The Perilous Secrets

Chapter 6

Both James and I stood up and looked at the door waiting for Claire to come in. Growing up in a strict household I already knew by the footsteps there were two people.

Claire walked in nervously looking at me "connie so your brother found out something today and well we thought it would be easier if he was here" she said looking behind her. a moment later Elijah was stood in front of me.

"Eli" i cried running into his arms instantly feeling safe. I held onto him as if he was going to disappear, in a matter of seconds the homesick feeling had gone away.

"connie, Elijah why don't you both sit in the living room while we all talk" Claire said interrupting our bittersweet moment.

"its about mum and dad" Eli said sadly looking between us all. I knew my brother and i could easily read him, he was struggling not to cry in front of me. He had always tried to act tough for me whenever something was bad.

"she knows" James interrupted looking at my brother and Claire. Claire shot him a look which looked exactly how my dad looked when he was mad.

"there's still a chance right?" i asked Eli hopefully. Eli looked down at me, mascara and tear tracks down my face, he nodded not so convinced. i frowned knowing he was lying just to try and make me feel better.

"Mummy!" dakota yelled running over to her mum and hugging her. straight away dakota noticed Eli and gave him a glare.

"did he make you cry?" she asked with a sour face. Elijah gave a small sad smile at Dakota which Claire looked grateful for.

"This is my brother" i said sniffing and rubbing the tears off my cheeks with my new blazer. Dakotas eyes widened looking back and forth between us.

"so your my cousin too?" asked Dakota grinning at Eli. He nodded in response while maintaining eye contact with me.

"honey could you take Dakota for a bath?" Claire asked James which he agreed taking dakota's hand and heading upstairs.

"I think im going to go upstairs for a little while" i spoke up after a few moments of silence. Claire gave me a sympathetic nod as i went upstairs.

"ill come check on you in a bit okay?" said Eli, his voice was wobbling which made me feel guilty for leaving but i couldn't handle all of this.

I went into my room and lay down for a bit, at least when i was asleep i wasn't in this mess, but of course sleep doesnt last forever.

I woke up checking the time. I had slept until midnight which was a shock, but now i was wide awake as my mind went wild.

All i could think about was my mum and dad and where they were. I quietly walked over to my wardrobe and took out a SD card from my backpack, which i stole from my dads study before we left.

I inserted it into the tv and walked back to my bed, after a few moments the tv lit up and began replaying old videos of when Eli and I were little.

after a few clips the i felt the tears begin rolling down my face, I was desperate to see my parents even if it was for the last time.

The last clip ended which was of Elijah's tenth birthday at a skate park with our family and all of his friends. I stood up to take the SD card when the tv flashed again. stopping in my tracks i watched as another clip began playing which i had never seen before.

"first time meeting our baby girl" the younger version of my dad said with his hand holding my mums. They were stood outside a house that i didn't recognise. The confusion was written all over my face.

"i'm their baby girl, but their not at a hospital" i mumbled to myself and shuffled to the bottom of the bed so I could be closer to the tv.

the next clip of the video showed my dad holding me gently and rocking me back and forth. "shes so precious" he said looking down at the baby version of me.