C4 Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Price

Catherine was peacefully asleep, completely exhausted from our journey the previous day. She had bombarded me with questions about our sudden change of housing, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth. Instead, I simply informed her that we were embarking on a little family vacation. I wasn't entirely certain if she believed my explanation, but at least it was enough to quell her curiosity and put a stop to her incessant inquiries.

Gabriella kindly escorted Catherine to her new bedroom, ensuring that she had a chance to rest. Meanwhile, I hurriedly packed our belongings into our new home. It was a rushed process, leaving us with little time to bring along many personal items. Once I had finished, I made my way to the kitchen in search of a much-needed glass of water. The hours of non-stop driving had left me utterly exhausted.

To my surprise, Gabriella entered the kitchen, ready to begin cleaning. Concerned for my well-being, I suggested, "You appear exhausted as well. You should rest. I'll take care of the cleaning." However, Gabriella remained silent and continued with her tasks, clearly harboring some resentment towards me.

Feeling a need for acknowledgement, I pressed further, "Aren't you going to say anything to me?" Still met with silence, I called out her name louder, which only served to aggravate her further.

"What on earth is wrong with you, Jay? What do you expect me to say? I am doing my utmost to restrain myself from uttering something hurtful, yet here you are, intentionally trying to provoke me even more!" Gabriella's voice echoed with anger and frustration.

"You don't have to hold yourself back from saying anything". I replied dropping the glass of water on the table.

"Alright then, you wanna hear the truth, that's find by me I'll tell you. Its all your fault that we are in this situation right now, because of your mistakes, our lives are in danger and Catherine, she's too young to be experiencing any of this but you know what, you're not the only one who is guilty.

I am too cause i choose to marry you even when my family was against our relationship, i blindly ignored your past as if it didn't exit but i was wrong, look where we are right now, hiding out like preys in the middle of nowhere waiting for the day our lives will finally be taken away from us and its all your fault Jay". Gabriella shouted angrily hitting me on my chest as she sat on the floor and began to cry".

"I can't say anything to defend myself right now cause you're right, its all my fault and neither you nor Catherine deserve to suffer for, if i could only go back in time, I would have chosen to do the right thing, but i can't so there's no point in me trying to argue about it.

Am human am not perfect i make mistakes too i just wish you wouldn't judge me by past, cause i don't live there anymore. I replied before leaving the kitchen, i didn't want to upset her any further so i decided to give her space. As i sat quietly at the balcony thinking of the next step to take, my phone began to ring. I took my phone and looked at the caller, It was Mrs Elvy.

" Good morning Mrs Elvy". I greeted over the phone.

"Morning Jay, I dropped by your house yesterday evening but the door was locked and there was no one in the house, I tried calling Gabriella but she wasn't picking up so I decided to call you, where exactly are you guys". She asked.

"We just went for a little family vacation, sorry we left without a word ". I lied hoping that she wouldn't ask me any further questions.

"A vacation, so late in the evening ". She asked again not really buying my story.

" Yea, it just came up suddenly, so we had to go immediately". I said trying to cover up

"Well alright, if you say so,if you guys need anything, don't forget to call me". She

replied after finally dropping the issue.

" I really appreciate all you've done for my family all this year's, I really don't know how am supposed to repay your kindness". I said with a lot of gratitude.

"It's fine Jay, you know you're just like family to me so of course it's natural I will support you always.......but anyways I got to go, Bye". She said hanging up the phone.

We were really lucky to have her in our lives but right now, I had to stay away for now so she wouldn't get dragged into our problems. I began to look through my contact list, who could I possibly call that would be willing to help me out.......... I got it, Mason could help so I decided to call him. "

"Hello Mason, I need a favour ".

The next day

I woke up the next morning to a sharp pain on my neck, I had slept on the couch and now,I was in a lot of pain. I went over to the freezer and got an ice pack and I began to gently massage my neck.

" What happened to you". I heard a voice say from behind, it was Gabriella.

"It's nothing I just have a little neck cramps". I replied still trying massage it, but I only made it worse.

"Let me do it ". She said collecting the ice pack and massaging it gently.

" Did you sleep on the couch last night." Gabriella asked, as she lead me to the couch and we sat down.

" Yea". I replied still feeling a lot of pain.

"Oh Jay, you didn't have to, now see what you've done to your self". She said looking really anxious.

" It's just a little pain, no need worry too much". I replied trying to ease her worries.

"Jay". Gabriella called slowly.

" Yea". I replied wondering what was going on in her mind right now, she was always so mysterious.

"Am sorry about everything I said yesterday, I didn't mean to hurt you the way I did,I said all those out of anger, I hope you can forgive me for my mistakes". Gabriella apologized as she held me hands tightly and tears began to roll down her eyes.

"There's no need to apologize, am not mad at you. It just really felt bad having to be constantly judged by my past mistakes.......but you know that I can never be upset with you. The day you stepped into my life, you changed it into something so beautiful and meaningful. You are just so amazing to have around and I cannot stop myself from telling you this every single day, you mean so much to me. I love you so much Gabriella". I replied giving her a tight hug.

" I love you too Jay". She said giving me a warm kiss.

"Mommy". Catherine called running out of her bedroom.

" Yes sweety". Gabriella replied holding Catherine's hands.

"Am really hungry". Catherine said holding her stomach.

"Don't worry dear, mommy is going to be making the famous "AL pastor chicken Taco and Questo Dip," just as you like it". Gabriella replied.

"Yeppy". Catherine shouted with excitement as she danced around the house which made us laugh.

" Come on now little dancer, its time to brush your teeth ". I said taking Catherine on top my shoulders as we headed for the bathroom.

A week Later

It's been a week since we've been in hiding, with absolutely no news from the outside world, Nothing about Vandel or what he has been up to. We've basically spent our days bonding together as a family and today was no exception.

We started the day off with building a picnic in the living room, then we played some cards and board games. Later on, we upped the challenge by building a little obstacle course and then we had a little dance challenge. As evening drew near, we decided to watch a movie together. Half way through the movie, Gabriella seemed to be a bit worried about something.

" Gabriella, are you alright ". I asked her turning down the volume of the television.

" Am a bit worried Jay, we are almost out of food supply and also, Catherine's medicine has almost run out, she needs a new batch I didn't tell you earlier because I thought that probably, there might be a nearby store around this place, but when I checked, I couldn't find any". Gabriella said finally voicing out what was bothering her.

"There aren't really any stores around here,its a designated place in the woods, so people don't really leave here, the nearest store is about a one hours drive". I explained to her.

" That's terrible, I don't know how we are going to survive with no provisions at all, we can't let that happen. Just tell me the road leading the nearest store and I'll go and get the provisions". Gabriella suggested.

"No, it's too risky for you to go out on your own, Vandel might just be waiting for this opportunity to attack for all we know, I'll go instead, but I can't leave you guys on your own either". I replied but just then,my phone began to ring, it was Mason. I stood up and went to the balcony to answer the call.

" Hello, Mason watssup dude, I haven't heard from you from over a week now, what exactly happened to you". I asked trying to be as quiet as I possibly can so that I wouldn't disturb my family.

"Am sorry Jay, getting information from the city this days haven't been really easy but I was able to get the information you asked for about detective Ryan, you wouldn't believe that after the drug raid in which he helped you ,instead of getting a reward or a promotion, he was suspended for weeks and when he eventually resumed to work, he was transferred to another department in another state". Mason explained.

"It is obvious that Vandel was responsible for this, what a corrupt world we live in, all he just had to do was say the word and everyone blindly follows his orders". I replied feeling really disgusted at the failing justice system.

"You got that right, the love of Money has really blinded almost everyone this days". Mason added.

" Anyways, about the second favour I asked, were you able to help me with it". I asked hoping to at least get one good news.

"Yea, it's done.....but the decision now rest in their hands". Mason replied.

" Fingers crossed then.......are you back in El Paso ". I asked as I really needed his help at that very moment.

" Yea, am on my way to your house". Mason replied.

" Don't go to that address anymore, i will send you the new location, go there instead, I will wait for you to come cause I really need to leave the house, but I can't leave my family unprotected ". I said still very worried about our safety.

" Alright Jay, I will be there soon ". Mason replied as he hung up the phone.

I entered the house, and sat on the couch next to Gabriella, Catherine was busy watching a cartoon on the television. Few minutes, Catherine stood up from where she was seated and headed over to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water.

Soon after, a sound of glass shattering came from the kitchen, immediately, Gabriella and I ran to the kitchen to find Catherine lying on the floor, she was having an asthmatic seizure. I quickly took her on my arms, to her bedroom and laid her on the bed as Gabriella ran to get the medicines.

"Jay, the medication available may not be enough to stabilize her condition, we need to take her to the hospital right now". Gabriella stated in panic.

"We can't, its too risky to do that". I replied still confused myself about what I was supposed to do.

"Then what the heck do you want us to do,we don't have any other choice, its either we take her to the hospital or we get her the drug immediately". Gabriella shouted in panic as she rushed out of the bedroom to get Catherine's remaining drugs.

At that very moment, i was completely hopeless and shattered, taking her to the hospital was just as if i was offering my daughter up as bait to Vandel and leaving them unprotected would be risky too,Mason hadn't arrived yet and i couldn't call anyone else for help, but I also couldn't watch my only daughter die either, so I decided to go get the drugs myself.

" I rushed to my car, entered it and quickly drove off to get the medicines. At that particular moment, I had lost all my sense of reasoning, all I could think about was saving my daughters life, I drove with full speed for about an hour until I finally got to the store, I quickly bought and Paid for the drugs and quickly headed for my car, as I was about to open the door, I received a text from Mason.

It was a short message which was meant to inform me that he had already arrived at my house, I felt a little relived that Mason was already there watching over my family for me. I entered my car and begin to drive back home. Twenty five minutes into the drive, I received a call from an unknown number, I ignored It the first time, but the number kept on calling do I decided to answer it.

"Hello". i said after finally picking up the phone.

"Jay Wilson, its good to hear from you again after so many years".

"Who are you". I asked, the voice sounded really familiar, but i could not ping point where exactly i had heard it from.

"Its been only a few years and you seem to have forgotten your boss". Vandel said over the phone.

"So you've finally gotten The courage to finally speak up you bastard......, its been years now, why don't you want to leave me alone". I asked filled with rage.

"How can i Possibly leave you alone when you haven't finished paying your debt to me, so i decided to drop by your new house to say hello to you but sadly, you weren't around but Jay , seriously how could you be so stupid enough to leave your family all alone in the middle of nowhere all by themselves, you choose to betray me years ago, and now today, you're going to pay the price for what you did to me........say your final goodbye". Vandel said putting the phone on speaker.

I could hear the screams of Catherine and Gabriella over the phone, they were calling my name and begging for help.

"Vandel, please don't do this to me,this fight is between the both of us, please don't harm my family, am the only one at fault here, i beg you, please spare them". I pleaded In desperation.

"it feels really good to see you so helpless and miserable, but now, its too late for apologies, goodbye Jay". Vandle said, then i heard screams and then gunshots before the line disconnected.

"Noooo". I said violently hitting my hand on the steering wheel, which almost got me into an accident. I didn't know what to do at that moment. "had Vandel really murdered my family". I thought to myself. "NO, maybe he was just trying to scare me and they were still alive". I thought again trying to give myself hope as I increased the speed of my driving.

Just a few miles before i finally reached my house, i could see a huge smoke coming from a large flame of fire from a distance. "Where exactly could the fire be coming from". I thought to myself. As i continued driving, I felt the fire getting closer until i finally reached where my house was supposed to but to my greatest surprise, it was on fire. I rushed out of the car in hopes of maybe trying to put out the fire, but there wasn't any source of water that was close by nobody was around to help.

I went crazy, knowing fully well that my family might have already been burnt to ashes by the flame, but i still tried to be positive minded about the whole situation. I ran car to my car to get the fire extinguisher, it was the only thing that i could use, I knew it was a foolish thing to do but i wasn't in my right senses anymore I began to spray the extinguisher until it ran out, but yet the fire was still on.

People started gathering, I guess the flame had attracted them here and the fire Department had already arrived and started trying to put out the flames, I wanted to go in to search for my family, but they didn't allow my entry cause it was dangerous at that very moment to enter the house. After a few hours, the flames was finally put out. One of the officer came out to give the report on the remains found in the house.

"Mr Jay Wilson". The officer called.

"That's me". I replied signifying so the officer could identify me.

"We've been able to put out the fire successfully but upon further investigation, we found that the fire wasn't an accident, but in fact, it was arson. Someone deliberately started the fire. We found some dead bodies in the house but we haven't been able to identify them yet , the only thing we could find was a partly burnt teddy bear found outside the house with blood stain on, we've already set some of the blood sample to the blood sample aside so that when the police arrive, they could send it for testing . He said handing the toy over to me.

I recognize the toy, it was the same one i had recently got for Catherine on her Birthday. At that moment, it was as if the world had suddenly stopped revolving as if it had just ended i couldn't deny the truth anymore. Vandel had murdered my family in cold blood and worse of all he set their bodies on fire.

I didn't know how exactly to start expressing my grief, should i begin shouting out of anger or hitting or maybe destroying things.

I had just made only one mistake in my life, but yet Karma was so cruel to me. Why didn't I die instead, it would have been so much better than being alive to see the day i would bury my own family with my own two hands. They didn't deserve to suffer such cruel fate and brutal death but yet, they paid the price for my mistakes.

I collapses to his knees, unable to comprehend the tragic loss that has befallen me. The weight of guilt and grief crushed my spirit, as i realized the price i has paid for leaving his family unprotected even for a short while. The charred remains of my once-happy home serve as a cruel reminder of the irreversible consequences of my decision.