Duskwood Legends [English Version]

Fleeing from Destiny

*⚠️WARNING⚠️*
This chapter contains explicit language,
not suitable for a more sensitive audience of readers.

"Poor Tommyboy. Anyway, I don't think it's an accident...it must be Michael's doing" Dan says.
I watch the girls' faces nod at his words.

We all share his thoughts.
I, unfortunately, had the confirm during the phone call with the murderer. I intentionally omit, for the moment, to confirm his theory.

'How Michael must be responsible for tampering the brakes on my car...' He mutters in a low voice.

He is referring to the accident he had a short while ago, the one that forced him into the wheelchair.

"DAN!!! there was no tampering... YOU WERE DRUNK!" blurts Jessy, turning red in the face.
She adds, maintaining a high tone of voice and throwing a fit:
"By the way, your car was checked. There were no signs of ALTERATION or MANIPULATION!!!"

"Why? Do you think Richy never makes mistakes?"

Frost falls in the room.

We all lower our eyes, remaining silent, including him.

Richy...
My heart aches.

"Forgive me..." He apologizes immediately, keeping his gaze fixed, facing the floor.
"Don't worry..." Jessy sets aside resentment, reaching out a hand towards Dan's to tighten it.

After a minute, I break the silence.
"Still, surely, Michael couldn't have been in two places at once. He must have an accomplice..." I point out.
"What do you mean by two places at once?" asks Lilly, frowning.

The words choke in my throat.

I decide to show them pictures of the raven and the package, then point my finger to the corner where the gift is located.

The pictures are worth a thousand words. I see the anxiety and fear appear on their faces. They are literally wracked with terror.
"W-w-what's in it?" Lilly is as white as a corpse, turning to me babbling.

I try to hold back the tears but within seconds, they begin to flow down my cheeks. A lump slowly forms in my throat that prevents me from speaking. I just want to burst out crying desperately, like a baby.

Loud, uncontrolled crying, at the top of my lungs.

"I can't do this...guys..."

I can't be strong. All my fragility comes to the surface. I arch my back forward, sinking my head into my hands. Jessy comes to hug me, followed immediately by the girls.

Dan takes a deep breath and pushes the wheels of the wheelchair toward the corner of the living room, retrieving the package.

He opens it and stands for a single second staring at its contents, before hiding it from our view. He rests the package on his lap.

"That big son of a biiiiitch!" He yells, slamming his fist against the armrest of the wheelchair.
"Why...why does He do this to us..." He curses, only to burst into tears in turn.

Cleo gets up from the couch to join Dan. She places a hand on his shoulder and hugs him, before grabbing the package. Dan clutches Cleo's wrist in a flash to lock her in: "Don't do this Cleo, don't look..." he mutters.
"I need to know, we need to know..." She then turns his gaze to Jessy and Lilly, who join her.

They place the package on the table, then open it.
Their eyes fill with horror, followed by screams that echo through the room.

We all burst into tears and hug each other.