Chapter 9
8:15 pm
Jack left Tru in his truck as he ran into the office building. He ran to the back and met Richard Davies out back in the alley.
"What's this about Richard? What's so important that you had to meet me again?" Jack asked.
"You saved a girl tonight." Richard said, sounding annoyed.
"I did. She wasn't supposed to die." Jack stated, standing defiantly before Richard.
"Fate made her die before. It wasn't for you to decide for her to live." Richard said, his voice venomous.
"Isn't it? You say we're Fate's guardians, but that girl, she wasn't supposed to die. It was her time yet." Jack argued, knowing it was this argument the night before that cost him his life.
"You're no better than her."
"No, I'm worst." Jack stated, looking sad. Richard turned towards Jack, anger on his face.
"No, you're better than she is. You are making sure Fate gets its way." Richard stated, and pulled a gun out of his overcoat and cocked it. "You've disappointed me Jack." Richard said, taking aim.
"Daddy?" A wounded voice said. Jack and Richard both turned to see Tru standing at the opening of the alley, tears in her eyes and a look of utter betrayal on her face.
"Tru, honey…" Richard said, looking at the gun and back at his daughter. He lowered the weapon and turned full on to Tru. "get out of here."
"No…" She said, her voice choking from her tears. Richard looked annoyed and stared at his daughter.
"Tru, honey, leave." Richard said, his voice harsh.
"Tru, get out of here." Jack said, his voice softer than her fathers, but firm. Richard held his weapon out and said "Sorry sweetie" and fired one shot. "NO!" Jack yelled, as the shot rang through the air and pierced Tru in the chest. Jack ran over to the fallen Tru. "Tru!" Jack said, feeling like his heart was just ripped into pieces. He held her lifeless body and used every bit of medical training he had to check her vitals. "You killed her!" Jack said, his voice accusing.
"It was you or her Jack." Richard said, wiping the prints off his weapon and tossing it in the bottom of the dumpster.
"You're sick. What kind of father kills his daughter." Jack said, resisting the urge to vomit.
"You'll understand one day Jack. You'll understand." Richard said, walking out of the alley. Jack felt tears run down his cheeks as he held Tru's lifeless body.
"Come on Tru…you can ask me…" Jack urged, wishing he wasn't responsible for her death. "Come on Tru…I asked you…you need to return the favor, ok?" Jack said, feeling desperate. "Come on, ask me damn it!" He said, holding her closer.
"Jack." Her voice said. Jack lifted his face and stared into her eyes. "Save me." She said, and as his world rewound before his eyes, he whispered, "I will."