Hidden Fate

Driving Along

Sage’s POV

Sebastian assured me that his family wasn't in a cult. The place his family lives was actually a small town, and his dad was the mayor. I still felt uneasy about the situation, but I knew I had nowhere else to go. I stared out the window as the rain drops danced on the window. Soon the street lamps that once lit our way turned into stars guiding us in the night. We didn't talk much the entire drive. At one point he put his hand on my knee almost out of instinct. Once he realized what he did, he quickly pulled his hand away. I gave him a faint smile and turned back to the window.

I've had a few boyfriends throughout the years. None were very serious except Daniel. Daniel was the most serious relationship that I've ever had. We dated for two years, and I was planning on following him after graduation in May. He was my world and everything. I thought that I loved him more than I ever could love a person. Looking back, I should have seen the signs. When my dad got sick, he refused to come over and help me take care of him. “I can't afford getting sick with basketball scholarships and scouts,” he would argue. Whenever I brought up my dad or tried to vent, he would cut me off and say that my “baggage” was too much for him. His parents asked me many times to leave him, because they wanted their son with someone of “status.” I should have known that ultimately he would betray me. I should have known.

I tried to wipe my tears in a subtle way so that Sebastian didn't see them. However, I could tell he knew. Somehow he always knew how I felt. We continued to drive for what seemed like forever. I had forgotten about the apparent road flooding which caused him to stay with me. Whether it was a lie or not, I'm glad he was there. After what seemed like forever, he cleared his throat.

“We are less than five minutes away. Once we go through the gate, we are going to head straight to the main house. I must warn you. My mother can be a lot,” he said, dragging out the a lot part. I could see him fidgeting his hands on the steering wheel. He seemed nervous about something, but I couldn't tell what it was.

A few minutes later we pulled up to this large iron gate that attached itself to two large brick walls that seemed to go on forever. Four men stood at the gate in almost police-like uniforms. They came to the window and greeted Sebastian briefly before opening the gate. Once we drove in, street lamps lit the road with different buildings scattered about. There were a few people out walking around. When we passed by, they would stop and stare at the car. In the distance, I could see a large building, almost like a castle. It was tall and made of dark gray brick. It looked like a mansion with a roundabout in the front. There were many cars parked out front and light poured out of the windows.

“So this is my parents house,” he said without making eye contact. What the f**k? This house is huge. Why on earth would they need something this big? It was almost like Sebastian was reading my thoughts.

“My whole family lives in this house including my dad, mom, brother, his wife, his two children, my dad's right hand man, his wife, and me. My dad's office is also in the house so that's where all his business dealings happen. There are also extra bedrooms and showers for members of the community who just need a place to stay when home gets rough. It's large, but there is a purpose,” he said flatly. I nodded as a way to show understanding, but I didn't understand. If this isn't a cult, then what is it?

He parked the car, and we got out. I grabbed my duffle bag, and he grabbed the chest from the trunk. We walked to the front door, and an older woman about my height opened the door. I could tell this was his mother. She had a big smile and welcomed me quickly. A taller gentleman with dark blonde hair named James took my bag and walked away with Sebastian to “prep my room.” After they left, I was stuck in the larger than life living room with Sebastian's mother. I could tell she had so many questions, and I was scared to answer any of them.