My Final Choice

Dahlia's Surprise

I had so many dreams. I wanted to become so many things in life. In fact, I wanted to be something in life and until now, I was allowed to dream. I was allowed to fly freely. That is until they cut my wings. Then I had to follow instead of lead. Now, I had no choice for anything. I was to follow everyone's rules and that was how my life completely changed.

I never wanted any of this. I never wanted the glares and gasps of passing strangers. I never wanted to isolate myself from the world. I certainly did not want all the scars and bruises that were left behind. I never wanted the pain, fear, or nightmares. I wanted an ordinary life with friends, dates, and sanity. That was all given to me until one day after school.

It was the last day of school, so I felt relieved at the fact that I could finally relax and enjoy my summer. I didn't have many friends nor the most popular person in my school, but with the few of my friends, we had planned many adventures that would do throughout the summer. I was eager to do all of these things with them and more. Little had I known that all those plans were going to die the second I saw the blue Jaguar in front of my home.

We didn't have many visitors since my parents weren't very social. We'd get the occasional visit from someone at my parents' job, but that wasn't very common. I've never seen this Jaguar before so I was expecting someone new. I should have continued walking. I should have never entered my house. I should have just run away while I still had the chance. But I didn't, and now it was too late.

I went into the kitchen where I found my parents and a man and what appeared to be his son. I greeted them with a kind smile and a polite wave. My dad motioned for me to sit next to him. I did as he said. My mom sat next to him.

"Dahlia, this is Angelou François and his son Matthew St. Claire." I smiled at them once more then face my dad again. "Angelou used to have a class where he would teach karate. A year ago he quit to only focus on teaching his son. Now, his son will teach you."

My eyes widened. I didn't want to learn karate. Maybe when I was a kid, it had slipped my mind to be like Jackie Chan, but that died down once I matured and realized that people have guns that kill you in an instant. No more time to pull out your black belt skills.

I tried to sound polite when I refused the offer, "I don't really want to learn karate."

My dad and Angelou gave a small chuckle, "We won't be teaching you karate."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Then why join?"

Angelou laughed once more and leaned forward, "I didn't teach my son any karate moves. I taught him how to fight, how to strengthen those muscles, and how to be a man!" He nodded over to the direction of his son, "The first day I trained with him, he was nothing but skin and bones. Look at him now!"

I took a quick glance at Matthew. It was hard to believe that he was once fragile. Even though he was sitting down, you could tell that he was tall and lean. He had a nice jaw line and dark brown eyes that matched his neatly combed hair. He seemed pretty masculine and made me wonder if that's how they wanted me to be.

I looked back at Angelou then at my dad, "Why do I need to learn to fight?" I wasn't the most peaceful person, but I also wasn't into violence. Sure, I knew how to defend myself thanks to the help of my brother, but I had never truly gotten into a situation where I needed to defend myself. I was pretty much always in my own business and not getting into trouble.

My dad shifted in his seat so he could face me and held my hands inside of his, "Dahlia, remember all those stories of Vampires, Werewolves, and other deadly creatures?"

I nodded slowly, not sure where he was headed with this.

He laughed softly and moved closer, "They aren't just stories. Dahlia, we fight them. We keep them in line."

I looked at him in shock and pulled my hands back. "You're kidding right?" I looked deeply into his eyes then looked at my mom and at the others. Their faces were blank. My mom's face was a stone. She didn't have even a little bit of emotion showing that this was a joke. They were serious about this. They weren't joking!

I looked back at my dad, "I know this is hard to comprehend, Dahlia, but in time, you will understand. We need you to help and enter what we do. We're growing old and have been doing this for a long time. It's time that you take your responsibilities along with Matthew's."

My eyes widened. This was what Matthew had been training for. He knew about this. How could he even manage something as horrible as this? "My responsibilities? Our responsibilities? Why does this have to be our responsibility?" I realized that my voice was increasing volume.

"I know this isn't the lightest news we've given you, but we need you to understand that there is no choice in this. We have to do it for the good of everyone."

"What about the good of us? This has to be dangerous."

"Of course it's dangerous, Doll," my mom spoke softly, "but if we don't do it then who does?"

"Anyone! Anyone else can do it. What makes it have to be us that do this?" my voice was getting louder until I realized I had stood from my seat and was practically shouting at my dad.

"Dahlia, please sit down and try to calm down." My dad spoke casually as if this didn't matter.

"Dad, this is insane." I stumbled over my words, but my mom helped.

"We know this is insane. We know this is dangerous. We know that, Doll. You will get scratched, bruised, and cut, and even might have close to death battles, but we must do it. We're hunters. Nothing fancy or original, that's just what we do." My mom said smoothly.

"What would people say when I walk out with a black eye or when I go to school with broken bones? Don't you think the teachers would get suspicious? What of all the people I know? Would I have to lie to them?" I hated how I sounded. I was whining too much and I didn't like it, but everything would spill out of my mouth in a quick slur. I would always obey my parents' words without a doubt or question, but this was too much!

The room was silent for a while until my dad decided to speak again, "That is why you must let them go."

"Let them go?" I asked softly as I watched my dad stand from his chair and place his hands on my shoulders.

"Dahlia, you're right. You can't go to your friends and let them see you beat up and all," I thought this meant that he would reconsider, but I was wrong, "so you must leave them."

"You want me to just let them go as if they were never there?" I could feel my anger bubble in my veins.

"Didn't I always tell you not to get attached to anyone? If you stay any longer, the more painful it will be." His voice was stern indicating that there was absolutely no way to change his mind. His choice was final. There was no way of breaking out of it, and I knew it.

"I have no choice do I?" I said softly waiting for his reply. Silence was my answer. It told me what my dad didn't want to tell me, 'no'.

Instead he looked deeply in my shallow eyes. "Matthew will teach you the basics of fighting then Angelou will help both of you progress with your training." He was now telling me his plan. He had made his choice. "In the beginning it will be scary, but then you find courage. I guarantee you..."

I don't know if it was fear but it was something. It was something big and it left me empty. I didn't need to ask him any more questions to understand what he was asking of me. He wanted me to isolate myself from everyone. He wanted me to dedicate myself to this and only this. I would have to abandon everyone that I loved. And I would only have one week to do it. I had absolutely no say in it.