Epilogue

"SERIAL KILLERS: LARA MCENROE AND LUCIEN LETHAR COMMIT SUICIDE BY FIRE"

Jack drops the paper on the table, pinching the bridge of his nose. They weren't friends but he was a good customer who paid well.

"I heard that the police tracked his location back only to find that the house they had gone back to had actually been burnt to the ground," the man in front of him took a sip of his tea. "And the car and the blood outside which traced back to the house confirmed that they were now nothing but ash. But it was you, right? You're the one who burnt the whole house after Luciens half ass lighting-the-house-on-fire with alcohol didn't work. Isn't that right, Louise?"

"I did what you asked. I helped him," Jack aka Louise shrugged. "Now my debt to you for saving my life is over. I owe you nothing else, father."

"One question. Why did you lead Alden to her?"

Jack paused. "She looked like mother... I wanted him to at least have some closure."

"But shouldn't you hate them both?"

"Then why did you make me look after him then?"

Mr. Arthur laughed. "Oh why, because I promised Cardia I would look after our children."

He stood up. "Let's make a point to never meet each other again." He started walking away but then he paused." Lucien really loved you, you know."

"You were never even home."

"But I have more eyes than you ever did, Louise." He opened the door. "Your mother was so cruel, she tore all of our lives apart and yet we cannot seem to get her out of our heads, can we?"

Jack stood alone with his eyes on the floor.

Yes, that's where it all started. It all started when he heard his mother telling him in a drunken fit about how much she loved Lucien.

I love him more than anybody else, even you.

Jack laughed sadly. Why did his words still bother her? Why? Why after all this time?

He stretched his legs and walked out into the cold snowfall, closing his door behind him. He started his car and drove all the way to the other side of the country. Two days and three nights passed by in a blur.

When he reached a beautiful wooden house that looked as if it had been carved out of frozen snow, he stopped the car.

"Hello there," he opened the door and walked in like he owned the place.

Lucien sat on the floor, painting Lara's toenails a bright red. Jack stood leaning on the doorframe for a while, observing them.

Ever since the bombing, Lara had not spoken. Getting them both out of there alive had proved to be an extraordinary feat and required more manpower than Jack had thought. It also took a ton of money to keep all of their mouths shut. Jack ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He didn't know why he was still doing this.

Lara had lost her hearing. She could no longer speak. But that didn't seem to diminish any of Luciens love for her. Jack had them hide in this house he bought years ago, so far away from where the incidents took place. To the world they were dead.

"She looks so beautiful right, Louise?" Lucien turned around to look at Jack. His heart skipped a beat.

"How long have you known?"

"From the beginning?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "Father went to a great deal to keep you safe from me. I never really wanted to hurt you though? You started it, you pathetic fuck."

"I'm trying to atone for it in my own way," Jack rubbed his forehead. "You also tried to kill me, I think we are even."

"Why did father save me?"

"He feels responsible for you since Cardia asked him to look after you," Jack sat down on the floor beside him. "It all always comes back to her, doesn't it?"

Lucien didn't reply. Lara stared at him with a blank look.

"As long as I get to love her I don't care that I'm dead to the world." He laid his head on her lap.

And for the first time since Jack had ever seen her, she smiled.