THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 43 - THE BEACH

GABRIEL

   -You noticed… These grounds are more stable, so here is where we are setting the tents…

She then looked around, and I noticed palm trees all around the place.

   -This is our shelter from strong winds, there’s no better spot than this one.

As she spoke she took a bag of chips from David’s hands.

   -No treats until camp is up!

Daniel was walking towards us with some bags and a box.

   -This is my third lap, I haven’t seen you helping bring stuff up. 

As he put the stuff on the ground he sat and used one bag as a pillow.

   -I will have fun watching you doing the laps.

He said with a smile.

   -He is right so we will be right here waiting for you two to start to set the camp up.

   -What why? It's not fair?

David turned and looked at Crystal.

   -You better hurry or we will be out of chips…

Crystal said as she took a bag of chips.

   -You wouldn’t dare…

   -Try me…

David looked at me and ran down the hill. I followed him, he had almost all the rest of the stuff with him and his feet kept sliding.

-Leave some stuff and do two trips…

-No! I can do this! 

I continued my way up, left the things, and slid down to pick the rest, while David was still trying to get everything up at the same time. I left the last things up and slid down.

   -Let me help you.

   -No!

I took stuff from David and I started to get up again, he was also finally moving up the hill. As soon as we got up he let the things into the ground and ran and tried to get the bag of chips from Crystal’s hand.

   -No treats until everything is set up!

   -You said I could have some!

   -When everything is ready, we need to set this before dark, so let's move.

She started giving orders to the twins and me on what to do and how to do it… I thought I would hate it, but not having to keep track of what everyone was doing to coordinate and stay alert on mistakes was relaxing… I just needed to do my work and nothing else. I saw Crystal trying to do her part and explaining to the twins what to do. It was already dark and Crustal kept trying to make the twins understand how to install the tent. I just watched and entertained myself. Finally, she managed to instruct them and the tent was ready. I was already trying to get the fire going. She came and sat next to me.

   -I don’t want to be nosy but your siblings don’t have a clue about camping.

“Well we don’t make camps, we sleep under the stars and hunt when we are hungry.” Zeus said in my head.

   -We have never been out camping… like this. We usually have a cabin…

   -That explains so much…

   -What?

   -You are a bunch of rich boys, that’s why you wander around without a worry of not having a job, your brothers work delivering pizza for the fun of motorbikes and can leave their job for a trip without notice or worry about being fired…

   -That doesn't mean…

   -And your sister had the money for medical school and you feel the pressure and feel trapped to inherit Dad’s company?

She was… “It’s not true, we are not gaining a company.” “Maybe not a company Zeus, but we are inheriting a Kingdom and the packs and the companies it manages.”

   -Wait your face says am I wrong… Companies?

“She is a witch Gabe!” Zeus was now alert.

   -How did you…

   -I’m a witch.

“I told you! She was no good from the beginning!” Zeus was ready to jump. Then she started laughing…

   -You had to see your face! I can’t believe you believe in witches… Do you believe in unicorns and mermaids?

I was shocked I just looked at her. “Gabe, she is a witch we better…” “I think she was joking.”

   -You are not denying it? Fairies?

   -I have no proof that they don’t exist so…

   -I like your way of thinking Gabriel, but you better be careful or the ghost will come and pull your feet.

   -I know that ghosts don’t exist…

   -Wait a moment, so you denied the existence of a wandering soul, but you believe in a half-fish half-woman creature?

   -When you die, you die… there’s no more. A soul here on earth is just nonsense. 

   -I don’t know… I believe they stay with us, they look out for us.

I stood up and looked at her.

   -That's nonsense.

I left and started to look for more wood for the fire… It was hard to track since the scent of salt was itching my nose. I looked up and saw almost a full moon. Then when I looked at the ocean I saw the moon reflecting on the moving surface… The light, the moving waves, the sound of them when they crashed was hypnotizing. The air became colder. “Gabe, you better hurry the fire won’t last long.” Zeus' voice brought me back to reality, he was right the fire isn’t going to last long. I walked back and saw the fire looked good, then I saw a bunch of wood next to it.

   -Crystal brought that, she said you were busy.

Daniel said while he ate a s'more. I saw the chocolate and marshmallow. It just looked so sweet, I don’t know how he was eating one.

   -I made the same face, you want some chips?

David said, passing me a bag. I took it and opened it. He sat next to Daniel and started eating the cookies for the smores.

   -Even just the cookie is way too sweet.

He said as he left the half-eaten cookie back in the box. I sat in front of them, the waves of heat that came from the fire recomforted me.

   -You know what would be good, some sausages so we can heat them in the fire.

   -That sounds good.

   -Don’t speak, your breath smells like chocolate and marshmallows.

   -What do you think I’m eating…

He said while he blew in his face.

   -I’m gonna puke…

David ran into the forest.

   -You two are disgusting.

He smiled at me and threw a marshmallow at me. I grabbed it and bit it.

   -I can eat them, but not that fond of the extremely sweet taste. 

   -How can you say that?

   -It’s the same thing I said to him when we had dinner.

Crystal said as she approached us.

   -Leave some marshmallows for me, and I brought dinner. I hope you don’t mind, I took the car and bought some sausages and…

   -She said sausages right?

David said as he approached us.

   -Yes I brought some…

David took the sausages from Crystal hands and opened them. He started eating one.

   -David don’t be rude, give me some…

He passed me the sausages. Crystal passed me some metal sticks and she asked me for the sausages, she took them and stuck the sausage into the stick, and started heating it in the fire. David grabbed one and did the same. Daniel… He kept eating s'mores. Then Crystal started to tell ghost stories and I could see David and Daniel on edge. I just heard her stories, I knew they weren't true, when you die you die. People don’t come back to visit or appear in mid-air… less that can make themselves look pale and float in the air to scare you. I stood up and entered the tent. At night I felt the twins entering… Then the snoring… I forgot how loud David snored. I’m used to hearing him through the walls but now I felt him next to my ear. I tried to stay there as long as I could but it was killing me. I stood up and exited the tent. I walked towards the beach and saw Crystal sitting near the water.

   -You are up?

She said as I approached her.

   -Yes… But isn’t it too early for you to be awake?

   -I like to see the stars and the dawn… Why are you awake?

She said looking directly at the sky, then turned her head and looked at me.

   -David's snores…

   -So it was David… I thought it was you snoring the whole night.

   -I don’t snore…

   -I’m still not sure, you could be blaming the youngest brother…

I rolled my eyes at her and sat next to her. The breeze gave me chills. I hugged myself and then saw she wasn’t wearing the usual long shirts she wears. Her arm was thin, and… I stood up and grabbed her left hand.

   -What happened to you? Was it the last fire?

She had a huge burn scar up her wrist that ended at her elbow. It looked awful, the skin was smooth and the lack of color was evident. She took her hand and arm away from me.

   -No, this has already healed, how could it be from that accident?

   -Then what happened?

   -When I was younger I got burned to try to fry some chicken, but now it’s healed, but I don’t like how people look at me, that’s why I always had it covered.

As she spoke I felt something off with my fingers, like if they were getting numb.

   -I will go for a sweater.

She stood up and left me there. She came back with a blanket and cover me with it.

   -Thanks.

   -Don’t worry rich boy, I have you covered.

   -Don’t call me that…

   -It’s no insult, I think you are brave for trying to live a life you weren’t supposed to. Breaking the chains of how life should be is hard, and I can imagine how much you miss your parents… Look, the dawn is starting. 

The sky had a pink line but I could see the stars and the moon. I was about to say something but when I turned I saw Crystal, she had a tear escaping her eyes, and the wind was blowing her hair.

   -Isn’t it beautiful Gabriel?

She spoke without looking at me.

   -Yes it is.

I saw her hug herself, maybe she is still cold. I sat closer to her and shared the blanket she brought me. We stayed there without saying anything else, but at that moment I felt at peace, I wasn’t worried or anxious, I was there, watching the dawn with her. I heard the twins waking up, but I didn’t care, I wasn’t planning on moving any time soon. Then Crystal stood up. 

-I should go change for the day.

There’s when I noticed she was still in her pajama. Her hair was a mess and she still looked so beautiful… Why haven't I noticed before? The days passed and everything was just perfect. The twins were having fun and I could talk to Crystal about anything… Well, almost anything. She kept a close eye on the twins so I could really just relax, I made decisions and that was it, no need to keep track of the results, Crystal managed that… We decided to prepare some sandwiches for lunch, the twins were running near the shore and had been out of the camp for ten minutes, Crystal was at the sea and I was in charge of preparing the ingredients. I was facing Crystal and the sea, she was having a lot of fun making a sandcastle, which I found amusing. Then she turned at me and her face went pale. She ran towards me and held my hand.

   -Gabriel we need to run now!

She started running and pulling me with her. I tried to sniff around but nothing… What are we running for? Then She suddenly stopped. Then I saw a figure appear between the palm trees. I walked towards it.

   -Gabriel!

I knew the voice! “WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE!” Zeus wasn’t happy. I looked at Crystal and she was pale. Maybe she is mad that more people are crashing our camping trip.

   -I didn’t invite her, I’m not sure how she tracked us…

   -You know her?

   -Yes I do…

   -Is she your sister?

   -No she is…

What is she to me?...

   -... my friend.

As I said that Eva was walking closer to us, she was visible now, her fangs looked longer and her eyes…

   -Stay away from him!

Eva was beyond mad.

   -Eva relax, you need to…

   -Stay away from Gabriel you rogue!