"Leah?"

Adamo Edenwood was aged now and not at its best. He had wrinkles around his eyes, probably from smiling to hide the pain and he had speckles of gray in his hair. His chin was dusted with scraggly hairs he needed to shave but his skin looked so fragile and dry. Still a brick wall of a man, his broad shoulders held form beneath a plaid flannel and his long legs were thick under black denims. His hands were still working hard and still didn't look soft. But his eyes told it all.

He was very surprised to see his daughter standing before him, maybe even more surprised than her. Brown swirls of eyes were close to becoming moist, but he seemed to force them away.

She felt responsible for such a handsome man looking so worn out. It could've been from working hard and she still would feel like the blame was in her name.

Leah shivered even without a cool to touch her. "You, you look good."

Adamo's attempt to hide his emotional face failed and his lip quivered, "Are you really here?"

She nodded, "I know, it's been too long."

"Why, why now?"

Oh because I'm cursed and I need answers. Know anything about it?

"I guess it was long overdue."

Leaving the gentlemen in the truck, taking the biggest breathe she could, Leah let herself step inside and when she did her body felt heavier than the world itself. Though her father had changed much of the home appearance, it felt the same to her. She was under the roof of her childhood home and face to face with him; each these things she'd never thought would ever happen again.

The wooden floor was barely visible with the many collections of hand-made rugs, most with thick weaves of orange somewhere in the patterns. A stone fireplace was blanketed in dust, old half burned logs giving off the scent of their age. As her eyes scanned continuously, Leah noticed a collection of different shaped mirrors hanging on the opposing side of the fireplace. And a royal painting of wild horses that took up most of the longest wall of the living room. Her heart stuttered as she sat on an over cushioned couch, watching Adamo place himself on a chair older than she was.

Slowly crossing her legs and arms, she watched his aged frame settle into his seat, "You still have that old thing?"

He gleamed and pat the arm rests, "I couldn't get rid of trusty dusty. It's a good memory."

Good memories were all over the place. But it was still hard to see through the grime that existed in the crevices. She felt her stomach tighten. Catching up would have to be quick, there were answers that needed to be solved. However, her old man seemed more interested on learning about his daughter all over again and her heart couldn't help but try to give in.

"So, where are you living now?"

Leah didn't budge. Could she tell him without feeling tied to some sort of obligation to return? Was it wrong to even question rekindling their father-daughter bond? After everything was back to normal, would it feel different? Leah pushed herself to respond, "Not far from here at all."

"You don't want to tell me?"

"I, I just wanted to see you."

He slid to the edge of his seat, "Why are you really here, Leah? Be honest." There was a kindness in his eyes but creeping up behind it, there was a trail of frustration. If only he knew how hard it was for her to even speak. If only he knew the truth.

She bit her lip, "That's not an easy question to answer."

"Yes it's very simple, you just tell me."

"It's a little more complicated than that."

He squeezed his face up, "How?"

I'm cursed. I've come for answers. And I don't know if we'll ever speak beyond this experience. Leah unwrapped her arms and rest her hands on her knees, "Look, I'm trying to stay calm right now, but it's really hard. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Neither did I."

Her heart dropped. Maybe she wasn't guilty for everything, but for abandoning her father she felt it. "I'm sorry."

Adamo paused, lowering the tint of frustration behind his face, "I am too."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I didn't do anything to stop you from leaving."

The truth was, regardless of him trying when she was ready to go, it probably wouldn't have changed her mind. He always tried to be a good father, he never seemed to take it out on her. But he was a constant reminder, always saying how much she looked like her mother, or how she acted like her. He would over do it on asking her if she wanted to talk about it, or ask questions about the day it happened.

It was terrible. And the worst part was he never defended her when someone would insinuate her causing the end of Mia. He didn't know the truth.

Leah swallowed, her voice cracking under the pressure of thoughts and emotion, "Dad-"

"If I could have done something different, I would have-"

"You don't have to do this-"

"I just didn't think that I'd lose everyone I had over these years."

Leah was about to tear herself up for all the hurt he's had, when his words hit her a little harder in the head not the heart. She lifted her brows, "Everyone?"

Adamo rubbed his forehead, nodding to fight the sorrow buried in his chest, "Yes. Everyone. Besides that ankle biter over there, I'm here alone."

She looked over to see a little brown chihuahua perched on an oversized pet bed before whipping her head to her father in all his depressive state, "Where's Derek and Grandpa?"

"Derek left not too long after you did. And grandpa... he passed away."

It was terrible news that stained her as she sat. Not only was her brother gone, but her dear grandfather was dead. The warm tears came into her eyes harsh, causing her lip to tremble. She shook her head, "This is all my fault isn't it?"

"No, don't blame yourself."

"How can I not blame myself?" Leah stood up and shook her hands, "Because of me, mom is gone, Derek Is Gone, grandpa is dead and you're alone!" She began to pace, uncontrollably shivering as her lips rambled, "Everything that's happening to you... to me... it's all because of me. I can't do anything right! Hell, I can't even help myself let alone make this up to you. I'll never end this."

Adamo stood up, grabbing her shoulders. He spoke gently to her, "What are you talking about? End what?"

The person. Fawn's voice sang into her ears like a soft serenade, whipping her back to the purpose of her mission. "Where is Derek?"

"He's- wait, what is going on?"

"Where is he?!"

"I don't know, he moved out, he's- he's moved on. Just like you."

A load heavier than all the oceans of the world fell down, putting an unbelievable strain on her knees. Leah plowed her tongue against her cheek and pinched her face into a harsh expression before meeting the gaze of a very concerned father. It was the same look he used to give her when she was a child, when she had a bad day at school and even when she felt upset and unloved by her mother. That one look was enough to lure her into never wanting to depart with him, even if she knew there was a chance it would forever keep wounds open.

But what was important was the freshest wound of them all, and she couldn't let it slip through her fingers this time. Leah held tight to her father, swirling all the information she could into her next mouthful, "Dad, he didn't move on."

Adamo loosened his grip on her, baffled by what he'd just heard, "What do you mean?"

She pulled away completely and cleared her face. Dark circles under her eyes, a hard mark on her head and the plain evidence of torture were front and center. Taking his reaction to her advantage, she showed him her scratched wrists from her car accident, "See?"

"He did this to you?" He asked.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. Something is seriously wrong with him and to be honest, I think he might be trying to kill me." Kill. The word sizzled upon her tongue.

Adamo froze, brows low over his glazed eyes as he pondered exactly what his daughter had just insinuated. His lower lip twitched as he took a step back, a lengthy exhale hissing from his mouth. "Leah..."

That was it. He didn't believe her. He probably thought she was crazy and maybe even regretted opening the door for her. Leah balled her hands, she had to stay persistent. "I know you probably don't believe me, but it's true," she shook, "I can't sleep, eat, I couldn't even drive without totaling my car-"

"You were in an accident?"

"No, it wasn't an accident," she shook her head, "None of this was. I-I think it might have something to do with mom. He blamed me, didn't he?"

"Nobody blamed you, honey. Your mother was sick. What happened was unfortunate but it wasn't your fault, it was an accident."

"No!" She exclaimed, "It wasn't"

The truth was spreading all over her world, a plot thickening with each desperate moment she spent trying to fix it all. Had only someone else seen the way Mia looked at her when it happened, the way her hands felt silky and yet so sickly when she took a hold of her daughter; maybe they'd understand. If only her father knew exactly what she'd been dealing with, maybe he'd get it.

A bubble fit snug into the center of her throat, "She wouldn't have stopped if I hadn't done something, But because I did this is all happening."

"What are you saying, Leah?"

Her eyes reached out to him, holding on to the little bit of love she thought she saw left for her in them. With a deep breath and a reminder of why she was doing it all, Leah cracked her lips to confess something to her father. "I killed her."

Adamo didn't move nor did he mumble a single word. His body stood clashing against the background of the painting of horses as he looked at his daughter now with hurt eyes.

Leah swallowed half of the bubble, "I did something that I can't take back and now I'm finally being punished for it. My life is in the hands of someone who knows my secret." She stepped closer to him, shivering out of her control, "Derek knew it, dad. He knew exactly what I did. And he's not gonna quit until I meet the same fate that she did."

Still, her father didn't move. It hit her gut like a baseball bat swung by the hands of an all star. But she had to cling on, she was already halfway there. "I'm sorry for everything, and for what's about to happen, I really am. But I have to stop him."

In a matter of seconds, the girth of the house pressed down with cruel intention, inflicting a world of pain in her heart. Leah ground her teeth together, hoping her gaze would pull the words she was wishing to hear out of her father's mouth. Couldn't he just say something to make things seem more hopeful, like it would be okay in the end?

Adamo inhaled, "If this is all true... What are you going to do to stop him?" It wasn't quite what she was going for, but it was better than silence-- she hoped.

"W-whatever it takes."

Once again he gazed into her two circles of green, analyzing every inch of her face. His mind was working hard most likely trying to organize the last few minutes of his life; But just in that moment it seemed as though he'd gained a dozen more wrinkles and five pounds in depression. His chest grew with an inhale as he spoke out to her, "I know you probably don't want to hear this now, but you sound just like her."

Bullets sprayed down her spine leaving Leah paralyzed. She whined with an open mouth but couldn't say a word. Yes he was right, she certainly didn't want to hear what her father had just said. Her body warmed up, bones melting and blood boiling. But it wasn't in anger, at least she hoped that in some way what she was feeling was something else. Blinking quickly, her eyes clung to him using him as reason not to flip out. If she had, the progress she'd made from the truck to the living room would be ruined. Bravely her lungs refilled and she tried to respond.

"I am mostly like myself, dad," she began, "I know to you I may be a reminder of a woman you once knew, but now I am a woman you once raised." Leah stepped closer with armor striking her soul, "And you did a wonderful job. But now I have my own life, and that very life is in danger."

He listened like a tree rooted to the ground, ears perking like leaves in the wind.

"I have to find Derek. I have to end this," flushing tears dripped from her ducts, "Because if I don't I will never get the chance to make things right with you. And if you let me, I would really love to try."

Adamo huffed a wind she'd known so well even with the passing years of separation. He was about to cry. His body heaved and the crystalline waters flowed across his eyes. Holding them between lids, he looked out behind blurry vision before nodding. "I would like that."

Leah blinked her tears away, wiping what had fallen with the back of her arm. "Dad. I have to know where he is? I know you know. You were never a good liar when it came to me."

A pause withered away in the sizzle of a second. "He lives in Raven's Pointe. He, he didn't want me to tell anyone."

Raven's Pointe. Raven's Pointe. Why did that name sound so familiar? Swirling, her mind dug it's long life for answers. It wasn't something that came up just whenever. No, such a name had a purpose, it had a sort of feel to it. It sounded like a place where burning bridges fell and their new beginnings rose. Leah zapped into sense. Of course it sounds familiar. That was the name of the city she was going to move to; the one that just happened to catch her attention.

Now she knew why. That was where her brother resided, stirring up all the trouble in the world for her. He was going to bring her right to his trap and end her in a place he called home, all because of what happened in their childhood home. No mercy in his actions whatsoever, there could only be one outcome he must've been aiming for.

Not if I have anything to do with it. Leah thought. Not if I end him first.