Torment ( Book Two )

Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Amber's skin tingled as it burned under the hot sun in Zelen Hill. Her pale skin was much more tan after spending two weeks at the sunny resort.

She took a sip of her Shirley Temple and glanced at Hailey on the lounge chair next to her.

The woman was already looking at Amber through her sunglasses.

Amber smiled. "This is so relaxing that I just might fall asleep."

Hailey giggled. "Oh, me too."

Amber rested her head back and gazed at the perfect view of the ocean.

The two were on a boat with a bunch of others who had gone on the vacation.

For the past two weeks they had gotten massages, gone swimming, gone fishing, tried bizarre foods, and lounged on the beach.

For the first time in a while, Amber was free of stress. Being there with Hailey had been so much fun and relaxing.

Things hadn't been awkward and Hailey hadn't tried to flirt with her so far.

Amber couldn't seem to forget or ignore Alice's unwelcome visit on the way to Unix, though. She kept trying to figure out who Caroline was. She wanted to ask Hailey, but none of it was really her business.

Amber glanced at Hailey again, considering asking her once more.

"Hailey, who's Caroline?" Amber blurted out without thinking over her question.

Hailey looked up from her Strawberry Martini. "Caroline?"

Amber hesitated. "Alice raided Luna's carriage when we were on our way to meet subjects of Unix. She told Luna she knew where someone named Caroline was. Luna seemed very interested and surprised but wouldn't tell me who the girl is."

Hailey shot up in her seat. "Alice knows where Caroline is?"

Amber felt irritated and surprised. How come everyone else knew this girl and had the same reaction to hearing the news about her?

"She claims she knows."

Hailey ran a finger along her pink lips, mumbling.

Amber picked at her bathing suit, trying to be patient.

"Oh, wow..."

"Who is she?" Amber pushed.

Hailey tugged off her sunglasses and gazed at Amber. "No one ever told you, did they?"

Amber shook her head, feeling all the stress and nerves filling her chest back up after two weeks of being free of the uncomfortable feelings.

Hailey puffed out her cheeks and then released the air into a heavy sigh. "About ten years ago, Luna had boyfriend."

"Samuel, right?"

Hailey shook her head. "Not yet. His name was Jayden. He was a bad boy. He did drugs, rode motorcycles, and was even in a gang. Anyways, him and Luna didn't date long but they did have... sex."

Amber leaned forward in her seat, trying to predict what Hailey was going to reveal.

"They had a child whom they named Caroline."

"Caroline is Luna's... daughter?" Amber clarified, shocked. She expected Caroline to be an old friend or old girlfriend, not Luna's daughter!

"Yes," Hailey said gently. "She then-"

"My girlfriend has a child..."

Amber was experiencing so many emotions at once. She wished Luna, or someone, had told her.