Ninety Five- Peace- now and forever

Ninety Five- Peace- now and forever


NATHANIEL STORM ( still the real one)

The long drive to our home was hellish. That I would not meet Sarah and Raya casually lounging in the living room as usual, constantly pierced my heart with pain.

At this point, I’m foolishly wishing to go back in time. I won’t even mind returning to the day she walked into her father’s house. I would give a lot to listen to Sarah complain about my refusal to acknowledge our past. 

“Sir…” Ray stopped the car, and I looked up. 

Our home was sitting still, but somehow, I could sense that it knew we weren’t around. Or perhaps I thought that way because the falling darkness cast a shadow upon it. 

“Let’s go in,” I said heavily after a minute of preparing myself for whatever could be waiting behind the door and hoping that the man with me was truly on my side. 

Soon, I was in the wheelchair, Mr. Ray pushing steadily towards the entrance while my hands clasped to stop emotions from rousing. 

“Someone broke in,” he commented when we noticed the condition of the front door. 

“Let’s go in.”

Pure silence welcomed us after the lights switched on. I flicked my eyes past the living room because I knew I’d start to imagine her to the point of tears forming in my eyes. 

“The secret room’s in the garage,” I instructed Ray after he pointed out that the room appeared untouched. 

“Sir, who else knows about that room?”

“Maybe my father,” I replied, my heart hardening towards him more and more for the audacious nonsense he’s recently pulled. “He has the habit of monitoring every single thing I do.”

Now that I remember the events from years ago, I can recognise the pattern of my father’s obsession with my activities. In fact, back then, it was worse. The only time I felt at peace was the days I got to be with Sarah. 

That hasn’t changed. Even while I struggled to comprehend her anger towards me, her presence spelt peace for me. 

This time- now and forever- I want to be her peace instead.

Seconds later, the silence still trailing us, we reached the garage. It was mostly empty since my other cars were at the company, so I easily located the entrance to the secret room. 

The door to that room was plastered with the pastel walls. Per its mechanism, it was constructed to open only with three specific pushes. 

I rolled my chair to the wall ahead and positioned myself. Seconds later, the slim door slid open, and we went into the barely broad corridor, my chest thudding harder. 

But, regardless of the horror I might meet, I know that a huge part of me will be joyful and grateful to find Sarah and Raya.

“It’s too quiet,” Ray whispered. 

“Keep going.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Your weapon?”

“Secure.”

“Good.” I silently exhaled, my heart hoping that the whirring of my chair hadn’t given our presence away.

Well, if that’s the case, it would chase whoever is at the end of the room towards us. And whoever they are, I’ll make sure to ruin everything they have and love in this world. 

“Another door,” Ray quietly announced, and my chest almost tore apart. 

Behind the wooden door, we’ll either find a truth or nothing at all.

“Open it,” I ordered and the knob turned. 

Ray stepped aside, and I found myself shocked by the warm lights brightening the space. As I moved further into the room, I heard a faint voice speaking weird things. That sound was coming from behind the large curtain shielding my eyes from the other part of the room.

Hurriedly, my heart still attempting to jump out, I reached for the curtain and flung it open. 

“Who the hell are you?” I demanded, my bewildered eyes shifting to Raya, who was asleep and hopefully at peace within that sleep. Then, my gaze returned to the brunette who I had met whispering words in my daughter’s ears. “Mr. Ray…”

“Sir…” He approached and forced the woman away from Raya. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” The unfamiliar woman screamed, her hands unable to force her out of Ray’s grip. “Let me go, you prick.”

“Raya…” I climbed out of the chair, my soul gladdened that somehow, I was able to walk with my unaffected leg. Shakily, I knelt beside my daughter, my soul jolting with more gratitude when I confirmed that she was indeed asleep.

“Don’t touch my daughter, you freak!” the woman yelled again, her voice shaking the room, making Raya stir. 

“Thank you for staying fine, Raya,” I whispered to my daughter, my warmth embracing hers as closely as possible, my heart delighted to see faint flutters in her eyes while her sleep continued. “Thank you so much, my dear daughter.”

“Hmm…” She weakly groaned in response. “Mummy…” Her lips spilled, and my heart crumbled. 

She must have cried for Sarah a lot. Oh… her sweet soul. 

“Mummy is fine, Raya,” I assured her, my eyes finding it hard to fight tears. “She’s fine. Soon, you’ll be with your mummy. And… and… also Dada.” As if her hands would vanish, I hurriedly placed her right one on my chest. “You know Dada, right? He’s here. Hmm, my daughter?”

“I’m speaking to you, you fucking thief!” The madwoman's hollers returned to me. With locked jaws, I darted my gaze to her. “That’s my daughter. Don’t touch her. Do you think you’ll get away with this? I’ll fucking report you to the police!”

“Ray, hold that woman still,” I ordered, the anger within me growing. 

“Yes, sir.”

After a quick deliberation between placing Raya in my wheelchair or leaving her on the little mattress, which seemed fairly comfortable, I gently placed her on the mattress, my hand reluctant to let her go. But once I found the courage to do that, I faced the deranged fool who… who… 

God… Just thinking about the shit Raya had to endure keeps breaking my heart. And the fact that Sarah’s not here… Fuck!

“Your daughter?” I questioned her nonsense after pulling myself together. 

“Yes!” Her enlarged eyes could have turned me to ashes if possible. “Touch her again and I’ll kill you.”

“Who are you?” I demanded after a bitter chuckle. “Who are you working with?” I took two leaps closer. “Where’s Sarah?”

“Why would I tell you about that crook?” Ray was doing a good job of holding her back, she couldn’t reach me, no matter how hard she tried. “Leave! Just leave! Leave me and my daughter alone!” 

On my way towards her, I found a rod about my height. I picked it up and used it as support for my unstable steps. 

“Listen, woman…” No matter how I searched her eyes, she wasn’t familiar. “Tell me the truth and I will help you.”

“You?” She mocked me. “My Nate told me you’re also a crook. Why don’t you face your fucking thief of a woman and leave?”

Her Nate? I wondered. 

That’s not the focus…

“Hey!” I snapped, my hand dragging her chin upwards, my grip making her wince. “This is your last chance.  Tell me where Sarah is. Tell me who you are working with.”

“No.” She huffed. “No, I won’t.”

“You won’t?” 

“I won’t.”

“You won’t?” The woman foolishly believed I was joking with my questions. Before another ‘no’ could leave her lips, I planted a sharp slap across her cheeks. “You still won’t?”

“Wait. Wait. Wait,” she hastily said, her eyes squeezing at intervals. 

“Let’s go with an easier question this time,” I ignored her pleas. “Act foolish and the last thing you’ll see in this life is my face.”

She gulped, her confidence failing. “Threatening me is against the law.”

“Then you shouldn’t have kidnapped my daughter.” My grip returned to her chin. “Now… Tell me, what is your name?”

“It’s not like you know me,” she retorted. 

“Mr. Ray over here used to be a wrestling champion. He’ll make a bigger mess of your face.” I laughed, short and cutting. “You won’t survive it.”

“Wait. Wait. Fine. Fine. Fine.” Her eyes closed and she swallowed again. “My name?”

I glanced to check on Raya, then turned to the woman and swiftly confirmed, “Your name.”

“It’s Sandy. Sandy Rosborn.”

My eyes met Mr. Ray’s.

“That name’s familiar,” I commented and Ray nodded in agreement.

“T-T-That’s because I’m her teacher.”

“What?” 

“I’m… I’m Miss Sunshine!”