Surprised (PAUSED)

[6]

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[Marissa]

The car stopped and so did my laughing when I saw a very intimidating man standing outside River's house.

He just casually stood there seemingly waiting for something or someone.

River was about to open the car door but I quickly tugged at his hand.

"Someone's at the door", he glanced at the direction of my pointed finger and sighed, "Is it safe"

He nodded and we both came of the vehicle. He seemed delighted but a sense of dread still lingered.

As we came closer to the man, I realized the similarities that he and River had.

I understood where he got his green eyes and black hair. He's almost like an older replica of River.

He didn't even wait for us to catch up to him. He opened the door and started going up the stairs without a word.

Nervousness etched through my body immediately, and not knowing what's in store made it even worse.

We followed up the stairs with me trailing like a lost puppy. The stairs was not very long and creme walls cascaded with picture frames.

He stopped in front of a door, "Here"

And so River and I entered behind him and went into the office.

He leaned again his desk and folded his arms. He glanced back and forth at River and I. And surprisingly, a wide grinned came from the man's face.

"I'm Oliver, River's father as you may realized", he kept smiling. River though still had a stoic face and didn't seem interested in anything his father had to say. The fire was wild in his eyes, and his eyes seemed lighter.

The lighting was really bad in the room at the moment.

"Okay, I'm not going to beat around the bush", his face went back serious, "Maybe you should sit"

Now I sat without question due to the fact that I was scared I would get a stroke from whatever he had to say.

He looked at River and then River excused himself out the office strangely. Oliver turns to me and unfolds his arms.

"Okay, your parents are very much alive from the evidence that I've gathered"

He knelt in front me, "You don't have to comply to this, you have no idea how dangerous this really is"

I whirled my hair and tilted my head in curiosity.

"When you say danger, what exactly are we talking about"

He sighed, got up and walked across the room, "Dangerous people that want your parents dead"

He stood in front of his bookshelf and pulled out a book. "And knowing that their lost child is still alive", he flipped through the pages, "Would cause more than just chaos"

I stood up and flew my hands up in the air with frustration.

"Why are they so important?"
"Where they criminals?"
"Who are they?"
"Why-

He slammed the book down on the desk, getting my attention instantly.

"Listen", his face went blank, "Stop with the questions"

I covered my face with my hands and then ran it through my hair.

"I don't even know what I'm doing"

I walk to the front of the desk and place my hand on the top of it. "I'm don't care, I've been in the dark for too long"

I pointed to the window and stated firmly, "My parents are out there, my identity is out there"

I stood straight and pointed at myself, "I am out there"

He came down to my eye level, "Well your training starts tomorrow"

He came closer and pointed his finger to my chest, "Marissa, find yourself"

He smiled and sat in his chair like nothing happened. "You are to train with River and his friend Cortez"

I furrowed my eyebrows and before I can say a thing, "Don't question it"

"Yes Sir", I fake saluted and led myself out the door. Before I went out, he made sure to remind me that, "You're life is going to change forever"

I turned, "I maybe not be prepared for it but that's life Mr. Oliver". I walk out and close the door with a smile on my face.

"It's just Oliver!"

I giggled and continued my journey downstairs to the kitchen. As River's mom sat on stool in the bar area reading a magazine.

"He gave you the talk", she stated more than asked. I just nodded because I had nothing to say.

I rest my hands on the counter and just stared at her. She put down the magazine and slid down her glasses.

"You want to get something off your chest?"

I sighed, "I just want to know why", I place my hands over my face. I was so close to tears.

I missed home. I miss my dog. I miss my room.

But what hurts most was that my parents most likely abandoned me. And here I am throwing everything away to find out the unknown. It's so overwhelming.

I didn't even notice that I was in Sarah's arms. She cradled and pampered me as I slowly broken down in pieces.

I tried to talk but she just whispered "I know honey"

"What's going on here", River came out from nowhere with his cute concerned face.

"She's just overwhelmed", Sarah patted my back, "She trains with you and Cortez tomorrow"

He nodded and reluctantly asked, "If you don't mind you can come to my room so we could talk"

Sarah laughed, "Go head sweetie"

Sarah let me go and I followed him to the stairs.

I blushed and nodded, "What do you want to talk about?"

His face went calmly serious and leaned his arm on the railing of the stair.

"This won't be easy as you maybe think, you are stronger than you think but that doesn't make it easier"

He looked straight into my eyes, "You have to search deep inside you"

I smiled, "River I know it won't be easy, I will work as hard as I can"

He looked up to the stairs, "Shall we?"

[Chapter 6]