Madness Within

| twenty-five |

"Elias... Aurora... she murdered Father. Father was attempting to make peace with the Cruz family. He was assassinated."

Janice burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Evelyn softly embraced her by the shoulders and looked up at me, puzzled and irritated. But I didn't give two shits.

"Leo?! She would never murder your father!" Evelyn said this while defending Janice. "She adored him!"

"She lied to us, Evelyn. He would still be alive if it hadn't been for her covering for him, because I would have stopped it! Don't you notice?! We've become orphans!"

Evelyn came to a halt, looked up at all of us as Theo rushed down the stairs in response to my yelling, and sighed in frustration.

"Please explain to them why you didn't tell them, Janice. I understand why they're angry, but they need to let you speak, so please explain," Evelyn said, looking at the four of us who were silent.

"The- he went missing, your father received a letter in the mail from him. I was about to tell him not to go meet up with them when you came in and interrupted... I was about to tell him-"

"oh so that's what-"

"Leo..." Evelyn issued a warning. "Just let her to speak. This in Law is referred to as conciliation. So, please, sit down on the couch and let's conciliate".

Evelyn led Janice over to the lounge, waved to the rest of us, and sat across from Janice. Aurora, Theo, Elias, and I both sagged onto the lounge, crossed our arms across our chests, and stared down at the ground.

"Keep going, Janice," Evelyn said as she started rubbing Janice's back. Janice took a big deep breath and stared me down before speaking.

"I was going to tell him that he couldn't leave and that he needed to figure out what was going on. I knew they wanted to kill him... they want to kill us all when they have the opportunity. Everyone: me, you, Aurora, Theo, Elias, Evelyn, Evangeline, her boyfriend, Rue"

"Why Evangeline and Hudson?" Evelyn said abruptly, turning her entire body towards Janice. I give Evelyn a worried look, knowing exactly what Janice was saying. They were all in danger. Grave, grave danger.

"If they find out that you are one of us, they will find you and kill you. You made a big mistake by becoming this involved with us." Janice said through her sobs.

Evelyn furrowed her brows at me. I shook my head in guilt, my head low and my hands clasped together tightly. I told her I would have to kill her... but I didn't mean maliciously, I meant by force, they'll make me kill her, or they'll make me watch.

"I made my decision" Evelyn said coldly.

"Evelyn... you can't. Leave now, don't turn back and just forget we ever met" I suggested, which sent an angry look across her face. She was not happy at all.

"Do you even love me?" She asked, standing up from the lounge, standing before me. "If you loved me, you would let me do what to want to do with my life"

"I do love you Evelyn... I really do" I said standing up from my spot. "I love you so much... I don't want you to die at the hands of those fucking monsters"

"I don't care! I feel like I belong in this family. This is the first time I actually feel like I am cared for, not abused and made into a slave-" Evelyn spoke loudly.

"Abused?" Aurora suddenly interrupted. "What do you mean abused? And not a slave? You were abused?!"

"My parents- That's not the point, my point is I feel welcome... I feel safe and protected. Now, I will be calling Evangeline and telling her to meet me here"

"Why?" I asked in a confused manner. "Evelyn... okay, this is going to be hard for you but you need to cut all ties with her and her boyfriend"

"No! I can't do that Leo!" She yelled grabbing her wallet and phone from the kitchen table. She headed straight toward the front door. I ran after her, slamming my hand against the door, causing it to slam shut.

"Leo?! What-"

"Do you want Evangeline to live?" I asked, staring deep into her eyes.

"W-what? Of course, what-"

"Then you need to do this" I said, holding her shoulders in between my palms. "This is the only way to stop her from getting killed, same with her boyfriend"

"I need to get my things-"

" I will figure it out... in the mean time, please, you can stay in the spare room. You will live with us okay?"

"And why should I trust you?" She asked, tears falling from her eyes. "Why should I trust you? Huh? Tell me"

"I am the only one who can keep you safe. Not the local police force, not the FBI, not the CIA, nobody. I am the only one who can protect you from those people"

Evelyn let out a large sigh and nodded her head. Tears welling up in her eyes as the reality began to set in. She would no longer have her best friend to latch onto, and I understand why she would feel so distraught.

I had to leave my childhood best friend when those assholes were beginning to come after all of us and not just Father. For his protection, and for my sanity, I told him to never contact me again. It was the hardest thing I could've ever done but he's alive and healthy.

"The only way to let her go is to completely change your life" said Elias from the lounge. "And I mean quit your university course, and move here"

"I can't do that... I can't just up and leave my career!" Evelyn shouted as more tears ran down her cheeks.

"Then why did you join us?" Theo asked in an irritable tone. "If you didn't want to leave everything behind then why let your love for Leo take over?"

"I don't know! okay! When you're in love you do fucked up things!" Evelyn said before looking at me. "I have to go... I need to think about this... alone"

I didn't step aside, I stayed put against the door. She let out of a heavy distressed sigh and pushed me out of the way. She unlocked the door and walked out of the house. I stood back, watching her from the door frame as she sped walked to the car and got in.

She was making the worst decision of her life and after  what happened the other day, Evelyn was now on their list and they wouldn't stop until she was dead.

Elias stood beside me, followed by Theo and Janice. I looked down at Janice and put an arm around her. I do feel ashamed for accusing her of Fathers murder, but she could have deterred his decision and stopped him.

"I'm sorry Janice" I said, not looking down at her again. I didn't want to face her after I had just accused her.

"It's okay Leo... I should have stopped him... it's all my fault" she said as she watched Evelyn get into her car.

"It's not your fault" I muttered softly. "It's his own fault"

"You know they'll kill her" Elias said, as he also watched Evelyn. "They'll come for her any day now... they won't stop until they hurt you Leo"

"Elias... don't remind me... god what have I done?"