Hauntings part VII (final)- The Angel

Why was it so hard to begin? Why couldn't I say it. I 爱情 you 或者 I miss you. Three simple words. 或者 all six. A toddler could accomplish such a feat, yet, standing before my parents' headstones beneath the full moon, I couldn't get out a single word. I was 《冰雪奇缘》 in place. My hands in my pockets, my 兜帽, 罩, 发动机罩 pulled low, my eyes averted to the numbers and letters inscribed on the marble tombstones.
Roxanne Weston-Conners, Beloved Mother, Wife, Friend, and Comrade. "The Angel" 1973-2006
Riley Conner, Beloved Father, Husband, Friend, and Colleague. 1970-2006
Aryess Conners, Loving Daughter and Sister. 1998-2006.
Daemian Conners, Dear Brother and Son. 1991-2006

The 秒 two didn't mean a thing to me. They were insignificant. Empty. Simple proof that even two children could fake their deaths. For their protection.
From what, though? The people that took my brother? 或者 was is some other sick bastard?
Watch each other. Don't trust anybody. Both promises were broken. I hadn't watched my brother as he had been taken. I wasn't there to stop it. I wasn't even sure who it was.
And the second? Don't trust anybody. I trusted my mentor, Nic. My partner, Alek. Jasper, Immunity. Most of the team. It was incredibly naive.
How much longer would his grave remain meaningless? We had changed our last name and locations. We had hidden in plain sight, yet it had taken a whole 6 years for death to catch up with us. But now, there was only one of the two left.
The word Maddex had 说 spoken played out in my head. I failed.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. Two words.
I didn't even flinch as a twig behind me snapped. I didn't know it was him, though I preferred my partner over one of the half-sane night crawlers.
"Ary, 你 have nothing to be sorry about. None of this is-"
"Please," I begged. "Don't say it."
He stood beside me, respectfully silent.
I wasn't sure what else to say. An apology was all that came to mind.
"The Angel?" he asked. I reread the inscription.
"That's what they called her," I said. "She earned that name in Iraq. After she saved a group of anthropologists from a hostage situation. Ten days underground and the first person they saw was a rugged soldier. One who had at some point rebelliously exchanged her 头盔 for a camouflaged bandana. The wind whipped through her hair, the light spilled into the room from the exit to their freedom, seemingly shining on the... The angel."
A tear rolled down my cheek as I recited the tale I had begged to be repeated for every 床, 床上 time story.
"The youngest of the anthropologists fell for the soldier, his messiah. He gave her an 天使 of his own, the token of his love." I fingered the 天使 pendant the rested on the silver chain that hung around my throat.
"They got married when they got back to the U.S. Had two kids. Dr. Conners, a world known scientist, and his wife, the decorated soldier, raised their children together. Their family." My voice broke as I finished the story. "And they all lived happily ever after."
Alek slipped his arm over my shoulder, fighting the cold that seeped in through my thin hoodie.
"I should have been there," my voice was a whimper, "I should have saved Dae. He would be here, safe. " I choked on my words, a sob replacing the words of regret.
"Aryess," Alek turned me toward him. "I'll help 你 find Daemian. Nic, Jazz, Immunity, we all will. And I'm sure that team of yours will lend a helping hand. Okay?"
I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut as another tear escaped. I found myself wrapped in the shelter of my partner's arms. As the sun rose and bathed the world in light, I remembered that I haven't 迷失 all my family. I still have my "brothers" and "sisters". I still have a family.