Damned: Chapter 42) Haze

I locked myself in the bedroom to recollect my scattered emotions and thoughts. He deserved all that I told him after all that he did. Didn’t he?

A part of me hurt and that wasn’t any of my many physical pains. I had been locked in here for around thirty minutes when I decided to come out where I noticed from afar Vitaly sitting at the balcony of the suit alone. No one had been back yet and somehow my feet took me closer to him unconsciously as I stood near the door. He had been staring up at the endless darkness that hovered above us adorned by a dimly lit moon. He’d been so silent and absorbed into whatever he was thinking of.

“Did you ever wonder why?” he asked, without turning to take note of me.

“Why?”

“Why do I want the folder so bad? What’s in it, I mean.”

“I don’t know,” I shrugged, “Money? Power?”

Turning to me, he frowned, “I could get those easily, Katherine. It doesn’t interest me as much as you think.”

“Are you trying to prove you’re innocence or something? Because it doesn’t change what you did.”

“I know what I did.” He stated firmly as he stood, “I’m accountable for everything I’ve done. I know.”

“So what’s this about?”

“The folder came along with a diary.” He began.

“What? I’m confused.”

“It was written by Gianmarco Vincelli’s wife. She took account for everything he did, all his crimes and I needed that as proof to bring him down.”

I gave a soft sarcastic scoff, “I’m not stupid, I know he can’t be ‘brought down’ like that. The police can’t help.”

“They can’t, but the COSR can. Committee of Sovereignty Rights. They deal with such issues regarding notorious mobsters.”

“And you don’t think they’ll bring you and your grandfather down as well?”

“Then so be it.” He answered.

“They had to hold something against you,” I thought until I realized what it was- or rather who it was, “Your mother.”

He didn’t answer and somehow I knew that was the reason for his silence. I took a deep breath and tried to digest the entire situation while finding peace within the chaos.

“I’ve always had these dreams, or rather these nightmares growing up,” I sighed as I took a step towards him and removed the necklace around my neck- holding on to it tightly, “It was always about this little girl in a strange place, in strange rooms with dying children and on a vessel. It never felt right to me.”

I stopped and took a few seconds to recollect myself, “There was this one particular one that I just could never stop dreaming about, I couldn’t ever get it out of my head.”

I place the necklace in his hand and stared into his eyes.

“He wore a necklace just like this,” I stopped and felt my throat ache, “He was you, wasn’t he? And all these dreams, they were real. I just- I just don’t remember anything. And- I- I just don’t.”

“Then that’s a fking good thing, Katrina.” He said as he walked to the railing of the balcony and looked out, “Count it as a fking blessing. You don’t want to remember that place. And I assure you, nothing happened to you there. Archer explained everything on the way here. Vincelli kidnapped you as leverage, nothing else.”

“Then why were you there?”

“Vincelli wanted to send a message to my grandfather. They did terrible things there, to all the children, some were sold, some r*ped, beaten, killed. I was all except killed, you’d wish you were dead in that place. I’d seen awful things, Katherine. I’d seen a woman raped to death. It’s not something you want to remember.”

I sat on the sofa near me and stared into the distance. It was becoming too difficult to hold everything in. A tear escaped and I angrily rubbed it away.

Vitaly sat next to me and frowned, “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?”

“Pretend like you’re strong. I see right through you Katherine, you’re scared.” He said in a matter-of-fact manner.

“I’m not. Just- tell me about the folders, where can we find it?”

“James Novak.”

“What?” I questioned, shocked.

“It’s supposed to be at his house,” Vitaly stated.

The sudden realization of all these missing pieces were fitting in and making sense now.

“That’s why Rebecca went there,” I breathed, “She must have gotten there, that’s why Marc stayed back- to buy James more time.”

Vitaly gave a low chuckle, “That Banks one got me by surprise I have to admit.”

“James has the folders.”

“Then we’ll just have to find him,” Vitaly suggested.

“No, he- I don’t think it’ll be that easy. James thinks that- that-”

“What are you talking about? Why won’t he? As far as I’m concerned he’s one of those do-gooders.”

“You don’t get it! He thinks Vincelli has Violet against her will but she’s working with Vincelli just like Rebecca, Dmitri, and Oksana.”

“I supposed Violet is someone he loves? Well, this is just great.” He said sarcastically.

“At least some people have a heart and are willing to put their lives in danger for the ones they love.” I iced.

“If you think that I came here because I didn’t -”

“Didn’t what? Care? About me?” I scoffed.

His expression seemed hard and firm as the blue in his eyes seemed to burn like icy fire, “I do.”

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