Lost And Found

Chapter Six

I was breathing heavily as I rode my bike up the steep hill to my house. I saw my father wash our Ford F150 while my brother tried to splash him with his red and white water gun. The grass is glowed a forest green and the water twinkled against the black asphalt as I peddle faster to reach my mother who had just come out to garden. My light blue bike, which I pedaled with all my might, had a white basket in the front where I had placed some white lilies to give to my mother. I am wearing a pink summer dress with white flip flops. I looked like the typical Canadian girl.

         In the distant I heard my mother telling me to put on a helmet.  I reached the top of the hill to answer my mother but instead I see him. My whole world stops, the blue sky turns grey the crystal clear water turns in to shinny red. My mother, father, and brother drop to the ground and disappear. I screamed their names and before I know it I am in a white room, my torture chamber.

         My screams stopped for a while because there is something different this time, something missing, Gary. I look around the whole room but nothing. I feel safe yet there was something inside me tells me that this is too good to be true. I feel like I am being watched and than that’s when I see his shadow in the background coming closer to me. He emerged from his hiding place and crept up beside me. I started to scream again, he told me to keep quite and tried to hug me. I could feel his hands on my shoulder…

“SERENA! SERENA! WAKE UP!”

         As I wake up I realize that I am in an unfamiliar room with Darien shaking me furiously shouting my name. I am confused. What is going on? Darien brings me into his arms and cradles me, I don’t notice that I am crying until Darien says, “Serena its ok. It was just a nightmare. It’s over I’m here, don’t worry, stop crying please. Lets just go back to sleep.”

I did not remember waking up this morning. I just remember waking up from my bad dream and then finding myself in the kitchen freshly showered, dressed, and eating food that Darien’s mother - who I came to known as Marina – had cooked for me. Handing me the plate Marina makes me eat the breakfast she created for me. As I eat my eyes make contact with Marina’s eye but she looked away quickly placing her eyes on her book.

  Finishing the last of the meal I look up at Marina saying, “How is the book?”

  Ignoring my question Marina grabs my plate without question and takes it to the sink before turning to face me. I could tell she did not want to speak so I nodded my head showing I was grateful for her food. After getting no response I started to stand up and walk out of the kitchen since I want to escape the silence but I hear someone call my name.

         “Serena!”

        Spinning on my heels I turn to the source of the voice. When I am eye to eye with Marina I watch her slowly examine me. I could tell she was sizing me up in her mind. By the look on her face I knew for sure that she hated me. The thing is she had every right to hate me. I had turned her son into a delinquent.

        Watching Marina step closer and closer to me she wraps her arms around me causing me to question what she was doing. I thought she hated me but no. She was hugging me so she had to like me. Pushing me away from her, I could still feel strong arms as she held my shoulders as she speaks lightly, “I wish things had not come to this but… I have to tell you.”

        My breath hitches and becomes shorter while she eyes me up and down again. What could be running through her mind? I was so scared all I could answer her with was a short, “Yes!!”

        In an emotionless voice Marina says, “My son was always a good boy. He stays out of trouble, but just like his mother and father he has a passion for crime and justice. As a child, I always taught him to fight for what he believed in and to do anything you can for the ones you love. You have had a rough life but now you can consider yourself lucky because my son likes you…” My eyes widen and I become speechless which allows Marina to continue on since she had not yet finished. “Darien will do anything to protect you. So today just note that you will be safe at all times and when this is all over I want you to come live with us.”