“What was that all about?” Amelia asked. Her voice was small like a whisper. Her mind was replaying the event of the day. She had been happy that she wasn’t attached to the family and was free to live the way she liked, but everyone knows now. They were going to treat her differently now. “I have no idea why my parents did that. They had insisted we keep this a secret and yet they were the first to announce it to the world.” He clenched his teeth in anger. “They have always controlled my life. It wouldn’t have been bad for them to give me a head-up” He muttered under his breath, but she heard him clearly.After the announcement, the press went wild taking pictures. They had millions of questions to ask them, but she had been safely ushered out of the hall with the rest of the family. They had gone home while she had returned to the office to discuss things with Mike. She should have gone with them, but she needed to clarify this mistake with him.Mike had been nothing but a fr
Mike was a little boy, but he knew he was strange and different from his peers. His peers had talked about things they loved when they were younger. Toys they had played with. Things they would never forget regardless of how old they clocked. But, it wasn’t like that for Mike. No matter how much he thought about his life before seven, he couldn’t think of anything. It looked like he had started off as a seven-year-old.“Daddy, what show did I like most when I was younger?” He had asked one day, innocently. His peers had discussed on their shows and one they would love to watch again. He wanted to join the conversation, but dare not. Unlike everyone, he had nothing to discuss about.His father had blinked and mentioned a random children's show he remembered. Mike tried to see if he could recollect the show, but he came back blank. Eagerly, he had gone to re-watch the show but there was no familiarity with it.Sitting down now and staring at the picture in his hand, he had a clue
The world moved faster as the car sped on the road. Amelia stared at the scenery from her window; this was the first time she was going on a long-distance journey, away from all she had known, and instead of fear she thought she would feel. She felt at peace and although it wasn’t for fun, she couldn’t help the excitement she felt. This was different from being cooped in her room. It was different from going to work and going back home. She felt free. If it wasn’t going to look strange, she would have loved to place her head out of the window and inhale the fresh air rushing at the car. The air called to her too and she wished she wasn’t sitting in the car but running with her hands spread out.On the other hand, Mike sat quietly beside her. He held the picture in his hand staring at it as if it was about to tell him something. He looked as if he could bewitch the picture and bring the people in it back to life. His hand moved slowly on it tracing the picture. His Uncle sat in
“Anne Devano.”Amelia’s leg failed; it tumbled and she went straight to the floor. The others turned to her while Mike crouched close to her trying to help her stand, but she felt limp in his hand. He pulled his wife up holding her close to his chest. He watched the woman sleeping on the bed. This was Phoenix12 mother. This was the reason he was unable to gather any information about her. She wasn’t dead but alive, but she had ceased to exist in their world twenty years ago. Every data about her must have been erased by her uncle so the killers wouldn’t be able to trace her in any form.Phoenix12 would be so happy to learn about this, but he needed to tend to his wife first.He looked around but there was no seat to drop Amelia. After inhaling a while in his chest, she turned to the woman on the bed and clutched her hand tightly. She wept.Mike shared a look with his uncle who shrugged. Mike wouldn’t be deceived this time; they knew something they were not telling him.Amelia d
Amelia could hardly do anything; she couldn’t eat dinner, or talk with Loveth, and worst, she couldn’t sleep. She turned and tossed on her bed. What were the odds that her mother was friends with the Afonso? And who would have thought that she was going to find out about her mother in that way and manner? It made her thought about how some things that were meant to be, will be. It had been her favorite quote, ‘Que Sera Sera.’ “Awake.” Mike's voice was low beside her. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t thought he was going to be awake. “How do you feel?” She gulped. She wished she could dive into her feelings and tell Mike all about her mother. She wished she could tell him how surprised, happy, sad, and angry she was. Her senses were filled with different emotions, and she couldn’t pinpoint on one she was actually feeling at the moment. It was all surreal. But then, Mike had gone through his own share of surprises these days. He might be able to understand her
Dressing up had never been Amelia's forte; she hadn’t cared how she looked or who was looking at her. But, she found herself staring at the thousands of clothes in her closet without any idea what would be the best to meet an online best friend.Mike had gone out earlier that day, probably to meet his uncle and find out more about those who killed their parents. After the knock last night, they had torn apart from each other. Mike draped a cloth on his lower part and stalked to the door. She could see his erection, but he had hidden behind the door and popped his face alone out. A few seconds later, he came back grumbling about busy body sister-in-law. She knew without doubt that he was talking about Ava. She didn’t press him for more information as they both lay down and left sleep taking off the thoughts in their mind.Now, she was getting ready to meet Vold, and she wished she could introduce Mike to him. After staring at the clothes longer than she wanted to, she picked a f
“I’m sorry.” Amelia’s voice was small. She was sandwiched between Claudia and Betty, while Nancy and Christie sat opposite them. She had just finished telling them about her life with her step-parents, and how they had treated her – killing off her social skills. She also told them about how she had suddenly been engaged to Mike, and gotten married without knowing anything about her husband. Then, she told them about the promise to keep the marriage secret from the public.She didn’t tell them that she was starting to fall for her husband. She didn’t tell them that her husband was her best friend. And, she didn’t tell them about Anne Devano. No one was supposed to know about Anne until they knew who was behind their attack twenty years ago, and if she was safe to come out of hiding. But, for now, she was still at the hospital recovering.Mostly, she could barely do anything yet, as her bones were still awake from sleeping for long. And she didn’t remember a lot of things about
The ride back to her parents was silent. Amelia had never felt comfortable in that mansion, and now she was going to voice her opinion and ask questions for the first time. Regardless of all the speech she had given herself, and how she tried to be courageous, she felt sweat break off her back. Her hand shivered and felt sweaty.Mike drove with one hand while his other hand sought hers. He held her as he drove wiping some of the sweat in her hand and rubbing her hand slowly.Amelia smiled at it; the sweet sensation his hand sent through her body made her momentarily forget about her fear until the building appeared in front of them. Mike parked the car but didn’t open it. He watched Amelia take in deep breath. He remembered how she had told him that she felt like a bird locked up. So, this was the place she was locked. Now, that he knew she was Phoenix, a lot of things seemed to fall into place. Now, he knew why she wanted out of the marriage so badly. It must have felt like l