Blood

Sound of a deafening alarm clock echoes in Wren’s room yet her body seems determined to lay on her bed. “First day pumpkin! Get your ass out of bed.” Yelled an enthusiastic Spence from Wren’s door. “Dad! Please stop calling me that. I am a grown woman, it’s annoying.” snarked the still sleepy young adult. “Well if you’re such a grown up, I guess I’ll have to find someone else to munch on these yummy strawberry jam waffles..” teased the old man while slowly running out of his daughter’s room. “Hey no fair! That food is mine” Wren hurriedly jumped out of bed to follow her dad. It’s such a lovely morning. Wren stared out the window watching the sun’s rays kiss the flowers in their garden. “Come on pumpkin. You don’t want to be late for your orientation.” She heard her dad call from the dining table. “You can’t call me that either. Again, grown up woman here.” Insisted Wren. “Should I put them waffles in the fridge for when a non grown up woman comes to visit this lonely old man?” Spencer said with a grin on his face.  Wren quickly pulled the plate back and hugged it away from her perky father. The two laughed out loud when they realized how silly they looked. “Hey Dad,” Wren paused and breathed deep for a bit before saying, “You know I’m really scared to be going away on my own.. I’m just used to always having you around and you’re always there for me.” “Oh sweetheart. Of course I am, and I always will be. There’s no need to worry, I’m always just a call away and I’ll storm that dormitory if there’s even a single cockroach threatening my princess. You should be proud of yourself, I know I am.” Spence replied tearily as he held his daughter’s hand. Wren’s phone rang ruining the moment. As she picked up, Spence noticed something at the back of Wren's left shoulder which she unconsciously kept scratching. As the inaudible sound of her daughter’s conversation goes on in the background, Spence's face instantly changed when he noticed the faint glow of a red light from a patch on his daughter’s skin. “Dad?!” Wren asked confusingly as she turned and put her phone down on the table. “Sorry what was that?” Spence replied as he snapped himself back to reality. “Never mind, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” asked a puzzled Wren. “I’m okay, pumpkin, just a little light headed it’s all. Probably the coffee kicking in. You should go, that call sounded important.” Spence answered trying to change the topic. “Yeah, that was Chris, just calling to let me know he’s picking me up in 20.” Wren replied “See? You should get ready now. Don’t want to make your boyfriend wait too long.” winked Spence. “Dad! He’s not my boyfriend. I’d tell you if he was, you know that. But are you sure you’re fine? I mean, I can make some excuses if you’re not feeling well I can drop you off the clinic.” Wren worriedly asked. “I’m good, trust me. Go get ‘em tiger.” said Spence as he pushed Wren upstairs. “I’ll clean down here and you go get dressed.” Wren is still worried about the way her father seemed but went up and got ready as he asked. As she got out of the shower, she heard her dad whispering from downstairs as if he was talking to someone and didn't want her to hear. She tried to take a peek from the small opening on her door but Spence walked out the room while talking.  “He’s acting weird. Why wouldn’t he want me to hear what he’s saying.. It’s not like we have any secrets..” Wren thought to herself. Her phone rang again, which prompted Wren to hurry back to the dresser and suit up. She picked up her stuff and rushed down the stairs.  “I’m on my way out, Chris.” Wren said on her phone as she immediately hung up. “Emily Lawrence Avery. My daughter, a Harvard student.” Wren heard her father as he suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Wren smiled at her dad and hugged him tight. She said goodbye to her dad as packs up the last bag on the trunk of Chris’ car. Spencer gestured to Chris with an “I’m watching you” sign which he responded with a nod and a smile. Wren noticed this and laughed at them. As Chris drove his sedan away, Wren watched her father waving goodbye from the rear view mirror.  “He’s so weird.” Wren said softly to Chris as she remembered the morning she had with her father.  “Really? He seemed fine to me.” Chris looked at her and smiled. “First day jitters? Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in. Harvard is a nerd pool”. “Whatever, like you’re not one them?” Wren replied.  She couldn’t help but stare at his arms as his tight shirt tried to contain his muscles. Chris noticed the way Wren looked which made him smile.  “What was that?” Wren asked as she saw Chris’ playful smile. “What was what?” Chris asked innocently, trying to hide his smile. “That look you just gave me. Eyes on the road mister or I’ll call my dad to drive me instead.” Chris laughed at Wren’s last statement knowing that would be the worst knowing Spence’s driving.   “Just so we’re clear if we get into an accident, it’s going to be your fault cause you probably stared me to death.” He jokingly replied. “You wish.” Wren played loud music and threw a pillow in her face as the car drove through the town sign. Back at the house, Spencer dialed the phone as soon as Wren’s car was out of sight. The frown lines on his face are still as dubious as they were this morning when he saw Wren’s mark. “I know what I saw Martin. She’s back.” Spencer angrily said to the unknown man on the other line. “But that’s not possible. You saw to it, we all did.” Replied the mystery man over the phone. “I thought as much. But you and I also know what happened this morning means she’s really close.”  Spencer said as he firmly placed his fist on the terrace. “I’ll have the guys do a sweep and make sure we have eyes on Emily 24/7. Even if they’re back, they wouldn’t get close to your little girl.” Assured the mystery man. “Appreciate that, Martin. Call me as soon as you find something.” Spence said as he hung up.  Spence sat on the porch while he took slow and deep breaths to relax himself and closed his eyes.  Flashback starts with Spence standing in the middle of a dark room, full tactical outfit with a gun pointed ready to fire as if he was waiting for an attack. Blood is dripping down from his head and his lips, eyes blurred and barely seeing a thing. All of a sudden, A woman fiercely jumped from behind him and swiped him down to the floor with her black coat. “Traitor!” She screamed at Spencer as he lays on the floor with her foot pushing down his throat. “Lena, don’t make me do this, please.” Spence replied as he struggled to breath. “You and all of these men will perish with you for what you’ve done to my people. I will not stop until I have made sure that - “ Lena was stabbed from behind, and a flashing green light blinded everyone in the room. “NO - Lena!” Spencer tried to reach her but the room exploded with the green light. Just like that, he was back on his porch with tears rolling down his eyes. His phone was ringing why is probably what woke him up from the nightmare he was in. He panicked when he saw it was Wren calling and there were already 2 missed calls from before. “Wren, sweetie? What happened?” Spence asked worriedly. “Nothing Dad, I just want to check in and let you know we’re on our first stop. You told me to call you at every stop, remember?” Wren answered, weirded out by the hyped response from her father. “Oh, yeah I did. I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit off sweetie, I might need to lay down for a bit. I have no doubt Chris will take good care of you.” He replied with a sigh of relief. “Okay. Dad, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting really weird since this morning.” Wren worriedly asked her father. “Of course I am sweetheart. Don’t you worry about your old man. I’ll be fine, talk to you tomorrow?” Spence replied as he tried to change the subject. “Okay.” “Okay then. I love you pumpkin.” Spencer said lovingly as he stared at her daughter on the phone. “Love you too dad. Hanging up now.” Wren can’t shake the feeling something is up but there’s nothing she can do until her father actually lets her in on whatever it is.