Come Back to Me[Sequel to YME and Crossing Paths]

Chapter Thirty-One:This is my Family

Chapter Thirty-One: This is my Family

Annabeth

I stood in the middle of the circle of police, terrified.

"You are under arrest for the kidnapping of Rosalie Castellan."

My eyes widened. "You can't arrest me for that! She's my daughter!"

"Over the past two years, the child has been missing, and a report came in from Luke Castellan that his daughter was missing." The police in the middle said.

My anger boiled. "He is her father, yes, but he was abusive, horrible. He didn't know her until a few years ago, when he faked her death and kidnapped her a few years back. My cousin works with the FBI, and he has been working on the case since then." I took a moment to breathe, "And isn't Luke in jail?!"

"Search the residence!" Called the police officer. The others spread out, turning everything over.

For the first time, I noticed Percy standing next to a police officer. His eyes were wide with shock.

Over at the door, Rosalie walked in, stone-faced and ridgid.

"Officer?" She poked the police standing in front of me.

"What?" He barked.

"I'm Rosalie Chase. Castellan isn't my last name. That is my mom," she pointed to me. "A few years ago my dad took me away from her. I'm pretty sure I was eight or something. I ran away and he," she gestured to Percy. "Found me. He helped me remember stuff with a doctor. When I was ready, he brought me here, and I went back to school. I swear, this is where I live, and these people are my family."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "You realize we will still have to bring you in for questioning?"

"Yes, but I'm just telling you who I am, and who these people are."

The officer held out his hand to Rosie, and she took it hesitantly. "Some bad things have happened to you, huh?" She nodded. "We are working to make sure you are safe and something like that never happens again. You are the only one who can tell us what really happened, so I need you to be honest. Is that your mother?" She nodded again. "And that man, is he your father?"

"I mean, not biologically, but yeah, kinda." Percy's eyes welled at that, and we both smiled. At that moment, Annie stormed in.

"The heck?" She wondered aloud.

"Do you know this girl?"

"She's my best friend. She is kind of my sister, but not biologically. She lives here too. Technically she is Percy's daughter and I'm my mom's daughter but we all live together and we are all family because we love each other, ya know?"

"Yeah, I get what you are saying. I trust you are telling the truth. Now, can you tell me what happened to you, so I can get an idea of what we are dealing with?" asked the officer. Now that he knew Rosalie was telling the truth, he was much more gentle.

She frowned, then spoke, "Who called you here?"

"A man named Luke Castellan."

"He went to jail. I watched him get arrested," I said, beginning to get angry. "How many times can one bail out of jail?!"

"Hang on. When we get to the station I'll do a search on him." said the officer.

"Anyway, Luke called you, huh?" Rosie chuckled. "He's my biological father. Not much of a father figure. A rock could be better at that than him." she rolled her eyes. "If I remember right, I was in Boston the night everything happened. I don't remember a lot, I wasn't conscious for most of it. We were at a gas station–my mom and I. I'd asked for some snacks, then she went inside. A few minutes later, my door swings open and there he is. Luke carried me off, kicking and screaming. He carried me back to his truck and basically threw me in the back seat. The ride was pretty short, and we stopped at a bridge. By this point I'm terrified, and...I had no idea what was going on. L-Luke dragged me out of the truck and sat me on the side of the bridge, then pushed me off. The fall was quick, but all I remember after that is the cold water, and then blinding white lights and lots of yelling." she wiped tears from her cheeks. "The doctor said I was lucky to be able to remember the events of and prior to that night. Something about my brain not blocking out the traumatic experience." Rosie shrugged, then continued with her story.