XIV

It sent a shiver down my spine. I turned around immediately but no was there. “Over here” The person called some feet away from me. It was a guy clearly but I couldn’t make out his face. He wore a black suit and his hair was sleeked back which I can assume means he has a very formal job. “Who are you?” I asked, “and how do you know me?” “Where are my manners? My name is Flint”, he answered, “don’t ask for a last name”. I smiled, “nice to meet you, Flint”, I said, “now, how do you know me?” “I knew your parents and it was my duty to find you”. “Your duty? A duty made by who?” “A prophecy. The point is you are someone of many people’s interest”. “If by interest, you mean being murdered then that’s correct”. “Yet the worry to you are answers about your parents”. I paused to look at his figure. He was extremely right. The bruises and everything doesn’t matter as much as finding out who my parents are. “So you’re gonna give me answers, right?” I asked. “I don’t need to”, he said, “you have the answers in you. You just have to think back”. “How can I possibly think back when I have no memories of them? They died when I was born”. I almost rolled my eyes at his crazy suggestion. “Your parents died when you were seven”, he countered, “but your memories with them was locked up in the cast”. I was shocked and slightly angry. How could they do that to me? Why would they want me to forget them? “You have to understand that your life was at risk”, Flint replied, “they had to push you away to protect you”. “From what? What was so dangerous that they had to abandon me?” I scoffed before crossing my arms. I shifted my feet closer to the water. I don’t understand how the water has such powers over me but it made the anger vanish. The warmth feeling was still present. “They had to fight to keep you safe but they died doing that”. Flint calmly said. My heart broke. I was getting angry at them for no good reason. They loved me even to death. “How do I find these memories?” I asked. “Take a deep breath, concentrate on the water, close your eyes and picture your parents”. He ordered. I took a deep breath like he said, fixed my eyes on the calm water and said, “If you try to kill me when I close my eyes, I swear to everything I know that this day will be your last”. This isn’t you! When did you start giving death threats? I thought. I closed my eyes slowly making sure that the last thing saw was the water. I have never seen a photo of them but I imagined a dark brown haired lady with hazel eyes and a brown haired man with blue eyes. The fog in my mind started clearing up. “What do you see?” The voice sounded so distant even though I knew he was by my side. “I see myself in a crib”, I said as the images played out, “my Mom just put me in it. My Dad rushed in telling her he has to go…” “You can’t leave now, Caleb”, Mom pressured, “we just had our first baby. Our child”. “I understand you perfectly, my love but I have a duty to them”. He held her hands. The soft look in his blue eyes made Mom nod. He hugged her and gave her a kiss on her head before running out of the room. “Don’t mind your father my dear”, she whispered to me, “I have a plan to deal with him later”. She laughed before going out of the room. The scene changed. My Mom was holding a cotton candy. “Let’s go on the Ferris wheel next, sweetie”. She said giving me the cotton candy. “Mommy, where’s daddy?” five year old me asked, “he said we’ll play in the Merry-go-round together. “I’m sorry, sweetie”, Mom said crouching down, “daddy will play with you another time. He has work to do”. “Today’s my birthday”, the little me had tears in her eyes, “he promised!”. Mom pulled me into a hug as I sobbed quietly there. I opened my eyes. “I thought you said the memories where supposed to give me answers”, I sniffed, “all it’s done is remind me that my Dad never had time for me”. “Is that all you have in your memory?” Flint asked ignoring my complaint, “go back in”. I wanted to argue but so far, he's the only one that has given me real information about my parents. I closed my eyes again… “You made our little girl cry today!” Mom was shouting but she was careful not to wake me up even though I wasn’t sleeping. “I'm sorry, Cam but I couldn’t make it”. Dad whispers. “What do you mean you couldn’t make it?” Mom sounded angrier. “Look” he said. Mom went quiet for a while then she spoke up, “I thought you said you could stay at least ten hours a day now”. Her voice was soft. “I thought so too”, he answered, “but I can only be here for three hours. According to the Shamit, I’ve used up all my legs just to be with you”. Mom sniffed back the tears and said, “I’m so sorry”. “It’s not your fault. I chose because I love you and our daughter”, he said, “I need to see her before I leave”. I rushed into bed to pretend that I was sleeping. “My little angel is already asleep”. He smiled as he sat at the edge of my bed. He sighed, “I’m sorry for not being there today”, he started, “I promised and I failed. You have every right to be mad at me but you should know that I love you and I’ll always care about you”. I did a little pretend snore. “I promise to protect you and your mother. No matter what”, he kissed my forehead, “I’ll be back for you”. The scene changed. Seven year old me was screaming for help and choking. “Mom!” I screamed louder. The house was burning down. I coughed hard trying to find an exit. I leaned on the wall for support as the smoke was overpowering my consciousness. “Wiberly!” I heard Dad yell. “Daddy!” I called out. I couldn’t see him since everything was on fire. I could hear the clash of sharp metal outside. It sounded like war. “Daddy!” I shouted louder. The smoke was overpowering. “I'm coming! Stay there!” He replied. I was pulled into someone’s arm. It was a woman but not my Mom. The smoke made it hard to see her face. “Daddy” I said before entering into his arms. “Heather, you need to take her away from here”, he ordered, “make sure she doesn’t remember any of this. Don’t ever give her the answers she needs until we get back. Camilia went to hide the cast. She’s at the back”. Parts of the roof broke in. Dad help my arms, “listen to me honey. Heather is going to take you away from these bad men”, he touched my face, “we’ll come for you. We love you, sweetie”. With that, Heather dragged me out and the last thing I see is people raising swords to stab him and Mom. “DAD‼” I yelled as the tears burst out of my eyes, “MOM‼” I jerked out of the memories. “They killed them”. I sobbed burying my head in Flint's chest.