Legacy of the Waters

THREE

THALIA

SOMETIMES WORST THINGS HAPPEN AT THE WORST TIMES.

It's 4AM in the morning. Saturday.

And believe me Saturdays mean freedom. I mean freedom from math quizzes. Freedom from school bullies Arthy and Cora. Worst of all freedom from our home ec teacher Miss Bubbel who will tell her own life's story during class discussions. And at most times I'll be sleeping until the next subject will start.

Saturday is my favourite day I guess.

Every Saturday mornings when the air is freezing cold I will put on the sneakers granddad gave me last summer and I will take my morning walk. I love to stroll down Fifth Avenue where the tullips are swaying red. I love visiting Central Park and do several push-ups with the oak trees dancing around me. Then there were twins Rose and Jill sitting in a wooden bench with their sweat masking their face. Unlike me, biking is their morning ritual every Sat. I saw Jill drinking a bottle of cold water. Rose busy taking selfies. I smile at the sight of both of them.

I decided to take more steps. To Lucky Coffee, I guess. Lucky C is one of my favourite place. Tasty bread. Good coffee. And the message in the cookie. A girl with the name tag Lou will let you pick a cookie with a message in a bottle. Then she will smile and say, 'Have a lucky day!'. Then she'll whisper. 'Don't forgot to eat the candy. The message wont work.' And she'll proceed to entertain other customers. The last time I opened one fortune cookie there was this "THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST DAY OF THE WEEK. LUCKY DAY!" message in it. And guess what? That day I lost fifty dollar over Dad while playing chess, got chased by Mr. Pete's killer doberman, slept with the squirrels at the attic because Mom's brother visited and took over my room. And lot's more embarassing stuff. Later did I know that  I haven't eat the cookie and had myself a worst-day-ever instead.

Few cars passed by me as I head to Lucky Coffee. 4:35. The shadow of the dancing trees reminds me of Charles Dicken's 'A Christmas Carol'. And it gave me the creeps. Suddenly I heard someone following me. Following? Of course not. Who will dare follow Thalia Johnson? I'm just a girl from nobody.

I turned to see who was at the back of me. There she is. A tall girl in red tee shirt. She wore a black sunglasses so I wont know if she's staring at me or not. 'Where's the sun?', I asked myself. The girl is listening with her earphones in her ear, her blonde hair swaying with the trees. I got her out of my mind and continued walking.

The glass door crept open as I enter Lucky C.  The smell of coffee and capuccino and baked buns welcomed me. I went to my favourite seat where I can have a better picture of Violet Sea. Dark blue waves and the sun starting to rise. What a perfect sight.

As soon as white coffee and a buttered bread landed on my table I started savouring them. As always the bread tastes good. The coffee awesome.

Then pretty Lou will come handing me the jar of fortune cookies. And same thing happens. She will greet me 'Have a lucky day' and remind me to eat the cookie after reading the message. Then she will serve the other customers.

I surprised myself by seeing the girl in red sipping a cup while reading a page of newspaper, two customers away in front of me. Same age, I guess. Hope she's not following me, I wished. I stared at my old wristwatch. 5:07. Time to go home.

As soon as I paid the bill I walked back to Central Park where the nearest dog food shop is located. I bought some for my dog friend Moss and went straight back home.

The door is open when I got in. This is unusual because Dad and Mom woke up at eight every Sat which means I have to cook for breakfast. Not my nine year old brother Bill because at this time he must be in his room concentrating with his new computer game. Not Moss because he's fast asleep in the garage. And dogs cant open doors.

Weird.

Then the banging sound entered my ear. It sounds like a metal being dropped. It came from Bill's room. Did he fall on the floor asleep? Or a thief entered the house? I scanned the living room. Everything's fine. No signs from an intruder. Just to be sure, I went to Bill's room. It's shut lock so I have to go to my room and search for its duplicate key.

Then the banging sound echoed again. Did Bill fell on the floor twice?

Shit.

I can hear my heart's beating.

I headed to Bill's room. As I inserted the key the banging begun. Again.

I closed my eyes shut as I opened the door wishing Bill is safe. Wishing little Bill safe.

I can still hear my heart pounding fast.

I see darkness the moment I opened my eyes. Someone turned off the lights of Bill's room. Meaning there's someone in this room. With Bill. Bill never sleeps. And his computer never shut down. Never ever turn the lights off.

"Bill?", the words came out of my mouth wishing everything's fine. My tears starting to flow down my cheeks. "Are you okay?".

No answer.

My hands searched for the switch beside the door. I turned the lights on.

"Mom! Dad!", I heard myself screaming. They were both tied hard with a rope and their mouth shut by a cloth. I untie the ropes that's preventing my parents from moving. My hands are shaking. My eye's are drowning of tears. I removed the cloth from their mouth.

"W. . What hap... pened?", I stuttered, my voice pale and nervous. I searched for Bill. "Where's Bill?".

Mom and Dad were crying. I haven't seen them crying like this before. "I don't know Lei", that was Dad. "We just woke up here. At Bill's room. Light's turned off and rope tied." He cried helplessly.

Gerald Johnson has never been this kind of man. My father is always in control of everything. I feel sorry for letting him in this kind of situation.

"Here. Someone left us something." Mom handed Dad the red envelope she picked on the floor. The kidnapper must have left it their intentionally.

"It's for Lea", I heard Dad said.

It's true. My name is listed outside the envelope. But something else is also written in it:

"Thalia Johnson.
You and only you can read the letter."

Why did the culprit had to left a piece of letter like this. For ransom? There's no problem about that but why is the letter addressed for me?

"Read it Lei", Dad said. "I'm sure the man behind this needs money."

And so did I.

"DEAR THALIA JOHNSON,

I have your brother Bill. And you alone can save him.

There's a tape under your pillow. You can play it alone. The instructions are stated there on how you can save him.

Kill or be killed Thalia Johnson.

NOTE: BURN THIS LETTER AFTER READING. YOUR PARENTS MUST NOT KNOW A SINGLE THING ABOUT THIS LETTER OR ELSE LITTLE BILL WILL DIE. DON'T WORRY HE'S SAFE HERE IN HIS NEW ROOM.

- XXX"

Then I cried as I let a cookie rolled from my hand with the "THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST DAY OF THE WEEK. LUCKY DAY!" message in it.