"You've known who he was the whole time. You knew his identity. Why didn't you speak up when we found their bodies? You kept saying you had no idea who the assailants were." I was yelling as much as my voice would let me. My throat was not completely healed, and this strain today had it almost raw. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, drained of emotion. My mind was reeling, trying to figure out how he could keep this kind of information to himself.
"He was not only after them that night. They wanted to kill you and your mom. That's why I got her out first. He's also your great uncle. The sheriff's younger brother, Elias Dawson," Donovan's face was full of fear and regret.
"What are you saying? I'm so confused," I said, staggering backward. Agent Williams held my shoulders to keep me from falling. "Are you saying the sheriff tried to have my mother and me killed before I was born, and the man who tried was related to him, to me? Does Andy know what his father tried to do?"
"Yes, Dad found out Sheriff Dawson was bad-mouthing your mom around town. Saying the baby was someone else's, and Amber was trying to trap his son. So he confronted him with files of his corruption. He wanted him to leave your mother alone. Only it backfired; we started getting threatening letters. Then things spiraled, which led to that night," Donovan explained, tears running down his face. All I could think was that it's my fault my family was hurt. "Andy doesn't know about it, I don't think."
"So, you lied to me from the beginning. That's why you were so shocked to see me. You thought we had been caught that night. We were dead," I was yelling for no reason other than my mind was at a breaking point. He wasn't my enemy; I just had no one else to project my frustration on.
"Please, Roxanne, let me explain," Donovan begged.
I looked at Uncle Donovan, feeling the heaviness of what he's been through. He's been supportive and caring, but I saw the burden he carried, reliving the night that shattered our family, and I felt a deep ache for both of us.
"I didn't tell you because I knew he was dangerous. I thought he was still alive and that his goal was you—that he wanted you dead or to hand you over to his allies. If he learned the truth and you started questioning him, he would come after you and finish the job. I never expected him to be here, tormenting us like this," he explained.
The entity surged forward, slamming Donovan against the wall. Donovan cried out; the sound was painful and raw.
"You lied to her and hid the truth, you took the fun out of my game," the entity snarled, its voice layered with something inhuman.
"I was trying to protect her from you and them," Donovan says, gasping, struggling to breathe.
"You failed, she's mine," it taunted, leaning closer, only inches from Uncle Donovan's face. Williams stepped forward, grabbing a broken chair leg from the floor. He swung it at the entity, who dodged it. Williams quickly throws it, and the black mass catches it mid-air without even looking. The wood splintered in its grip, as if it were made of paper. Williams stumbled back, eyes wide. The entity Elias looked from the agent to you.
"You were never meant to be born. You were a mistake, and someone wouldn't let me kill you. My brother was furious when he found out you were alive. All he saw was how you and your mother were destroying Andrew's life. Now, I can finally finish what I started, and nothing the other mister can do will stop me." A cold, hard hand wrapped around my already damaged throat, the invisible grip tightening, sending a wave of dread through me.
"Please no, not again," was running through my head. My nails were clawing at my neck, gasping for air. My feet start to lift off the ground, making the pressure worse. Blackness started to filter in from the sides of my eyes. My consciousness was slowly waning, and I fought to keep it under control and stay awake. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.
"Roxanne," William shouts as he lunges towards me.
"Let her go, take me instead," Donovan was pleading with Elias as he struggled to his feet. His voice breaking. The black mass of Elias pauses for a moment, then throws me, causing me to fly backwards, slamming into the hallway wall. Pain exploded through my ribs, disorienting me. Williams drops to his knees beside me, his hands shaking as he checks my breathing.
"Stay with me, Roxanne. Stay with me," he says softly. The front door explodes open as someone charges inside towards me.
"Why would I want you?" the entity snarls at Donovan. "It was never about you or your brother and sister. It was always about Roxanne, Amber, and your mother. You're just a bump in my way." The entity roars again, charging toward Uncle Donovan. But my uncle was quick and dodged before it could harm him.
"Rocky?" a familiar voice yells, and relief floods through me; it's my Zeke. He ran in, didn't hesitate, and grabbed the iron fireplace poker leaning by the entryway; it was the closest thing to a weapon available to him. He sprinted towards the entity.
"Leave them alone. Get away," the entity turned its form, flickering. Zeke swung the poker with everything he had. When it connected, the entity shrieked. The sound was so piercing that it hurt my ears. I clapped my hands over my ears to try to block the noise. Its form rippled, distorted like smoke hit by a gust of wind.
"How did you...?" Williams asked, stunned.
"I'll explain outside," Zeke says as he grabs my arm, pulling me up to my feet. Then, without warning, he picks me up into his arms, heading for the front door.
"Go! Go!" Uncle Donovan shouts as he limps toward the door with us. The entity, Elias, was reforming, roaring with anger. Everyone else ran for the door except Agent Williams, who dives for his gun, positioning himself between us and the creature as we hurried away.
As we burst through the door onto the porch, Zeke sets me down to make sure the other two make it out. He turns towards the entrance, ready to help in any way he can, but Williams and Donovan burst out, almost running him over. The entity crashes against the threshold, roaring fiercely but unable to cross. An unseen barrier seals it in, crackling with static, holds it back. Frustrated, the entity screams again, rattling the windows. Zeke pulls me into his embrace. His familiar scent surrounds me, soothing my trembling frame.
"I've got you," he whispered fiercely. "I'm here," He said softly as he stroked my hair, like you would for a scared child. Behind us, the entity echoed through the house, his voice dripping with rage.
"You can't hide forever, little girl; they'll find you or I will," it laughs. A sound I never want to hear again. It made my veins run ice cold. The door slams shut on its own. Zekes grip tightens around me. Williams had his gun raised at the house, even though he knew it wouldn't help. It made him feel still in control. Uncle Donovan looked like a man about to collapse under the weight of everything he had kept buried. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, shaking uncontrollably.
"Roxanne, there's more you need to know," he says, staring at me.
"More?" I mumble. "What more could there be?"
"I'm pretty sure Elias Dawson didn't work alone," he states
"Wait," Zeke says, confused. "That thing's name is Elias Dawson? Does Andy know about any of this?" Ignoring Zeke's confusion, I turn to stare at my uncle.
"What do you mean he didn't act alone?" I was curious but worried about someone else out there ready to attack. Donovan hesitated, a long, painful silence, before he forced himself to continue.
"I don't think he was the only one who wanted our family dead. I'm pretty sure this person wanted you after you were born." Donovan's words hit me one by one. Why would someone want me as an infant? My breath caught as the realization came over me. Zeke slowly set me down on the wicker couch sitting next to me.
"Do you have any idea who this person is?" I asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm not sure, someone with power who could make things disappear. Someone who… had feelings for your grandmother, and she didn't return them. I heard mom and dad arguing about it once. They never mentioned his name." His voice was strained as he recalled the memories. Today's events were taxing on all of us.
My heart pounded as I thought about who it could be. Are they still here in this town? The questions were running through her head in rapid fire. All of this shook me to my core. Everything I thought I knew had been blown up today.
"Someone hired Elias," Donovan continued, voice still cracking. "They must have paid him and promised him things. Maybe even manipulated him. I mean, he was always unstable, but he wasn't the mastermind."
Agent Williams swore under his breath. "So you're telling me Mr. and Mrs. Catalano were murdered because some powerful man couldn't handle rejection." His voice was laced with irritation. This is something he had come across time and time again in his line of work.
"Yes and no. Mom did turn them down, but that's not the only reason. Dad started digging into this person's life and gathering evidence to bring him down. He only ever told me that the corruption in this town runs deep. That's why he didn't want your mom and dad together," he explained, and I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, my voice tired and stressed.
"Because I think he's still alive, still in power, and watching. I was afraid you would look for him," Donovan said shakily. "He'd destroy and possibly exploit you. Just like he destroyed our family."
"He lies," the entity's voice booms from inside.
Williams stepped in front of Zeke, now adorning the poker. He raises it, waiting for something to fly out of the house.
"No, no, he's twisting it," Donovan shook his head, panic rising. The entity slams into the inside of the door, causing it to bow outward.
"Tell her the rest," I snarled. "Tell her why."
"I can't," Donovan says, backing away, shaking. I stand up and step towards him. Zeke grips my arm.
"Uncle Don… what aren't you telling me?" I asked. My voice is hoarse but steady. Steadier than I felt at the moment.
"Your grandmother wasn't the only one he wanted. Sure, someone wanted you dead, but this man wanted you for a whole other reason." Donovan's head dips down as he talks, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Why did he want Grandma and me?" I asked, my knees buckling beneath me. Zeke quickly catches me before I hit the ground.
"Since he couldn't have her, he wanted her gift," he was talking like I should know what he meant. In reality, I was confused.
"gift? What gift?" Zeke asked, his confusion as plain as mine.
"This man had her killed, trying to force the gift out of her. When he realized it didn't work… he turned his attention to the next in line. The gift always jumps a generation. Your mom didn't have it, but you should." Donovan explained.
"Me, he wanted to use me for some gift, I'm pretty sure I don't have," I said. The impact of this froze me, knowing where his next words were headed.
"Yes, you," he said exasperatedly. Williams swore under his breath, pacing in disbelief. Zeke wrapped his arm around me protectively.
"No one's getting near her," Zeke stated. But Donovan wasn't done. He wiped his face with a shaking hand.
"Mom and Dad knew he would come for you one day. They made me promise to get everyone out safely that night and to protect Amber and you," he sighed. "I obviously failed. I promised never to tell you the truth."