But am I going to do nothing? No way! I'll seek out more information to find out about it; I can't sleep peacefully if I don't discover the whole truth. I need Raven's support in the meantime because Dad would surely never give me any information. I took a deep breath and decided to enter my room, but I was halfway up the stairs when I saw Aunt Laura coming down. She was in a hurry and didn't seem to see me, so the smile on my greeting to her suddenly disappeared.
My forehead knotted as I followed her; where could she go? I was about to ignore her, but I just found myself following her. I swallowed hard; the place she went to was so remote that I hesitated whether to follow or not. I looked at the back to see if someone was looking at us, but I didn't notice anyone watching us.
"Do I have to?" I mumbled, thinking that this place, which was not familiar to me, was dangerous. I was worried about what was waiting for me; what if this is just their trap?
I had to walk backward; I couldn't rush to follow Aunt Laura since I didn't really know them. I had learned in life that you had to trust yourself after a lot of betrayals. Wouldn't I have a lesson in life yet?
While walking backward, a hand suddenly held my wrist and pulled me to run, which was not my option. I wanted to yell at the person who held me, but I couldn't when he covered my mouth using his other hand while staring at me. We were behind the trees. I tried to move away, but he didn't let me, so I just did what he wanted until I could hear some faint footsteps as if someone wanted to avoid being heard.
"Follow Laura, there might be the hidden thing we're looking for." The voice was familiar; it was Uncle John. I shudder to think what he meant by looking.
After a few minutes, they left. Uncle John went back to the house, and Raven released me. Our lips almost met, just an inch apart. Before I was attracted, I immediately looked away. My tummy suddenly flipped up and down, as if there was something I felt weird about.
"They're gone." I smelled his mint on his breath. Why are you punishing me like this? I moved away a little, but he grabbed my forearm. "John is still in the pool area; he still has thirty minutes before leaving the area to make sure Lucia doesn't know everything." He sums up and elaborates everything in a way I can understand.
I would be stuck with him for thirty minutes. Could I handle it? I asked myself. I just closed my eyes and wished time would fly by. I couldn't handle being this close for a long time. I couldn't take it, us being together under the same roof? Even if we were far from each other, I knew I was still affected.
I swallowed hard and shut my eyes; at least by doing this, I wouldn't see him anymore. I could probably do thirty minutes with my eyes closed.
***
I was deeply sighing when, finally, the man released me and we returned home. It's true that Uncle John wasn't there. I hurried back to my room because I had some rituals to do for myself.
It was late at night, and everyone seemed to be asleep. I went down to call my children. I miss them so much, and I just want to hear their voices. I was doing my best not to hear my footsteps until I reached the backyard of the house, where no one could see me.
I was dialing the phone, and Hiro answered the call.
"Hello," I whispered.
"You called; what's the update?" He asked before I could ask about my baby. I ignored his queries because I didn't have anything to say, so he went ahead of me. He probably sensed that I still hadn't discovered anything yet: "Your babies are fine. Although they were always looking for you at first, now they are okay, so you don't have to worry about it. Just focus on your goal."
I'm not used to us being away for a few days, but I have to for the sake of my father. "Can you wake them up for me? I really miss them, Hiro." I would like to weep but I have to keep my cool.
I don't think it's genetic; my dad needs me. I have to find out what's wrong with this place, and I need Raven to assist me. Whether I confess it or not, I need him, and I was thinking that now that we are together, I couldn't bear it any longer. Yet, he is a great help to me.
"Okay," he sighed, and I heard him put down his phone and wake up the children. "Mommy wants to talk," Hiro informed them.
"Mommy," Red yawned. They wanted to sleep, and I missed caressing them and having playtime. It's like this once you become a mother you can't get your children out of your system.
"Red, Rayden, how are you? Do you miss Mom? I miss you too, babies." I was preventing myself from cracking my voice, knowing that I needed to be strong for them.
"We miss you, mom," they said in unison. I smiled even though they couldn't see me. "We know you have to be with Grandpa, Mom; we understand. Don't worry about us as long as you come back once it is done." I nodded at what Rayden said, even if he couldn't see me.
"Yes, baby, I will." I was still lucky to have them both, who chose to understand me instead of throwing tantrums. They are not as skilled as I am, but they know I will come home to them.
"Mommy, I miss you so much. I know that you are taking care of our grandpa. I can't wait to see him when he is fine." I can feel that Red is grinning and looking excited to see Daddy, but I'm not sure if it will happen due to our situation right now.
"Someday, baby," I said to them, because there was nothing I could do but accompany them. "Oh, how about you two go to sleep now? I'll call back tomorrow morning."
"Okay, Mommy, bye."
"Bye, Mom," I heard Rayden loudly yawn. "We're sleeping, so we could be adults, then you wouldn't protect us because Red, Aunt Hera, and I would protect you." He summed up, and I don't know why suddenly there was something in my eyes. Gosh, how could my baby make me feel like this?
"Rayden understood the assignment," I heard Hiro in the background.
“We love you, Mommy,” they told me.
"I love you too babies, “ and I hung up the call before I started crying.
"Who is that?" I almost dropped my phone when I heard someone talking behind me. God, my heart was beating so loudly that I felt like he could also hear it. Shit! Shit!