High Moon

X: Secrets Unveiled

"Marcus..." Confusion spread over Ryan's face. He looked as though the pieces to the puzzle that was me just weren't fitting. "Why on earth would you be looking for a man like him?"

A deep breath filled my lungs as I prepared to tell my secrets. Well, this secret at least.

"Our lives are similar Ryan." I walked towards the window, my back facing him. It would be easier to tell him my story if I didn't have to look at him. "Remember when you told me how Marcus had killed your parents"

"Yeah. . ." Ryan trailed off. "Hailee, are you saying that. . ."

"That Marcus killed my parents too, yes" I cut him off. "That's exactly what I'm saying"

This next part was what would be hard. My heartbeat increased as the events of that night broke free from its cage. It was like it was that night all over again.

Flashback

We had just finished my favorite movie The Lion King. Mom was in the kitchen cleaning up the popcorn mess we had made while dad and I laughed on the couch. It was like this every Friday. Movie night together watching our favorite movies.

My mom's was Blood and Chocolate, it was cool but they always made me close my eyes at certain times. My dad's favorite movie was anything with Jim Carey. His laugh would always cause my mom and I to laugh with him, it was that contagious.

It wasn't much longer and I was sent to bed. I had brushed my teeth and crawled into my bed, my mom tucking me in and them both giving me a light kiss on the forehead wishing me sweet dreams. It held a promise for tomorrow.

I couldn't have been asleep long when I heard the panicked screams of my mom coming from downstairs. My father's angry yells could also be heard. I crawled out of my bed and remembered what they had always told me to do to if something bad happened.

I crawled out of bed as quietly as I could and hid under a pile of blankets in the corner of my room. Tears ran down my face from fear and my hands shook with a vengeance. I was scared.

The screams from downstairs didn't last long, silence enveloped the house aside from the heavy footsteps. They were slow and calculating, not like the ones my parents would take.

I held my breath for what seemed like and eternity. Soon, the footsteps stopped outside my closed door blocking some of the light passing under it.

My doorknob turned and the door swung open slowly, causing it to creak. I shrunk down further in the pile of blankets in an attempt to hide even better.

The man took a deep breath as soon as he walked in. "I know your here little one, you can't hide from me." He said as he stood at the foot of my bed.

After smelling the air one more time, he turned and faced me. A grim smile was held on his face as he took steps closer to me and then began to pull away the blankets.

I was frozen in fear, I had no idea what he had planned to do.

"Hailee, you don't have to continue. . ." Ryan said, as if it was an attempt to save me, but the damn was broke.

"Once he pulled away the blankets I pressed myself into the corner as much as I could. It didn't help though. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. I did my best to pull my arm free from his grasp but. . .he just laughed and through me onto the bed. What he did was vile. It changed me permanently. I don't know how long it lasted, I just remember crying and fighting at first. I know I became numb with pain eventually, I just wanted it to end. Once he was done he took out a knife. It was already covered in blood. I didn't know it was the blood of my parents at the time. He stabbed me, here" I pulled up my shirt, showing him the three inch scar that traced my hip."

Ryan jumped to his feet at the sight. I could see he was at a loss for words and was angry.

I turned back towards the window and continued my story.

"He left me for dead that night, and I should have died. I remember laying on my blood soaked bed begging for the pain to end. I watched as he wiped the knife off on the bed sheets and laughed as he walked out. I don't know how I survived. I passed out and when I woke up, I was still on my bed but the wound had turned into what you saw. I saw my parents massacred down stairs. I was later tossed from foster home to foster home and during that time I trained. I trained for the day to find him and make him pay Ryan."

I hadn't realized that I was crying, or that Ryan had made his way behind me. I turned and found myself in his arms. His fingers gliding through my hair in an effort to calm the sobs ripping through my chest. The dam had broke and all the memories from that night were fresh in my mind. All the pain, the heart break... the anger.

Ryan stood there, silently holding me, knowing there was nothing he could say. No longer was I this mysterious girl who had popped into his life. No longer was I the happy and strong girl he battled yesterday. Today, I was a broken, sobbing mess. My weaknesses out on display for him to see.

I took deep breaths in an attempt to stop the tears. Eventually it worked, but I didn't leave his embrace. It made me warm and gave me a feeling of safety I hadn't felt in a while. His fingers still combed through my hair while his other hand drew small circles on my back.

"Hailee" His voice called out to me. It held such a tenderness that it almost brought my tears back. Once he realized I wasn't going to move, he placed is finger under my chin bringing my eyes to meet his. They held a sternness in them, a determination.

Ryan slip his hand to cup the side of my face, gently wiping away the tear that was sliding down my cheek.

"I promise you, he will pay for what he has done to you. He will not get away with this" Ryan's words held no lies, only truth. I could see anger swirling in his eyes, a gold color coming through- making the green I loved so much disappear.

I brought my hand up to rest over the one that rested on my cheek. Still looking into his eyes, I found a new resolve. I could feel my own anger bubbling at the surface.

"No Ryan, We will make him pay. We will make him pay with his life."

I don't know how long we stayed in his office just holding each other, but eventually we made it back into the kitchen. A steaming cup of tea rests in my hands, attempting to burn away the coldness that has settled in my heart.

We didn't talk, just sat in a comfortable silence, thinking over everything that had been said. I decided that now, it was best for me to stay here, with these beautiful strangers. Ryan was growing on my heart and Sarah and Chloe were growing into becoming great friends.

As far as I knew, no one else had heard what had transpired in the office, if they had no one said anything nor gave looks of pity as they passed the kitchen.

It was me who broke our silence, my voice coming out steady, controlled.

"So what is our next move?" I was focused. My barriers slowly rebuilding themselves against the memories.

"Training and research. We need to figure out what Marcus is planning. Why he has chosen now to show himself. He doesn't do things on a whim, he's a planner."

I nodded my head in silence, just watching him stare out the window that looked out onto his expansive front lawn.

"I know there is more that you are not telling me, Hailee. But I won't push you for it, I know you will tell me when you feel ready. Just..." He paused, turning to look at me before he continued. "Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story with me." He looked grateful, a look of compassion covered his eyes, making them shine the brightest green, drawing me in.

"Well, you said we needed to train right? What are we waiting for?" I placed my now empty tea cup into the sink and smiled. "Lets get started" Ryan said as his trademark smirk found its way onto his lips.

*************

Remember my lovelies! Votes and Comments really keep me going. I love knowing what yall think about the story and the characters. Don't worry, things are about to pick up