The Shadow Executioner

CHAPTER 11 Memory

"DAD, GUESS WHAT! I went on that blind day that Rae set up for me, he was AWFUL." I said crossing my arms under my chest seeing my dad sitting at the bar clicking away on his laptop.

"Annnd what do you want me to do about it Chelle, should I go a beat him up for you?"

"Please?" I asked putting my hands together in a prayer, he looked away from his laptop and looked up and the ceiling as if searching for an answer.

"I guess I could but then his family would sue me or take me to court, and if I plead guilty then I get jail time, and if I get jail time then you will have to-"

"Ahh dad I get it!" I said exasperated.

I stood in the kitchen watching myself talk to my dad, what was happening how am I here but watching myself seven years ago, I was 23, this is before he went missing?

"Don't worry about it Chelle, your knight in shining armor will come when the time is right." He said seriously, I smiled, and bear hugged him. The smell of old spice was prominent on his skin.

"You will never leave me, right?" I asked, he chuckled and looked at me with a goofy grin.

"I promise I will never leave you, who else will make sure you don't beat someone up?" He asked, I rolled my eyes and held my pinky out, he hooked his pinky with mine and pressed his thumb against mine.

"You better keep your promise. And for the record I am not that bad" I laughed releasing his pinky.

"Yeah, you kind of are." He said jokingly.

I felt my eyes sting at his words, he promised me he wouldn't leave. I felt my chest tighten as I choked back the tears that threatened to fall. "You promised. . ." I whispered to myself seeing myself and my father talking about a few interviews I went on back then. Why did this memory hurt so bad, it was a happy memory? So why do I feel like my heart is being torn into shreds.

"Would you like to see the truth child?" I heard the enchantress ask; I clenched my hands into fists digging my nails into my palm.

"Yes."

"What you are about to see is your trial, your moral dilemma. Choose wisely, once you are there, I cannot talk to you, I can only watch and not interfere. The choice is yours; do you want to see what happened to your father?"

"Take me there."

"Very well child, just know this is not a memory that is yours. Once you are there they can hear and see you. You can and will be hurt, unless you unlock your inner being."

"Take me there now." I said angrily, my voice filled with annoyance at her warnings. I didn't care anymore, I just needed closure. I felt an overwhelming warmth again wrap around my body. The sensation disappearing just as quickly as it came.

I looked around confused. Where am? I thought as my black combat boots hit the earth beneath my feet, I looked down to see impacted dirt mixed with gravel. The soft crunch under my shoes echoed through the tunnel. Is this a mine shaft? I thought as I looked down the hollowed-out tunnel the darkness was unnerving at the end of the corridor. I let out a quiet breath seeing the condensation leave my lips. The temperature was like ice, as if I was in a freezer. I reached my hand out to touch the passage walls to find that the rocks were wet.

I pulled my fingertips away from the wall the moisture leaving a kiss of wetness on my fingers. I walked silently down the passageway trying to let my eyes adjust to the darkness to no avail. Something was off about this place, there was no breeze or any sign of living creatures in here. If there is no breeze that means we are deep underground with only one way in and one way out. I thought as I heard loud howls in the distance behind me, I inhaled sharply running down the tunnel, my boots hitting the ground hard as I touched the wet wall trying to find any break in the wall to hide in.