Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 26

Sin of Lust by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER XXVI

OCTOBER

“What? No!” she exclaimed, and pull another poster, “this is the killer!” look at him, she pushed the poster on his face, letting it stick on his oily face.

Julius took the paper from his face and scan the figure to which he saw a huge figure wearing a dark cloaked and his face is face is being covered by it and on its shoulder, he saw a huge cross slump on it.

“Wait?” Julius squinted his eye, “what? why are there two images of a single murderer?” he asked.

And then he scans the whole poster and he saw below the image there’s something written on it thus he read it out loud, “Wanted: Blanche, their bounty are 120,000 coins. Dead or alive. This is confusing, why do they have two different posters of the same murderer?”

It took a few seconds before both of their jaws drop, “120 million coins?!”

“That’s more than enough for us!” Myoral said, her eyes almost glistening as she looks at the bounty that’s on head of Blanche, “if we have this bounty then we can have the same lifestyle before!” she squealed.

“Wow, I thought you weren’t into surrendering her?” Julius deadpanned at her wife’s reaction. “Wait, look!” Julius put both of the posters up and pointed out, “they have the same bounty and same name- Blanche. And they came in the same town. But they don’t have any resemblance at all. So, who’s the impostor and who’s the real one?”

He sighed, “this is a lot more confusing than it should be.”

“You’re right,” Myoral’s bright façade turns serious and took the poster with the image of the girl and scans it. “Who is the real killer? if this isn’t resolve quickly a lot of trouble will arise.”

“Come on, don’t think about it too hard, why don’t we just tell them that we have the killer in our house and get the payment and then settle everything,” he suggested. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know” the wife replied with hesitation. “What if she’s just mistaken?”

“So, you’re planning to hide her?” he asked, “do you know what’s going to happen to us if they found us we’re harboring a fugitive?”

“I know… but, look at her, she’s too young to be a killer. She can’t do that.” She defended her. “That’s not a face of a killer, I know it.”

“Then how can you explain this poster of that kid?” Julius folded his arms. “And what would you do if she really is the killer?”

“I…” Myoral wasn’t able to answer his latter question because she can’t even see that kid have the guts to hurt someone.

“Come on, Julius. I know you know better than that.” She said, rubbing his arms up and down, trying to calm his thoughts down, “turning bad people into good is as easy as turning good people into bad by media. You know it yourself, you went through it.”

Julius sighed, “Yes you’re right. Maybe I… yes, I just get dazzled by money. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, let’s just wait until we knew who’s the real suspect.” She smiled at him cupping his cheeks with her hand.

“But…” Julius took the hand on his face and caresses it, “what if we’re harboring the real suspect at this point? And someone saw us? what shall we do?”

“I… I don’t know too. We… shouldn’t decide, the poster is at mess so we shouldn’t point fingers on who’s the real suspect.” Myoral proposed.

It’s been while since Blanche decided to be part of the Blanco Family, and because of that she can’t think of anything that can make them feel her gratitude towards them, thus she did what she can do when it comes to laundry and even sort things in the farm.

She even helps them repair their house every time they got money for the materials. And giving the children their baths, she didn’t feel uncomfortable doing so, because she’s used to handling kids.

But from the first day she stumbles upon this household, she never drew the cross of Luxuria nor let the necklace out of her neck, even when she’s sleeping or taking a bath. She did what she can do to avoid being suspected as she repay their kindness to her.

However, from that moment on, she noticed something that clearly makes her question her sanity. She knew she just an average weed since she’s just a kid, but she can’t fathom the reason why she can do things a lot easier, she can do things she never done before.

She can lift two kids at once, which she never done before, this makes her thinks if the voice in her head made her like this. She can carry a bunch of corn stalks in one go, though they didn’t question her about those things, she’s sure that they noticed it yet chose not to speak about it.

And the worst thing she remember, is that when she’s getting the kite she made for them at the roof top, and unfortunately she slip from the tile and ended up falling from almost 15 feet high roof straight to the ground, yet she didn’t even got a scratch.

And this made her think that there’s really something going on in her, since she’s not like that before. As if she’s in another level.

“Blanche…” Myoral called her across the cornfield they’re currently working on.

The girl peeks her head from the towering corn stems, “Yes? What is it?” she asked.

“Come here, I just want to talk to you about something.” She replied.

Blanche didn’t hesitate to leave what she’s doing and went towards her while dusting her dress that was a hand down to her by Myoral. Though, it’s a little worn down, it’s better than being naked.

“Blanche, you know the truth, right?” She asked.

“Truth about what?” Blanche returned the query.

“On why we chose not to let you go on the city and decided to keep you here.” Myoral stated.

“Yes, I know that.” Blanche replied, “and I really appreciate that. But what makes me curious is… why? Why don’t you just give me to them and all will be alright.”

Myoral sat on blanket laid on the field under the shade of the corn plants and patted the vacant space beside her, signaling Blanche to seat to which Blanche accepted the offer.

“My husband wanted to turn you in, for real.” She said not looking in her eyes.

But Blanche wasn’t shock from the news, since she already expected it from the start. And the moment she decided to live under the same roof with them she knew all the consequences she will face in the future.

“But I decided not to hand you in.” She smiled at her, and this what shocks her.

“What… why? With the bounty on my head you will never have to bath in the sun and tend your farm, you can have your workers and you can buy a new house.” She asked, so much confusion raise to her.

“Because I don’t want to believe that it was really you… no, I don’t believe,” she said with a smile, “Because we’re just like you.”

Blanche listen to her.

“We’re not like this before, the house we have is not the ones we have before,” she gazed to the clear skies, “however, it escalated quickly when my husband’s brother was suspected of murder.”

“They don’t hold an investigation and proceeded to execution right after they got him. No one was able to tell that he’s not the killer because his face is all over the city and no one surface as witness.” She said.

“But why was he suspected?” Blanche asked.

“My husband’s brother- Stephen, is one of the higher ups in the defense system of this town and somehow he stumbled upon the dark secrets of one of the wealthy family in this city, and then the higher ups supported him for the investigation.” She told her with pride oozing in her tone of how mighty and excellent her brother-in-law.

But her expression turns grim, “But when Stephen is in the verge of getting them in act, he discovered that the daughter of the higher up is found dead under his presence. And just like that, they get him.”

“What the hell? That’s twisted. He was framed, wasn’t he?”

“I know right.” She replied, “and you know what’s more blood curling? When a witness stood up a day after the death of Stephen. One of the maids on the estate rise and confess what has happened. According to her, the head of estate himself, her own father killed her to make an impeccable foul play that will surely result for Stephen’s instant death.”

“So, you mean, just for his wealth he can kill his own family.”

“Yes, and a week after Stephen’s burial, our house was burned to none and all we have is this cornfield.”

“What?! why did they do that?!” Blanche screeched.

“Because they are afraid that we will take revenge for Stephen’s death.” She whispered, “though we do really want justice, we can’t just take it by violence, because it will only result for more violence.”

Blanche could not speak, for she can’t believe that even with the media they have at this era is tainted that they can’t trust the news. They can be paid to alter the truth in an instant.

“It’s not just Stephen who’s the victim of that, fake news,” she sighed, “there were so many before him. I wanted him to be the last victim of false information, but… I know it’s not possible.”

Blanche bit the inside of her cheek, as she remembers that her life right now is also because of false information. “What would you do if I told you I’m the-!” she was cut off with a voice from a distant.

“Hey! Blanche!” two kids are waving from a wagon.

Blanche and Myoral wave back to them, “It’s them, it looks like their happy.”