Marked by Destiny

2

Pov Selene Veyra.

It had been two weeks since I met a member of my family, well... my uncle.

An uncle. My father's brother. It seemed like a bad joke.

But it wasn't.

After all the documentation was confirmed and the papers signed, there was no denying it: he really was my uncle. Ronan Draven.

Even though it all still seemed too strange.

And today, finally, was the day I was leaving.

I wanted to believe that, from that moment on, things would be different. That I would be okay. That I would be in a safe place, that's what I wanted to believe.

I didn't think too much about it; I just started packing my things.

It didn't take long. I had almost nothing.

Some simple clothes, two pairs of shoes, an old coat. An old diary and the only thing that was valuable to me, the bracelet my mother gave me...

I managed to pack; well, it was better than before. I looked at it on my arm and smiled.

Everything was ready.

I looked around.

That small room, with its dull gray walls and hard bed, I would never see this place again.

As I stared at the space, I thought of my uncle again.

His eyes. His discreet smile. His facial features.

He looked a little like my father.

The shape of his eyes, some of his facial features... I confess it was a little strange to see.

I think... that's why I was a little shocked, surprised to be more exact.

Well, enough thinking. It's time to act.

As I walked down the hallway, I noticed that everything was as usual. Some children were sitting on the floor playing games, others were walking around and gossiping; nothing new there.

No one even saw me walking by.

They always acted like that, ignoring me on purpose.

I didn't say goodbye to anyone.

After all, I didn't even have any friends.

The few times I tried to get close to someone, I was ignored or became the target of jokes and gossip. They always liked to pick on me.

So, I only thought of one thing...

Forget this place and move on.

I kept walking until I reached the gate.

My gaze went straight to the parked car.

It was Ronan's car... he had arrived.

I moved closer, dragging my suitcase, and then he saw me.

He walked over to me and raised his hand to take my suitcase.

“I'll put it in the trunk; you can get in, Selene,” he said kindly and smiled at me.

I nodded and thanked him.

“Thank you, Ronan.”

I slowly walked to the back door and got in, settled down, and put on my seatbelt.

My breathing was irregular; well... it was too fast. I was nervous about all this.

But I wanted to think positively.

Soon after, my uncle got in the car and started the engine, and I turned and looked out the window.

The car started to move, and we were finally leaving that place. Well... now it would be my new beginning.

All I wanted at that moment was for the place I was going to be good.

For me to feel that it was... mine.

For the first time, I wanted to be able to look around and think, I belong here.

“Are you okay?” my uncle's voice interrupted my thoughts.

No, I wasn't. I was confused, anxious, and afraid... but I just forced a quick smile.

“Yes, I'm fine,” I replied, lying.

He glanced at me sideways, as if he didn't quite believe me, but he didn't insist.

The city was really falling behind. The buildings began to diminish, giving way to more distant houses, then empty roads lined with tall trees.

I imagined that his house was near a forest.

This would really do me good...

Honestly, it would be a place far from people, from gossip, from fake and mean people... that's all I needed.

After some time, I was still looking out the window, then I saw immense trees, a pleasant aroma of flowers, and wow... this would do me so much good. It seemed like a very pleasant place.

Then, suddenly, I heard my uncle's voice.

"We're almost there," he said. "I want you to be happy in your true home, Selene." I looked away from the window and spoke.

"I want that too," I replied, smiling slightly.

He continued down the road, cleared his throat a little, and said:

“Well... I wanted to ask you, do you remember your parents?”

For a few seconds, I continued looking out the window, but my mind was no longer there.

Well, of course I remembered... I dreamed about them constantly.

It was a simple but good life. My parents were always there; we always spent days together; we went for walks together, and I felt well-loved.

I remembered the nights when we had dinner together, went to the park, or even had a picnic in our backyard. It was something simple, but few children had it, and I rejoiced in things like that, small things that were important to me.

When they traveled for work, I stayed with a friend of my mother's. She always treated me with love and made me laugh. She was affectionate; she was like a second mother to me.

Everything was simple. But it was ours.

I was happy.

“I remember them, yes,” I replied, my voice a little lower. “We had a quiet life. I liked being with them. I... had a good life. Until the accident happened.”

As soon as I said the word “accident,” I heard my uncle take a deep breath. It wasn't just any sigh. It was a heavy, different sound.

“Well...” he spoke slowly and then continued. “Actually... it wasn't an accident, Selene.”

My eyebrow arched... I shook my head slowly.

“It wasn't an accident; I don't understand,” I asked, feeling my heart race. “As far as I remember, it was an accident...” I was already getting nervous.

I looked at him in the rearview mirror. He returned my gaze, looking serious. And well... he seemed a little nervous, as if searching for the right words.

The car began to slow down. Before I knew it, we were stopping in front of the gate of a large house surrounded by trees.

Ronan took his hand off the steering wheel, turned off the car, and turned to look at me.

He let out a long sigh before speaking.

“No, Selene,” he said calmly but firmly. “It wasn't an accident. It was worse than that,” a pause... I was getting more nervous than before.

“I have to be honest with you... your parents were... murdered.”

I almost choked on my saliva.

What did he say?

I couldn't believe it.

He continued, without taking his eyes off me:

“And I... need your help... We have to find out who is responsible.”

Those responsible?

But what...?

What was going on here anyway?

What do you mean?

My parents were murdered?

Who did this to them?

My heart was beating too fast, and my hands were shaking... I couldn't believe what I heard from my uncle.