Untold Truth

Chapter 5

I take in his features for the first time. I was right about him being handsome. Or hot. He is tall and muscular. He has short black hair and green eyes. His face is boyish but matured. I decide to try and act tough. "Well that's the thing... You're not really the boss of me sooo....." I say nonchalantly.

"What would make you want to come back?" He asks bitterly.

I just laugh. He won't hurt me, I can see that now even when he pulls out a knife and puts it up to me. "Answer me!" He yells.

"Well it's sure not your irresistible charm." I say trying to throw some sass at him.

He just looks at me, almost like he's trying not to smile. "Well I really didn't want to do this but..." He says as I see something in the bushes. "Look!" Nodding behind him. It's something big.

"Shut up.."

"No! Look behind you!!" I interrupt again. I think it's a just a deer, but it's a good distraction. I try and look scared. It works because he sees my face is and he cranes his neck around to see what I was looking at. He immediately takes his arms off of me.

"What is it?" I ask, suddenly worried that it's more then a deer.

"I think it's a mountain lion. Now be quiet maybe it won't see us." He steps in front of me protectively. I know I could take this opportunity to run but I still want answers. Plus, the mountain lions have gotten increasingly worse over the past few years. They have been known to attack hikers in the woods. I have been lucky to not have ran into one until now.

We wait several minutes being absolutely quiet and still. "I think it's gone," he says like he wasn't just threatening me. He turns to face me, his face showing no emotion. "Let's see, where were we?"

Behind him I see a mountain lion. This one is extremely big and it is in the position to pounce. My reflexes take in and I reach behind me to grab an arrow, I string it and shoot the animal so fast that the boy can't stop me. He spins around and is shocked to silence.

"You... You just saved my life. You could've waited for that to get me but you didn't. Why?" He turns back to me with shock, wonder, and amazement all on his face.

"I... it was just instinct. That lion just came from no where." I realize that both of us lost or touch and neither of us are remotely threatening. Just shocked by each others reactions.

He studies me for a second. "Are you alright?" He asks.

He just keeps surprising me. "Ya thank you."

"Well since you sorta of saved my life, I have to be grateful now." He says while rolling his eyes in annoyance and joking.

This brings me back to being harsh. "Well I have a lot of questions. Since I now saved your life you owe me. I want them answered or you can live in guilt." I say firmly, complete with hand motions.

"Wow. You know how to make a deal. You sure are a O'Connel." He says with a smirk while playfully punching my shoulder.

I don't like the way he says his last comment. Like a polite insult. "That being one of them. My father. How do you know of him?"

"Look honey, I know a lot more then 'of' him." He says. Honey?

"I have a name you know." I say. I really just don't want him to call me honey because that's what my dad calls me when he says I'm good.

"You don't like my pet names?" He asks slightly flirty. If he wasn't attractive I would honestly be freaking out.

"I want you to call me by my name... Please." I add trying to be less "like my father" whatever that means.

"Fine Karlie." He says my name.

"How do you know my name?" I ask cautiously. This does freaks me out a little.

"Karlie, I've told you, everyone knows you. And no offense but everyone wants you. Your father is not a good man. And there are certain people willing to go to any length to bring him down. Even if that's through hurting you. You're not safe anywhere in this town." I don't know why he tells me this but I have to believe it's true. It explains so much of my life. All the times I felt like I was being followed, or how my dad hates it when I'm alone. And this boy has no reason to lie to me.

"Okay. Okay. So, um what does my dad do that's so bad?" After I say this I regret it. Do I really want to know?

"You're father is the leader of the Yuris. And now you want to know what the Yuris is. Well the Yuris is a group of people who are trying to take over the country. There is a group in every town and city. And you just happen to be the daughter of the man who started it all."

I look at him so terrified. How could I know none of this. My face must give away every emotion I have, but I don't care.

"They'll do anything to get power. They kill the innocent, sell drugs for money, and lie to everyone. In fact, you've been lied to your entire life." He finishes.

"But, no. No. You have it wrong. You're just trying to scare me. My dad wouldn't never do that! No. I don't believe you." I want to yell and cry and break something. But a big part of me believes this boy.

"Karlie, think about it. Has he ever been violent to you? Ever hit you?" I look down ashamed to admit he has. "Look, I get it okay. Being abused like that isn't okay. I'm sorry you had to learn this all like this..." He says it like he means it. How again does he know this? How can he relate to me?

"I just, I need to go home. My dad he'll be home from work soon and he'd kill me if he knew I was out here... And," I lose what I was going to say. My dad won't just kill me, he'd beat me. I needed to get home. I can't stay any longer.

"Well that's okay," Is all he says.

"Can I come back tomorrow?" Does he want me to come back? Do I?

"Let's make a deal; if you don't get caught in my traps you can come back whenever."

"Okay...." I hesitate feeling like I'm forgetting something important, "wait what's your name?"

"I've answered enough questions for today. Now go before your father beats you to death." It makes me uncomfortable knowing he knows this secret. I take off before anything else is said.