The body was identified as aunt Marie's and I felt like a thousand knives were struck to the same part of my body, I cried again. I couldn't move, how can I live on with this, it was my fault. Something told me that it wasn't her who should've died. They say we cry when someone dies but eventually move on but I doubted if I can. My mom came and hugged me "it's okay Charlie it's not your fault" she said but it wasn't true, it was my fault.
"I'm sorry mom for not asking your permission to go to the cafe" I said.
"we'll talk about that later" she said. She kissed me on the forehead and held my face close to hers, her face was red by crying so was mine "don't blame yourself Charlie it's not like you did it intentionally you never thought something like this would happen" she said. A police officer came to us and said "you need to come to police station"
"why" mom asked.
"to question you of course"
"can Charlie not come with us, she's not in a state to come to a police station" dad asked. I only noticed him when he spoke, he was standing next to mom he looked like he was crying too and it took a lot to hold it back now.
"I fear she has to come with you" the officer said. He looked like he didn't want me to be involved in all this, but it was his duty he had to question us, to question me.
We went to police station in the officers car, why? I don't know. After we reached the station we went to his office and I was scared, why again? I don't know again.
"take a seat" he said. We all sat.
"now Charlie tell me what happend" he asked
"I don't know" I said.
"then tell me what you know"
"I.....today morning mom told me to....." I told him everything
"so your saying the house was already burning when you reached the site"
"y....ye..ss" I stuttered. Tears rolled down from my eyes.
"the fire was intentionally started by someone it's no accident" he said. I was shocked who would do that. What wrong did an old nice lady do to him or her I looked at mom for an answer but she didn't have any.
The officer continued, "Steve last time it was karaoke now the house do you think there is a connection between these" the officer looked at me. I noticed how he used dad's first name. Dad looked at me that's when August came in "sorry officer but may I come in" he asked
"your already in" the officer said.
"I'm sorry should I....."
"it's okay"
"August, you and Charlie go outside and wait we'll come within a few minutes" dad said, I looked at him but he wouldn't meet my eyes
"okay then" I said. August took me out side and we sat on a sofa. I started thinking about what they would be talking about inside and why did the officer call dad by his first name does he know him and why did dad tell me to come out?
"Charlie" August had to call me thrice for me to hear.
"y...yeah" I said.
"I know this must be hard for you but Charlie...."
"what's my deal with fire? Why is it always fire?" I interrupted him. He looked shocked, he couldn't answer. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow in questioning kind of way. "what is it August I know you are hiding something" I said. He laughed and I got confused, okay maybe I was over thinking but....
"Charlie I know this must be difficult for you but what's with this drama, oh no August you know something, you sure your not watching too many detective movies" he teased me.
I didn't react to that (which was very weird indeed) I looked down and stayed silent.
"I ain't hugging you this time, your covered in ash" he said. I looked at myself, I was covered in ash. Then I hugged him just because he told me not to. "oh no Charlie your ruining my shirt" he complained. I laughed he was laughinging too (I know you must be thinking what kind of person I am. I was crying a few seconds ago and now? You wouldn't understand unless you are me or you had the same situation. You want a moment out of all this mess and you distract yourself and laugh but right after that you feel guilty of laughing in such situation, you start thinking of yourself as a cruel, mad person) mom and dad came and saw us laughing and their mood seemed brighten a little.
The next day it was aunt Marie's funeral, we were at church praying for her. Me, mostly praying for the end of the one who started the fire. I stood up and was going out when I heard mom, dad and my aunt Bella (dad's sister) were having a serious conversation near the entrance (I figured out it was serious by their tone)
"Annie, is this much not enough? She is the one" Bella asked.
"Bella she's too young let her be 16 at least" mom requested.
"August started training when he was 8" dad said.
"you're risking her life" Bella said.
"she'll be stronger when she'll be 16" mom said. "but Annie.... "
"I don't want to hear anything she's not going now, I won't let her" mom came in and I had to hide behind the wall then went out and spent some time walking around the church.
Then all my relatives went to aunt Marie's house's ruins they were all busy talking and I thought it was the best chance to slip away. I slowly went towards the statue of a man, the one dad was talking about, I thought of what dad had said that day in the kitchen and what they were discussing from church. I reached my towards the statue's , every inch of me trembling, I was scared of course but I knew I had to do this. My hand was a centimeter away I closed my eyes and I knew if this was a movie there might have been a background music and I soo wanted one right now my finger almost touched the statue's when someone from behind called me "Charlie" it was August, that stupid brother of mine, he ruined my glorious scene and I almost fell down, he scared me.
"what are you doing" he asked.
"throwing a party, what do you think I'm doing I'm looking at the statue" I was annoyed.
"I see that but what I meant was you were never interested in statues what happened now?" he asked.
"I wanted to look at it, I looked, you have a problem with that brother dear" he looked angry.
"Charlie, what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like a mean girl? I don't want my sister to be like this" he asked, I felt bad I shouldn't have talked to him like that he talked to me in a sweet and friendly way. "sorry... I... "
"it's okay, we are about to leave come on mom and dad are waiting" he said, and we together walked towards aunt Marie's house I turned and looked at the statue I wanted to know what my parents meant but then I looked at August, he started to train since he was 8? For what?