Isabelle

Chapter 2 ♥️

25 years ago...

It was a bright sunny morning. The skies were a pretty shade of azure. The grass in the lawn were freshly trimmed. Dad's white roses were in full bloom emitting sweet rosy aromas. The white picket fence which was only painted last week gleamed brightly in the morning sunlight. The white roses alongside the white picket fence brought such brilliant splendor to the garden.

Little Isabelle and her dad were playing hide and seek in the garden. Isabelle was in hiding while her dad was out seeking her.

"Isabear, where are you hiding little one?" Her father, a warm smile on his face called out to the air. Soft giggles filled the surrounding. Little Isabelle was still in hiding.

As Isabelle's dad, Richard started wondering through the garden, calling out his daughter's name. He knew where she would be hiding, little Isabelle would always hide in the garden shed. She would then peer outside through the cracks in the door and watch him as he pretended to look to for her.

Richard loved his family. His wife Marianne, who was a sweet beautiful woman was the queen of his world. They had met in the later years of college, when they were both looking for internships. It had been love at first sight for him.

Their little daughter Isabelle was the eldest and their youngest was a son who was an infant.

Isabelle had curly golden hair just like her mother. It was shoulder length even as she was a little girl. She was infact a mini version of his wife, Richard chuckled softly. Luckily for him she had big brown eyes, just like him. That was the only feature she had inherited from him.

Little Peter was more like him, or as far as one can tell of an infant. The baby had brown eyes, long limbs and olive skin. But he too seemed to have gotten his mother's hair.

Isabelle's giggles redirected him into the game of hide and seek. Like any father, he knew more than to walk straight to his daughter's hiding place. Instead he pretended to walk around the garden looking under bushes, up trees and literally everywhere except the shed.

"I'm here, daddy. Come and find me" squealed 4 year old Isabelle, giggling.

She was hiding in the garden shed like always. It's a place where her dad never found her when they played hide and seek. It was the perfect hiding spot.

Peering through the cracks of the old wooden door, Isabelle saw her dad walking in the garden looking for her. He was really bad at this game. Isabelle always won.

But she had the worldest bestest dad. He loves her alot. Much more than Peter. She giggled then quickly covered her mouth remembering that she was in fact hiding.

Her dad was still walking here and there. She couldnt wait any longer. Isabelle wanted her dad to find her this time. She wanted her bestest dad to win.

So she put both of her hands on either side of her mouth like she had seen her mother do and said loudly "I'm heree daddy... come and finddd meee."

Richard pretended to be shocked. His eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened. He then put his hand to his ear and pretended to try to pick up his daughter's voice again.

Taking it a step further, he exclaimed,
"Where are you sweetheart, I still can't find you?"

Isabelle couldn't hold it any longer. She also could sense the yummy scent of brownies in the air. Her mother must have made them. She loved her mother's brownies. They were the best.

Isabelle pushed open the old door and leapt outside. She couldn't help but giggle because she had won again.

She started to run towards her dad. He was as tall as a tower and big as the sky. Her hair fell on her face as she ran. But she didn't care. Her dad squatted down opening his arms. A wide smile spread across his face.

"Here I aaaaaam!!!" She squealed, running towards him.

Richard loved watching his daughter gleam with happiness when she knew she had won. He loved watching her run towards him. His eyes softened, they were filled with paternal love.

He picked up little Isabelle who giggled in childish joy, and held her up as if she was flying.

Just then, Marianne walked down the stairs with little Peter craddled in her arms. Her smile mirroring Richard's, radiatong warmth and love at the tender display of love. She loved watching her husband play with their daughter. It always warmed her heart to watch their father-daughter moment.

"Looks like somebody won again", she chimed in, her voice sweet and tender.

Isabelle's face lit up, beaming with pride. Her little eyes shone brightly as she put on the biggest smile.

"I did mommy" she exclaimed, "Daddy couldn't find me but i found him again"

Richard laughed softly, ruffling Isabelle's hair, "You're too good at it Isabear. I will have to work harder next time".

Marianne walked over to Isabelle planting a soft kiss on her forehead, "I think it's time for some well-deserved brownies, dont you think Richard?"

Isabelle's face lit up immediately at the mention of brownies. Her mouth watered just thinking about the yummy brownies.

"Yayy brownies!!" She was thrilled, bouncing in joy.

With Isabelle still in his arms, Richard followed Marianne with sleeping Peter in his mother's arms into the kitchen where the aroma of freshly baked brownies engulfed them.

CLANG!

Jolting back to reality at the sound of an abrupt noise, my eyes flew open revealing the murky green water prison which had been my shelter for several days now.

Shivers ran down my spine at the sight of my captor standing close to the vessel that held me. She had a twisted, cruel smirk on her lips and a large metal tube balanced on her shoulder, which she must have used to wake me up, which explained the abrupt noise.

The joy left by the tender memory was fading into oblivion, leaving in its place terror and darkness. It was terrifying to see her. She knew how to keep me from using my powers and worst of all, she knew about the power within me that I have tried so hard to keep hidden.

"So Isabelle are you ready?" She asked menancingly.