𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

𝟒𝟒 | 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

I entered the store, immediately surrounded by the pleasant warmth and smell. Above the shelves, I noticed Otto's disheveled hair, which he dared to call a proper hairstyle, and Leo standing at the cash register. He didn't look excited to see me, but I didn't care.

I walked past him as if he was invisible and headed up to the toilets with my head held high. After peeing and refreshing myself with lukewarm water, I thought I was better, but then I spooked myself while looking in the mirror. A girl stared at me, tired of so much searching for a lost loved one. Shouldn't being with your mother be a matter of course? Then why was I a fucking exception? I was constantly trying to protect her, I ran away from who I am, and I was losing the freedom I should have as an eighteen-year-old girl. And all because of my father. Allegedly he's doing everything he can, to keep us safe, but obviously, that's not enough. If only he tried harder, maybe mom wouldn't get into the wrong hands. I was worried about her. What if there was no time to save her left...? Then it won't be just my father's fault. I will have her new innocent blood on my hands. By deciding to find her, I took responsibility for her life. If she dies, it will be my failure.

I shook off the heavy thoughts flowing in my head and went back to the store.

On the way back, I grabbed some sweets and after paying for them, I was surprised that instead of a recipe, the salesman put a small white envelope in my hand.

"Don't open it until you're alone, otherwise you won't know anything," the man behind the counter said quietly, paying no more attention to me. I shoved it into the back pocket of my pants and went out without greeting. Now it was my turn to rest. However, my eyes did not long for dreams, but instead for the secret hidden inside the paper envelope.

The hotel or rather the motel was on the outskirts of the city. Nothing special, but at least it will be nice to sleep somewhere without cockroaches or other vermin crawling on you.

Otto opened the door and immediately ran to a smaller, separate room with its own bed.

"This one's mine!" he shouted, happily jumping on it. Leo and I looked at each other. We only have a double bed left. I frowned at him.

"They had nothing else free," Leo defended himself.

"Somehow I don't want to believe it, but fine," I said reluctantly, my lips curling into an ironic smile.

"I'll sleep on the ground," Leo said heroically.

"Please, you wouldn't make it, it's too different from your comfortable expensive bed, which you have all for yourself," I said, throwing my bag to the left side of the bed.

"Who said I'm sleeping alone, huh?" he asked sharply.

"Women who slept with you because you paid them don't count," I snapped, returning the grin triumphantly. I wanted to walk past him, but his hands stopped me. He placed them next to my head and pushed me against the wall.

"I wouldn't even have to pay you to sleep-"

Slap!

Leo didn't even finish the sentence because I slapped him. And it fucking deserved. Who does he think he is?

"Ooo, get him, girl!" Otto shouted with a mouth full of chips, peeking out from behind his room door.

Otto! I completely forgot he was here with us! The atmosphere between me and Leo was so intense that I couldn't perceive the surroundings as I should.

I may forget he was here, but I'll never get his following remark out of my head:

"Please try to tame your wildness tonight, okay?" I waited for Leo's reaction. The scary thing was, that none arrived. Leo just glared at him and walked to his side of the bed. I also gave Otto a not-so-nice look.

"Potato chips? They are...spicyyy," he offered, to what I just shook my head at. All I needed now was a proper shower. The one which would wash away not only dirt and sweat but also blood and guilt. I desperately needed to undress this skin, which didn't seem to belong to me anymore. The further I got, the more I began to realize that I won't get out of it. It has grown with me, so I will never get rid of it. This new skin will be a part of me forever and will constantly remind me that I have become a person I never wanted to become.

The envelope.

That word was flashing in my head from the moment I barefoot touched the cold floor after I came out of the shower. The hot water did not wash away my sins, but it helped me to understand everything at least a little better.

With a towel wrapped around my body, I reached into the back pocket of my black pants. The envelope was there. As well as my hope that this madness will end soon.

I didn't wait any longer and tore it apart with shaky and still slightly wet fingers. Inside there was a sheet of cream paper, neatly folded. I took a deep breath to my nose, letting a huge amount of oxygen fill my lungs. At first, I just quickly ran with my eyes through the letters written on the typewriter, not thinking about what I was reading about because I couldn't stay focused. It took me three attempts to understand what was on that letter.

Miss Ria O'Donnell,

a secret source of mine told me, you were looking for your father. If that's indeed the truth, I have some information that could either help you or hurt you.

If you are interested in learning more, come to the Hotel McCarthy, today at 12:00 am. I suggest you leave both of your handsome guardians at your place – unless you wish to something happen bad to them, but I suppose you don't want that, am I right?

No weapons.

Sincerely,

Your friend