Obsession

Chapter 39

Dad and I ride along in silence to the county morgue. It's a trip I think we've both been expecting to make sooner or later, but while she was still missing, there was still that tiny glimmer of hope that she was still out there somewhere, waiting for us to find her.

Now, that hope is gone. She's gone. All that's left now are the memories of her, which isn't nearly enough. How can it be?

I glance over at my dad to see silent tears streaming down his face. He and mom weren't on the best of terms here lately, but it was starting to get better. They were starting to be civil again after more than a year of constant bickering.

He's always been our protector. I know he feels like he failed her, failed me, after all that's happened. He was a Navy SEAL, a decorated veteran, a lethal weapon that could end someone's life in seconds with only his bare hands. But he couldn't save her.

I wish I could tell him none of this is his fault. It's mine. I let Kai into our lives. I let him get too close. I'm the reason she's gone.

Dad parks the truck and looks over at me, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Listen, you don't have to do this, you know. You can stay here and-"

"No," I say quickly. "I need to see her."

He nods sadly, as if he understands. She's been missing for weeks. For us to truly be able to accept this, we need to see her, to know it's her. And we need to be able to say goodbye.

We get out of the truck and walk hand in hand through the entrance. We're greeted by the coroner and the medical examiner. "Good morning, Mr. Thaxton. I'm Dr. Green."

Dad only nods politely.

Dr. Green gives me a sad smile. "Right this way."

We follow him down a hallway and through a set of double doors. We walk into a cold, dimly lit room with a table at the center. A large white sheet covers whatever is on the table.

Dr. Green pulls the sheet back and I squeeze my eyes shut. Dad squeezes my hand tightly and I slowly open my eyes.

There she is.

Her beautiful brown hair fans out above her. Her skin is a pale purple color, with splotches of green and yellow, as if she's covered in bruises. Her face is sunken in. It barely even looks like her anymore.

I move closer to her, dragging dad along with me. She's still wearing the necklace I gave her, just like Kai said.

Not able to take it anymore, I bury my face in my dad's chest and let the tears I've been holding back fall. He holds me tight, kissing the top of my head as we cry together.

"What happened to her?" dad finally asks.

I pull away and look at Dr. Green, waiting for an answer. I need to know what Kai did to her. I need to know what she went through, so I can make sure he goes through much worse.

"As far as we can tell, it was blunt force trauma to the back of the skull. It would've been quick and relatively painless. The estimated time of death is approximately four weeks. More than likely, not long after she went missing," he replies.

Dad hugs me tight as we both cry together, finally letting go of that last little bit of hope we've been desperately holding on to. Dr. Green covers her body back up and gives us a moment together.

For a long while, neither of us can say a word. We let the grief rip through us, letting the pain tear us apart, bit by bit, until there's no tears left to cry.

"I promise you, baby girl. He will pay for what he's done to her. I'll make sure of it," dad finally says.

I look up at him and nod, but I don't intend on giving him a chance. I want to be the one to make him pay for what he's done. I want to watch the life drain from his eyes. I want to be the one to rid the world of this evil.