Cheryl POV

I recovered from my slumber, for Peter had successfully thrust some painful syringe into my flesh that overpowered my cells, and I lost consciousness within seconds, I was sure.

My eyes were blinking slowly, but I immediately clasped the atmosphere. It was night because the place was dark and cool. Apart from the nightstand lamps that provided a subdued light, any other lanterns were off.

I was lying on my stomach where the bed felt comfy, and not a feeling of angst did arise in me, for I was able to breathe after a long time.

"I wished things were different, Cheryl!" I heard the sad raspy voice, and promptly, my heart stopped. He was there-nowhere but next to him.

Funny! for my arm was on his lap wrapped around his waist, how?
His torso felt completely bare. I could feel his warm naked skin, and I suddenly began to panic. Did we? I swallowed and lowered my eyes down-peeping to find myself fully dressed.

But still, even with the recent relief-I was flapped, but I refused to let him know I was awake. I was hoping he would leave the room eventually. What was he doing here anyway? Why did I have my arm around him while he was sitting with his legs straight on the bed and his back against the headboard?

I was confused.

"On April 20th, 2008, my dad had a business meeting in another state, and that day was my eighth birthday. My dad was one to never bail on his family, so he took my mom and me along."

I immediately knew it was a bonus. Finn didn't intend for me to hear, but I was awake, and he had no idea, so I listened quietly. His fingers were massaging my scalp slowly, and I believed somewhere in the back of my mind, it was okay.

"We left Chicago and headed to Arkansas, where my mom made an order for my birthday cake. Before we headed to this small beautiful town, that was the colorful place I had ever seen. Everything was just like a storybook." He said slowly.

"Dad was so cautious about these two black suitcases. He said it was for work. . ." Finn's voice was low and calm in the dull room, and I was struggling to keep my breathing steady-assuring him I was still on medication.

"On our way, he told my mom about Eureka Springs successful businessmen who wanted to cooperate with him for the construction of a non-profit school for the poor people in that town. Funny right? why they invited a Chicago resident who had no relation with Arkansas, but I thought it was because my dad was a famous successful engineer." He halted for a while before he continued. His voice was pained. I felt it; I wondered where the story was headed, for it was hurting him.

"When we arrived in your town, it was early evening. My dad left with those suitcases for the meeting while mom and I waited in the small apartment my parents rented. Although the cake came first, and we vowed to wait for dad to come back before I blow the candles, but it was getting late." When he swallowed, it was audible, and I knew whatever he was telling me meant a great deal to him.

"It was almost eleven when he came back. He was a man of his words. That was why I stayed awake expecting him, for he never failed his promise." He added and exhaled.

Just like him, I was sure.

"He returned with his suitcases, but he was messy. His tuxedo was rough, and some parts were torn. I was worried, just like my mom, when he kissed her and lifted me in his arms. He told me, 'I'm here, little man, let's make a wish.'" I heard him inhale deeply and sniffed.

"I asked him why he was looking so dirty, and he told me he wanted to look like a clown on my birthday. I didn't buy it, though, because I noticed he had been glancing over the entrance door. He was anxious when he asked my mom for a knife so that I could cut my cake. Everything happened fast, and I was left in the living room while my parents discussed in the kitchen."

"I could hear them, though, for the house was small. My foot took me back to the curvy entrance-I was scared of being alone. I was a scared child then. I heard everything. I heard my dad telling my mom to take me away and get a taxi or anything that would take us out of that town that night. He was desperate. He was terrified. I watched him open those two suitcases-they were filled with bills of hundred dollars. Mom and I were supposed to take the suitcases with us." He swallowed again, but his hands were still gently caressing my hair.

"I listened carefully to my dad. Your town men wanted to build a private school for the community, and my dad wanted to volunteer for a non-profit school for the poor in Eureka Springs. My dad was on the phone, promising to cover up all expenses on the construction business. After some disagreement-he promised to trade a certain amount of money if they let his family out of the town safely. I watched my dad plead with those people. He even ended up asking them if it was okay to withdraw from the deal. He only wanted to help the needy, but he wanted to keep his family safe too." Different emotions were evident in Finn's tone that I only kept getting lost.

"When he was done talking on the phone, I heard him telling mom we needed to leave for the whole town were against us, and he was right because a loud banging came up by the door, and I noticed my dad and mom had frozen. They became pale, and I was there watching through the glassy entrance door. There were cops and sirens everywhere, and this particular man, I would never forget his face. I was shaking, so I stepped back into the kitchen." Finn exhales a laugh, a bitter laugh.

"At that moment, my dad sat me on the table. And I received the last hug from my parents. They promised it would be fine in the morning, and we will go back to our penthouse or home in Chicago, basically, anywhere I wanted." A liquid dripped on the skin of my hand, and my heart ached for Finn. Was he crying, or was I imagining?

"My dad told me to stay with mom for her attack had roses up, and he had to go somewhere. My mom was shuddering when he followed through the window after he made me promise to look after her. He left us, he left the suitcases there, lying open with our money, my dad's sweat. Money was useless that day, for the cops spotted him escaping, and they chased him like he was some arm-robber." Finn's voice cracked, and his breath became shaking.

I don't get it, wasn't that man his father?

"When he was only intending to build a non-profit school out of kindness." He added after a while of silence.

"I can't imagine how panicked and scared my dad was at that moment. He wasn't a criminal; he was just a successful civil engineer whose wife was suffocating, and his son was standing helplessly alone. He had no idea how to protect himself that he kept getting into houses on that street, but all the residents kept screaming, calling the cops on him. I watched from the window because I was... I was afraid to turn to see the pale face of my mother. I was scared to look back because her eyes were opened, but they weren't responding." Finn was slightly shaking when his hand left my arm, and I found myself pouring out silent tears.

When his hand returned to my skin, it was wet. "My dad had no choice but to come back to the apartment. He was hyperventilating, and he stared at mom for a long time. I don't know if she was dead at that moment because she wasn't moving or attempting to hug my dad back, I caught him wiping his tears when he closed her lids with his hand, and he called Denny, pleading with him to come to get me. I pleaded with my dad to take us back home that night. He only scooted over and squatted opposite me, forcing a smile on his face even though his chest was obviously rising and falling. What he only said was, he was innocent, but he was framed because he was good."

Finn sniffed again and took some moment without saying anything.

I heard him sniffing constantly, and I felt him wiping his face. A sudden sharp stab in my chest came through, and I had to bite my lips to suppress the sob that rose to my throat.

"Those were the last words I heard from him before I watched my last parent in a pool of blood." Two drops of tears fell on my bare arm, and he respired loudly.

Someone hurt Finn, traumatized, and abused him. Who would do that to a child? To innocent people? When does the reward of doing good turn to torment?

Those people were the reason for whatever Finn was going through. He was in pain that I couldn't even imagine.

"I was stranded between the bodies of both my parents, and it wasn't even yet April 21st. My eyes flew to the man who was holding the gun that took away the life of a father in front of their child. The man was wearing blue jeans pants and a brown button-down shirt, he had a batch on his belt, and his hair was roughly blonde-he had eyes as green as a lively forest."

That was when everything made sense. He was talking about my dad. My dad? But my dad never killed anyone? He might be talking about someone, maybe dad working partners. Mr. Bernard? Joseph? Arnold?

My dad had never hurt anyone, I was sure.

I wouldn't be surprised if Finn noticed the changes in my breathing, for I was breathing excessively fast and hard.

My dad didn't kill Finn's dad. My dad wasn't a killer.

"Nate Mason was that detective who pulled the trigger." His words slashed my heart, and I bled endless inside.

No, Finn was mistaken. This can't be.

"Nate Mason was that detective who took me to the station. Nate Mason was the detective whose wife showed up and promised her husband she would do anything to keep her family reputation intact. I heard her before I was handed to Denny that morning. Nate Mason and Helen were those that told Denny my dad was dealing cocaine, and by the end of the day, Nate Mason and his wife had achieved in spreading the rumors on all tv channels around the world. Everything says, 'the famous engineer who had his own company in Chicago visited Eureka Springs with two suitcases filled with cocaine and was shot by a female police because he was armed' Nate Mason and his wife framed my dad even though he was dead." He swallowed and heaved a sigh.

That was when the memories came flowing in my head. Hayes was a famous name in Arkansas. Hayes was Eric Hayes, the criminal whom a female police shot. Finn's dad was Eric Hayes?
No!
I was sure all the water in me had drained. All I could see was black.

My dad said he wasn't on that case. Maybe Finn didn't see well. He was a kid, after all. Or maybe, just maybe-my dad wasn't telling the truth.

Finn POV

"My dad was innocent. Everyone in that place knew, but I was his only alibi, and I was only eight. Nonetheless, your dad was the bad guy, and more than twenty cops were his alibi, and he has a lawyer for a wife. That day the Hayes lost, for it was a detective and lawyer against an eight years old kid." I told the girl sleeping next to me after wiping my face.

I avoid narrating my eight years birthday because it always came along with pain accompanied by running eyes.

I owe her the truth. She was only six when her parents took away my life and squelched it because they had the power and because my dad was generous and good. Only I was a coward, I couldn't say it to her when she was awake, but I was hurting, I was alone, and I had nowhere to be at that moment than next to Cheryl.

"I didn't know what they did with the money, but everything was buried, and only my dad's name was stained. I had to homeschool ever since then, because I was that criminal son. I tried to forget, but the more I socialized, the more I was reminded of my reality, and I knew I had to get revenge since no one believed me. I was a kid, after all. That's what they say. Only Denny and the two men I killed yesterday understood how it felt. They believed me and stood by my side." I said in the dark silent room. Yet I killed them that they haunted me in my sleep.

"I thought you were the option to get to your parents but then you..." Indeed I believed God works in mysterious ways.

"You came along with something I had lost. It was this warmth and safety I felt only near to my parents. You came with life when I thought I had none, and for once in a long time, my heartbeat anytime I think of you. Yet it was funny—you are the daughter of those who destroyed me, and you were the girl I intended to kill. I wasn't a good person like my dad Cheryl. I'm a sinner. I've done a lot of terrible things for a reason, but your parents? What was their reason for killing the two innocent people I only had in my life and framing them in six hours? What did my dad do to deserve such unmercifulness? He was the kindest man I've ever seen. He was pure. . . Cheryl, I'm sorry I hurt you." The pain was burning everywhere in me, and I knew I needed coke or I might go insane.

"I promise to keep you safe as long as I breathe, and never to hurt you again. I can't keep losing people I felt safe around." Breathing became hard that I had to open my mouth for some air.

"I killed Teddy and Reddy myself; they were the only people I ever regretted killing. They were my friends, brothers, and closest to father. I don't know anything about me now, because they were my everything, and now I feel alone."

Losing those men was the hardest thing ever since after my parents. Honestly, I still couldn't believe I killed them. I kept thinking they went out, but the more time passed, the more I realized I was on my own.

"You're right; I'm the worst of humans, everyone hates me, and the sand would reject me. I did unthinkable things, and I am damned to live with them." I wiped my teary face. My heart was broken, and there was nothing I could do to stop the ache, so I tucked the strand of Cheryl's hair behind her ear when I began to move out from the arm that I had situated around me earlier. I knew it was wrong; I just wanted to feel easiness.

But then she gripped me tightly. I tried to loosen, but she had me firmly that I gave up trying. I would escape in some time, so I continued stroking her arm and hair tenderly.

She was pretty; she was the definition of home. And having her clasping my trunk with her slim arm made me feel warm even though I knew she wouldn't do that consciously. So I cherished the feeling of having her want me-even though she wasn't aware.

I really was a fucked-up.