THE MISSING PIECE

CHAPTER 8- NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH

GRACE

I turned back, to the sight of a naked Mister Miller. He had big muscular arms and a well-defined eight-pack! I gulped and kept traveling down his body following his V line. His member was big, but really big. It's not like I have seen many, but that has to be considered big. I felt a vibration in my chest. Am I purring? I quickly covered my face, and I knew I must look like a tomato. In the meantime, I tried to stop the purrs that were coming from my body.

-I asked a question. What do you know about my mother?

-Zac, you are naked.

-What do you know about my mother?

He shouted and, at the same time, grabbed me by my wrist and lifted me from the chair and didn´t stop until my face was next to his, and my feet weren´t touching the floor... Electric static hit my wrist and his hand so he released me, an action that caused me to fall on my ass right onto the kitchen floor. My sight was on his legs. They were also big and athletic. In fact, I looked back at his member and the purrs persisted. I grabbed my head and pushed between my legs, getting myself into a fetal position. I tried to understand all that was happening. I just heard steps getting away and then the sound of a door closing.

-Miss Brown, come, give me your hand.

I lifted my head to Nelson, smiling. “Why is he smiling?” I took his hand and he helped me up. He guided me to the exit of the RV and helped me along the steps. Once down, Kevin arrived.

-Grace! What happened? You look all red and smell different?

-She is okay Kevin, get in the RV now.

Kevin lowered his head and kept walking until he was inside. Nelson kept smiling as if he was amused, and as if he understood what was happening. “Which he probably does.” He just kept looking at me. The stare was so intense it made me uncomfortable and I just averted my eyes to the ground. Seconds and minutes passed and he was still in complete silence.

-Well, what do you know about his family?

He asked me.

-Nothing really, just that when I came to see him, while he was still out, he would call for his mother. That's why I asked. He seemed in a lot of pain while calling for her.

I looked at him and he was there just looking at me in silence. His eyes seemed to become clearer and dull. The usual chocolate brown looked like an old caramel. I took some steps toward him and he didn't react.

-Nelson?

-Listen, he doesn't like to speak about this, but he lost his mother at a young age. No more talking or asking questions about this topic.

He walked back to the RV. I started to follow but then he stopped and looked at me.

-Remember don't tell anyone about what you just learned and don’t touch Alp.. Miller, never again.

As I heard the words, my heart felt heavier. “Why does it hurt?” I just squatted and tried to identify what was happening. Some time passed and my legs started to get numb, so I decided to walk to my dogs' pen and entered.

-Hi boys.

They were so happy to see me that they started to lick every inch of my face as I sat down. Max quickly sat next to me and laid his head on my lap. Milo decided to lay on my back with his head near my lap and Max’s head.

-You always choose strange poses to lie down, Milo.

I said as I pet him on the head. I noticed some water drops in the sand. I looked up but the sky was clear. I touched my face and felt tears. Max stood up and started licking them.

-I’m sorry boys, I don’t know what's happening to me. I just feel so alone right now. Like if I had been pulled away from my home. Which in a certain way I have, and took you also with me. I´m sorry. I know you also miss home as much as me.

I grabbed Max by the neck and cried. I cried like I haven't in years, everything was so confusing for me. “I just want Noah and my bed.” That sounds like the best place to be now, but it's too far away, and I can’t even tell Noah all this because he can’t do anything about it and he would just get worried. I feel so alone right now. I felt Milo's kisses in my arms. “I’m not alone.”

-Sorry boys, I know I’m not alone. We started this together and together would end it.

I rubbed Milo’s belly and Max started to bark for attention. I heard some leaves moving and turned to the trees. Nothing was in sight. “It's late.” I should go prepare something.

-I promise we will spend more time.

I pet them both and exit the pen. Entering the RV, I was feeling nervous about facing Nelson. To my surprise, inside were only Kevin and Sabrina accommodating the groceries.

-Sabrina, should the vegetables be cleaned after or before storage?

Kevin said as he was looking at the vegetables and holding them right in Sabrina's face, and Sabrina just looked confused.

-Both, before and after.

As I spoke they both turned their heads and looked at me, with... “Pity?” I knew I looked awful after crying but never thought that so much to deserve that look. Sabrina came to me and hugged me tight.

-You arrive at the perfect time, we don't know the places for the groceries or if we should wash them.

-Don´t worry, I will help you.

I appreciated the change in topic, because I was still not even sure what I was feeling, and was less ready to talk about it. The job was long. Kevin tried to wash the cans of vegetables and also tried to eat some raw pasta. Sabrina was cutting some lettuce for the salad, but my eyes kept going to the room door. Kevin walked towards me.

-They are out, they went for a walk.

That was all he said in a low whisper, then he walked away to continue to arrange the cans. My eyes then kept turning to the entrance of the RV.

-Finally, I have finished! I would go back to the room and have a little nap before lunch is ready. Is that okay Grace? Do you need more help?

-Don’t worry Sabrina, I can handle the rest. You have been a great help.

She smiled and went straight to the room. Kevin looked at me. “That's the tenth time I caught his sight on me.”

-A penny for your thoughts?

I asked him.

-It's nothing, I just don’t see what is wrong with having you as a mate.

-As a mate?

-Yes, like a girlfriend…

His eyes changed caller just the same as Nelson's in the morning.

-Kevin?

I asked him, taking a step closer to him.

-Sorry I didn't mean anything.

-You know I have a boyfriend, right?

-Yes, I know, and I don't see you that way. Don't worry. Not that there's something wrong with you, but I like to live and not be killed by an overprotective wolf.. boyfriend.

-What makes you think my boyfriend could kill you?

-Men's intuition.

I just laughed at his expression, he seemed so sure. If he knew Noah he wouldn't think that. He is a sweet boy and trusts me with all his heart. “I miss Noah.” My thoughts went home, to him. The rest of the preparation was in silence. Kevin finished and also took a nap on the couch. At lunchtime, Sabrina exited the room and woke up Kevin. They both sat at the table.

-Let’s eat. I’m starving.

Sabrina said.

-Aren't we waiting for the others?

I asked her.

-No, they are not coming back till night. They would also not be there for dinner.

I served the food and sat with them at the table. Kevin kept saying weird jokes that I thought were funny, but I can't say the same for Sabrina, who just looked at him as if he had grown a second head. By the end of our lunch, Sabrina was also laughing at his jokes. Sabrina was the first one to leave the table. She decided that we should have a girls' night with ice cream, and went back to the city to buy some. Kevin helped me clean the dishes. We then lay on the couch.

-I miss playing online. The games that don't require wifi on my phone are boring.

-At least you have permission to go and run. I always stay here and I’m just allowed to go as far as the dog’s pen. What does the forest look like?

-The forest, it’s great! This one has a lot of lakes that are not that deep, so you can run through them without a problem. And it has some cliffs that have great views. The smell of pine is everywhere and…

He stopped and looked at me.

-You should get the chance to go and see it. You would love it.

I stood up.

-Are you coming with me?

-I can’t. Sabrina ordered me to stay here and not go out, but you don't have to do that! You can go! Just take the dogs and if you see them behaving strangely just come running and shout out my name. That way I will be able to run to you! It’s a plan without fail! Go now! So you can have more time to explore! Sabrina will be here after dark, so just return before, and with that, we can get our way.

He started to push me out of the RV. I took the leash of the dogs and prepared them for the walk.

-They already know a good way, because I take them every day, so just follow them. And remember, if you notice anything strange, just shout my name, and I will be ready to run to you, okay?

-Yes, but...

He didn't let me finish and closed the door of the RV. I felt a pull and Milo and Max were ready to start walking. I let them guide me through the forest. I looked up, the treetops enveloped the sky, letting only see sunbeams through the branches. Passing through the sunbeams, I could feel tingles in my body. Max and Milo were relaxed, playing with each other while walking. We arrived at a lake. I let the dogs free and I pulled my pants up, so the length would be on the knee and not my ankles. I took my shoes off. Max and Milo were already playing in the water. I walked to the middle of the lake. The water was not that deep but it was already getting my pants soaked even after I pulled them up. “They are way taller than me, that’s why they say it is not that deep.” I just kept walking until I was able to touch the rock. It had a big hole and cracks in the middle. I touched it and the tingles were back. “Is that blood?” Red stains were covering a huge piece of the rock. I got closer to smell it. It smells like… “When it just stopped raining in the forest and it is cold!” It’s a strange smell. I got even closer and that's the only way I could explain it. Maybe it is a type of pollen or something. I got even closer to smell it again but heard Max growling and some whimpers from Milo.

-Max! Don´t bother your brother!

I didn't turn around, I was still looking at the rock. The growls and whimpers intensify. Then I turned around, and before I shouted again I saw a dark silhouette. A strange smell of putrefaction overpowered the pine smell. I took some steps back. I heard a howl in the distance and ran. I quickly grabbed the leash and put it on Milo, forcing him to run. Max was already running to my side. Some minutes passed and the smell and the strange sounds were no longer happening. Max and Milo looked relaxed. I took off Milo’s leash.

-Are you okay, Milo? Max, how are you?

I pet them, a sigh came out of my mouth. “We are lost.” I looked around and the dogs were just there looking at me. “They don’t know this place.” When they know the way around they don't look at my every move, they just do that when they are not used to the surroundings. I closed my eyes and tried to think which way the RV was. “The smell is back!” I opened my eyes and lost it. I closed my eyes again and kept sniffing till I found it. I started walking following the smell. I could feel Max's fur close to my bare legs. The fresh rain and forest scent was getting stronger and I could feel the cold. It made me desperate for more. I don't know what happened, but it got cut suddenly. I took big breaths and nothing. I opened my eyes and I saw the RV. I turned around and saw nothing but my dogs.

-Come in! Sabrina will be here any second!

Kevin screamed, standing at the door. I ran to the RV, but before entering I got the dogs back in the pen. While entering the RV, a lot of smoke came out of the oven.

-Is there something on fire?

-No, but I tried making dinner.

I saw Kevin opening the door and then the whole RV was flooded with dense smoke.

-We need to open the windows! I would open the door and the front ones, you open the back ones.

When the smoke was not that dense, I looked inside the oven and saw an instant pizza. When I pulled out the tray I noticed a strange ingredient, but the smell gave it away.

-Did you remove the plastic that covers the pizza before placing it in the oven?

-I took the box and put it in the trash.

I just laughed at his face. It was full of black spots because of the smoke and he started laughing also. I must also be covered. Then I put the burned plastic pizza in the trash and decided to put a new one in the oven, now without the plastic. I put the timer on and decided that a bath was more than deserved. I finished my bath and then Kevin entered the bathroom. I put on my pajamas and heard the timer ring.

-This smells great Grace! What did you make for dinner? Pizza? Pepperoni with green peppers?

I turned around to find a smiling Sabrina holding 2 big bags full of ice cream.

-I didn't know which flavor you liked, and forgot to ask, so I bought a lot of them!

I just smiled and helped her put all the ice cream in the freezer. Kevin appeared from the bathroom, thank God for this time, he was already in pajamas, and not only in a towel.

-I´m starving! Let's eat now!

We sat at the table and ate the whole pizza, then Kevin took his laptop and looked for downloaded movies. They were the only available ones, vampire movies. We watched three of them. The first one was really scary but the last two ones were more fun. At the end of the night, we were full of ice cream. Kevin ate like four gallons, Sabrina ate two and a half, and I finished just half a gallon. As we went back to bed, I had a strange feeling lingering around my body.