Opal

Chapter 2

"Well, this sure is ominous," I said to myself.

Who or what could have left this box at my door and why did it have the most two enticing words in the human dictionary? By this statement alone, I have a pretty good idea that you know what I did next.

"Open me...," I recited the words back to myself almost as if I was the box itself.

I opened the box, and to my surprise it was another note. A piece of loose leaf no less.

"So you've finally opened the box. I quite expected your curiosity to get in the way of what you most desire. 16 - 17 - 18, what happened during those 3 short years? You've forgotten, but many others have not. Maybe you should ask around?"

"Ask around.. My desires?.."

Confused was an understatement for what I was feeling. There were a million thoughts racing through my mind that my head actually started to ache. Who could have written this? Who could have left this? Does my family know more than they're letting on and do I even want to find out?

My parents and I had a close bond, and I did not want to believe that they could have information they could have been keeping from me. I mean it was my life, three years of my life I can never get back, would they really keep this to themselves?

After my shift, I took an uber home instead of waiting for Ameera. We were supposed to meet up with some of her friends, but I was not in the right headspace. I decided to head back to my loft and wait for tomorrow.

Afternoon

During my lunch break, I decided to make a speedy stop over by my parents house. I would definitely not be back in time to start my shift again, but it was going to be worth it.

My parents were always happy to see me, and seeing as I had a key to their place, I let myself in.

"Mom? Dad?" I called out to the empty house.

I remembered my father liked to garden, so I walked through the kitchen to get to the back door leading to my dad's backyard garden. It was well-maintained and instantly caught your eye anytime you went into the backyard. My father liked to plant anything with a strong smell. He said "nothing compares to beauty as a magnificent scent", he's picked out all of my perfumes since I was 14.

"Dad? Are you out here?" I called to him, whilst admiring the colorful flowers that had fresh droplets of water on them, they sparkled in the sun and were not hard to miss. He had been here.

I walked around the backyard looking for any resemblance of recent activity, and guess what I found. Another note.

"So you've decided to take my advice? Smart or impulsive? You can figure out that answer by asking yourself a question first. Where are the parents?"

Great, this person has now been on my parents property. While this does intrigue me more, it also concerns me. I thought about the question in a deeper meaning, where were my parents?

Just then, I heard the front door open and my mom walking in with my dad hand in hand. I walked back inside and greeted them.

"Mom! Dad! I've been looking for you both for ages, where've you been?"

My parents stared at me blankly. They were not jumping for joy and smiling at my unexpected visit. Instead they seemed frozen. They stared at each other, making great eye conversation may I add, but I was not included in that discussion.

I clapped at them, "Hey! You two okay?"

My mom blinked and went back to her usual self.

"Darling! Of course we're okay, we just weren't expecting you until Tuesday."

"Well, if you two are free I do have a few questions to ask you both."

"We're listening," my dad said.

My mom swayed her hand in the direction towards the living room. My parents sat down on the couch and I drew up a chair and sat across from them.

"So, I got this note yesterday during my shift and I thought you guys may know something about it? Maybe help me figure it out or decode it?" I pulled the note that I received from yesterday from my bag and handed it to them. They had worried looks on their faces while they read it. Then, my mom looked up at me and smiled.

"I'm sure it's just Lionel trying to pull a prank on you or something," my mom said while laughing, "he's always had a thing for scaring you."

"I asked Lionel and he said it was not him," I replied, starting to sound more suspicious.

My dad started this time, "well maybe it was-"

I cut him off, "Not Ameera either."

My parents gave each other worrying looks as if their plan to reassure me had failed. I remembered, though, I came here for answers.

"Do either of you remember anything about those three years? Maybe something you forgot to tell me, or mention..," I trailed off. They were looking at me like I was the crazy one.

My dad began to speak, "Monica, are you suggesting that we have been lying to you for all this time?"

"No, no, of course not. I just wanted-"

"I think you need to leave, darling," my mom said, cutting me off from my original thought.

I was so confused. Why did my parents just kick me out of their house? Granted, this wasn't the first time this had happened. But this time was different. They were purposefully dodging my question, and it only made me suspect them more. I reached for the note back, but my father kept a grip on it. I stood up and walked out the door. As soon as I stepped outside the door, I saw two black cars zoom off into the distance. Don't ask me who was in those cas, as I myself do not know. I only know that there is someone watching my every move now, and I feel like I'm going down a dangerous path.