CHAPTER FIVE(5):
1067 Words
The truth has a face. Sometimes it is the one standing right in front of you.
The photograph slipped from Arianas fingers. Fell to the floor between her and Damien.
For a moment no one moved.
Ethan frowned, looking from the photograph to Damien.
"What is this?" he asked.
Ariana slowly bent to pick up the photograph.
The little boy in the picture had a smile and innocent eyes.
He had the sharp eyes and calm expression as the man standing in front of her.
It was the face.
Arianas gaze lifted to Damien back to the photograph.
"No " she whispered, her voice cracking.
"It cannot be " she said.
Damien remained silent his dark eyes never leaving the picture.
Ariana took one step toward him.
"Were you the boy?" she asked.
She swallowed hard waiting for his response.
The hallway fell deathly quiet with even Ethan holding his breath.
Damien finally looked into her eyes. A sadness Ariana could not understand flickered across his face.
"Yes " he said, his answer consisting of one word.
That was all it took. Memories Ariana could not explain flashed through her mind.
She remembered a childs laughter, a hand holding hers and someone calling her "Sunshine."
A sharp pain shot through her head. She stumbled.
Before she hit the floor Damien caught her his voice low as he said "You are remembering."
Ariana looked up tears filling her eyes.
"I do not know who you are " she said, "so why does my heart know you?"
The pounding in Arianas head slowly. She pulled away from Damiens arms breathing unevenly.
"What just happened to me?" she asked.
Damiens eyes searched hers. He said, "You remembered something."
Ariana frowned, saying, "No I almost did."
She pressed her fingers against her temples trying to recall the memories.
"There was a voice, a boy and then it was gone " she said.
Damien lowered his gaze. Ariana felt frustration flare inside her.
"No you do not know " she said, her voice echoing through the hallway.
"You keep saying you know me you know my nickname you know my past but you will not tell me anything " she said.
Damien remained calm saying, "If I tell you before you are ready you will not believe me."
Ariana laughed bitterly saying, "Try me."
For the time Damien hesitated, then quietly said, "When we were children you saved my life."
Ariana stared at him saying, "What?"
Before Damien could explain further a shrill ringtone shattered the silence.
Arianas mom was. She answered immediately.
"Mom?" she said,. All she heard was ragged breathing, followed by a frightened whisper.
"Ariana do not come home " her mom said, before the line went dead.
Ariana pressed the phone against her ear saying, "Mom, Mom ". There was no answer.
The line was dead. Panic gripped her chest.
"I have to go " she said, rushing toward the elevator.
Damien caught up beside her saying, "I am coming with you."
Ariana shot him a glare saying, "I do not even know you."
Damiens voice remained steady as he said "But whoever frightened your mother knows who you are."
The elevator doors slid open. Neither of them spoke during the ride down.
Outside Damien opened the passenger door of his car. Ariana hesitated for only a second before getting in.
As the car sped through the city she dialed her mothers number again. There was no answer.
She tried again. Still there was nothing.
Her hands. She said, "What if I am too late?"
Damien tightened his grip on the steering wheel saying, "You will not be."
Minutes later they turned onto Arianas street and police cars blocked the entrance.
Red and blue lights flashed across the neighborhood and Arianas heart stopped.
She threw the car door open before it had fully stopped and an officer stepped forward.
"Miss Hayes?" he. Ariana nodded, unable to speak.
The officer removed his cap saying, "I am sorry you are going to need to come with us."
Arianas legs felt like jelly. She asked, "What happened?"
Her voice was barely audible and the police officer glanced at Damien before looking back at her.
"Your apartment was broken into " he said.
Arianas breath. She asked, "My mother?"
The officers words came carefully saying, "We cannot find her the apartment shows signs of a struggle and the front door was not forced open but your mothers phone was found inside."
Ariana shook her head saying, "No she would not just leave."
Without waiting for permission she pushed past the officers. Ran upstairs.
The apartment was a mess with drawers pulled open books littering the floor and picture frames lying shattered.
"Mom " she cried,. There was no answer.
Damien silently searched the living room his eyes narrowing as he said, "Miss Hayes."
Ariana. He pointed toward the dining table, where a white envelope rested in the center.
Across the front written in black ink were four chilling words: FOR SUNSHINE ONLY.
Ariana slowly reached for it. Damien grabbed her wrist saying, "Do not."
She looked up confused. Damiens expression had gone deathly pale.
"I know that handwriting " he said, his hand tightening around Arianas wrist.
"Do not touch it " he said.
Ariana looked at him saying, "You know who sent it ". Damiens silence was answer enough.
Ariana gently pulled free saying, "I am done letting everyone keep secrets from me."
She picked up the envelope her fingers trembling as she broke the seal.
Inside there was one sheet of paper no greeting, no signature, just a newspaper clipping.
Her eyes scanned the headline: LOCAL BUSINESSMAN AND DAUGHTER DIE IN FATAL CAR CRASH.
Below it was a family photograph. Arianas breath caught as she saw the little girl in the picture was her.
". " She whispered, "my father did not die in a car accident he died of a heart attack."
Her voice. Damien slowly closed his eyes saying, "He did not."
The room fell silent. Ariana looked at him in disbelief saying, "What did you say?"
Before Damien could answer a voice echoed from the apartment doorway saying, "He told you the truth."
Everyone. An elderly man, in a dark suit stood at the entrance flanked by two police officers.
The lead officer removed his cap saying, "Miss Hayes this man claims to be your grandfather.”
- Writer
