Five years later

"Our main story tonight: The County Prison has denounced that Kamal Hadley has been murdered by his cellmate. The cellmate who has yet to have been named is said to have beat him to death. The former deputy prime minister was in jail for the act of murdering innocent people, ofwhom he thought were members of the Liberation MilitiaI didn tswitch the TV off, but I stopped paying attention. I found myself drowned in my thoughts even though I wasn t really sure what it was that I was thinking. I didn t feel much. Animage ofhim appeared on screen as the news reporter continued to speak about his death.His death. My father was dead. I found myself day-dreaming back to when I was little and wanted nothing more for my Daddy to come home and stay home, back when I was him little Princess . Back when I was naive enough to think he actually cared about me, Minerva and Mum. Back before I grew up and saw him for the idiot he really is. If he had died back then, back when he was my Daddy and I was his Princess then I would ve been devastated. I would ve probably shrieked and screeched and denied it. I would vehowled for days and I would ve missed him with all my heart.The truth was that he wasn t my Daddy anymore and a long time had passed since I was his Princess. So much had happened since then and I detested him now. I hated him when he was alive and nothing about that changed because he was now dead. I couldn t be one of these people who go on about how great someone was because they re now dead. I couldn t see the good in him anymore. I wasn t sure there ever was any. I felt like I was being truly heartless for notcaring, but I couldn t force myself to feel something that wasn t true. I couldn t fake feeling something that I really didn t. If anything I was regretful. I regretted that my father wasn t the man I thought he was when I was young and stupid. I regretted that Callie Rose would never be able to get to know her father who died five years ago. He too was killed through jail. I was also regretful that she d never know Ryan. I

recognised that he never really liked me, but I m sure he and Callumwould ve grown to love Callie Rose. I questioned myself about the man who killed my father. Who was he? What had been his reasons? Was it a mad un-thought through action, or was it something he had been planning? He was a Cross so he wouldn tswing for it - another unfair thing about society. I didn t agree with hanging full stop. I found myself extremely inquisitive about him. The majority of Noughts in this country wanted Kamal Hadley dead. At least all of the Liberation Militia would vegladlymurdered him without a doubt. No one would ve thought that his death would happen at the hands of a Cross. I found myself feeling calm and full of relief and I hated that. My father was dead and I was relieved? That couldn t be right. I had to think about my family though, a thing Kamal Hadley never did. His death meant he could never hurt me and Callie again. I was pretty sure Mum wouldn t be too upset about his death either. My sister on the other hand Minvera was in many ways like my father; however, I did believe she had actually feelings. She did care about people; she did care about her family. She cared about all of her family though. She adored our father and his death was going to affect her badly. While most of the country would be celebrating, Minerva would be one of the only ones actually grieving. I actually couldn t think of anyone else who would miss him. It was sad in a way, but it was his ownfault. I wondered if Minvera had the news on and had heard about this. I slowlysauntered upstairs to check on my sister. Minvera and I were the only ones in the house. Mum and Meggie were out shopping - since everything that had happened, Mum and Meggie had started to get their friendship back to how I remembered it when I was young. Good things did come out of life. I was the only one who was here to tell Minerva if she didn t already know. I knocked on the door, something I always did now. If she told me to go away now, I did. With everything that had happened I felt like I had lost my sister. She had many of the same opinions as

Dad. She always believed Ryan was guilty and, how did she put it? "The apple never falls far from the tree". But at the end of the day we were still sisters. I knew we d still always be there for each other when necessary. What? she snapped. Can I come in? I asked. Why not? her voice was dripping with sarcastic, but I opened the door anyway. I couldn t just walk away this time. She needed to know if she didn t already. The second I saw her though, I knew she did know. All around her eyes was red, and there was tears running down her face. It still always scared me when I saw Minerva crying. Despite everything, the fact that I knew she wasn t as big and strong as she used to make out, she was still my big sister, and I still saw her as the strong one. Though I was sure she thought I was the strong one. You ve heard? I asked. What do you care? she snapped again. I wasn t sure if she was really mad at me or just in need of someone to channel her anger at. I wasn t sure what to say, but Minerva continued, before I could think of something. You hated him, you re probably happy he s dead. Aren t you? couldn t lie to her, but I couldn t tell the truth. I wasn t happy, but I wasn t upset either. See, you can t even deny it Minerva said. Our Dad is dead and you re happy. You disgust me! I m not happy Yeah, just like I thought. Minerva said. Just get out Persephone, don t come here pretending you care when it s obvious you couldn t give two hoots MinerGO I I

I did then. I walked back out, being sure to close her door behind me again. I went back into my bedroom and thought about what she had said. I knew she wasn t right, but I still found myself having to think about it. As I thought about it, I knew she was more like our father than I thought.