Unknown [Book 2 of sacrifice Series]

Zach’s POV

Walking into the dark ally of New York I pulled my hoodie up and entered my small apartment. Taking a key and some papers I’m going to need today I left again and opened my garage. Bringing my bike back I called the one person I meant to call and demand answers.

After ringing two times the call was answered, “Hello?”

“I got what you wanted. Now give me what I want.” I told them with a harsh voice and they laughed. Cringing at the sound I opened my bike and took my fake ID out. I’m going to need it today.

“So you sure you got the right papers?” A muscular voice asked and I wanted to roll my eyes but answered with a yes.

“OK. Come in the Earthvile bar at 8. Not early not late.” Then he cut the call. Thinking I still had some time I called Barry.

“Yo bro, how’re things going?” He asked me as soon as he received.

“I’m just as usual. What about the game?” I asked him and looked around me for any suspicious figures.

“We won bro! But still, this isn’t same without you. It was our last game before summer. Why did you have to bail?” He asked angrily. I didn’t know what to say. I’ve been busy searching for goddamn answers no sane person can know. It was best if I bailed. But I can’t tell that to Barry.

“No answer. Just as I thought. But what about Amy? She’s your girlfriend dude! She asked us where you were and she was so sad. She even asked if you were seeing someone else. Is it true?”

“Of course not! I love her!” I yelled out at his audacity. But even I can’t say I deserved the same love back. I’ve been avoiding her since...I don’t want to remember.

“Then make things right. She deserves love. Every one of us does.” He replied sadly and I gulped. That’s what I was afraid of. After mom and dad died I didn’t want to lose my friends and my girlfriend. But I was making things right.

“I’ll Barry. I’ll make things right.” Suddenly noticing the time I cursed and cut the call without saying anything. Then I hopped on and went on my way to the truth.

I waited by the staircase of the bar and took a long sip of my beer. Only a matter of time when I find all my answers...hopefully. The bar was packed with bodies dancing crazily with pop songs. When a call came I entered. The bouncer was familiar so he just took the ID, saw my face and with a nod let me in.

“So how have you been?” A voice startled me and I spun around to see a group of men dressing in black. All of their faces were so pale that even Amy seems to be less pale than them.

“I’ve got the papers,” I yelled over the loud music and they just pointed at the back door which leads to a basement. I followed them and when we reached the last step a door opened and they all entered including me.

“Sit, Mr. Henderson.” The man who was much older than the rest of the people told me and with a slight nod, I took my seat. His pale brown eyes reminded me of someone but I ignored it.

“Do you know why we’re here today?” He asked and gulping I started to talk,

“I told you the reason. I want to know exactly who or what Roth Gill is.”

His face hardened and then he smiled. “You sure you can handle the truth?”

“Yes, I can,” I replied and he nodded. Then he looked at his men and they each gave me a paper.

“What is this?” I asked the moment it reached my hands. It was an agreement paper.

“Sign it. I don’t want to tell someone who is...going to spill all things I say to them. So do it. Not that they’ll live to tell the tale.” He laughed at his own joke and ordered me to sign, which with a strange calmness I signed.

“Hmm. So give me the paper. I want to see them first.” I without question let him analyze and with a winning smile he shook my hand.

“Well done, Mr. Henderson. You’ve earned my respect. Now for your answers, what do want to know?″

“I-I want to know about Roth Gill,” I repeated.

“Only Roth Gill? Not Amy?″ He asked me with a cunning smile.

“About her too,” I replied not knowing what the answer was going to be.

“OK. You’re not going to like this but Roth Gill isn’t human.” He paused to see my expression but I kept it natural. I already suspected something like that but hearing it from someone was worse than anything. The second I saw her something about her wasn’t good. She was fishy about almost everything and once I heard her calling someone and demand a killer for Amy...my sweet cheeks. And then the locker incident.

“You’re good...not fainting yet. Hmm...interesting. So I was saying Roth Gill isn’t Amy’s birth mother.” I relaxed knowing that at least that woman wasn’t her birth mother.

“So who is her birth mother?” I asked him and with a nod he gave me back the articles I gave him. It was old papers and it was found in Amy’s house with a name of Keisha Deshayes.

“Keisha Deshayes...her birth mother is a witch...and a reaper. And if you don’t save Amy on time she’s going to become one too.” This time my shocked expression was something even I couldn’t stop. Amy and reaper was a far thing. She was my girl. I can’t and won’t let her become something that she’ll hate forever.

“How do I stop it?” I asked lifting a brow. He sighed and turned to one of his men. Whispering something with them he glanced back at me.

“Just talk to her. Make her believe.” I nodded gulping. Something was telling me only talking wouldn’t make her believe.

“Now tell me why you had a suspect on Roth.” He asked and I thought back to that day in the locker room. I just had finished my game and Amy was supposed to meet me there but instead of her, I walked in on Roth while she was trying to kill Amy with a knife. I still feel my bones chill as I recalled the aftermath.

“I saw Roth trying to kill her. I didn’t know she wasn’t human back then. I thought she was a mental person or with some bad intention was trying to kill her. But after I saved Amy, Roth banned me from seeing her. Then I tried to call Amy but she wasn’t answering. I thought she already did something so I called the police but what was strange you know? Amy said Roth never tried to kill her. After all, she was the sweet mother.” I explained bitterly. I still remembered the humiliation I felt when the police told me I pranked them.

“Hmm...mind control.” He told me after a while and I nodded. This time whatever he was saying I had to believe.

“And this wasn’t the strange thing at all. I accidentally bumped into Amy in the mall and she told me I was seeing someone. Her mom saw me with couple girls and she with her own eyes saw that. She even told me she had pictures. When I told her to give me proof all that pictures were gone. She herself was sacred. Then the last incident was I saw Roth changing into a bird...in my own eyes.” I replied in one breath and relaxed when he was looking at me like he believed them. I had a hard time believing what I was seeing.

“Shifter. I knew that brat will try to kill Amy. Now here’s your answer. I told you her mother is a witch but worse Roth is a hellhound trapped in the earth. She’ll do anything to kill Amy so she can go to hell.” He replied straight looking at me and then smiled, “But it’ll be not easy for you.”

“What’s the catch?” I asked suspiciously.

He continued, “That you have to swear an oath to protect Amy or you’ll die...even when you don’t love her. That’s what the contracts mean. The one you signed not less than a few minutes ago.”

“I love her!” I yelled out almost immediately and he shook his head laughing.

“Lot of things can change. But you have to swear.” He ordered again and with a calm voice, I swear on my life to save Amy. Like I was in a trance. Satisfied with my answer he stood up and I followed him. However before he can leave I spoke out, “I don’t understand where your share of interest in these is. You don’t even know Amy and you want to protect her. I thought you only needed the Deshayes papers.”

He gave me a smile which was anything but friendly. Then he spoke, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jonathon Vale Franklin. I’m the dark creature of the night and... the father of Amy Deshayes.”

And then he was gone.

I went on hurriedly towards the summer vacation house the Gill’s owned. It was in the middle of woods. I promised Amy that we’ll spend our summer in here. The wind was blowing drastically. She must be in here by now. I just have to let her believe that I can save her from that hellhound.

I reached the woods but it was already on fire. People were running screaming and the winds were crazy now. Like they can blow away everything. With horror, I called Amy but before she could answer I saw her running towards me so I stopped her by grabbing her hands.

She looked at me bewildered. Her hair was blowing like a madwoman. Her eyes were dull like the life in them have sucked down. She gave me a look of anger and I gulped. I hope I’m not too late.

“Hey, I was about to call you. I’m sorry for my behavior.” I apologized shaking a bit but she still looked at me like she didn’t know who I was. What the hell has Roth done to her!

I knew she was about to bolt so I leaned forward, my fingers touching her falling strands. My voice was still shaky as I continued. “What are you doing here? We were supposed to meet in your house.”

She had a glare in her eyes and then I looked at them again. It was pitch black. Her eyes have changed.

What the hell?

“Leave me alone! I don’t know you.” She said screaming. My heart broke down in her voice but keeping my sanity I tightly grabbed her hand and said, “ I know you’re in shock but I need to tell you something important about Roth. But first, we have to get out of here. The fire has spared into your house. It’s not safe to stay here anymore.” I looked behind her and tried to tag her along. I’ve to save her.

“I don’t have a house here! You are lying! Last time I’m saying go or it’ll do not too good for you.” She let her hands go out of my hands and smirked. I backed out a little. I didn’t know what was wrong but it was definitely not good.

“Or maybe I could just show you how much regret you’re going to have.” Her grin widened.

“I don’t know what is happening to you but what I do know that I did deserve it for acting like an ass to you but please this is dangerous. The fire will soon be here. I can’t see you get hurt.” I was still blubbering and kept repeating that I have sworn an oath.

“But I don’t care if I hurt you. I know what you are! You are a puppet who is doing everything on one person’s command; my mother wants to distract me from hunting her. But tell that woman she doesn’t know her daughter fully.” This time I wasn’t even sure if she was talking about Roth or someone else. This time fear started to kick in.

“What...?” I backed up again but I was trapped. My whole body was on fire and it looked like someone was ripping every organ from my body. With a scream, I tried to run but my body gave in. To my horror, I saw my body starting to fade away and with a final scream blackness welcomed me.

Pain.

Everything was painful.

I tried to blink my eyes but they were glued shut. Revenge...revenge...revenge. A humming was in my ears and they were screaming, ordering me to take revenge. With great difficulty I opened my eyes and found myself on a side of the road under a tree. I touched the tree and it jumped up on itself and I was free from its barrier. I was stronger. To my amazement I remembered what happened and the humming grew. Oh yes, sweet revenge...

Here I come.