Rebel Born [FIRST DRAFT]

Chapter 14: Building Connections

"You went to face a bomber all by yourself??" Vanessa nearly shrieked. "Are you out of your mind? You literally just got out of the hospital like a few days ago and you're already being reckless?"

"I healed a long time ago. Plus the it gave a lot of information." I replied, pulling out another brick in the game of Stack that Max, Hugh and I were currently playing. I held my breath slightly, hoping that the stack wouldn't topple over. It didn't.

I turned to look back at Vanessa who was massaging her temple. "That is just like you. At least you didn't injure yourself again." She gave a sigh of resignation and sat herself down on one of the chairs around the round, glass table.

"From what you've told us, I'm starting to think that the family of suspects the Government had told us aren't actually the people behind these bombings." Max said, staring at Kyle's hand that was pulling out another block in the stack. It didn't fall.

"Unless your other thoughts are true." Kyle starts, leaning back against his chair. "What if the bomber you ran into was the father of the family and that the girl you met was just there to deter you."

"She seemed so genuine though." I muttered. The stack still didn't topple over after Max pulled out another block.

"So what are you going to do?" Vanessa asked, pouring a cup of juice for herself.

I paused. "I'll go back again to do more investigating." Before I could pick a block to remove, someone jolted the table and the entire stack came tumbling down.

"Alright! Who did that?" Max asked in a jokingly accusing tone. As Kyle and Max started to bicker, I stared at the table. There were six blocks that haven't collapsed yet. As the two continued their playful banter, the table shook as they banged their fist onto the table. One of the blocks fell. Four more followed. And the last one tittered slightly before toppling over as well.

"I'm going to get some sleep." I announced. I stood up and walked towards the stairs.

A variance of goodnights came from the three as I walked upstairs, my mind filled with thoughts. I let out a loud sigh as I changed into some more comfortable clothes and slipped into bed.

~*~

When you look at my Mother, you see an image of a perfect, high-class lady. When you meet my Mother, you think she is a hardworking lady, an angel on heaven - not capable of doing anything wrong or bad.

"Never judge anyone based on their appearances." Father used to say. When we still lived in Lunaris and he and I would drive around the city.

Whenever he told me that, it was usually because he and Mother were fighting again. And he told me that statement quite often. At least once every day. It became his catchphrase in my mind. When he told me this, I used to think to myself, does that mean you only married her because of her appearance?

But then I figured out myself that it was just how my Mother worked. She acted nice and angelic until she can get people close enough that they can't escape her when she reveals her true nature. It's what she did with Father. After they married, she met another guy who was very, very rich. Before you know it she was having an affair. I'm not quite sure if Father ever found out. I don't think I even remember what they were constantly arguing about.

And like that, my Mother turned from a Fairytale Queen to a Fairytale Villain in my mind.

~*~  

"Hey buddy, how you doing?" Max asked as he waved at Hugh as we walked into his hospital room.

"I'm getting there." Hugh replied with a slight shrug but a wide grin. "How are things with you guys?"