Chapter 24
I don’t know what happened, but the lights are on now. My head still hurts, but overall I am more confused about what happened than in pain.
Antonio is still staring with a blank expression at something behind my back.
“Wilhelm…”, he whispers
When I turn around I see my own traits reflected into those of a man of about 50 standing on the door, a revolver in his hand.
“So you never cared to know where I ended up? That was a mistake, Mr. Journalist”, he says
Words choke in my throat, and I stare at my father, my heart thumping wildly.
“Come with me, Iris”, he tells me, “I will bring you where your mom and sister are”
I get up slowly. I have a skewed perception of my movements, but I move towards my father as he keeps holding his gun towards Ronny and Antonio.
“And you, don’t move!”, he commands. He’s not yelling, but his voice resounds strangely loud in my ears.
“Why are you back just now? Where have you been?”, asks Ronny, and his voice is calm.
Right. Where has he been? But instead of answering my father looks at me and says, “Let’s go home, Iris”.
“How do you know my name?”, I ask
“I’ve never left you baby”, he says
“But then why was I not with you?”, I insist
“You’re with me now, just come with me”, he tells me
“You’re full of lies”, I hear Ronny say, but his voice is somewhat distant
It’s strange how I can’t really define where it’s coming from.
“Where is mom?”, I want to know
“I will bring you to her”, he repeats
“No! Tell me where she is!”, I scream
“Iris…”, I hear
This is my sister’s voice. I don’t see her, but I know it’s her who is calling me even though I’ve never heard her voice before. I turn my head just slightly. The dizziness is overwhelming, I feel I will collapse on the floor at any moment.
“Veronica…”, I hear myself say
“Iris…”, her voice echoes
“We are together, again. After so long, we are together again”, another voice tells me. It’s mom.
I hear her sobs, and all of a sudden I break down on the floor, and I gasp, and the pain is in my throat, my ears, my head, so strong I cannot get even get myself to cry.
Finally the tears come, and when somebody picks me up I can no longer see, or hear, or speak, but I am relieved to let the world outside dissolve.
Nothing really matters anymore.