667 Issue #10: "Old Wounds"
Subject # ???: Claire Grant

I was sitting at the kitchen table when the front door opened.

Dinner had been ready for over an hour and now it had gotten cold.

“Where were you? Food’s cold.” I asked him as he took his coat off and draped it over the hook by the door.

“Meeting with associates. I already ate.” He opened up the cabinet and pulled out a shot glass before going to get the vodka from the counter.

“You couldn’t have called me and told me that, Rey? It would have been nice

to know; I could have just made a sandwich.” I snapped, but I knew I would regret it.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t know that the meal you prepared was more important than business, Claire. If I don’t do business, we don’t fucking eat.” He spoke coolly.

“I never said that. Just—a call would have been nice and you’ve been gone all day.” I softened my tone.

“I’m just getting everything in order before we finish this job.” Rey sat down at the table and took two shots.

“And what exactly is the job?” I asked him. He kept me in the dark about everything, but I obeyed him for whatever reason.

“I told you that you’d know in due time. It isn’t time yet.” He took another shot after his statement. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“I have been helping you steal invaluable historical artifacts for over eight months without question for the most part. I am committing crimes for you that could send me to prison for the rest of my life because of your purpose, yet I don’t really know what that purpose is.” I was becoming bold with my words.

I had blindly followed him, let him give me orders, was at his beckon call and for what reason?

I wasn’t even sure…

“Doll, you know why: these items are almost like false idols to these religious fanatics instead of items with deep historical significance. They are ancient and hold so much scientific knowledge if they were just allowed to be tested. Think of the things we could discover as human beings by actually analyzing these artifacts and putting them on display for all to see.” Rey gave me more information than he ever had.

“But how would we do that? Sell them to scientists on the black market? Donate them anonymously to a scientific research facility or a reputed museum? They’ll just end up back in the hands of the religious.” I didn’t understand how he expected to execute this plan.

“I have people, Claire. People that can do what we need them to so that they can be given the attention they deserve.” Rey took a few more shots after his statement.

“But how will people be able to access this information and discoveries if it is being done illegally and in secrecy? Then only you and a handful of people will know the truth and how does that educate the masses?” His reasoning was a bit off and I made it known.

“You ask too many questions, woman. Just trust me. Don’t you trust me?” Rey’s tone was quiet, deceiving. He sounded like he was possibly hurt by my questions, but there was an underlying hint of anger at my apparent distrust.

I didn’t respond at first.

“Do you not trust me?!” He raised his voice as he slammed his fist down on the table and I jumped in my seat.

“I—I,” I hesitated with my response, “I don’t know.”

That was not the right answer apparently.

He slung the shot glass at me and shoved the table hard, hitting me right in the middle as it knocked the wind out of my lungs.

“You used to trust me, Claire! You used to trust that I had our best interests in mind—your best interests in mind. Now you are having doubts? I would give you the world on a golden pedestal, but you can’t even give me an ounce of trust? I saved you, Claire. I fucking saved you! Where would you be now if I hadn’t been there for you? If I hadn’t believed your little sob story about how you just woke up with these crazy powers amidst a ballroom full of your dead colleagues? You’d be in fucking prison charged with mass murder awaiting a death sentence.” Rey was raging now as he closed in on me.

“I do—I do trust you. But blind trust is difficult sometimes.” I whimpered.

“Sometimes blind faith is all we have. Sometimes we have to have faith that things will work out for the better instead of doubting. Have faith in me, Claire. I had faith in you.” He was so close to my face that the smell of liquor stung my nostrils.

“I’m—I’m trying.” I stuttered over my words.

“Well try harder. We’re almost to the end of this and then we will be set for life. Just trust me.” Rey lowered his voice before grabbing the bottle of vodka and vanishing into his study.

I let out a winded breath and held my middle while my other hand felt just below my eye where the shot glass had struck me.

He seemed to be losing his temper more and more lately and it was really starting to scare me.

I waited for the sound of classical music to start emanating from his study before I slipped on my jacket, powdered my face one good time in the foyer mirror, and donned my sunglasses.

Music meant that he was drunkenly writing his memoirs and that also meant that he wouldn’t come out of the room till sunrise.

As a result, I could have a little time to myself in the city.

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