My turn to fight

Chapter 9

"Melinda! Come to Daddy!" My father calls me. I laugh and run away. I hide under the table, and try to stop giggling.

"I know you're here somewhere. I am going to find you," Dad says, trying to sound scary. I laugh again and move further under the table. I sit there for a while listening for Dad's voice or footsteps but I can't hear anything. I stick my head out of the table and immediately Dad jumps out from behind the couch and lifts me up.

"I got you!" Dad laughs as he swings me around.

"Dad, put me down," I laugh as he starts to tickle me.

"Never!" He yells, laughing.

I wake up, feeling a sense of loss fill through me from my dream about my Dad. Ever since he got shot I tried not to think about him. It hurt too much.

"Hey Melinda," I hear a soft voice say. I open my eyes and see a nurse standing next to my bed with a tray in her hand. She puts the tray down on my bedside table, so I can see what is on it. There is a Plate with bacon, eggs and toast on it, a glass of orange juice and an envelope.I pick the envelope up first. All it has on the front is my name, which doesn't help me to figure out who it might have come from. I turn it over and open it. A letter falls out. On it, is says:

Dear Melinda,
You don't know who I am, but I know everything about you. You know the person that I pretend to be, but not the real me. You killed my father and you will pay. I have no idea how you have survived this long, but I am coming for you. Be careful who you trust Melinda, because the person you trust the most might just be the person who will betray you. You are a selfish human being to risk so many lives just to save yours. If you decide to change your mind and want to turn yourself in then meet me at the warehouse in your home town. I will be waiting. If you don't come then I will make your death so painful you will wish you were never born; even worse then what you experienced before. You better keep a close eye on your Mother. I can't wait to see your face when I force you to watch your mother die. She never did anything wrong but she is the reason you are still alive and means a lot to you, so I think she deserves a painful death just to tortue you, don't you agree? It's your choice. It would be much more fun if you didn't turn yourself in, but I am giving you the option because I'm just that sought of person. I'll see you soon Melinda. Better keep an eye out, because I am watching your every move.

Sincerely,
            Your worst nightmare.

I stare in shock and fear at the letter and the words that have been written on it. I knew people were coming for me, but this makes it all too real. I don't care if I die anymore, but Mum doesn't deserve to die, and I will do anything to protect her. Maybe I should just turn myself in. It would fix everything and the odds of me surviving anyway are less then 1%, even with a war. I will fight until to the end to save my Mum if I have to, but if I turn myself in they won't need to hurt her. After half an hour of thinking, I finally make my decision. I am going to turn myself in. Sure people would think I was a coward for doing this but to be honest I don't care. I am saving people's lives by doing it this way. Now all I have to do is work out how to get out of here without anyone knowing. I can't tell Mum because she will never let me go, and no one else in this hospital will help me. Alex! Alex might help me. I just have to get to help me get out of here but not tell him why. A few lies never hurt anyone, Right?

"Melinda," Mum says, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yes?" I reply, while quickly hiding the letter so Mum won't be able to see it.

"Alex is here. Would you like me to let him in?" Mum asks, already going towards the door as if she already knows the answer.

"Yes!" I answer, a little bit too enthusiastically.