protested against his own son. He had been kind to Clarke and her mother. She just couldn't understand why he got divorced. Was it him or the ex-wife? Was it because of Troye? Was Troye even his ex-wife's kid. She didn't want to push him for answers. But she was curious.

"It's was my own." Troye sniffled. "My own blood."

"Who?" Marcus said in a calmer tone.

"My own child."

"How old?" Marcus said. He was angry, angry Troye hadn't told him. "HOW OLD?"

"Four." Troye said. "Her name was Gina. Her mother died too. I killed them both."

"You should've let Atom die!" Marcus shouted. "You should've let her live."