Queen of Hearts

Chapter 20: mountain blood | Evan

Never once had someone asked me to describe Kameron to them. Most who knew about my relationship with her knew it was best to keep quiet about her, as they were aware it was a touchy subject. But Aki was her father, and he needed these answers.

It was harder than I thought, to talk about Kameron. I recounted how left out Kameron had seemed when she'd arrived at our school, mainly because her peers had shunned her for her wealth. She'd been befriended by Penny, who then in turn had introduced Kameron to me. We'd become close after she'd volunteered to assist me with performing at the talent show a few weeks later. We'd shared so many memories together, it would have been difficult for most to remember them all, but I did. Every single one.

Because spending my days with a headstrong girl who had blooming potential was hard to forget.

When I finished, Kameron's parents were silent, and I held my breath, hoping I hadn't said anything regarding their daughter that may offend them.

Then Mei voiced her thoughts. "Evan, don't feel compelled to answer this if you really don't want to, but did you like Honoka?" The tone of her voice made me know exactly what version of 'like' she meant.

I swallowed, glancing down. "Yes. I still do." I didn't realise how true the statement actually was until I had voiced it, and even then, I was surprised at the quiet intensity in which I spoke.

Aki eyed me with skepticism clear in his features, but at least he was kind enough to not comment on it aloud. "Do you have any idea what could have possibly happened to her?"

"She was kidnapped." Linny's response was precise. "At least, that appears to be a more likely option than running away. She does not seem like the type of person who would leave without a good reason to do. Honoka's a mature person."

Wow. She worded everything I wanted to say even better than I did. Then again, we were all speaking English, as Aki and Mei were fluent in the language and Linny did not understand Japanese. I made a mental note to teach her simple phrases so that she would be able to grasp any information she heard - it may be important.

"If she was kidnapped, why has no one demanded for a ransom?" Mei murmured, tapping her fingers on the surface of the table.

"The kidnappers would want you to be in a state of panic. They want you to be desperate enough to accept anything they put forth without question," Linny was frowning, pondering her own words.

"I presume that we are desperate enough, from all those news articles," Aki's tone held a hint of disapproval as he mentioned the media. "We tried to keep it a secret for a while, but since we own such influential companies, it was hard. The details eventually leaked."

Linny shook her head. "That is what happens. The media is just a way to bring Honoka's disappearance to the public's awareness. But if there are kidnappers, they would want to break you."

Mei gave a small smile, even though the words the grey and purple haired girl had uttered were not positive in the least. "You sound familiar with how these people would think."

Linny shrugged. "I know someone like that." And that was the last thing she said. She fixed her eyes onto 'Jaydan's bald head' and did nothing else, leaving me to answer the questions. Noticing her sudden change in demeanour, Aki and Mei led us to the dining room (which was also large, what a surprise) and served us dinner.

Since I hadn't eaten since the plane trip, I ate ravenously, but Linny played with her katsudon. I wondered what was bothering her, but I thought it best not to ask. I didn't want to be stabbed. She pulled her phone out from her pocket and immediately went to message someone. I saw the name flash up on the screen: Brendan.