It took a while for Sandra to locate the exact gravestone she was looking for. This was because an older middle-aged woman was standing right in front of it. The woman appeared dressed fully in black, also holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand. With the way she was standing in front of this gravestone, she appeared to be someone who must have been very close to Conor when he was still alive.
After saying a small prayer and dropping the flowers, the woman was about to leave, but Sandy realized then that this might be starting point as to what she was looking for. Sandy needed to know who she was.
“Good morning,” Sandy greeted, walking up to her.
“Oh, good morning, dear, how may I help you?” She asked.
“I noticed you standing in front of that gravestone.” She pointed.
“Oh, that one. That’s my Conor right there. I came to see him this weekend like I always do.”
“You’ve been coming here to visit him? Every weekend since…”
She nodded, “yes… Sadly he was called home too early.”
“I’m sorry… who are you to him? You seem like you were pretty close…”
“Yes… I’m Hilda, his mother. His only family. Conor was my only family too, my only son.”
“Oh… I’m sorry, it must have hurt so much…”
“It did my dear. It hurt… more than you could ever imagine. I wished for me to be the one who went instead, but my Conor would not hear of it. He gave his life to save me, so that I would be released…”
“Released…? From what? What are you talking about?”
“Oh no…” Hilda realized then that she’d said too much. “I’m sorry…” she began to turn to leave, “I have to go now… It was nice meeting you dear, um… what’s your name?”
“Sandy… but wait… please… I’m not done. You were saying something about you getting released because of Conor, about your life getting saved. Please… tell me more about it before you go…”
“I’m sorry dear… please forget whatever I said… it was a mistake.”
“No, no please…”
Sandra tried making her stay, but Hilda stubbornly refused to utter anymore words. It was like she was being watched, and the moment she said any more truths, she might have had a bullet shot right at her.
“Leave me alone!” Hilda brushed her off before running away, out of the cemetery and to the surrounding town.
There goes Sandy’s chance of ever moving forward. What was she going to do now?
Maybe she should just let this go… Conor was dead after all, what use would it be, coming out to dig out any evidence of his innocence after his time? It would be useless of course, and would serve no purpose in bringing Conor back from the dead.
But then her heart… her spirit… her love for Conor wouldn’t let her give up, not now.
She heard his words from the dream she had last night,
*Avenge me, Sandy…*
Do not give up, she told herself. If Sandy isn’t mistaken, that woman she just met is Conor’s mum. She must have felt the same pain she felt when Conor died. She might have even felt it more, so there was a chance to still talk to her, as Sandy knew just the right words that would get her to vomit any testification she was withholding from her.
**********
Finding Hilda’s house was not easy, it took a few hours for her to locate the place, but then she did it. Conor had never taken her to his home before, and she’s not even sure he might have lived here when he was still alive.
She climbed on the patio before knocking the door, waiting for a few minutes before Hilda opened. She met her with a scowl upon seeing who her visitor was.
“What are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave me alone… I don’t know anything, please… stop trying to do whatever it is you’re doing!!! You won’t get anything from me.”
“Hilda… please… I know you’re scared, but I promise… you can trust me… I swear on my life that I won’t tell anyone what you told me.”
“This isn’t about trust… Conor begged me to stay alive for him! If I die now, then it will mean that my Conor’s death was all a waste. I have to live long for him… I promised him that!”
“And you will… I promise that I will do all I can to protect you after this. No harm will come your way… I can assure you that.”
Hilda felt like crying at that point. Why was this girl so persistent?
“No… I don’t believe you… please… leave me alone. I do not know anything!”
“Yes, you do, Hilda… I know you’re scared, but I swear that you can trust me.”
“No… I don’t… leave me alone!” Hilda was about to slam the door shut, but thankfully, Sandy thought fast, placing her leg in the way and blocking the path where the door was supposed to close.
Hilda stared at her with wide open eyes. “This girl… who are you? What do you want from me?”
“I want the truth, Hilda, and I won’t leave here until I get it from you.”
“You can try… you can try all you want but I swear… you’ll never get anything from me… not like this.”
“You want to know who I am?? I’ll tell you… I am princess Sandy of the night shadow pack.”
“Oh dear… your majesty… you’re… you’re the alpha’s sister!” Hilda shrieked.
“I am not just the alpha’s sister, but I am Conor’s lover as well. We had an affair before he died. I loved him just as much as you did, and seeing him in that state, on the execution ground, broke my heart into a million pieces I know I’ll never recover from. Ever since that day, I have cried for many nights… I have shut myself out from the rest of the world, because I do not want anything that will make me forget the short memories I had with Conor.”
I loved your son so much, Hilda. And last night, I had a dream about him. He told me to avenge him, I might not know much, but I know that he was innocent of the crimes he was accused of. And if you love him just as much as you claim, if his death pained you as much as it did me, then you wouldn’t mind giving up any piece of evidence or truth you have just to vindicate his name and bring his killers to justice. I know I would have done the same thing if I knew, even if it cost me my life.”