The sounds around me faded into the background as I looked around the living room. My mother was trying her best to stop me from seeing but it was useless.

I slowly walked into the living room to where John was and saw my mother's lifeless body covered in blood and stab wounds.

My mother grabbed my arm and began saying things that I shut out as I looked around at the scene.

There was blood painting the walls and almost every foot of the small area.

John held her body to him and began sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He said in a distraught tone.

A moment later the sound of sirens filled my ears and my mom took my hand to move me away from the spot.

She led me to the kitchen and we sat together on the counter with our heads down, trying not to look at everything. My mom held my hand in hers as we remained silent.

The room soon became chaotic. Multiple police cars were parked at the front of the house and the small house was crowded with investigators.

The officer in charge of my investigation walked into the house and punched the wall when he saw what happened. "Shit."

"Hardy!" He yelled as he looked around. His eyes finally landed on the officer and he pointed at him.

When Hardy turned to face him, I finally saw his face. My head pained as I looked at him longer but I welcomed it.

I ran to the nearby police precinct and banged on the doors and windows. I moved to the front door and tried to open it but it was locked.

Is he still following me?! I looked around in a craze at the empty streets. It was late and nobody seemed to be out to my misfortune. All I needed was one person and maybe I would be safe for now.

I banged on the window desperately once again and finally, I saw Officer Hardy come out of a room in the back.

I relaxed but tensed once again when I saw the man in the mask a few buildings away. He was walking towards me calmly and I began screaming and banging on the large window.

"Officer Hardy, please!" I screamed.

He came towards the window and crossed his arms as he watched me.

"It's Sheriff's day. We're closed." He yelled through the thin glass.

"Open the door!" I begged as I looked frantically between him and the man who was now getting closer.

I looked at Hardy once again before I ran but all he did was wink at me.

I gasped as I recognized the asshole in front of me. I had begged him to help me but he turned me away, he could've done something.

Thinking about my memory I ran it through my mind continuously. The only words he said to me was:

Sheriff's Day. We're closed.

"Mom?"

She turned to me and raised her brow.

"What is Sheriff's day?" I asked.

"It's a town celebration every year. The police officers in town meet at the square and the residents throw a party and give them gifts. For appreciation and all." She said.

I nodded as I took in her words and once again turned back to her. "What is the date of that?"

She looked up at the ceiling unsure and shrugged. "Sometime in July, why?"

"Could it perhaps be July 6th?" I asked. That was the date I died and that memory seemed too definite. There was no way I could have escaped that man with no help.

I didn't remember much of what happened after I ran but I remember I was caught. I almost felt the way his arm picked me up and his gloved hand covered my mouth. The taste of the leather gloves was unforgettable.

"Yes, it is actually. A couple of days after the 4th of July. Why do you ask?" She asked in uncertainty.

"Because I think that's the day I died."

My mother looked back at me in confusion and I told her everything. I told her everything about purgatory, why I was here, my memories...everything.

After I was done she was stunned into silence and a lone tear fell down her cheek. "You've been through a lot."

"So have you," I said as I resisted the urge to look back at the crime scene. It looked absolutely brutal and I couldn't imagine going through what she did.

She grabbed my hand and shook her head with a sigh.

"Do you remember what it felt like?" I asked, gesturing towards the body on the couch. The person on the couch was no longer my mother. It was a lifeless vessel riddled with blood and stab wounds so severe that I couldn't recognize her.

I would only let myself think of the woman sitting in front of me.

"I don't. But when I look at...it. I can feel it a bit. Other than that, I only remember the fear."

People in grey windbreakers that read 'Forensics' walked in and examined the scene. There was now yellow caution tape in front of our house and I wondered if something like this had ever happened here.

This seemed like a quiet neighborhood and any visitors would think that nothing bad could ever happen here, but look at us.

"I need some air." My mother said as she got off the marble counter. I followed behind her as we walked through officers to our front porch.

"Look." My mother said as she pointed to something in the distance.

I followed the direction she was pointing in and my eyes landed on John huddled in a blanket with Carter's arms around him. I couldn't help but slightly smile as I looked at them. Looking at them you would think that Carter, with his height, was older than the short man.

"He's a good kid." My mom said.

"Carter?" I asked.

"You remember him?"

I shook my head no and she smiled at me. "I always hoped you two would end up together you know? But of course, you had to be rebellious and date the brother who had nothing going for himself."

Date?...Brothers?

My head snapped to hers and I shook my head in complete shock.

"Elijah and Carter are brothers?"