The Life: Sacrifice (The Life 3)

Maybe it was his story, the one he’d told me long ago in a moment of weakness. Outside of what we do, his story is one of the things that have stuck with me and maybe the reason why I feel an attachment. I’m sure he remembers telling me, but since that day, I’m the only one of the two of us to ever bring it up.

It’s almost like he wished he’d never told me, and I guess I can see why. A kid that age, the age we’d been back then, wanting to kill his dad wasn’t exactly hair raising. What teen doesn’t mouth off at some point or another about wanting to do away with their parents? But I knew then, as I do now, that he’d been serious.

He probably didn’t realize that his story had stuck with me and that it was all I could do sometimes not to go digging. But he never brought it up again, except for a slip up here and there when I caught him off guard. But as we grew older, he became more stoic, more careful with what he shared.

Putting all of that aside, Nem is not the type to ask for help, so this must be serious.

“I’m here, brother; talk to me.”

* * *

GIANNA

* * *

It’s almost time to get up for school, and I’ve barely slept a wink all night. There’s definitely something going on with Gabriel, and it has nothing to do with him finding his grandfather. Had that been the case, he’d have gone back to being the sweet, attentive boy I fell in love with instead of the moody teenager who left here last night.

I’m trying to keep a brave face on about things, but the hits just keep on coming, and I don’t know which way is up. Dad had killed Becky in a fit of rage and was looking at spending time behind bars. It’s looking more and more like I’ll be moving out of state for my last year of high school, leaving the few friends I’d made behind.

Once again, I’ll be on my own, but at least, if that does happen, I have the option of online classes like that’s my biggest worry. The thing that’s kept me up all night. If just the thought of moving that far away from Gabriel leaves me cold, imagine how I’d feel if he broke up with me, and that’s exactly where I think we’re headed.

I can’t keep fooling myself any longer, can’t keep closing my eyes to the truth. If I'd had any doubts before about him leaving me, his actions last night put them to bed. He barely even looked at me, and for the first time since we met or since we became a thing, rather, he’d walked away without so much as a handshake.

I sat up in bed as nausea struck and panic started to set in. I’m so confused I haven’t even been able to deal with the fact that both Becky and Victoria were gone and what that meant. My tormentors were no more, but instead of celebrating, I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now it’s looking more and more like it has.

GABRIEL

After sending him off to bed, I went back to the computer where Memnon’s message was waiting for me. I didn’t expect him to get back to me this soon, late as it was, but I appreciated it. The sooner I enlist his help, the sooner I can start the process of setting my plans in motion. There was just one thing bothering me now, though, something I hadn’t thought of when I messaged him earlier.

Because of what he knows about my past, from that one little slip up so long ago, I have to be careful how much info I share with him so that he doesn’t discover my identity. So now I’m faced with the question of how much I should tell him without giving too much away.

He already knew about the martial arts competition, but I’d felt safe sharing that much because, luckily, my participation and placement weren’t publicized and won't be ever. Not unless I wanted it to be. I didn’t do it for any glory; it was just something I wanted to do for my own satisfaction, so whereas most wanted their name in lights with all the accolades, I didn’t, so I chose anonymity.

That’s the only reason I’d had no issue telling him about something so personal. As I said, he and I had grown close over the years through our online activities, so some things were just easy to share. To date, he’s the only one from the organization that knew more about me than my handle.

Still, I am a bit hesitant to get him even more involved in my life. It wouldn’t be hard for someone with his intelligence and wherewithal to start putting the puzzle together if I gave him too many pieces, even if some were still missing. In other words, I’d better be damn careful going forward with what I share with him, or I’ll be exposing myself.