The Chosen.

Valley View

"Oh my god. June that's literally you!" Mia says as she and the rest of the group walk up behind us. 

My hands fly over my face as i begin to rub my temples. This cannot be happening, this cannot be my father. 

"Your dad experimented on us." Zeke says from behind Mia and Tom.

"Yeah, thanks for pointing that out." I press my lips together, looking up from my hands.

How could someone blood related to me be such a horrible person? He knows how torturous and damaging the serum is, he's seen it first hand. And he continues to keep the lab open and experimenting on innocent people. 

He let this happen to his fucking daughter.

"I need some air." I push away from Bill, through the opening between Mia and Tom. No one in the group stops me as they sense my discontent.

As i make my way through the long bookcases, i feel my breathing quicken. I beg myself to calm down, trying to ease the panic. But i can't help it as the tears begin to well up in my eyes.

How could he do this to me? He put me through so much agony and for what? Is my entire existence just some type of... experiment?

"I got his address." Sloane jogs he way up behind me.

As soon as she notices the tears streaming down my face, she pulls me into her embrace. "Oh Junie." I begin to fall apart in her arms.

"You know that means nothing. The people you grew up with, those are your real parents." She rubs my back softly, letting me cry out all of my frustration.

I pull back and wipe the tears from my rosy cheeks, "Okay. I'm done being sad over my parents. Let's go." I nod, sucking in a deep breath as i try to force my tears down. 

I see the rest of the group watching through the back doorway of the library. I walk away from the building and back through the thick blanket of trees from which we came.

"I grabbed a map." Says Bill, handing it to me as he speeds his pace to walk along side me.

"Thanks." I open the manila colored paper and see a red circle drawn on the grid. I stand still for a moment trying to get my bearings and figure out which direction we need to head.

I point to the north and then to the right to the west. I pick up my feet and head in the direction of my finger, my eyes focused on the map.

"You okay?" I look up to realize Bill is no longer beside me and his brother has taken his place. 

"Yeah. Just a little freaked out is all." I smile softly looking towards Tom's worried expression.

"I'm sure he will love you June. Everyone does!" He grins brightly, reassuring me. I chuckle softly at him.

"Maybe." I mutter, knowing damn well he doesn't give a fuck about me. He wouldn't have let them do what they did to me if he truly gave a shit about me.

"I wonder what he's like. Maybe he's nice like you. Hopefully he likes me too." He looks down at his feet, hopping from stick to stick on the ground.

"...Tom are you... nervous to meet him?" I ask, my brows furrowing but a slight smile over taking my face. 

"Uhh... YEAH. He's only the father of the love of my life, June!" He throws his hands in the air dramatically. I laugh hysterically. He shoots me a side eye and i cover my giggles with the map in my hands.

"Yeah he might be a sperm donor but he is NOT my dad." I giggle. 

I really admire the way Tom is able to ease my soul. I was just sobbing in Sloane's arms not even five minutes ago and here i am, laughing my head off with him. He reminds me that i shouldn't take life so seriously, which i am very guilty of. 

"Okay... Be that as it may, I still want to make a good first impression." He adjusts an imaginary tie on his shirt. I giggle and shove his shoulder. 

Suddenly, i see faint lights through a clearing of trees in front of me. My feet stop, though my mind wishes to keep going. I didn't want to admit it but i was nervous to meet my father as well. 

Valley View Estates

Reads the large brick sign. Little lights illuminate from the ground radiating their beams onto the sign so that it is visible. 

"This is it." I murmur under my breath as i hear the rest of the group slowly catching up behind me.

"Are you sure you want to do this? Asks Bill as he places his hand delicately along my back. "We could always back out now, or i could even go in there myself and get it." He offers, looking deeply into my eyes.

I catch a faint glance of Tom rolling his eyes dramatically.

"No. I have to do this." I nod.

"Okay. Let's go." He smiles, taking my hand into his.