Chapter 225 - Will you trust me?

The picture that Katherine saw of Amelia Silva didn't do justice — Amelia was so much better in person. The woman looked like she was still in her late twenties or early thirties. She could easily pass as Damien's big sister instead of being a mother.

"I can see why my son is so enamored by you. You are very beautiful, Katherine," Amelia started. "And very smart too."

"Um… Thanks?" Katherine started feeling slightly uncomfortable. All because she mentioned his son. Subconsciously, she tugged the onyx ring on the necklace on her chest and waited for Amelia to continue. Katherine didn't know how to talk to her so she could only wait.

"You're mad at him, aren't you? He's a good person, Katherine. Despite his family, he is a good person. And I think you believe that too. So… why—"

"How do you know? How could you say that when you weren't even there in his entire life? So how can you tell me that he is a good man?" Katherine asked, truly curious about her answer.

Amelia lowered her gaze and took a deep breath before answering, "Because I was there that night when your parents were killed. I saw you and Damien." 

"What do you mean you were there? That night it was…" Katherine gasped as the sudden realization came in. The other person who came to her room that night, could it be her?

She stared at Amelia for a long time as though she was trying to envision that night again and she started to breathe heavily, her eyes watering as quick flashes of images from that night appeared in her mind. 

Katherine had nightmares about the gunshots that evening. She had trouble sleeping and would end up not wanting to fall asleep for days because of the trauma.

Although most of her memories come in fragments now, she could remember what happened when Damien came to her bedroom that night.

"Do you still remember what happened?" Amelia's voice was calm and gentle. She had a way with her words, in which the listener would almost instantly be charmed by her.

Katherine breathed deeply and closed her eyes, nodding her head. She refused to look at Amelia because she was afraid of the emotions that were coursing through her body whenever she sees her.

While Katherine was trying to calm herself down, her mind slowly drifted to that tragic night.

***

What seemed like a quiet and normal night in Mason Young's house suddenly became a war zone. Katherine who was twelve years old at that time stayed in her bedroom with her earphones on while she was busy writing her homework.

The electricity went out and she scanned her room, waiting for the generator to work. The loud music was still playing in her earphones, masking the gunshots from outside her bedroom. A few seconds passed when the electricity was still out and Katherine was about to complain, she pulled down her headphones and it fell around her neck, jumping in fright when she heard the chaos outside her room.

Katherine's heart raced so fast because despite only having heard of gunshots only on TV, she was well aware that what she was hearing was real and it was coming from outside her bedroom. She scrambled out of the bed and started to tremble. She was scared and confused about what was going on. At the foot of the bed, she lowered herself and hid, covering her ears as the noise was too loud.

She had wanted to go out and find her parents but just as she had the courage to walk towards the door, it flew open and slammed the wall. Katherine was so frightened that she wanted to scream but no sound came out from her throat.

The person who came in immediately caught sight of her and he raised the flashlight in his hand, blinding Katherine and making her step back. By instinct, the person raised his gun and pointed at her.

Having seen death before her eyes, Katherine cried and begged, "Please, don't hurt me."

She was so scared and tears didn't stop streaming down her eyes. Through her misty eyes, she could see the other staring back at her as if he was contemplating what to do.

"Please…" she begged again.

Just then, the other person lowered his gun and slowly stalked towards her. And for the first time, he spoke, "I… I won't hurt you." 

The sound of gunshots still continued in the background but his gentle yet slightly anxious voice registered into Katherine's mind. He sounded like a young man that was still in his teens who was going through puberty just like Matthew the last time she saw him a couple of weeks before that night.

She was so terrified that every time the young man slowly took a step towards her, she would take a step back.

"I want to go to my dad and mom," she said with a shaky voice.

The young man froze for a second before he continued to move towards Katherine. "I'll get you out of here. Do you think you can climb down the window?"

Hearing his calm voice, Katherine nodded. She did not know who he was but he seemed to be helping her. She was still so worried but when the young man stood in front of her, she had nowhere else to run. 

He was a tall young man, so he bent down to her level and amidst the chaotic scene behind him, he gave her a small smile and told her, "You're going to be okay. Will you trust me?"

He didn't seem too scary now that his face was illuminated by the moonlight from her tall window. For some odd reason, she wanted to trust him.

Just as Katherine nodded her head, the sound of a cocking gun by the door caused them to jump. The young man turned around and in an instant, he already had his gun pointed at the person by the door. Katherine clutched at the young man's shirt as she hid behind him.

"Drop your gun," said the female who was standing by the door, her gun pointing at the young man.

The young man made sure to cover Katherine with his body, shielding her from the possibility of getting shot at.

Katherine didn't know what happened but it suddenly became quiet. The sound of gunshots stopped and the next thing that she heard and saw was even more confusing.

Katherine took a peek around the young man and looked at the person at the door — it was a woman in black clothes with long hair and a slim body. The woman had frozen on the spot as he stared at them and her hand that was holding the gun trembled before she lowered it.

Raising a hand to her face, the woman spoke in a clear tone while her eyes were still fixed on the young man in front of Katherine, "West Wing clear. There's no one here."