Wrath

Chapter 2: Letter

Chapter 2: Letter

Zara

I drove through the New York traffic like a maniac, maneuvering between the honking cars, angry cab drivers and busy pedestrians.

The moment I reached home, I kicked off my boots and made my way towards the living room. Throwing my coat haphazardly on the couch, I sat down, rummaging through my oversized bag to take out the box and the key which Derek had given me.

The box opened with a rusty creak, displaying its contents before me.

There were three bundles of 100 dollar bills neatly stacked together, a long silver chain with a key attached at the end and a white envelope.

I gingerly picked up the last item and took out the sheet of paper inside:

Dear Zara,

If you are reading this letter, then your mother and I are probably no longer with you.

I am so sorry for not being there for you. But sweetheart, some things are just out of our hands.

Zara, we were not your real parents. Before you think of anything else, you have to know that even though you weren't our blood, we loved you like our very own daughter. You were handed over to us as a responsibility, but we fell in love with you. As normal as we appeared to be, we never actually were. We belong in a world that is completely different from the world you currently live in. It is dark and dangerous. You were just a newborn, innocent and unaware of the evils that resided in this world.

But fate has its own way. And you have the right to know who you are, where you are from and where you belong.

You must have seen a key inside the box. I want you to take it and go to the basement. The door that it opens lies behind the shelf that holds your favorite childhood doll. You will figure out from there on, you're a smart girl.

I know this must be a lot to take in. And believe me, it's very hard writing this letter to you, knowing that by the time you read this, I won't be there by your side. But remember, you have to be strong. You will face a lot of hardships, but you will always come out stronger. I have all the faith in you.

And no matter what happens, whatever truth is revealed to you along the way, you have to know, that your mother and I loved you very much. Blood may not be what makes us a family, but you will always be my beautiful daughter. All you have to know is, no matter where you are, your mother and I will always be watching over you, always by your side.

I love you, honey. Always and forever.

Dad

By the time I finished reading the letter, I was a sobbing mess. My vision was blurred from the tears and my throat had closed up.

I don't know how long I cried, but by the time my hiccups died, I no longer had the will to live. My heart ached as I thought of my parents, what a perfect, happy family we were. God, I missed them so much.

When I had finally calmed down, I got up and went straight to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, following which I made myself a huge cup of coffee. As I sat back down on the couch, sipping from my mug, my eyes landed on the key in front of me. And then there was this sudden urge to find out what this was all about.

The next thing I know, I was putting my coat and boots back on, ready to leave the house again.

When my eyes landed on the letter, I picked it up, wondering what to do with it. Even though these were my father's last words to me, something compelled me to destroy it. If he was intent on keeping something this much a secret, I was not going to leave anything to chance.