meant to be

Chapter one

“Are you sure this is the right place?” My best friend Eva asks for the hundredth time. I turn around to look at her, annoyed. But then I notice the bags under her eyes and think of how much she is doing for me and my annoyance fades pretty quickly. “Look I know my brother better than myself. I am pretty sure this what he meant when he said ‘meet me where we saw our mother last’ before mom died, she was in a deep depression; always drinking. But before all that she used to be a very vibrant person, this park was her favorite, and this was the place she took us before that terrible accident took away my dad.” She nods, “But shouldn’t we tell the police about this?” “So, they could just do nothing and say ‘We are doing the best we can?’ no, I will find my brother myself. You are very tired, go get some rest okay” “But what about you, look, this park won’t go anywhere okay? Just let’s get some sleep and we will continue searching, you will be no good to your brother if you keep running around like a zombie, you need to recharge” I sigh, she has a point, I look around the park and memories of my childhood came to me; me and Abel riding the toy cars, our dad filming us and mom clapping like a school girl. I haven’t realized I was crying until Eva wiped my tears, hugged me and said “it will be all right, we will find him” I nod and say “I hope. you go ahead, I will be right behind you, I just want to stay here a little longer” “Okay, don’t be long, this place gives me goosebumps” she walked away hugging herself.

I walk around the park, so caught up in the past that I almost didn’t notice that I am at the edge of the woods, that is when I hear the voices up ahead, I follow them right into the woods, ignoring the ‘caution’ sign. My better sense is screaming at me right now, but you know what they say about curiosity. I get close enough to hear what they are saying. “you don’t have to do this Robin, I have done you no harm, we once shared the same room remember?” said a male voice, “yeah, but that was a long time ago, I am sorry Jeff, but orders are orders, I am sure you understand” another voice replies, I peek from my hiding place and see two young men; closer to my age facing each other, one is holding a gun and the other has his hands up in a placating gesture. My first instinct is to run; I have my own problems, I don’t need to be caught up in whatever this is, for all I know this guy probably deserved it. But I can’t make my legs run as they should so I sigh in frustration and pick up a rock, I creep behind the dude with the gun and hit him in the head with all I have. He crumples to the ground, I look at him like I bash guys’ heads in for a living then look at the guy who is staring at me like he is annoyed, “what? Looked like you needed help staying alive” I say to him, I am painfully aware that I am being casual with a dude who could very well kill me this instant but I did save his life, that should count for something right? He grits his teeth “I was handling it” he says back, “yeah? Tell him that” I point to the dude and start walking away. He takes a hold of my hand stopping me “Wait, who are you?” I look up at him because he is way taller than me; I am barely eye level with his shoulders. I notice his face; he has dark brown eyes, a little stubble on his jaw, lips that if they have straight and white teeth behind them would be ideal for a smile. “Are you going to study me the whole night or are you going to tell me who you are?” he says in an amused but firm voice, “I believe the word you are looking for is ‘thank you’” I tell him and look pointedly at the hand holding my wrist. That is when I notice the ring on his finger, “where did you get that?” I practically shout at him pointing to his finger, “none of your business” “Oh I beg to differ, that ring belonged to my brother so where. Did. You. Get. It” He steps back and stares at me intently, I try not to feel self-conscious about my week-old hair braid or height or figure, it is endless really. “Are you going to study me all night or are you going to tell me where you got my brother’s ring” I throw his words right back at him. He smiles a little, and I was right, he does have a pretty smile, “I suppose you are Lina then, your brother, Abel told me to give this to you” he takes off the ring and gives it to me.