Frost at Birth (RotG)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

*Abigail's POV*

Dad took me home for food and rest, meanwhile I was trying to figure out how to approach the topic of that boy that watched me.

Turns out I didn't need to approach it. "Is he here often?" Dad asked, pointing at him.

"Whenever I come out, why? I asked the other Guardians about him and they all told me you needed to tell me who he was." Upon seeing Dad, the boy's facial expression changed to one of apprehensive anger and disrespect.

"Go inside, I need to talk to him." Dad's voice sounded...sad almost. Who was he to make Dad sad?

"Can I stay?"

"Go inside." He repeated. I rolled my eyes as I walked toward the house, stopping just by the side so neither could see me. Yeah, I was a little rebel for listening in. What of it?

"Jack." His voice sounded familiar, something I'd heard years ago, but I couldn't place it.

"Why are you here? I thought you hated me."

"This isn't about you. I'm here to watch her."

"No, you're not. Not anymore."

"She's-"

"None of your concern." Dad cut him off and I growled under my breath angrily. So close to placing the voice and he had to cut him off. He was about to state our relationship.

"Fine. Kill her just like you did Marisa. See if I care. But it will come back to haunt you, and I take joy in that."

"I did not kill Marisa, she was the love of my life. I wouldn't have let them touch her if I could've helped it." I could hear his voice almost start to wobble as tears filled it. Talking about Mom really put him out of sorts.

"I wish you had died in her place!" The mysterious boy shouted before stalking away.

"Do not walk away from me like that! I'm-"

"Not my problem. I don't care who you are, Guardian or not." Another time! Dad was about to state their relationship! Did they know I was listening in or something?

I knew the conversation was over and ran inside, heading to my bedroom. I needed to find out who he was. It would bug me forever if I couldn't figure it out.

-I wanted to scream at him, but couldn't. I didn't know how to talk. I could only cry.-

I read one of my oldest books, trying to find if I'd known him, named him. I started writing when I was eight or nine, so perhaps I'd even named him at one point.

-Dad let me cry on him while I watched my big brother leave. I never saw him again.-

I shut the book and noticed that my eyes hurt from pouring over books. It was eleven, three hours I'd spent reading after eating a bite. But, sadly, my search reaped no results.

"What's up?" I jumped at the sudden appearance of Dad at my doorframe.

"Dad! You scared me! Don't do that!" I slapped his arm playfully as he sat at my feet.

He laughed. "So what're you doing up so late?"

"I recognized that boy's voice earlier, so I wanted to see if I'd just forgotten him and knew him years ago."

"Oh. Well he isn't a great role model, I don't wanting you searching too deep. You won't like what you find."

"Can you at least tell me his name?" I pleaded, my mind too far gone after hours of reading and it being so late for me to put up much of a fight.

"Brandon."

I yawned and snuggled down, ready to sleep, and forgot all my books sitting out on the other half of my bed. "That's a nice name. Brandon. It suits him."

Dad smiled and I closed my eyes, feeling a kiss on my forehead. "Goodnight, Abigail."

*Jack's POV*

She was going to find out soon, I just wanted to keep her with me a little bit longer. Once she found out, Abigail would be furious with me. I couldn't bear that happening.

In one day, I lost nearly every protection I'd put in place for her, but I guess it's for the best. Maybe she would trust me more now.

I worried about her deserting me because the others would also ignore me because they were upset about my not telling her. I'd have no one anymore. Maybe he was right, I was just being selfish. But I had so much to lose, I had to lie to her.

Was that wrong? I knew it was, but couldn't find it within myself to hurt her. What I would tell her would either make her run away in tears to find him and never come back, or laugh in delight and hug me. It pained me that I had such distinct different choices and didn't know how she'd react.