Love is in the Air

The Part II

The phone rings. My heart beats faster. It can't be them. It continues to ring. I grab it before it wakes him up. It's them.

"We are ready."

"But--"

"We are in front of your door. You know the rules."

They've been watching all of these years. Why did I think I would never hear from them? I turn to look at my love. I can't wake him up. He can't know when I left. It's critical he doesn't know. I get out of bed. I lean over to kiss him. "I love you." I whisper. I make myself move toward the closet and change into clothes. As I close the door behind me, I feel like I'm leaving my heart behind me. I should have told him about this before. It wasn't fair that I kept it from him. You can never tell anyone unless they marry into the family and go through the process. He hears his mother tell him when he was given the mantle to carry.

"Hello, Mr. Mar."

My eyes widen. "Hello, Earl."

"I'm still young." He replies. 

"I thought you retired."

"You know how it is. We must go."

I turn around.

"There's no time. I'm sorry."

I nod. Of course he knows.

"Your mother is in danger."

"She's---"

"When was the last time you spoke to her?"

"Three days ago. What happened?"

"We can't talk here. We must go."

I nod.

"We must go, there is no time to waste. He'll be fine."

I nod. I turn to look back one more time. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken the choice away from you.

What is this? "He can't--"

"It's me." Elliot states.

"You're dead." I state, unmoving from the entrance of the room.

"I had to go into hiding."

"You couldn't--"

"I didn't know who we could trust."

"We?"

"Our mom."

"She was in on this?"

"I had told her about my suspicions and she made the suggestion, but no, she didn't know for sure."

"I can't believe it. You couldn't trust me either."

"There is no time to dwell on this. She is in danger. I think it's the same people." Elliot states. 

He shakes his head. Of course, that's what we were taught to forego any emotions in moments like these all of our focus was needed.

Dear Love,

I wish I could hold you in my arms. I miss holding you. I wonder what you are doing at this moment. I wish I was next to you. I miss you.

Your Love.

Dear Love, 

We should have been married soon. I'm sorry I'm making you wait. I never wanted you to know or join this life. It's not safe. I miss you. I miss your smile. I miss hearing your voice every morning. I hope you are safe. 

Your Love. 

Dear Love,

I don't know if I'll make it this time. I have a bad feeling about this, but I have to go through with it. I need to find out if my brother was murdered. I never meant to leave you.

I love you.

Your love.

He takes a look behind him before he exits the room. Who would let him know if I don't survive? He wasn't part of the family yet. How will he know to no longer wait for me?

"If anything happens, I'll let him know." Earl says meeting him out front.

"How?" He shakes his head. "No one is supposed to know."

"You should be married by now. I feel responsible."

"It's not your fault. It's our ancestor who chose to involve his family. Our parents could have also done something so that we didn't have to follow this path. I should have left it before I did and maybe I wouldn't have been pulled back in."

"Be careful."

He nods.