Vicious Desire by Leslie V. Walker

Epilogue 2

Ayanna

1 Year later…

I came to visit my mom here in London just four days ago and it’s been amazing seeing how happy she’s been without the burden of my father.

We’ve video chatted until I got the money to come out here, but seeing in her person is something else.

The wind blows as we travel through the streets of London. It’s been such a lovely experience these past days I’m saddened to let it all go.

We met a few people from America as well who are traveling, we have met up with them yesterday for a little food hunting altogether.

I loved getting to learn new things in just the short time of being here and the food is just amazing. The timing did screw me over but I’m sort of getting by.

My mom makes a stop at a thrift store, and we hop on out. What I’ve learned of my mom over the past few days is she loves thrift shopping; it has become a habit. And the friend of hers is now her boyfriend but they’re both taking it slow for now.

“Are you coming, dear?” my mother asks as she opens the door to the store.

“Uhm… yeah just—” dark brown hair catches my eyes and when the person turns to where I can see them down to the alley, I nearly lose it.

“Actually, I’m ahead across the street be right back.” My mom smiles and nods before entering the store.

I jog past people as they walk through the sidewalk, and I turn to the alley down to the right.

The figure moves quickly holding a bag to their chest tight.

“Wait! Sasha!”

My yelling stops her dead in her tracks, and she turns slowly to look at me, petrified is written all over her face.

Spencer’s identical twin stands before me, who I haven’t seen in over five years.

It isn’t until she gazes back at me closely that she relaxes and moves closer to me watching her surroundings to make sure no one is with me.

What’s going on? Why is she running?

“Hey. It’s me, Ayanna. Remember, from camp?” She nods slowly. Her eyes never leaving my face, they’re bloodshot, her skin paler than usual as she holds onto her bag tight. Her hair a dark brown as if she just recently dyed it.

“I heard you guys moved here. Sorry if I sound insane but I just saw you running here and thought I should say...”

“Don’t tell anyone!” she begs.

“What?”

“Don’t tell anyone you saw me!”

“Uhm...”

“Please! Listen to me, Ayanna you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone you saw me. It won’t end well.”

What the fuck.

I look around to see if her sisters are going to come out laughing with a camera and say this is a prank just for old sakes but then she tugs me by my hand and pulls me closer.

It isn’t until her hands are shaking and her eyes water as I watch her that I know she’s serious.

“Okay. I won’t say anything.”

She nods, taking a step back letting go of my hands. “Can you promise me something?”

I want to say no and walk out because she’s acting crazy, but something tells me to stay and agree. So, I nod.

“When the time comes, she will come asking for answers.”

“What are you—” She shushes me.

“Don’t ask questions.”

“But who are you—” I don’t get a word out because she gives me a glare to shut up.

“You will know. Because when the time comes, she will come asking for answers to her questions. And you have to promise me you won’t tell her until she comes to you.”

“What?”

“Promise me, Ayanna! Just fucking promise me you won’t say shit until she comes physically asking you. She will have to go to you and not by phone or letter but face to face.”

My whole body is on high alert because I don’t understand what she’s saying but I’m engraving it deep into memory.

“I promise,” I say.

“When the time comes you will tell her it isn’t the one with the eye of the bull that runs the race. But the one with a gun who holds it down.”

What? Are we playing riddle me this now?

“She’ll understand.”

Who? Who will understand?

“It isn’t anyone’s fault but the one holding the gun, who wears a lion that’s engraved. To find the answer you have to run to track and control the gun. And once you do, you’ll find out it was he who took it all and shattered it into pieces.”

My eyes burn because I have no fucking idea what’s going on, but I am scared shitless.

Why is she talking like that?

She gives me a soft smile that doesn’t reach her lips. She turns to leave but turns back around. “Be careful Ayanna. You and your friends might have stopped Neo, Patrick, and your father from taking the town but you’re missing the big picture. The big guy got your message and is up and running. His attack will be the slowest and might not even approach for years to come. But he’s always a step ahead and he’s scarier than you imagine. He might not be able to get your guys’ land, but he has shit everywhere.”

With that, she’s gone. Leaving me to wonder what she knew and how did she know what was going on in Ashbourne.

Over the past three days my mind has been going back to what she meant and who was shetalking about that will be asking for answers to her questions.

I went back home just about three days later, and it wasn’t until I was sitting in the living room when I saw the news just two weeks later.

It played out in every channel with the headline in big bold letters:

Breaking News: Daughter to Billionaire Luke Peterson, Sasha Peterson, was found dead this morning at the age of 18 in Counter’s Creek River.

I was terrified, to say the least, as they ruled it a suicide. Saying her mental state was not well and has been taking meds non-stop since diagnosed with depression and bipolar.

I didn’t know what to believe when rumors spread, but I’m certain she was murdered.

The news was showing pictures of her and her twin sister, Spencer, along with her other sisters, Winter and Julie.

I kept my promise to her, even when the guilt weighed down on me. Until the day will come when shewould come knocking on my door looking for answers.