Unnamed

THREE – things i would do to convince myself

I was hungry and I decided not to eat the pasta. My anger was more dominating in comparison of my hunger. My stomach protested with a growl loud enough to disbalance the plane. Ignoring it, I curled my small body in a ball and tucked the sheet over my head. I didn't want to see anyone- not Jean's pitying glances, Luke's blank stares, and Dylan frustrated glares. So, I returned to bed and decided to wait to reach Australia.

There was not much I could do here. Their eyes were following me everywhere, even in the bathroom ("Sorry, but Dylan does not trust you." Jean mumbled, diverting her eyes from mine). I mean what did he think I would do? Flush myself?

I had to wait, and once we would reach Australia, I could put my plan to escape into action. But what plan? What did I know about the place where we were going to land? Would anyone even help me? How would I ask someone to help me? And even if they did, then what? What would I tell dad and what would he do? I wondered why I made those half-assed attempts to escape when a part of me was probably relieved to get out of that place. Then I remind myself that how sick it was for me to think like that and the right thing would be to escape.

What if I was caught before I could flee? What would he do? He had promised not to hurt me. Sad thing, he didn't keep it. Would he hit me? I shivered involuntarily. I didn't want to get hurt but staying with them would not promise heaven exactly.

I heard the door open. Peeking from the corner of the sheet, I watched Dylan walking in with a plate in his hand. He lowered himself beside me and set the plate on the bed.

"Come on, eat," he pulled the sheet from me and tossed it aside. Without saying anything, I turned my back to him and the appetizing food. "Fay, I am sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean to-"

"You have used a Taser on me yesterday to get me unconscious." I accused. New tears started to form in my eyes again.

The silence between us stretched and he broke it, speaking, "I do not even have a Taser. What are you talking about?"

I shot in a sitting position and crossed my arms over my chest while glaring at him. My lips furrowed in an angry pout, "Oh really? You used it on me yesterday. Here,” I pointed at my temples. “Do not lie." I clarified, daring him to say otherwise. But his attention was on my lips. I doubt if he had even listened to what I had said. Huffing, I took back my fetal position.

"Sorry, if it hurt like that but it was not a Taser. Now get up and eat." When I didn't move, he heaved a sigh, "Fay, don't be like a child. If you want to be angry, then stay that way but do not starve yourself. I can hear your stomach growl from the cockpit. Get up now."

"I am not h-hungry. I want to go home" I clutched the pillow tighter.

"Finish it and I'll take you home."

That got my attention in no time. I jumped back on my butt and scooted closer toward him. “Will you now?” I raised my eyebrows in suspicion.

He rolled his eyes but repeated, "Finish it and I will take you home."

"You are lying." I skeptically eyed him for any traces of lies. It was hard to tell with his bored expression. So, I decided to not to believe him. "You are lying." I made a statement and was about to slide back when his hand on my shoulder stopped me.

"I am not lying. Believe me."

"Promise it."

"Fay, sto-" I glared, "Fine, I promise that I will take you home."

“Thank you,” I said as sincerely as I could. For the first time since that last night I looked into his eyes. Those deep blues, despite everything, were the most beautiful color I had seen in my life. How can something be this beautiful? “I can’t tell you how important it is for me to be at home. I c-can’t just… leave like this.” I dropped my gaze to my lap in thought. “Thanks,” I rose on my knees and threw my hands around him. His arms easily found their way around me, like they were meant to be there. And if he had not kidnapped me, taking me back or not, I might have enjoyed his embrace.

After that my spirits were in a relatively good mood. I graciously ate the cold pasta. I also did small talk with Jean. She was one of Dylan’s friends, so was Luke, and Jean and Luke were engaged.

“Dylan never told me why he kidnapped me.” I started very casually after a while.

"We are not kidnappers, Fay," she repeated for the umpteenth time.

"Well, Dylan is. Or maybe I am the first person you have kidnapped." I slouched down in my seat. She narrowed her eyes on me but shook her head instead of saying anything. "Anyway, once I am back to my home, I didn't care what you guys do. Though, you shouldn’t do it.”

Jean opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Her eyes held a faraway look in them like she was thinking deeply about something. Inhaling deep, she turned toward me, "Fay, the world is not what it seems to be, not the humans, not animals, not even us. Sometimes, what we believe in could completely contradict the truth. Don't be fooled by what you see," she very softly brushed back my hair behind my ears and smiled one of those smiles that can put you to ease, "because sometimes what we do not see is truer."

"What do you mean?" I asked but Luke appeared out of nowhere.

"Hey, beautiful." He took Jean's mouth in a quick lush kiss, "I need you for a moment." I awestruck watched their open affection when Jean excused herself.

Alone with Jean's previous words as my company, I pondered over them.

What we believe in could completely contradict the truth. What did that mean? I was as normal and ordinary as an American could be, except the part of being kidnapped. I believed in many things- like one day I would study design in college, I would open my boutique or maybe I could work with dad and we would happily live together. I could see that happening. But if Jean's right, then this meant chances were nothing like that would happen.

Do not be fooled by what you see. All I could see right now were three strangers- criminally normal, somewhat nice, mysterious. Was there something I was not seeing? Was there something more to them? Was it better or worse?

What we do not see is truer. Was I supposed to seek something? I didn't want to. I just wanted to reach home as soon as possible. Then I'd forget it in time equal to the minutes taken to cook instant noodles. Then there'd be no need to over think about Jean, Luke or even Dylan. I just hoped dad would not be angry. I'd cook him his favorite Spanish omelets if he were. He himself had said that he could not be angry with me for long. I was his only daughter.

I didn't know when I had drifted into a dreamless sleep but next thing I knew was Dylan shaking me lightly to wake me up.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes, groggily.

"We are here." He told, lending me a hand to get up.

"Home?" I glanced out of the window. All I could see was live wire fences and trees beyond them with a few people dressed in black roaming about... What was this place? It looked like some secluded airport. Why were we here?

"Not yet, but we'd be there soon," he led me out of the plane and for the first time in months, I felt the glare of summer sun on my skin. Then, I realized that I was still in my matching sleeping shorts and tee, not to forget barefoot. I scooted behind Dylan, using his body as a shield against all the people. We were in a remote looking place with only trees around the airport. There was a weathered board warning about live wires and someone's property. There was a distinctive smell of saltiness in the air, pointing an ocean nearby. Luke and Jean were already standing by a car in the distance while chatting merrily with a man.

"Ho’ was you' trip, Alpha?" A man popped in front of us. The first thing I noticed was his physique. I had never seen a man as tall as him. I had to crane my neck back to look at his face. With all those muscles and height, he could easily give me a ride on his shoulders or crush my bones with bare hands. I gasped involuntarily when his unique metallic gold orbs focused on me, "And who might be this kid?" I had never seen eyes like that. They were so scary yet fascinating.

"Do not call me that, Marcus," I remembered Luke calling him the same name. I thought Alpha was his code name. "And this is Fay Madison,” he cleared his throat awkwardly when he added at last moment, “A friend.”

Such a liar!

A gentle grin broke out on his big face. Marcus carefully grabbed my right hand and placed a small kiss on top of it, saying in his weird tongue, “Fascinatin’. A frien’s a’ways welcome.”

My face flamed with red-hot blush and I could only squeak out, "I am not a kid.” That amused him so much that he laughed throwing back his head and engulfed me in his big arms.

"Wha'eve' ya say, kiddo," he set me on my feet and I went back under the shade of Dylan. "We should go." He said to Dylan. His voice was more like a growl even when he was talking calmly. His accent was hard to understand because he talked fast as he kept dropping letters here and there.

"Sure. Have you brought my ride?" Dylan asked. Marcus pointed toward a beat up pickup truck shining in the sunlight. "Thanks, Marcus."

"See you at 'om," he tipped his head and sauntered off toward Jean and Luke.

Dylan grabbed my hand but I pulled away from his grip, "You have promised to take me home." I reminded him, fearing he had forgotten it.

"I remember and I am going to take you home. I never break a promise."

"But the plane-"

"Fay, I am taking you home and you are coming with me." He whispered, engulfing my face in his hands. I watched in a trance as the color of his eyes swirled. Something was nagging me to agree with him and there was this voice in my head telling me to back away from him. Giving in to the nagging voice, I nodded. He brushed his fingers over my cheeks and then eyed me once. A frown settled on his forehead when he noticed my bare feet. Before I could contemplate, he picked me up bridal style and carried me toward his truck. Everyone else had already left. Despite a bad feeling in my heart, I believed he was going to take me home otherwise, we would have left with them.

I slid in the passenger seat and tied seat belt while Dylan did the same in the driver seat. Giving me a small nod, he pulled the truck on road. For the first half an hour, I silently watched the scenery passed around me. As he had said, this place truly was beautiful. We were driving alongside the ocean with colorful shops, cafés lined on another side. People in their summer dresses frolicked everywhere. I had been to Sydney once with dad but never here.

Soon we left the ruction of the market and started traveling a lonely road with lots of palm trees on either side. Within five minutes the palm trees were joined by more varieties and all of sudden, the car was rolling on a road laid in the heart of a forest. The uneasy feeling turned into a full-blown panic. Something was not right. My hands shook as I watched the tall trees blur past me.

My heart almost lodged painfully in my cheat when Dylan's phone rang. He picked it up without checking ID, "Yes," whoever was on the other side made him speak a little politely, "Oh, hey! I didn't check the ID... How are you?..." he tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and leaned back in his seat, "No mom... I am driving. I'll talk to you later," a frown settled between his brows and he sucked and bit his lower lip, releasing it red and a little wet. I gulped and diverted my gaze from him. I should not be noticing such things. I mentally chastised myself. "Yeah. Not now. Give it a rest. Goodbye." He tossed his phone back with a frustrated groan.

"Who was that?" I asked. I felt his eyes on me but I didn't face him. I pulled my legs to my chest and rested my chin on top of it.

"Uh, mom," he told.

I nodded but still trying to get rid of the ominous feeling in my chest. "When are you going to take me home?" I asked again.

"Just a few more minutes." He muttered an answer.

I finally decided to look at him again. I saw what I had always seen, an arrogant person with sinfully beautiful features. His black hair was shining in the sunlight. I wondered what it would feel like to touch them. His brows were still furrowed, jaw was set in a hard line, a muscle under his right eye kept ticking, and his upper lip was thin in comparison of the lower but full and pink. There was not a speck of flaw on his face. He was too perfect to be human.

His tightened grip on the steering wheel was the only sign that he knew I was staring at him. With a small sigh, I focused on my problem. I shut my eyes tightly and pressed a hand against my stomach to quench the uneasy feeling. Nothing was working. Even curled up in a tight fist, my hands were shaking badly. And I felt as if I was going to faint. This was not right. Dylan was not right. I didn't want to go wherever he was taking me. I put my head between knees and covered it with my hands. My body involuntary took on rocking back and forth. My toes curled when the car came to a halt. I didn't want to leave the car.

My heart painfully slammed against my chest when Dylan climbed out of the car and shut the door. It shattered when he opened the door for me and called my name. I tensed and froze in my place. When he called my name again, I shook my head.

"Come on, Fay. What's the matter?" I wanted to slap him for asking such an absurd question. As if he didn't know.

"You l-lied to me." My voice broke in a small sob. He gulped when he saw my wet eyes. There was a trace of guilt before he curbed it and his usual cold mask was back on place. He didn't bother to be gentle as he harshly pulled me out of the car.

"I never lied. I promised to bring you home, so, here we are- at home, my home. Now, come on."

When I refused to move, he dragged me on the concrete path leading toward a mansion. My feet dug, slammed, cut on the hard and sharp ground but he never once slowed. There was a fountain in front of the mansion with a majestic glass wolf with a raised head in the middle of it. Luke's car was already parked in the driveway. The mansion was three-storey and vintage looking. It was surrounded by forest and on its right side, there was a cobble-paved path that ended deep inside the forest. Dylan paused on the first step of the mansion and gazed at it, like remembering its bits and pieces while I hung by his side. Not that I could run away with his death grip around my wrist.

Moreover, I could not conjure up enough power to fight him right now. I was not returning home. He lied to me all along and I foolishly believed him. I was stuck in this horrible place with this jerk. I mentally laughed at my condition. A few days back, there was no Dylan in my life and now, he was everywhere like a part of it.

Like I was nothing more than a rag doll to him, he dragged me inside the mansion. Everyone was laughing and chatting when we entered and it stopped at once. Six pairs of eyes turned toward us. Out of fear and nervousness, I kept my focus zeroed on my dirty feet. Would Dylan be angry if I told him that my feet were bleeding and it was ruining his expensive carpet?

"Hey, Chris," a boy with a blue bandana tied in his long wispy platinum hair and a roguish smile stepped forward, "you wanna bet Mrs. Clifford would faint three times if she saw our future Luna current appearance?"

"Make those six times, Xavier." Chris, a boy with shaggy sandy brown hair smirked, eyeing me.

I had no idea what was funny about that but everyone, including Dylan, broke into fits of laughter.

They were making fun of me. It was not like kidnappers give people time to pamper up before pulling them in a van. Hurt, embarrassed, angry and most of all hopeless, I finally started crying.