1

He’s gone, Wisdom.

“Mom hasn’t stopped crying. I don’t know what to do,” Eli sighed into his phone, sharing his concerns with Daniel and Hope.

“Do you want us to come over, maybe we can cook and she can get some rest for a while,” Hope asked.

“Did you open the letter yet? Diaz called me yesterday. He’s waiting on your call.” Daniel added.

“No, I don’t want to touch it. It keeps reminding me that all of this is real. That Campbell was evil, then he died, and now my Dad is dead too.” Eli stared at the ceiling above him, wishing it could come crashing down.

“My mom can’t take it. My Dad was a great man, and it’s my fault he is gone.”

“Come on E. You know that is not true. Your Dad is a hero. It’s not your fault. All you have to do is honor him and live well,” Hope said trying to comfort her friend.

“Thanks, Hope but we both know that if I didn’t go try to investigate on my own, he would still be alive.” Eli got up ignoring the letter that sat on his desk.

“I think I am done. You can call Diaz and tell him. I just want to help my mom now.”

“Alright. But call us if you need anything. You know we have your backs okay?”

That’s what I’m scared of. Q is still lurking, and everyone I love is slowly getting torn from the repercussions of my decisions. Wis, I am done. I lost and that’s just it. I lost too much and I will not sacrifice any more.

Eli’s phone rang again. He picked it up, thinking his friends forgot to say something on the phone.

“What’s up?”

“Hey, Eli. I am sorry to call, I know you’re friends told you I would wait but I need you to read that letter. Please.”

“I don’t get it! Why must I get dragged into this? You won’t even tell me why you keep pushing this. No. I am done. Bye, Diaz hope you find what you are looking for.”

“Hey Kid, I am sorry for your loss, but your Dad would not want you to just quit halfway. That’s not what a man does.”

“How would you know what my Dad thought? It doesn’t matter, he is gone and my mom is all I have left.”

“Fine then. Do this for your mom, who says Q won’t kidnap her again?” Diaz sighed into the phone. “Look I can’t tell you why I am pushing this but you are a smart kid. You know me, and you know that this has to be for a good reason. So just read the letter. If after you read it, you still feel as if it’s dumb to continue this, I will leave you alone. But you have to man up and tell me that to my face. Deal?”

“I’ll think about it.” Eli declared.

“That’s all I ask of you. Say hi to your mom for me. Bye, Elijah.”

Eli hung up the phone thinking about the events that occurred in the past week.

2

When he awoke he was in the Hospital, bruised and head pounding.

“Oh my gosh! Elijah, you scared me!” His mom hugged him softly as if he would break under her touch. He hugged her back unsure of what was happening.

“Mom, I’m okay. I’m here.”

She let go of him and looked down at the floor. This alarmed him because whenever she did that she had bad news to share.

“What’s going on, you are acting as if someone died?”

She bit her lip unsure of how to continue. “Eli, it’s your Dad, son.”

“What’s up with Dad? Speaking of him, where is he?”

“That’s the thing. Your father loves you, you know that. And that day you went out, he felt as if something was off. So about an hour after you left he checked your location and saw that you were at his job.” She shifted in her seat.

“Yeah? Mom, you are scaring me. What happened next?”

With a shaky breath, she continued. “Well, he left out to go see what you were up to. So I thought it was nothing but young adults playing around. To check, I called Hope and Daniel but they said they hadn’t seen you. That scared me so I rang your Dad but he didn’t pick up. I waited about two maybe three hours, no one picking up the phone.”

So I got in a taxi and went to the Cab company myself. When I got there it was on fire, building crumbling before me. I asked the police what was going on and they said a bomb exploded.”

She began crying at this point and Eli felt guilty for putting his mother through this pain.

“I am really sorry mom, I was just looking for clues. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“That’s not all Elijah.” This scared him, what else could be going on? “Your father was there. The police said that he must have been trying to find you in the rubble. They could not find a body but they found his teeth in the wreckage indicating he was there.”

Eli’s breath hitched, head feeling woozier than before.

“Your Dad died trying to save you.”His mom was crying at this point, face stricken with sadness. “I know it is not your fault son. I just wish he was still here. I wish he knew you were safe.”

Eli was stunned, the shock becoming too much and he fell unconscious in his hospital bed, alerting his mom who called for a doctor, crying for help.

3

A few days passed, and Eli was in the kitchen putting some food on a plate for his mom, who was too sad to eat on time.

“Mom, your food is ready.” He walked into his parent’s room hit with the familiar scent of his Dad’s cologne. Holding back tears, he set the tray down on his mom's bed, helping her sit up to eat. “Mom, everyone pitched in for the funeral, and I invited Dad’s coworkers to come. I just want you to know that Dad had a lot of friends. People that cared for him.”

“That’s good Eli, your father deserves that. Thank you for taking care of me these few days. I don’t know what to do without your Dad. It’s so hard.” She sniffled a bit grabbing a napkin to dry her tears.

“Of course Mom, it’s the least I can do.”

He shut the door behind himself and went into his room, spotting the envelope on his desk. He sighed knowing he would have to read it and give Diaz an answer.

As he picked it up it was covered in dried blood, Campbell’s blood. ‘I can’t believe Q killed him. All while I was knocked out. Crazy.’

He peeled it open trying not to get any residue on his hands, reading the lines below.

Dear Elijah,

This letter is more serious than the others so I forego witty words and rhetoric.

I am sorry. This game was meant for two and now so many have been dragged into it. Unfortunately, your father is dead. I was not behind the explosion and for that, I had to kill Campbell. He went against the rules and pulled in those unnecessary.

Elijah was angry, despite the apology, it felt as if Q was stating that his Dad was just caught in the crossfire, a simple casualty. The audacity. He continued reading;

You see, this game was for Diaz and while you dragged yourself in, I had no intention of letting you get hurt or you soiling my plans. To be honest you were an afterthought. But Campbell was colder than I remembered. We were children when we met and I guess I pitied his former self instead of seeing the man in front of me. So for that, I am sorry.

But let us not get it twisted. You were never going to win. This story can have only one winner and from the moment you joined you lost.

I advise you to stay away from Diaz because he has a lot he is willing to sacrifice. And you shouldn’t do that to your poor mother.

I do think you should watch her, who knows if you don’t heed my words I might have to stop by for some more of her delectable treats. She really is a fantastic baker. What a woman.

I am getting carried away. Elijah you were never supposed to react. This is the consequence of doing more than life intended for you. Stay a bystander, there is no shame in survival.

May our paths never cross again,

Mr. Q

P.S.

In case you are foolish and decide to join up with Diaz. Then welp. I warned you.

Let the games begin

I am lost Wisdom. What am I to make of any of that?

Well, I promised Diaz I would talk to him. I should tell him I am done.

Eli threw the paper in the trash, washed his hands, and went to check on his Mom.

When he cracked open her door he saw that she was looking at a picture. It was the one on her nightstand, an image of Eli and his Dad at his graduation. They were so proud that he was valedictorian. That was a good day, back when times were good.

“Hey Mom, I have to go talk some more with the police about everything. I will keep my phone on me and Daniel will come in a few to check on you.”

“Okay, come back soon.”

He kissed her cheek and nodded.

“Of course, 30 minutes tops, I promise.”

4

He walked into the Olive Branch and sat down ordering a hot chocolate.

“I guess some things don’t change,” spoke Diaz sliding into the booth. “How are things kid?”

“Not so good.” Eli sipped his drink staring at the Detective in front of him. It struck Eli that Diaz looked older, more tired. “You look like you need some sleep.”

“Yeah, I do. Anyway, you here to turn me down?”

“I am but I am interested in hearing why you want to continue this sick game. What could be so important?

Diaz slides a sheet of paper to him, before grabbing the coffee he ordered, patting Eli on the shoulder, and heading out the door. “See you kid, call me if you need anything.”

Eli looked at the paper, hearing the bell of the door ring.

He has Rain, and just like that, I don’t believe I burn everything around me. I see you as a son E. But this is beyond that. He has all I ever wanted. I can do this alone and probably die in the process. And I am willing to do that.

This is for Gia, and those women, even for Campbell, and especially for your Dad.

Diaz.

I am an idiot Wisdom. An idiot who can’t say no. To be honest I don’t think I can stay away. Not since everything is in his favor. I am a sore loser, a bystander, a powerful being. A person who sees all and can decide. Decide to quit and always regret, or stand up to what is right.

So whatever, I’m not the brightest anyway.

Let the games begin.