The Vanishing

Chapter 15

After successfully ditching class, we walked into the museum that Henry works for and found the front desk.

"Excuse me, we're looking for Henry Matthews." I said to the young woman working at the information desk.

"Is he expecting you?" She asked as she led us through the museum toward the back of the building.

"Nope, it's a surprise." I said.

She smiled warmly at us before coming to a stop at the corner of the hallway before knocking on his office door. Henry opened it with a confused smile.

"I'll leave you three to it, then." The receptionist lady said before walking away.

"Hey, kiddo." He greeted me warmly. "Patrick. Nice to see you again." He said shortly.

Patrick only nodded at him while I shifted uncomfortably.

"Come in, have a seat." Henry said, ushering us inside and closing the door behind us.

Henry sat behind his desk and pulled up two chairs for us to sit in.

"This better be good, since you're skipping school again." He said.

I just put the picture of my supposed parents on his desk in response.

He looked genuinely confused at first. Then, I put the picture of him and I from my birthday down next to it. He looked up at me with shock at first, then such sadness that I wanted to cry.

"Care to explain?" I asked.

"How long have you known?" He asked, his eyes lingering on the photos before connecting with mine.

"I wouldn't say that I knew anything until right now. Until now, I've only had suspicions." I said through gritted teeth.

"I wanted to tell you so many times." He said finally.

"Where is she?" Tears of frustration were building up in my eyes now, threatening to break free and roll down my face.

"You have to understand. Your mother didn't want this life for you. She didn't want you to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life." He pleaded with me.

Patrick scoffed and I lost my patience, if I ever had any.

"So instead you two let me grow up thinking there was something wrong with me? I couldn't tell anyone about what I was going through because I was afraid they might think I'm psychotic! I went through everything alone when I didn't have to because you've been here the whole time! How could you do that to me?" I shouted at him, tears rolling down my cheeks. It was one of the only times I've ever raised my voice at him.

"I was honoring your mother's wishes. She thought if you grew up in a stable home as a human that you'd be happy, and that you'd be hidden." He said, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard." I rolled my eyes.

"It's what she asked me to do. I wasn't even supposed to be in your life, but I wanted to look out for you." He said sadly.

"Where is she?" I asked again.

He shook his head "I don't know. She was taken by the Artemis Group."

I didn't say anything for what felt like ages.

When I finally spoke, Henry jerked backwards as if he'd been slapped.

"What are you?" I asked through gritted teeth.

When he didn't respond, my anger started to bubble to the surface. The energy in the room shifted, and I swear the lights flickered. The coffee mug on Henry's desk started rattling, followed shortly by everything else on his desk. I took a few calming breaths to keep it from getting out of hand.