Confessions

Chapter 6

No one replied. They had no idea what was going to happen if they all confessed or if they didn't. What if they didn't confess? How would they be "saved"? Or what will they be "saved" from? They feared the unknown, and yet they fear death. It was a nerve wrecking balance.

"So we have to do this the hard way, huh?" said Colin. "Alright, so we got The Thief and The Arsonist down. Who's left?" Peter grabbed the card.

"The Cheater, The Bodily Injurer, The Murderer, The Swindler, The Kidnapper, and The Epitome."

"What does The Epitome even mean?" asked Marcus.

"Maybe it's the one causing all of this," said Niki.

"Well then what sin did he commit? Wouldn't he have to confess to something? And even if he did, how would he be saved?"

"This has gotta be some sick game to lure us "criminals" into," said Lebron. "I mean, what's the point of all of this? I just stole a motorcycle. I'm not saying stealing is bad or anything, but I mean, why is this a big deal?"

"There's gotta be more behind this," said Colin, leaning against a wall.

"I mean, how come only one of us was killed and only one of us went missing?" Colin stood up.

"Speaking of Vince, how do we know he's not the one pulling all of the strings? I mean, he's been gone this whole time and no one seems to know where he went. How do we know it isn't him?" said Lebron.

"Motive," said Colin.

"What?"

"Have any of us ever seen and/or met Vince anytime in their life before now? I know I haven't."

Everyone was looking around the room and shaking their heads no.

"So why would he want to do anything to us?"

"Because we all committed crimes?"

"So what you're saying is that Vince saw the future and knew that every one of us were gonna commit crimes? That doesn't make sense."

"What if he killed James and then ran away?"

"Again, why would he do that? I don't think any of us know each other up until now, right?" Peter did his best to keep a straight face, since he knew Alex's family. A chuckle slipped out of his mouth.

"What's so funny?" asked Colin. He wiped his smirk off his face and quickly made up an excuse.

"Well, I know Marcus here," he said pointing at him.

"And I know my driver, of course." Not a bad answer. Colin walked up to Niki.

"I assume neither you or James ever met Vince"

"N…no… If James had ever met him, I'd know about it." Colin continued to stare at her.

"W…what?"

"You know, there were only 3 people, other than James, that stayed behind at the motel. Vince, Alex, and You," Colin said.

"James was alive before we left towards the fire. So that means, that he was killed while we were gone." Niki was shaking even more than before.

"I just explained why Vince couldn't have killed him, and Alex was already proven to be the Arsonist. So that leaves…" Colin pointed at Niki

"You."

"Wh-what are you saying?" said Niki.

"I'm saying you're the only one who could've killed James."

"What? Her? There's no way she would do it," said Peter.

"It's quite the opposite actually. She's only one that WOULD do it."

"But what about motive?"
"She's the only one that knows James, for one. And the only reason that she would kill him that's relevant to our situation…" Colin looked at Peter.

"…was if James was the Bodily Injurer." Colin looked back at Niki.

"I noticed you had a scratch on your face. Care to tell how you got it?"

"I…I told you… I was attacked!"

"Don't bullshit me. I saw that before you even entered the building. Where did you get it?"

"I-I… I um…"

"Quit stuttering. The gig's up."

"H….He…. Heh, you are quite the detective Colin." Niki stood up and grinned.

"My name is Niki Canton and I am The Murderer." Silence filled the room like oxygen.

"Oh, don't act surprised. It's always the pretty quiet girl who did it anyway, isn't it?" Niki looked at James.

"So about motive."

888

I always knew that I had a side of me that was capable of terrible things. The best defense I had for it was a very high boiling point. People always made fun of me no matter where I went.

"Look at that bitch. I wonder what kind of mold she put on her face this time"

I had held it in for so long, but I never wanted to open up. I was scared of myself and what I would do.

But then I met James. The first person to ever call me beautiful. The only person to call me beautiful. We were so happy when we were young. He was the greatest boyfriend that I'd ever have. When he showed me that ring, I didn't have a single doubt that he was meant for me. Up until a few months later.

I didn't mean to make him upset. I was just worried for him. But he didn't realize it.

"I can't pay our rent right now! Just give me a few more... I know I've already asked, but-"

I wanted to comfort him. I just wanted him to know that everything will be alright as long as we're together. So, I held his arm and...

"James..."

I felt the strike instantly and went down. It was the first of many to come. But the first time was an accident. He was horrified at what he had done and apologized to me all through the rest of the day. But then, he made it a habit.

And for the first time, my other side spoke to me.

"Eliminate him..."

I didn't want to at first, he was the first guy that truly cared for me. But the more days that went by, the less he seemed to care and the more hits I took, the louder the other side of me was. Finally, I decided enough was enough.

"Do we still have that timeshare?" I asked pretending to be the good me. When we got to the motel, I thought I would have a hard time trying to find time to kill him. But then...

"There's a car on fire! Out in the woods! I think there's people inside! Come on! We gotta help them!"

"I'll go with you!"

"I'll go to!" I couldn't let this opportunity escape me.

"No! You can't leave me here! What if someone comes here and hurts me?"

"Okay I'll stay."

It was perfect. We stayed in our room. James was watching the door, as if someone were to charge in.

"We should be safe here," he said. Without suspecting a thing, I grabbed him from behind and pulled him to the ground. The other me gave me the strength to overcome his abuse. Even when he was struggling, grabbing my hands to pull them off his throat, the other me stayed and glued my hand to him. After a while, he gave in. I had won.

888

"So no one attacked you then?" asked Colin.

"No. I thought I could get away with a mystery person setting a car on fire, slashing our tires and attacking an innocent couple."

Everyone glared at her. She seemed completely happy with what she had done with no regret whatsoever.

"You killed the one person that cared for you? How do live knowing what you've done?" asked Lebron. Niki walked up to the group.

"As if you're any more innocent. Or anyone for this matter! I did what I had to and I have no shame with my accomplishment."

Peter smiled. He liked the way that she talked.

"Alright, I'm done. Who else needs to go?" she said. No one said a word.

"Come on guys. After hearing that crazy bitch talk, nothing would surprise me," said Lebron.

"Do you want to die too, fuckbag?" she said. Lebron didn't say anything.

"Remind me why you slashed our tires and cut the phone lines again?" said Peter to Lebron.

"I told you! I just... wasn't thinking straight. I didn't want any of you guys to call the cops on me."

"So you slash our tires so that we can't escape? That doesn't make sense."

"I don't know, I just couldn't think right. That's all." Peter examined his face. As soon as Lebron looked at Peter, he knew that he was lying. He went one step further to make sure.

"What kind of motorcycle did you steal?" Lebron was hesitant, but he answered.

"A 2010 BMW S1000RR... why are you asking?"

"What color?"

"Why does it matter? Why are you asking-"

"WHAT COLOR WAS IT?!" Peter yelled. Lebron knew that when someone was asking questions in this motel, it meant that someone suspected them of something.

"Red, white, and blue."

"When did you get that bike?"

"...Uh... about a few hours ago before all this crazy shit started to happen."

"And you work at the 40th street auto care, right? With Jose?" Lebron stared silently, frightened slightly.

"Wait, how the fuck do you know that?"

"You stole my motorcycle." There was a silence in the room. They exchanged stares between Lebron and Peter.

"What?" said someone in the room.

"You knew it was me and you thought you could somehow get away, didn't you?" Peter said. Lebron stared, eyes wide, at him.

"Wait, what's going on?" said Alex. Peter looked the Limo Driver in the eye. The limo driver nodded his head. Within seconds, Peter pulled out his 9mm from his back pocket and shot Lebron point blank in the face. Blood splattered all over Niki, and out came a scream. The Limo Driver grabbed Alex and had one arm in a headlock and the other with his gun, pointed at Alex's head. Marcus also pulled his gun out and pointed it at Colin, who was in shock, still looking at Lebron's dead body on the ground.

"Nobody move!" Colin was still staring at the dead body. Niki raised her hands up.

"You guilty sons of bitches. Look at what you've done! You killed a man!"

They were confused and shaking.

"And not only that, but you cut off the phone lines, slashed our tires, burnt a couple alive in their own car, killed ANOTHER man, and you even-" Peter looked at Alex.

"Tortured poor Alex here, by breaking his legs and amputating his arms." He slowly said this part to make sure Alex heard him clearly.

"Or should I call you... Michael."

Eliminate your sins...

Colin heard the voice again.

and you will be forgiven...