Miracles

Chapter 19

~Kim's View~

"Calm down honey." Mr. Stone consoles his crying wife.
We just found the little Snowball in a pool of his own blood with a picture attached to him.
It's a picture of the baby, Avisha, not as she left but with a tattoo of the letter, 'A' cursively written on her neck. The note says,
"Isn't this beautiful? Oh, and please teach your pooch some manners. He's gotta respect." 

"The wretched witch is gonna pay so bad. She's going to wish she never messed with my family." Mrs. Stone stomps off with bitterness, hatred, anger, and other unknown emotions. Mr. Stone follows her.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, only for me to drop it instantly.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Eli picks up my cracked phone and looks at me with concern.
"I have t-to to tell you something." I stammer.
"What is it?" The agent asks.
"It's bad and you have to get my mom fast. Like right now." I cry. Eli engulfs me in a warm hug. I feel bad. I should have known Stewart's boss was bad news. I'm in deep trouble but the least I can do is help Eli get his sister back.

"Give me your address. I'll send someone there right now." The agent pulls out a phone.
I give her the address. She nods and tells the person on the other end about my mom.
"Mom is fine. She's fine." I murmur to myself biting my nails. "She's fine, right?" I ask no one in particular.
"Yes, she's fine." The agent says.
"Where is she?" I ask.
"She's staying with a friend of mine until everything is over." She responds. "I want you to tell me everything you know."

"I met a lady earlier today. She's my brother's boss. She told me that I am the key to her success. I laughed when she said that and asked her how that is possible. She showed me a picture of Eli and asked if I know him, I said yes. She told me to bring him, Eli, to her tomorrow. I asked why and she said if I want my mom to be safe and if I want to gain money I would just do as she says. I didn't know she had anything to do with the baby. I'm so sorry. I-I..." I feel Eli stiffen and I trail off as fear and loneliness get the best of me.
"Thank you, Miss Short. You did the right thing by telling us." Agent Barnes pats my back. "I think it's best if you guys stay here for the time being. My men will be here and at your various homes to protect your families so don't worry about them."

I muster courage and shamefully turn to Eli. Hurt is written all over his face. I hurt Eli.
"Eli, I'm so sorry," I plead with him.
He shakes his head and rushes off to his room.

I feel my heart shattering into a thousand pieces. I just ruined my chance of ever becoming more than friends with the guy I have a huge crush on. Does he even classify me as a friend? Thinking about it feels like rubbing salt in an open wound. It hurts so much.

"Hey, please stop crying." Eloise wipes my tears.
"Eli, he, h-hates me." My voice cracks.
"He doesn't hate you," Hee adds. "Eli isn't that kind of person. Just go and talk to him."
"What is there to talk about?" I sniffle.
"Everything." Hee smiles.
"Yeah, from how you happen to like him to why you don't want to be just friends to how sorry you are." Eloise smiles at me with hope.
"Okay. I'll talk to him." I rub my face. "How do I look?"
"Just go."

...

~Eli's View~

I don't know what to think, imagine, or feel anymore. My baby sister is somewhere with a maniac who is giving her tattoos. Her skin was red at where the tattoo was given and she looked pale with teary dull eyes.
To make matters worse and shockingly heartbreaking, I find out that my newest friend, scratch that, my newest enemy was going to give me up to that maniac just for money and that her brother is involved in all the shit that's going on in my life. How could Kimberly do this to me? I thought she was so different that I didn't see she was actually a wolf in sheep clothing.

Someone opens the door.
"Eli," Kim calls. Surprisingly my heart beats faster when I hear her voice. I have my back to her and I neither make a move to talk nor face her. She shuts my door walks towards me.
"Eli, I'm sorry. I promise, I didn't know anything and I didn't know my brother is involved with that woman. I'm sorry." She touches my shoulder.
"Eli." She cries. "Eli, for Christ's sake say something or just look at me."
I want to laugh right now. She wants me to say something? Like what? My sister is fine? When I know she isn't?

I shake my head and move towards my bed. She stands in front of me blocking me from its comfort.
I sigh running my fingers through my hair.
"Talk to me." She touches my cheek. "Please." She adds. I look directly into her azure eyes.
"Let's say none of this happened today. Would you have given me up to that woman?" I ask, still staring directly into her puffy eyes taking in all the details.
She opens her mouth for a while and closes it again averting her gaze to the floor.
"You don't care about what's happening to my sister right now, do you?" I ask.
"Of course I care." She says.
I scoff. "What about me? Do you care about me?"
"Yes, yes. I care about you a lot."
"I care about your sister and I'm going to help find her." She says taking in a deep breath before continuing.
"I don't know if this is the best way to show you how much I care about you but anyway, I want you to know that I wouldn't give you up for anything in the world."
"I like you, Eli." She smiles and kisses me.
I hold her by the waist pulling her closer to me.

"I like you too."