Click Boom - Chapter 4 No One Ever Wins

“I’m not that stupid,” he cackles, his laugh makes me uncomfortable, like he just made a joke that nobody really gets, “you’d do anything for, her.” He says ‘her’ like it’s a piece of rubbish on his pathway to victory. And to be honest, I think I am. He moves his arm and aims the gun towards me, “I know you can’t touch a ghost unless they want you to, so… if I must put my daughter in danger to win. I will,” I hear the click, and like lightning he pulls the trigger.

I close my eyes, ghost? Danger? He wants to win? Win what? I expect to feel pain, but nothing hurts. I open my eyes, tears streaming down my face as I see Sebastian lying on the floor, blood drenching his shirt. I collapse on the floor next to him, “you didn’t have to do that, I wouldn’t mind,” tears run down my face like a waterfall and they won’t seem to stop, “you shouldn’t have to pay my consequences!”

He smiles at me, I don’t see the haven this time, only a whole world of pain, “that’s two times now,” he whispers, “twice I’ve died for you, first time being when we were just kids, the second, just now,” he coughs, “and I’d do it a million times more for you Tiff…” his voice trails off, and I have a feeling that’s the last time I will hear it.

I turn to my dad, my hand still on Sebastian’s chest. “What does he mean ‘twice’?” I ask gritting my teeth; my heart is heavy and full of revenge. I don’t care if he’s my dad; he killed my friend, twice, “tell me what happened!” I’m not in the mood for anything but the truth.

My dad looks at me, “well, when you guys were kids, you used to be friends,” he smiles, ‘daddy was just protecting you, he wanted to take you away from me when he found out about your mother. He thought I had killed her…”

“You did,” I reach for my gun.

“I would never, baby,” he pauses, ‘so, because he wanted to take you away, I got rid of him.” I’m astounded having not remembered any of this, but everything is starting to go into place. He continues,” afterwards, I got a job that required a lot of effort, and away jobs, handling guns and things like that. I wished I could be there for you, but he kept me away from you. He hurt you when you were playing, said you ‘fell off the tree’ but I’m sure he pushed you.”

The final pieces of the puzzle slots into place. I pull the gun from my belt and aim it towards him. I don’t say anything he starts begging, “Tiffany I was trying to protect you! I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you,” I lower my aim.

“You’re right dad, you wanted to protect me,” I pause, “but instead you’ve hurt me more than you can imagine,” I bring the gun up to my head, “I never asked you to protect me, I didn’t ask for you to hurt my friend, and I certainly didn’t ask you to love me. Do you know what dad? I should have listened to mum more often,” I look at him tears pour down my face and I know I have a look of menace in my eyes, “I never loved you”

I hear the click, and the noise fills my head and I fall to the ground.

I’m surrounded by darkness, but not like in my nightmares. It’s different. Then I see him, he rushes towards me arms open wide and scoops me up into a huge hug. He whispers into my ear, “I love you, I’m so sorry I left you.”