HeartBeat

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Ava

My eyes sift through the documents I've just received. I find my lips curling up in a cruel smile. Pleasure fills me. This day seems to have exceeded most.

I felt settled, and weirdly enough calm, even with the blood-filled picture, and the background noise of the woman speaking rapidly in French about the sickly prime minister.

Chase had just dropped me off where I had asked. Four blocks away from my temporary residence. Of course, he did not know it. We may be doing whatever it's called when two are kissing and fucking, and holding hands, and hugging, but it didn't mean there was a bounty of trust between us.

There probably never will be. He called me Hazel Eyes, but also called me Charlotte. I was neither. The only nickname I had was an assigned number, and then there was my true name. Ava. I sigh, as the lightness of the day falters.

Happiness is always fleeting.

Live...Be..Happy.

I shiver. I roll my shoulders, and instead focus on the screen before me. There was still plenty to do. There were still too many people who were still alive and belonged in the ground. But the others are making progress, good enough, that even with Father's notice, it wouldn't hinder anything.

He'll notice the deeper meaning of it all eventually. He'll notice that his world is being trifled with, changed in patterns he did not command.

The days were moving quickly. Before I wished them to move quicker. Now, after the odd day I've had, filled with sex, pleasure, and what I was beginning to realize may be some twisted form of romantic love, I found myself wishing for the days to slow its pace.

I go through the camara images I've wired to my computer, the images of me, erasing whenever I stepped into a particular view. It was rare, but there were still a few grainy images of me. Father may have control of one or more satellites, but I was adept in hiding away, and I had help from a renowned genius.

I smile.

A beep, has me straightening. I click open the unregistered email, and some of that lightness that had left, returns, and I find myself warming in another way. Love I've hidden away deep inside me, bursts open, and I find myself grinning.

I begin to read.

Check in,

Hello. I am well. I hope you are too. Mrs. Delilah is also well. She curses your name at times, but other than that, she is well. I've kept up with my training as required. I also keep up with all my required lessons. I will soon be entering the college curriculum. Mrs., Delilah is already ordering the required textbooks. She has also done what you've asked and has allowed me to associate with the other children.

My chest tightens, and a strange bout of worry seeps in. Will she be able to fit into society? Is it too late? Have I worked her too hard? Has father torn out everything she'll need to survive in a world that I'll be thrusting her in?

The next few lines, reassure me, as if she were speaking to me in person, I almost felt the small twang of excitement, and exuberance.

I've made friends. They taught me a game called tag, and hopscotch. We often play football, and I'm very good. The other children always want me on their teams. They are strange and soft, but they are quite strong sometimes too. They cry when they are happy. They cry when they are sad. They cry, because it feels nice, they say. They are also very loud, and they run wild, and are sometimes so strange, but also, very fun. I am having fun. They say we are all the same without parents or family, but we have each other. They have taken me in kindly and are teaching me a great many things. The church is large, and the rooms are small, but the beds are warm. The people are warmer. I like this place better than the last. But I miss you. I am becoming one of them, but I still want to be one of you. Come find me soon. Because you are also my family, and I love you.