Sadie's POV
"You think you can just tell me a story about your life and think I'm going to accept the fact that you want me dead," I say. "You know how ridiculous that sounds."
"I didn't say that you would accept it," Set says. "I said that you would understand."
"How can I possibly understand how you killed my room?" I ask.
"Just let me start at the beginning," Set says.
**Set's Story (Set's POV) **
It was a fall day. I was ten years old and I was at my house listening to my parents fight. They always fought over everything. I finally had enough of the yelling so I decided to go across the street. My house was right across from a park. The park was in the middle of a neighbor hood with houses on all four sides of it. I spent a lot of time at the park. It was a way to get away from the yelling. Today was different. There was someone new. Sitting on the swings all the way across the park. A girl, the same age as me. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing jeans and a plain red t-shirt. She looks up and smiles. "Hi," She says. "I'm Ruby Faust. My family just moved in that house." She points behind her. I look and see a moving truck."
"Hi," I say. "My name is Set Matthews. I live over there," I point to my house.
"Set," Ruby says. "That's an interesting name."
"My mom is a mythology teacher," I explained. "She thought it would be nice to name her sons Osiris and Set."
"She seems kind of nerdy," Ruby said.
"She is," I tell her. "She loves to learn. She reads books to learn more. When she's not fighting with my dad."
"I'm sorry," Ruby said.
"It's fine," I say. "I just come here."
"Maybe I can keep you company when you're here." Ruby told me. "I'm new and I need a friend around here."
"So, were friends now?" I asked her.
"We can be," She said. "Best friends."
"Okay," I said back. "Best friends."
We spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know each other. We stayed there until we both were called to come inside.
It was a year later. Ruby and I were now 11 years old. We always walked home from school together. This day Ruby was wearing a blue dress with long sleeves. She had white leggings with some matching blue flat shoes. She had her white sweater in her arms with her backpack on her back. I had jeans, a red long sleeve, and a matching jean jacket on. I wore black sneakers. We stopped in front of Ruby's house.
"I'll see you later Set," She said. She hugged me and ran into her house. I smiled and crossed the street and walked across the park. I went into my house.
It was Friday so I did not want to do my homework. I searched the house for my brother. Osiris was sixteen so I was never sure if he'd be home or out with friends. He never really went out with friends. He was more into getting good grades to escape the monster of a father that we had. He wasn't home yet. I sat down on my bed when I heard a car pull up.
"You're so useless Anne!" My father yelled. "I wanted you to get one thing and you didn't manage to get the right thing."
"You know what Daniel!" She yelled back. "Get it yourself next time. I'm not your servant. I'm your wife."
"Not a very good one!" He yelled back. I heard door slam shut. Probably my dad going into the bedroom. A few moments later my mom comes into the room.
"Hello sweetie," She said. "How was school today?"
"Good," I told her. "Ruby and I got an A on our project we did together."
"That's great," She smiled. "How is Ruby? I haven't seen her in a while."
"She's fine," I said.
"She needs to come by some day," My mom said. "I'll make cookies or cake."
"I'll ask her later," I said. "We're going to hang out at the park later."
My mom smiled and then she got up and left the room.
Later that day my mom had made dinner and we ate it. Osiris was sitting at the table working on his homework. My mom was cleaning dishes. I was drawing pictures. My dad comes in. He walked over to my mom. He had a drink in his hand.
"I don't know why I keep you around," He said. "These plates were washed poorly."
"There fine," She inspects the clean ones. "I don't see a problem."
"Of course, you don't!" He raised his voice. He takes a plate and smashes it on the ground. That had caused me and Osiris to jump. My mom looks over at us. Indicating that we were free to go. Osiris picked up his books. I grabbed my jacket.
We walked outside. "I'm going to the library," He said. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'm going to go hang out with Ruby," I told him.
"I'll be home in a couple of hours," He said.
I watch as he got in the car and drove off. I look back at the house. I could still hear my parents yelling. I turned and headed off to the park. Ruby was not outside yet. I sat at the giant gazebo that had tables. I often sat up there to wait for Ruby and I couldn't stay at my house with my parents yelling. I was only there a few minutes when Ruby showed up.
"Hey," She sat across from me. "Are they fighting again?"
"Yeah," I told her. "Again."
I knew she wanted to know more. She knew I didn't want to talk about it. "Let's go to the swings."
We went to the swings closest to my house. It was about a half hour later when the sound of a gunshot rang through the park. It had come from my house. Me, Ruby, and everyone at the park stopped what we were doing. Without thinking I started running towards my house.
"Set stop!" Ruby yelled. "Come back!"
I ignored her. I ran into the house. I stop when I get into the living room. My mom was dead on the ground. My father was packing a bag with a gun in his belt.
"What did you do!" I yelled.
He looked at me. "I did what had to be done son."
"You killed my mother," I screamed.
"Son," He says. "She was a useless person. She was not any good for me, you, or your brother. Pack a bag. We have to go get your brother and leave this place before the cops come."
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" I yelled. "You're a murderer."
My father grabbed my arm. "We're going."
He drags me out of the house. I get free and I run towards the park. Ruby was standing on the sidewalk with an adult. It was not either of her parents.
"Set!" She screams! "He's pointing the gun at you!"
I hear a shot and pain runs through my arm. I fell on the ground. I look at Ruby. She was backing up as instructed by the adult. Kids were running to their houses. Ruby was watching in horror.
"Stop!" A voice yells. "You're under arrest!"
I turn and see that the police had arrived. My father dropped the gun and they put hand cuffs on him. Ruby runs over to me and helps me sit up.
"He shot you," She says. She takes her jacket off and ties it around my arm. "Where's your mom?" She asks.
"Dead," I say. "She's dead."
Ruby didn't ask questions. We sat there until the ambulance came to take me to the hospital.
Four years later, my aunt who was my mother's sister, ended up moving in to the house so she could raise us. Osiris was twenty years old now so it was just me and my aunt because he had gone off to college. I was fifteen and in high school. Ruby and I were still best friends. We were sitting in the cafeteria. We sat at a table alone.
"Are you going to visit your father today?" She asked.
"No," I said. "I have no reason to want to see him."
"Well, I just figured you might go see him since Osiris decided to go see him." She explained.
"Osiris didn't see mom dead on the ground or get shot for running away from that lunatic. I don't want anything to do with him. I wish he was dead too." I was angry over the mention of my father. I never wanted to see my father again.
"Sorry," She said. "I didn't mean for you to be angry at me."
"I'm not angry at you Ruby," I said. "I could never be angry with you."
She puts a hand on mine. She was always there for me since that day. Over the years I had starting caring about her more and more. At this time, I had a crush on her. I'm sure everyone had a crush on Ruby. There was a homecoming dance that I wanted to ask her to. I had not worked up the courage to ask her. The dance was that weekend and it was Wednesday.
"Ruby," I said. "I have a question."
She looks at me. "Yes?"
"Ruby Faust!" A voice yelled. It was Miranda. Ruby's friend. She had brown hair and brown eyes. That day she was wearing jeans, and a t-shirt. She sat down. "Julius Kane is going to ask you to homecoming. He's headed over here right now."
The Kane brothers. They were the most popular boys in the school. Amos and Julius Kane. Amos was the musician. He could play multiple instruments. He mainly loved to play Jaz music. Then there was Julius Kane. He was the co-captain of the football team and the captain of the basketball team. He was one of the smartest people in school. Every girl in school loved him.
"Really?" Ruby asked. "Why me?"
"I don't know," Miranda says. "I thought he was going to pick someone else."
This was horrible. I was going to ask Ruby and now that Miranda was here I couldn't it was too late.
"Ruby?" I say trying to interrupt.
"Oh," Ruby says. "I'm sorry, what were you going to ask me?"
"I wanted to kno- "I was interrupted by Julius.
"Hey Ruby," He says. "How are you?"
"Good," Ruby says. "How are you?"
"Good," He says. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to homecoming with me?"
Ruby smiles. "I'd love too!"
Julius smiles. "That's great," He says. "I'll pick you up at your house."
"Okay," She says.
We sit there as Julius leaves. I was devastated. I worked up the courage to ask the girl I loved to go to the dance with me and Julius Kane came in and asked her. I figured this would just be a one-time thing. Maybe I still had a chance. At that time, I didn't know that was my only chance. It was only just the beginning of my problems with Julius Kane.
It was the night of the homecoming dance. I did not want to go but my aunt insisted that I go. I was not going to get anywhere if I denied her request. I had just gotten dressed. I wore a black suit with a red shirt and a black tie. I did not have a car or a license so my aunt was going to drop me off.
Once she dropped me off I went inside. I searched for Ruby. She was really my only friend so I wanted to see her. I instead spotted Miranda. Miranda and I never really spoke unless we were both with Ruby. Miranda was wearing a black dress with gold polka dots, black heels, her hair was curled with a golden ribbon tied around her hair. I walk over to her. "Hey Miranda," I said.
"Hi Set," She said. "I was just looking for Ruby. I guess she's not here yet."
"I haven't spotted her either," I explained. "I was looking for her too."
"Well," Miranda said. "We can hang out until we see her."
"Sure," I agreed.
We stood next to each other as we watched other pile in. Then I saw her. Ruby. Her blonde hair was curled and went down past her shoulders. She wore a long red dress. She also wore a silver necklace. She was beautiful. I wanted to tell her that but by her side was Julius.
"They are so cute together," Miranda said. "I honestly thought she would go to homecoming with you."
"With me?" I asked. "Why?"
"I saw the look on your face when she said yes to Julius," Miranda says. "You were going to ask her weren't you."
"I was," I told her. "But I didn't have the courage. It's over now. Maybe another time."
"Yeah," Miranda said. "So, you came without a date?"
"Yeah," I said. "How about you?"
"No date," Miranda said.
A slow song came on. Everyone started dancing. Miranda and I stood there and watched as everyone danced.
"Want to dance?" Miranda asked.
"Sure," I said.
We start dancing. I wanted to dance with Ruby. I watched as she was dancing with Julius. She looked happy. I was annoyed with Julius. I knew that Ruby would be mad if I said anything. I decided to stay quiet.
"I'm sorry," Miranda said.
"About what?" I asked and turned my attention back to her.
"Loving someone who is with someone else," Miranda explained. "That has happened to me before. I know how you feel right now."
"I'm sorry for you too," I said. Miranda and I had known each other because of Ruby. Turns out we had more in common than I thought. After that night Miranda was not as much of a stranger that we thought we were to each other. We were actually friends.
Halfway through the dance they announced Ruby and Julius as homecoming king and queen. Miranda put her hand on my shoulder. She felt bad for me. I don't really know much about her story but she probably felt the same way at some point.
The night was over. I sat outside on a bench waiting for my mom. I watch as Ruby and Julius came out of the building. Julius gave her his jacket. They talked for a minute and then Julius kissed her. I looked away. I knew I had lost her. She gets in the car that her mom drove to come pick her up. Ruby saw me and waved. I smiled and waved back. Once the car is gone Julius comes up to me.
"It's Set right?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said.
"You seem close with Ruby," He noticed. "She mentioned you a couple times. You seem to be a good friend for her."
"It's more the other way around," I told him. "She's a good friend to me. She could have abandoned me like all my other friends did four years ago. She stayed by me."
"I asked her to be my girlfriend tonight," He said.
I looked at him. "What did she say?"
"Yes," Julius said. "She said yes. That's why I came to talk to you."
"Why?" I asked.
"I see the way you look at her," Julius said. "I just want to make sure you won't try to steal her from me."
"It won't," I said.
"Great," Julius said. "I'll see you around."
He walks towards his car. "I'm sure she'll figure out you're not good for her soon enough." I call.
He stops and looks at me. I wave. He rolls his eyes and leaves. My aunt finally pulls up. I was quite the whole ride home. When I get home, I go to my room. I change and look at a photo of my mom. If she were here she would tell me what to do.
**End of Story**
Sadie's POV
"Throughout the years Ruby and I drifted apart. She was spending more time with Julius. She asked me if it was okay and I told her it was fine. Julius wouldn't really let me near her anyway. Eventually we just didn't really talk that much anymore. Ten years later, I was dating Miranda when I found out Ruby and Julius had a son named Carter. I never knew that Ruby was married. I was angered that Julius made sure I wouldn't know. I wanted to get revenge on Julius for taking Ruby away from me. I was starting to get tired of not standing up for myself. I was not going to let him get away from it. Miranda fought with me about being in love with Ruby and taking things to far. She ended up leaving me. That's when I started planning my revenge. I started my revenge by planning to kill my father. It took me a few years for that. By the time I was ready for revenge on Julius they now had two children. Carter and Sadie Kane." Set explained. "You and you're brother."
"So, you killed my mother to get revenge on my father for taking her away from you," I say. "And you killed your father for killing your mother. I still don't see where I'm supposed to feel bad for you. Sure, you had a bad life. The solution is not killing people.
"I did what had to be done," Set told me. "I even ruined my son's life. I got so invested in getting revenge. I lost a girlfriend. Miranda." He took the picture on his desk. "She sent me this picture later on. Her and our son. Miranda wanted me to figure things out for him. I knew I was not going to be a good father. I didn't want to have anything to do with them. I just wanted revenge."
"You were willing to let your son live without a father just to get revenge," I say. "I'm sure you don't keep in touch with him."
"I don't," Set says. "I haven't seen him in about eleven years. He was 9 almost 10 when I last saw him. I do plan to see him again."
"What makes you think he's going to come see you?" I ask.
"Well," Set says. "I do have someone here he really wants to see. You."
"Me," I say. "I don't even know your son."
"You do know him," Set says. "My son is Anubis Black."
This was quite the chapter to write. It was long but I thought that Set's story should fit in one chapter. I will probably work on the next chapter in my free time during the week.