Lost in the Flames

The Truth

"Do you understand what's going on!" I use my first question wisely. He didn't limit me but, I know him, he will.

"Not entirely," he says.

"What do you know? Tell me." I need to know what's happening. It all seems to revolve around me.

"All of it?" He asks.

"Did I stutter?" I retort.

He sighs. "My mom was hired to keep you safe. She took 'advantage' of me for the cause so, she introduced me to you so we would become best friends. And we did," he begins.

This isn't happening.

"Ally, you have to understand. I didn't know," he looks over at me.

"Keep going," I instruct. I need to know.

"When I was 15, my mom told me about it. She said that my job was to protect you. I've always wanted to protect you because I love you Ally," he continues.

Tears threaten to leave my eyes.

Ally, you're stronger than this. I swear to God if you start crying..

"Hold on. Your mom was hired by blank to protect me. She used you to do her dirty work. If she wanted to keep me safe, why would she let me live in an orphanage my whole life?"

Head diving out this window would make more sense than my life at the moment.

"No! It's not like that. She loves you," he pulls into his driveway and turns in his seat to face me. "She's been wanting to adopt you since day one. When she was hired, blank gave her one rule. Do NOT adopt you."

Without another word, I hop out of the car and run to the front door. After struggling with the lock and Brian's arms holding me back, I finally make it inside.

Forget first names! "Sarah!!" I yell.

Brian's mom walks out of the kitchen and worry flushes through her whole face.

"Is it true? Is my whole life one big set up?" I ask.

"Ally, relax," she tries to sooth me. "I will explain everything to you. You just need to calm down."

I could go ape poop right now. I could scream and cry and throw things but, what good would that do?

I quickly sit down.

"What did you tell her?" Mrs. Hart asks Brian.

"The main part," he sits next to me on the couch.

"What do you understand?" She asks, sitting down in her arm chair in front of me.

"You were hired by someone to protect me. You used Brian for that. You introduced us and we became best friends," I go through the list in my head. "Who hired you? Protect me from what?" I'm literally so lost right now.

"I'm not supposed to say who hired me but, for now, let's call him stranger. I used Brian because, if I couldn't adopt you, it would be awkward for both of us if I became your best friend. It felt natural if Brian was the one to keep you safe. We need to protect you from learning new information about your parents death," she looks over at Brian and he runs upstairs.

I slip to the edge of the couch, about to fall off. "How would learning new information about my parents hurt me?"

"There is a world much larger than you and I. Ally, I'm no CIA Agent but, even if I was, I wouldn't understand. You'll have to sleep here," she stands and Brian comes back downstairs with pillows and blankets.

"Do I have to go to school tomorrow since I'm so unsafe?" I ask.

"Yes but don't, under any circumstances, go back to the orphanage. Understood," her voice is strong.

"Alright? Wait! What about Avory and Danni?" I stand up.

"Are they involved in this little situation?" She asks.

"Not that I know of but, they're my friends," I say just above a whisper.

She looks at me with a long face before turning and walking back into the kitchen.

I lay back on the couch with my knees to my chest.

Why me?

...

Today has been torture. I failed my math test because of stress. I got bumped in the hallway and dropped my art project and I got into another crowd gathering argument with Katherine and her boyfriend Harry. Brian hasn't left my side all day. When I ask to use the restroom he goes to 'get water' but ends up standing in the hallway waiting for me. He eats lunch with me, which isn't unusual, but he just hasn't left my side.

As I stare blankly at the white board in History, the loud speaker turns on.

"Excuse this interruption. Will Ally Beckett please come to the office with her belongings. Thank you and enjoy your day," our principle, Mrs. Walker says.

Me?

"Ally. Page 324 will be completed for homework. I'll see you tomorrow," she says before continuing her lesson.

I quickly pack my bookbag. Am I in trouble? Brian's head shoots up to look at me. I know all of his emotions by heart and I'm 100% sure he's worried. Should I be too?

I practically run through the halls to the office. When I arrive at the office doors, my heart is beating fast and my breathing is irregular. I take a deep breath and walk inside.

"Ally. The principle would like to speak with you. Go right in," the receptionist says, pointing to the room behind her. All without looking up from her computer.

I walk past the counter that separates the waiting room from the official office. Her door is open so, I slowly walk inside.

"Y-you wanted to see me?" I stutter to speak.

"Yes. I wanted to tell you myself. You've been adopted," she smiles at me.

What?!

"What?" All the emotions and only one words leaves my lips.

"He's waiting outside. That'll be all," she says, sitting down at their desk.

What?!

I practically stumble outside. The only other person in the hallway is a tall man in all black. I slowly approach him, stopping 5 feet next to him.

"Ally. Let's go," he begins walking to the parking lot.

"Are you the one who's adopting me? Why? We haven't even had an interview.. A meeting," I follow behind him.

"Not now," he says in a hurry.

"Where are we going? Who are you?" All the questions begin to flow.

"I said not now. We have to go," he says as if he knows me.

"I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me who you are!" I stop dead in my tracks.

He turns to me with his head down slightly. He removes his hat and in that moment, I'm surprised I'm not fainting. I may have been 2 but I remember as if it was yesterday.

"Dad?"