The Island Boy

Chapter 10- Contingent

        He gently smiled. "I see." His hand traced  my back. "If it makes you feel better, would you like to go through this month's crate with me?"

       I nodded. He slowly released, and went back to the crate. "There are some things that came in for you."

        He handed me a silver box. "This should have your feminine items." I blushed, and snatched it. "I'll go put this away..."

        I ran back into the bedroom, sat on the bed and began opening the box. I unclicked the lock, and sorted through it. Maybe there's a bottle of pepper spray in here. What am I thinking?! What would I even need pepper spray for?!

        Towards the bottom, I reached a pink bottle. Pepper Spray!! Attached to it was a note.

        Please don't overuse. This is only for emergencies, so don't go around spraying people!

        I grabbed the box hidden at the bottom. High quality Pregnancy test. The note had read:

         Please be careful. Do remember that if you are Pregnant, you have  responsibilities  to take. Just remember that things will not only be about you, but rather the baby. I wish you luck on the outcomes of this test.

         I grunted. There's no possible way I'm going to even... just, no.

        There was a knock at the door. "Are you alright?" My heart fluttered nervously against my chest. "I'm fine." I started shoving things back in, sliding the box underneath the bed just in time for him to walk in.

       He walked over, and put his hand on my forehead. "Do you have a fever?"

        I shook my head. "Perfectly fine...never been better."

        I got up from the bed and dragged Jake with me. "Let's go back to the crate."

        Once we stood before the crate, I looked over to see his face. "Winter gifts." He kneeled down on the floor, passing  me another bag. "Merry Christmas, from your fellow protectors"

        "It seems they are a little late on Christmas." I muttered, ripping the package open, and opening the box. Inside was a silver heart locked. There was a note taped to the lid. There are those who care, and those who don't.

        Inside was a black and white photo of my parents, sitting on a bench, holding me in their lap. I shut the locket close, and tightened my grip on the necklace. "Want me to put it on?" Jake asked politely. "Yes please."

        He took the necklace from my hand, and pulled my hair away from my neck. "There." He said, moving back to his spot.

        "You look beautiful." He muttered, smiling. "T-thank you." I said stuttering.

        He grabbed another box from the crate, and chuckled. "Another present." he ripped the silvery wrapping paper. Inside was a picture frame. He smiled, and stared at the photo.

        I glanced at the photo, understanding why he might feel emotional. It was an old family photo, in black in white. On the hospital bed was his mother, smiling, his father by her side, holding his hand, and finally Jake, standing next to the hospital bed, standing tall, his thumb up, as if saying everything was going to be ok.

        He got up, and placed the picture on the table next to the couch. I could see his watery eyes, looking at the family photo. "My mother... she died shortly after that."

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        "Honey, let's retire for today, we've been looking for days non-stop." He placed a hand on the mother's shoulder, to only have it rejected. "No, we'll find her."

        She stumbled on the old road, looking around for a sign of people. A woman with braids passed by. "Excuse me miss, have you seen this girl?" She glanced left and right. "No... but I can manage letting you see her. But there's a price to pay. I'll need this." She pointed at the mother's bag. "I would like that flower." She passed the woman the scarlet lily sticking out of her bag. "yes... come this way."

        They walked down the alley, and into an old shop. It was dark, and foggy, but they proceeded anyways. "Please... sit down while you wait." she said pointing to a couple of red chairs in the corner of the shop. Next to the raggedy chairs, was a big mirror, that was cleaner than the rest of the shop. The woman started to pluck the Lily, ripping the fragile petals. She dropped them into a boiling pot, then adding a few drops of a green liquid. "Extend your arm please." The mother did as she was told, and rolled up her sleeve. "Allow me..." She said a syringe in her hand. "wait... what are you doing to my wife?!" The man shot up from the seat he was sitting in. "You want to see your daughter don't you?"

        He nodded, and she proceeded. The woman plunged the syringe, causing the liquid to flow in. The mother, swung her head down, falling unconscious . "There we go."

        She turned to the mirror, that had now shown what was beginning  to happen.

        "You shall be able to see your daughter from this mirror." The confused father  turned to the woman. "How is that even possible?" She grabbed another bottle of the green liquid. "This Liquid is called the Wounded Soldier. Your daughter has had it injected recently, where she is being held. The liquid should cause you both to connect, since I have had it specially mixed in with your daughter's resemblance flower. The flower resembles who she is, and it is also the last thing she touched before she was taken away."

        The mirror glistened, and the vision her mother was seeing now appeared. He smiled, and looked at his daughter. "She's grown up." The woman placed a hand on his. "Why, yes. Yes she has."

        The woman glanced at the photo the man had. "Wait... her hair color and her eyes are different." She got up, and started to go through books. Things spilled over the counters, as the woman looked desperately. The woman glanced over at the mother.

         She watched the daughter look at the door, standing before it. She looked confused, and uncertain. The mother put a hand on her shoulder, causing her daughter to turn around.

        The daughter started to hear her mother's voice in her head as she stood in shock. She started to look upset, second by second, until she was furious. "How can my daughter see her? And why is her mind making up words?"

        "My wife isn't even saying those words!" The woman took her shaking hands, and placed them on the book. "This has never happened before."

        "She isn't even supposed to see your mother here." The woman glanced back up at the mirror to see the girl saying such strong words, that the picture itself started to dull. "Always..." The vision blurred, and the mother awoke from her short slumber.

        Tears flowed down her eyes. "She's so grown up. I didn't think she would dismiss me like that."

        "No one has ever been able to send a patient back. This girl of yours... is truly something."