(Trigger Warning for this chapter, read with caution)

When I walked through the door I was immediately brought into a warm hug by Lada.

"I've missed you so much!" She said.

"I've missed you too." I hugged her back.

"Oh look, little miss dramatic is back." I didn't need to look to know that Anderi had said it.

"I've missed you too Anderi." I chuckled as I looked at him.

He rolled his eyes but had a smile on his face and eventually walked over to give me a hug.

"It's boring when you're not around, no one is trying to attack us." He teased.

I laughed and swatted at him and began to search the room for Annika, but she was no where to be found.

"Where's Annika?" I asked.

"She's upstairs." Lada said.

"What do you need her for?" Czar asked.

I turned to him. "Uh, nothing I'm just going to say hi."

I was hoping that he wouldn't catch onto my lie as I turned and headed for the stairs. I really needed the truth, and in order to get the truth I wouldn't be able to tell Czar, he's not rational. If he knew Annika had something to do with his dad's death he would let his anger get in the way.

"Zariah, you're back!" 

I turned my head to find Lonnie walking towards me with open arms.

"Lonnie, I've missed you so much." I said as I walked towards her and hugged her.

"How is your son?" I asked.

"He's doing well. We just moved into our first home! Czar gave me a pay rase and a bonus. I now have enough to afford a proper babysitter."

I smiled, I hadn't known about the pay rase. "That's great Lonnie, you have to invite me over some time."

"Of course I will." She smiled.

"Do you know where Annika is?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, she's in your room."

"What?' I sad confused.

"She's waiting for you, that's what she told me."

Waiting for me?

"Oh okay, thank you." I said.

I made my way to the room that Czar and I now shared. I wondered why Annika was waiting for me, A million questions began to spin in my head, what could she possibility be waiting for me for?

When I opened the door I found Annika sitting on the bed, criss cross applesauce. She was crying, her hands covered her face and she rocked slightly back and forth.

"Annika?" I walked into the room and slowly shut the door behind me.

"It's all my fault, everything is my fault." She sobbed.

I made my way over to the bed. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

She took her hands away from her face. Her eyes were bloodshot red and there was tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Czar called us before you guys boarded the plane. He told us about how Liam had found you and threaten you." She shook her head and more tears began to fall. "And I know he told you."

I sat beside her on the bed. "He told me I should ask you about...your father's death."

She looked down at her hands. "I never meant for Liam to hurt him."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Annika....what happened?"

"Czar wasn't the only one who was close to Liam." She began. "He was like a big brother to me. He was always there for me and caring for me he knew me so so well. So, when I started distancing myself form him and the family he knew something was wrong and he came to confront me about it." 

She began to cry harder, and her lips quivered with a shaky breathe. "He asked me what was wrong and at first I insisted that everything was fine but he kept pressing me and eventually I told him the truth. It was just a few days shy of Czar's and I 18 birthday. My father...he...he did some things to me that no father should ever do to his child."

My heart dropped and I suddenly felt sick.

"Annika-"

"Let me finished." She sobbed. "He did this for a while and slowly I became used to it. He told me it was no point in telling anyone because they wouldn't believe me. He abused me Zariah and took my innocents away from. So, when I told Liam he was enraged. I made him promise not to ever tell anyone especial Czar because it would destroy it. He told me he wouldn't but he promised me he would handle the situation." 

Annika turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tears. "I didn't know he had planed on killing my father Zariah, I knew nothing about it I was just as shock as everyone else. But, a part of me....a part of me felt relief. To know that I wouldn't Have to deal with that thing ever again." 

She squeezed her eyes shut and a few tears fell. "My mother's attack was an accident, he didn't mean to cut us. He told me she had woken up when he was attacked my father. Liam swung his arm too far back and the knife cut her...Apart of me wanted to tel Czar about everything, but I saw how hurt he was over my father's death and I just couldn't. And then....he killed Liam's girlfriend and I felt...I felt terrible Zariah." 

"Everyone's blood is on my hands, my mother, my father, Liam's girlfriend and unborn child. Everything is my fault...and all because I was too much a coward to tell the truth."

"Annika I-"  I was at a lost for words. 

I had no idea what I could possibly say to make her feel better. So instead I climbed onto the bed and hugged her. She sobbed into my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Zariah. I've put your life in danger." 

"It's not your fault Annika, none of this is your fault." I said.

I couldn't Balme her for, for none of this. She was jut a kid when it all happened and it's not fair. Her father was an evil man and took advantage of her, all of this was his fault. 

"I miss my mom so much." She cried.

I wondered if she knew that Liam would kill her mother, if she knew that he planned on killing me too. We're  her and Liam still in touch.

"I'm so sorry Zariah, I'm so sorry." She begged. 

"It's okay-"

"I killed my mother."

~*~

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