Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 129 - Diamond Island's Rough Edges

After Kyle and Jake left, there was a bunch of mixed feelings in a room of silence. Colin was sure Anna realized that a lot of trouble was caused by her night at the bar. Since his son was the one to kill Jolene, Colin was glad that Anna didn't know the truth and gained some healthy fear so she will stop dating strangers online.

What worried him the most was his son's addictions. Nate had found the location to place Stacy's body. Were all those bodies they found buried there from Nate? Was that his collection? He couldn't believe it. Colin understood and felt grief that his son was killing girls and dumping their lifeless bodies in the cold wet dirt of the mountain. It had to be why it felt so different there, despairing and hopeless. Colin wanted to ask Nate directly, but Anna and Harmony's emotions were interfering.

Colin ordered them all to have their stuff together and get in the truck. Nate helped him out, for there was no denying that this week was hard on Colin. After locking the door, he turned to Nate and handed him the keys.

"There is a letter in your room that I want you to read, it's important. After you read it, you need to burn the letter. Can I couldn't on you son?"

"Yes Dad." Nate smiled then gave him a hug as he put the set of keys in his pocket.

Anna got into the truck feeling regrets about Jake. Looking back at her home that wouldn't ever be hers again.

Once they loaded onto the boat, Colin was feeling horrible. His chest seemed to be working overtime as he couldn't fully catch his breath. He couldn't avoid Nate's and the girls' eyes on him the whole time. He must look pale and tired, Colin though. He wished he could sleep, but every sound on the earth kept him from doing that. His body ached and he could feel an intensity within his system that scared him. He could only relate it to trying to climb over the edge of the mountain without having a place to put your hands.

Kyle's confrontation shook him up. Colin felt deep regret that Stacy had died. He couldn't imagine losing Anna or Nate and not really knowing what happened. He wondered if Dana's parents had ever cared to find out what happened to their daughter, considering nothing came of it he thought not. As for Tessa, Colin didn't care who they were or what they thought. She was never in their lives and she was a piece of shit as a soul anyway.

He was glad that Nate was escorting them to island. He feared for his son, for if they find out he had been killing and dumping nasty girls, his life would be over. Colin' caught Nate's eyes and his son walked over across from him and sat down. The girls were at the front of the boat looking for the island and talking about what happened with Stacy and Kayleen.

"Something on your mind Dad?" Nate asked.

"I'm worried about you, son. Is that your dumping ground?" Colin asked. Nate didn't want to answer so he didn't.

"What can I do for you?" Colin asked.

"Nothing, you've done everything for me. You have given me everything. I'm trying to stop, trust me. And I only take the girls that don't care about life anymore as they sell their bodies and their souls." Nate responded as if his explanation made everything justifiable.

Colin lifted his arms, and Nate went to them for a hug.

"Dad, don't worry about me, I promise everything will be fine." Nate tried to reassure Colin as he sat next to him.

"I believe you." Colin replied and closed his eyes.

Colin was trying to keep his tears inside his head, so Nate didn't think he was crying in disappointment. If anything, it was Colin's fault that Nate turned out the way he did. He was upset because he knew that when Nate was a baby sitting in his car chair crying, he watched Colin hold his mother Dana, under the water until she died. His first real visual imprint. Everything was his fault, Colin thought. Even his heart felt tired.

When Colin opened his eyes, he was surprised he had fallen asleep for a few minutes. Nate was on the deck talking to Harmony and Anna was sitting close to him watching him sleep. Colin knew Anna was worried about how he looked. He was glad she couldn't imagine how he felt. In just the few days she had been gone, he looked like fought he Devil and barely survived. He had been waiting for her to ask what was wrong, but she waited until he told her. It was obvious his body was going through something horrible.

Colin wasn't sure how long time they were frozen staring at each other like they were. It couldn't have been a mere few seconds, but it felt like of the cliff of an eternity. He pointed his finger at her necklace she was wearing that contained Tessa's mini vial of blood.

"It was meant for you from the beginning."

"I wish I could have known her." Anna said rubbing the necklace.

"Hmm." Was all Colin said but wanted to rip it from her neck and throw it into the ocean. He hoped it reminded Anna that she was better than the blood of the person she carried.

"When I see her, I feel more fear than comfort." Anna said then sat quietly. Colin's heart started to beat faster.

"When you see her? In pictures?" Colin asked.

"No Daddy, I have a secret. She used to come to my room, then after a while she only came to me in the garden. It always seems like she is surprised to see me, then angry I was there. She isn't as pretty as her pictures. Her ghost is uglier and broken." Anna said watching her father. He kept his eyes on her and saw her eyes jiggle. He snapped out of it and anger again filled his mind.

"Well, stop talking to her. I did a long time ago." Colin demanded.

"Do you see her?" Anna asked.

"I used to. Whenever she appeared, I closed my eyes and started thinking of other things. She really wasn't a nice person sweetheart. I used to tell you she was because I didn't want you to have bad feelings towards her, even though you have every right to." Colin said no longer caring about hiding the truth from Anna. At least some of it.

"I'm sorry Daddy, for everything." Anna said with a shine to her eyes.

"I'm glad you are home Anna." Colin said and closed his eyes for a second.

"I said I would be Daddy." Anna replied.

"Yes, but there is a lot you didn't tell me." Colin said then opened his eyes to stare at his daughter. Anna remained quiet.

"At least you are here." Colin sighed and closed his eyes again.

"I love you Anna." Colin said with his eyes closed. "And hope you love me as much."

"I do Daddy." Anna said with emotion in her voice.

Anna ran to her father and wrapped her arms around him then place a blanket over him.

"Oh Anna, what is that horrid smell?" Colin asked more alert. Smelling salts would have smelled better.

"I'm sorry daddy, I hit a skunk." Anna said and moved away from Colin. She sprayed a spritz of perfume from her purse that her father had bought for her.

"Are you ok Daddy?" Colin had heard Anna asked.

"No Princess, I feel a bit seasick and that smell didn't help." Colin lied then gave her a weak smile. Colin closed his eyes.

The ocean waves were loud, and the wind was quiet. Colin kept falling into small naps as they made their way to the island. He felt warm and comfortable which wasn't saying much since right now he could have been comfortable on a bed of rocks. At least a flat stone would have made a fine pillow. Colin opened his eyes to see if he was alone. Anna was still sitting with him but her face was sweating and she looked like she was cramping, for she kept covering her stomach with her hands.

"What is wrong with you Anna?"

"I think I am a little of what you call seasick." Anna said.

"In the drawer over there is medicine for seasickness." Colin said watching her. She didn't get up.

"That is ok, I don't want to take what I don't know. I think I'll be fine. It is just an odd feeling. I am used to having ice under my feet, not water." Anna said which made Colin laugh.

"Wait until you fall in love with the island and all the love on it." Colin said.