DYING MOURNINGS, original

sixteen : the funeral

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𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 : 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋

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A part of me necessarily didn't believe him, because I wanted more than anything to have this all be part of one of his people's evil plans. Hell, I would've loved it if it was all Crow's fault too. If this man worked for him and could just tell me if he had any part of it, I would be able to sleep peacefully at night.

"Are you still there?" he whispered to me and I wanted to hang up but his voice lured me back to him because I was already saying, "Yeah, I'm here."

It was still pretty early in the evening but I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep. I needed to end the call but I liked how he spoke, I liked the way the words seemed to roll effortlessly off his tongue.

"You're tired," he told me, reminding me of the obvious. "Tomorrow's going to be hard, you need time to rest before then."

I nodded, pulling the covers higher up my body. "Will I ever know what really happened that night? The night she died?" I needed to know the truth, I needed absolute honesty.

"Soon, but not now."

"Why not?"

"There's just so much that's still at play, you'll know after."

I frowned. "After what?"

"After we're finished, after what's to come."

I rolled my eyes, suppressing a yawn. "Are you always this cryptic? Can't I just get a straight answer for anything?"

"Soon," he said again and his voice was light like he was trying not to laugh. "We'll talk more tomorrow."

"Right," I murmured before adding, "We'll talk more especially after you surprise attack me at the funeral."

"I won't be attacking you," he groaned and I pictured the stranger rolling his eyes at me. "I'll see you, but I doubt you'll see me."

"And why can't we just meet face to face? I think it's about time I know who you are."

"You won't like what you see."

He seemed worried, actually afraid for me to see his true face. Or maybe he was just saying all of that to throw me off, to keep me exactly where he wanted me. "I doubt that," I said back.

"Go to bed, Blaire," he said and he sounded strict, almost like a parent.

I nodded even though he couldn't see me and I wished he could. But why was I even wishing for something like that? He just admitted to me that he was a killer and yet I was fascinated by him, I wanted to meet him in person like on one of those episodes of Catfish. I knew exactly how stupid of an idea it was but I couldn't help myself, not one bit.

"Won't be long until you'll be at peace with all this," he whispered like a goodbye. "It'll all be easier by then."

"I hope you're right," I murmured before ending the call and putting the phone up.

It wouldn't be long at all.

~

I didn't plan on going to school, so I woke later than usual. I had emailed my teachers the evening before to tell them I wouldn't be in class and that I already looked at the syllabi so I'd send my work through email this weekend.