Page 44 of Destined Chaos
21
Hugh
I ran after the small, fast shadowed figure. The direction of the noises changed as if it were headed back toward the house. I took off in a run again, only slowing when I stepped into the clearing where the shadow vanished in the trees.
I rested my hands on my hips, trying to catch my breath. My gaze darted in every direction as I wished I’d thought to bring a flashlight. There was an easier way to handle this.
“We saw you. You might as well come out,” I yelled in hopes of luring the person out with no reason to hide.
A branch cracked, and I spun to find Dinky, wearing all black from head to toe with a gun pointed in my direction.
I held up my hands, surprised by his appearance and his agility in the woods. “What could you possibly gain from burning the place down? She said she was giving you half.”
The gun shook in his grasp, and his finger rested on the trigger. His gaze darted in the direction of the house as if he were debating to make a run for it where I’d left Libby.
“I hope you have a damn good reason,” I said, pulling his attention back and away from where Libby was safely waiting for the police.
Despair flared in Dinky’s eyes. “I had to. If she sells to you and not him, then I’m a dead man.”
“Okay. We can work through this, just put the gun down.”
He shook his head. “I’m in too deep. It’s too late.”
Dinky’s hand shook harder.
“We’ll all help you. Libby loves you. You’re the only family she has left.”
Even in the darkness I could see his eye twitch. “Family,” he huffed. “Did you know our grandfather wanted to send me back to the orphanage after what happened with Maria? He thought I was responsible.”
I tried to hide the confusion from my face. “Is that why your mom and her mom ran?”
“I didn’t kill her. That man did when she wouldn’t stop crying. I saw everything.”
“Dinky, you don’t want to do this,” I said.
“The name is Dwight, and I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t want to do this, but I have no choice,” he said.
“No!” Libby’s scream filled the trees as she tackled Dinky to the ground.
The gunshot cracked through the trees as they both fell. I stood in shock, unable to move as I stared at her unmoving body on the floor. No, no, no. Not Libby, not like this. I shoved the confusion from my mind.
“Libby!” I yelled and ran to her unmoving body. Her eyes were closed, and blood was gushing from her chest. “Libby.”
My heart raced.
“Oh, Libby what have you done?” Dinky dropped the gun like it was covered in flesh-eating mold. “It was only supposed to be the damn house and you two weren’t even in there. I looked. God damn it. I looked.”
“We were in the attic,” I answered, ripping my jacket off and holding it to her wound.
The sound of sirens in the distance had Dinky’s gaze darting around the area.
“No, no, no, she wasn’t supposed to see the trunk.” The blood drained from Dinky’s face.
I launched for him, punching him in the face. He fell to his knees, his look dazed as I held his shirt, holding him up. My fist was cocked back, and I was ready to take him out for good, when Libby’s voice broke into the anger filling my head.
“No.” Her voice was weak, and we both turned to look at her. “Please, don’t hurt him. He’s my family. Please, don’t hurt him.” Her gaze turned to Dinky. “Just stop, please.”
I yanked Dinky closer to my face. “If she dies, you die. There will be nowhere you’ll be able to hide from me.”
