My Predator System Vol.2

Chapter 6

"I could have killed him."

"That scares me, you actually wanted to kill Sam?" She said and he nodded then shook his head.

"I had a choice." He said to her. "I made a promise to do whatever it took to stop him if he went berserk."

Artemis looked stunned. "Okay but why would you do something like that?"

"It's not exactly easy you know!"

"No need to get defensive. I train with assassins, I completely understand_"

"No, he's a monster now. There's a difference between being evil and being monstrous. That's our friend up there."

"What are we gonna do?" Artemis asked.

Maks was thinking. "I broke my promise. It's up to Sam now. We just have to trust that he can handle it. He did it once before, he can do it again."

"Yeah but it's not that simple." She said. "Plan A, we can let him go and have him work on himself or Plan B, isolate him from his family and lock him up."

Maks thought about Harley's dad, he was possessed and locked up, lost all the opportunity to connect with her. Because he made a mistake. But this wasn't Sam's fault, he was bitten by accident.

"This is on me but...we have to let him make a choice. He has to understand that this is about control."

"Ok, I'm not gonna go down this rabbit hole. I'll see what we can do." She said arms folded.

Maks exhaled in relief. He approached Harley. "Do you need any_"

"I'm going home."

"Great_"

"To my dad." She said.

He swallowed. It was surprising to see that she had her father on her mind too. "Safe trip?"

She was raw with emotion and he sat back watching her leave.

Harley closed her eyes visualising her home and then opening them to the sleek but simple house.

She knocked on the door and met with the atmosphere of home.

"Dad?" She said.

Eric was in front of a book, he had flashes of the cursed book. He wasn't sure that he could open a book ever again. He took a tablet reading up then he heard a knock. He walked over and looked down at Harley and Blackjack.

"Harley."

Her eyes watered. "Dad?"

He squirmed. "You're supposed to be in college. What happened?"

She looked hurt. "I'm sorry but this is so sudden." He said pinching the bridge of his nose.

Harley had looked everywhere for her father since she was little. She even put up a missing person photo up online. Only to find out he was living amongst the dead right under the roof of her guardian.

"I just needed to see you." She said.

Eric was out of his element but he had recalled the times he wanted to hold her again. After the neglect, his 6 year old was now in her 20s

He hugged her as tightly as possible. She already had a boyfriend Maks, who technically saved her and a guardian she now considered a father figure. It was a mess.

He didn't know his place anymore.

"Oh, it's your... creature." He said looking at the black labrador but he knew quite well that Harley always kept quirky animals. She had a monster in their home.

Blackjack went over for a pat.

"Um so what brings you here. Where's Maks?"

"Too busy not wanting me around."

Eric froze. "That's great! I mean, it's not like you need him either."

Harley glared at him.

"I'm so sorry." He covered his lip.

She sobbed. "This is about you isn't it? It's always about you and not me!"

"You don't care about me."

"Of course I do, there were certain missteps that I may have taken. And it was beyond my control. I could have done better. Please sit down."

"Mom blamed me for your mistakes. You're not even around for my recitals."

He sighed. "I know and I'm not the best father. But we can make it work, right?"

He kneaded her hand.

She nodded. "I would very much like that."

He chuckled. "I made dinner."

Harley felt right at home and ate the lasagna.

"I ordered. The one I made..."

She glanced at the tray with burnt food and the sink was a heaving mess.

"You're not gonna make me wash that are you?" She pointed.

"No, well you're a grown woman now." He said hating to be a pushover.

"It's just going to take me some time to adjust." He said washing the dishes.

Harley heard the sour note in his voice. He sighed scrubbing. She wanted to punish him for everything that had happened but she also wanted more time with him.

She dropped a bowl of lasagna pieces and Blackjack dug in.

"You seem to...have a lot of respect for Ares."

"Well... he's not exactly an ideal type."

"What's ideal?" She frowned.

"That depends."

"So you hate him."

"It's complicated." He retorted.

"What is ideal?" She asked.

"My ideal type is a father who's always there for you, no matter what. I wasn't that father, I failed you."

Harley softened.

Eric raked his hair.

"You've got bay leaf in your hair."

"Oh shit." He grumbled leaving.

She stood up and washed her dish.

"Don't mind me, just washing my dish alone."

He joined her and took the sponge.

She set it down and then his expression went back to being tired. He looked surprised when she rinsed the other.

She brushed the counter and found the crusty tray. And dumped it in soapy water.

"Oh look Blackjack wiped his bowl clean."

Eric took it and Blackjack growled when he attempted to dump it in the sink.

"Oh okay. I'm starting to think he's a little spoiled."

Harley frowned at him. "Don't listen to him Jack. You're high maintenance."

"So, what's bugging you, besides me."

Harley leaned on the rail, she recalled the fights. She didn't want to bug him with her problems or for him to know that she was struggling.

"Nothing much, I just needed to check up on you."

Eric sucked on his molar. "You already know I won't last a day without you helping out but the world's changed I guess."

"I don't think you missed out much."

"Are you sure? Because all I see now is...not my six year old anymore. And your mom ran away."

Harley softened. "I can't say I blame her."

He kissed her temple. "I hope you're going back tomorrow. You don't want to miss your classes."

She hung her bag pack and walked through campus. A few guys skated and people tossed footballs.

There were outdoor classes.

She flicked her hair and ignored the cat-calls.

"Hey Harley, wanna go partying this weekend?" The football guys asked.

"Wouldn't miss it." She said.