Into The Unknown

15

Chris's POV

I let my thumb swipe the 'Answer' key and held my breath. I lifted the phone to my ear when I heard breathing from the other line. Who can it be? I'm positive we buried her.

I cleared my throat when a sweet voice came through the line.

"Chris?" the voice spoke.

"Yes?" I croaked.

"My name is Carmen. I know this may be weird but I called from Lil's phone because I knew you would answer," she said.

"Hi, Carmen. How may I help you?" I asked sitting up on the bed.

"Um, well, you know me as Lil's cousin. You met me at one of her parties. I was wondering if you could help me," she sighed.

"Yeah? Go on," I scrunched my eyebrows together.

"I need help finding my baby's father..." she trailed off, "I saw him on television the other week and I thought maybe you knew where he was. I thought because you were in that incident."

"Malcolm's your baby's father? Carmen, how did that happen?" I semi-yelled.

"It was a rape, Christopher," she barked.

My heart sank. He did it to Carmen too? How can someone be that dark?

"Chris?" she whimpered.

"Yes, baby girl?" I answered.

"Help me, please. I need to find him so I can turn him in."

"I don't know about that. I mean, he did kind of shoot me." I spoke.

"Do it for Liliana..." she whispered.

I sat back and let my spine hit the backboard while I rubbed my face. I sighed deeply before I cleared my throat.

"Okay, I'll meet you at the park in twenty minutes. Can you get there?" I licked my lips.

I heard the phone rustle as if she were nodding her head at me. Then she spoke, "Yeah. I can meet you there."

We said our goodbyes and I put my shoes on to get ready for my departure. I had so many questions for her. I wondered what her baby looked like or if it was a girl or a boy. I wondered how Carmen even knew Malcolm let alone got in a bed with him.

I walked down the busy streets of Raegan's neighborhood and I slipped my headphones in. Music made the trip shorter than I thought and I sat down on the park bench while I watch the cutest couples walk pass me in the night. The park lights sparkled against the water in the monumental fountain. I looked up to see the stars dancing in the sky and smiled at it slowly. It amazed me what God was capable of doing. Suddenly, I felt a hand caress my own and my head shot down to meet eyes with a caramel colored, petite girl with big brown eyes.

"Carmen?" I questioned.

She nodded at me and smiled showing her beautiful teeth. She reminded me so much of Liliana that I turned my head and clenched my jaw. She sat next to me and positioned her body to sit up under me. I looked down at her and she laid her head against my chest. She wanted to be held so I wrapped my arm around her and cleared my throat. Carmen pulled a phone out of her pocket and checked the time.

"Thank you for coming to meet me, Chris. I just really need help. I didn't know who to run to until I saw Liliana's phone and remember how she used to only text you..." she sighed.

I ran my hand against her hair and wrapped my other arm around her. Her body was warm and she snuggled against me.

"Tell me what happened with you and Malcolm," I said lifting her head.