Chapter 30: Return

"No." Danta's voice was stern. "I can't believe you would even ask me to take you back to that - that  hell hole. We barely got out of there once, and now that we are safe you want to go back?"

I hear him chuckle in disbelief.

"I mean I expect this thing from you kid," he says towards me, "But you too? Gods, am I doomed to take care of idiot children for eternity?"

I hang my head.

"I wont be like that." I mumble.

"What was that?" He asks.

"He said it won't be like with Phoenix and Solomon." I Clair says.

"Is that so?!" Danta says seething, "And tell me how exactly you expect me to believe that a blind kid and a teenage girl are supposed to survive that s**t when even my own sons couldn't survive these Ethereal freaks?"

"Bu-"

I feel a strong arm grab me by my shirt and push me back against the wall.
"Don't you understand you dense piece of s**t? Those things killed them!"

"No..." I choke out.

"Pardon?" Danta asks.

"I-I..."

"Speak up!"

"I did it, it's my fault they are dead. Pheonix died protecting me and I shot Solomon to save Clair."

The air hung like a dense fog.

*Thud*

I hit the floor and coughed as I caught my breath.

"Get out." Danta's voice was cold and quiet.

"GET OUT!" 

I scramble to my feet and make a break for the door just barely dodging the bottle thrown where I was a moment ago.

**************

*Hurk*

Another wave of vomit passes my lips splashing over the ground. As I finish releasing my breakfast I hear footsteps stopping just beside me.

"Here drink this." I hear Clair say beside me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Poison... It's water dumbass, what do you think."

I wave my hand in front of my eyes.

"Er... right." Clair remarks and hands me the water.

"So what are we going to do?" Clair asks as I take a sip; the cold liquid easing the acid in my throat.

"I'm not sure, I guess we could try to hijack another car, though you'll have to drive."I reply.

"Not sure that's an option, I don't know how to hot wire a car."

"We could... hmm."

We sat there in silence, neither of us knowing how to proceed.

"Hey you two!" Ariea calls out "Come back inside. Danta wants to speak with you." 

Instinctively I put my hand around my throat. 

"Don't worry, hes not going to strangle you again."

***************

I walk cautiously thorough the doorway to the living room, and hear the slow breathing of Danta in one of the chairs. I slowly make my way over to the couch and ease myself into it, making sure to face Danta's direction.

The room is silent save for the ticking clock.

"Kid I have to say I thought you were better than this. I understand why you were silent, but that doesn't make it right. You should have told me from the start. Maybe I would have reacted better. I should have dealt with it better. I'm sorry kid... Seth. 

I want you to understand something from here on out. If you have something troubling you, talk to me about it. Whether you think I'll be alright with it or not. I think, if you could forgive me for my actions, I too could forgive you for your silence. That being said, I will not forgive your actions. I cannot blame you for something you didn't do. You did not kill my sons. You killed a monster that had already taken them." 

I could feel tears reaching my eyes, the ones that had needed to fall for so long. Hearing that I wasn't the cause of their deaths, it was something I didn't realize I needed. I feel a warm hand rest on my knee.

"Would you forgive me?" Danta asks, and I nod.

"I think I understand why my son took a liking to you." He says as he helps me up and wraps his arms around me "You have a kind heart and a gentle soul."

***************

As we step out into the cool night air, I take a deep breath knowing I might not have many more.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Danta asks us again.

"Yeah, I can't just sit here and let more people die, knowing there's something I could have done.

"I suppose I understand that." Danta replies "Alright then... I'm gonna miss this place."

"With any luck we'll be back here." I say, though the sentiment is not lost on me.

"Yeah."

I hop into the back seat of the truck with Clair just as Danta starts it. 

"Ready to go back?" I ask Clair.

"Nope, you?" She replies.

"Nope."

"Then lets go."

Author's Note

Sorry it's been so long since I posted the last chapter, I got stuck in a rut on how to progress it. Hopefully I can pick up the pace from here. Thanks to those who still read it.

Eryn