CHAPTER FOUR: FAMILY MATTERS
1795 Words
DECEMBER 24, 2012 11:19 PM. USUALLY, THE STREET OF CANCURN TOWN IS ALWAYS EMPTY, but it was the festive season, the street was jam-packed with people. Kids singing Christmas songs, youths drinking, and chatting out their lives, and adults just watched from their seats as they laughed at every gimmick of the kids.
Karen was sitting alone in a dim place. She watched the youths as they enjoyed the moment. Alde's sight strolled off to Karen. He watched her closely.
"Alde, Alde," One of his friends called out, but he was busy staring at Karen.
"Alde!"
That scream seems to bring him out of his fantasy. Gradually, he turned his head towards them.
"What?"
Everyone tried looking for what he was staring at, and they found out it was Karen.
One of the girl pointed towards where Karen is "Go before she leaves,"
Alde followed the hand, and she saw Karen standing up. He stood up.
"Thank you,"
Alde said, and ran towards Karen who was about to disappear into the crowds.
Alde fixed his eyes on Karen in the crowd until he got to her.
"Hi," Alde shouted.
Karen looked back to who was talking, and she saw Alde.
"Hi," Alde greeted again.
Karen looked at Alde. "Hello?" Karen responded.
"Merry Christmas,"
"Same to you,"
"Erhm, my name is Alde,"
"Karen"
They shook hands.
"If you're just strolling around, why don't you join me and my friends over there," Alde pointed to where he was sitting previously.
Karen became quiet. "Don't say no," Alde said.
After much deliberation. "Okay, let's go," Karen replied.
"Are you visiting someone? This is the first time I'm seeing you around here," Alde said as they walked amidst the crowd.
"No, my house isn't far from here,"
"And I don't always see you around,"
"Yes, I don't go out,"
"That means you don't have friends,"
"I think so," Karen shrugged her shoulders.
As they walked, Alde moved a few steps forward, turning to Karen. He walked facing Karen who walked slowly.
"You will bump into someone," Karen said.
"I won't," Alde assured.
Some people wearing the same clothing were singing, and dancing. They weren't aware of Alde, and Alde who turned his back on the crowd wasn't aware either…
One of the men bumped into Alde, pushing him towards Karen.
"Sorry, Sorry," The men pleaded with Alde.
Alde was in Karen's arms, and they both stared at each other lasting about five seconds.
"I told you that you'd bump into someone,"
Alde ignored what Karen said. "Will you always catch me like this when I fall?" Alde said.
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind… Let's go,"
"You have been playing with your food since when you got here, Mom," Cassy said.
Karen looked at her daughter, and to the others on the long table.
"What's wrong?" Cassy asked.
"Nothing. Nothing at all,"
Jarek was all into what he was playing.
"No, No, No, go like this!" He shouted.
Seconds later, he dropped the pad, stood up, and exited his room.
"Mum, Dad"
Jarek met his parents watching a documentary on the plasma TV hanging on the wall. Alde and Vanessa looked at Jarek hoping he would say something after calling out to them.
"You know…"
Jarek left them wondering what he was trying to say. As expected, Alde and Vanessa were left suspended, but Vanessa couldn't take it anymore.
"We know what?"
Jarek sat down on the single sofa chair facing his parents who sat on the three sitter.
"You know… 80% of Askarvard population are eating right now, 4% feeds on blood, and the remaining 17% are we, tagged as abnormal,"
"Are you hungry?" Alde asked Jarek
"Alde, see what you have been feeding Jarek,"
Vanessa looked a bit angry. She stared at Alde, then to Jarek who looked so innocent.
"Feeding him what? Can't you see hunger beating his stomach, and his brain blowing a rusty trumpet. Why are you trying to make me play the grand piano, and your anger is just too ready to dance to the tune of the malady of our hungry song," Alde let out.
"Alde,"
Alde got close to her, and placed his hand over Vanessa's mouth. "Don't say another word,"
Vanessa struggled to let go, but Alde was too strong. Jarek watched them as he shook his head.
"Mom, unless I forget, this morning, Dad drank milk directly from the jar,"
Alde and Vanessa paused. They stared at Jarek. Alde knew he was in trouble because Vanessa had warned them countless times not to do that. Alde slowly removed his hands from Vanessa's mouth, positioning himself to a drop-and-run situation.
"Did you?…"
"You don't have to believe him,"
"Honey, you drank milk from the jar,"
"You really don't have to believe him, Darling,"
"You call me Darling when you lie,"
Immediately, Alde ran off, and Vanessa followed him.
"I will kill you today!"
"If you do, who will take Jarek to school?!"
"Are you threatening me with Jarek?!"
"I won't dare!"
Jarek looked undisturbed. He took the remote from the stool.
"Mission accomplished," He said as he switched through different stations, and finally landed on Nickelodeon.
"SpongeBob SquarePants!" He screamed, grinning.
Alde and Vanessa ended up in the kitchen. They were very close to each other, and were about to have some chemistry. They both stared at each other affectionately.
They drew closer. Their breaths synced with each other, their eyes met in a very colourful feeling as their lips slightly opened up.
Their lips brushed, they drew back a little, tilted their heads in an opposite direction as they finally placed their lips on each other. Alde held her waist, and Vanessa wrapped up her arms around his head, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Mom! I'm hungry," Jarek shouted from the sitting room, picking up his Dad's juice on the table. He sipped it, and he whispered, "Life is for the living,"
Alde and Vanessa stopped as they heard Jarek's voice. They smiled at each other.
"I love you, Alde,"
Alde just stared at Vanessa, and Vanessa searched for any possible means she would get that back, but she didn't.
They disconnected themselves…
"Why don't you go ahead, I'd cook your favourite," Vanessa said amidst tears, and Alde felt so sorry.
She had been there for Alde when he had nothing. Alde is thankful, but it seems that's not enough.
SPOON CLAMOURING WITH PLATES, HANDS PICKING UP GLASS CUPS FILLED WITH WATER, GULPING DOWN THE CONTENTS, OTHERS STANDING AT EASE FEW METRES ON THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE TABLE. The Sabatoré's were busy devouring the plate of rice with other side dishes.
"I specially made all these for you," Lucia Sabatoré proudly proclaimed.
Lucia Sabatoré is the mother of Sasha. Sasha is a replica of her mother, they love too much, they act without thinking when it comes to someone they love, their yes is yes and no is no, and they look very independent.
"I know," Hugo Sabatoré laughed carelessly as he munched the piece of meat in his hand.
Hugo is one of the members of The Pentagon. He is a werewolf (the most powerful werewolf). He is well respected for his unwavering affection for his people, and balanced judgement of anything that needs to be judged.
Sasha looked at the wall clock, it was almost 5:30PM. She stood up.
"Mum, Dad, thanks for the meal,"
Hugo and Lucia looked surprised…
"You haven't finished," Lucia said.
"I'm filled up. Moreover, I'm going out to see a friend," Sasha replied.
"Okay then, be good,"
"Sure, I will"
"Why don't they escort you," Hugo suggested, pointing at the guards standing behind them.
"I will be fine Dad," Sasha assured.
Sasha excused herself. Hugo and Lucia watched her take her leave.
"When was the last time we heard about the beast killing our kind? Did we even kill him?"
"We didn't,"
"You made everyone believe you guys have! Why am I just asking today!"
"It has been 8 years now,"
"As long as the killer hasn't been found or confirmed dead, everyone is at risk,"
"She will be fine," Hugo said.
"Who are you talking about?" Lucia asked."
"Our daughter. Are you working up over this because of her right or right?"
Lucia kept quiet…
"She will be fine," Hugo assured, and Lucia just stared at Hugo.
Angelo was reading a novel. He flipped through the pages, then he looked at his wristwatch.
"Ooh it is past 5:30," He said, jumping up from his chair.
He dressed up, and exited his room. He walked over to his parents room when he didn't see them in the sitting room. As he drew near, he could hear them talk about him.
"I don't know what to do now,"
"What are you talking about?"
"Angelo,"
"How about him?"
"I hate to see him suffer like this when people don't know that his wolf is very special to this clan,"
"Special? After they tried to end the race of his kind?"
"What have the Whitewolves done to the elders of Askarvard?"
"It might be jealousy,"
"Don't just let them find out about Angelo being a whitewolf,"
"I won't. But, why don't we tell him?"
"Hatred would fill his heart if he finds out that his family, and every Whitewolves were massacred in one day,"
Angelo drew back as he ran quietly inside. He was filled with anger… Nothing but anger. He checked his time, and found out it was almost 6:00PM. The time scheduled for him to meet with Sasha.
He left his room, and now, his foster parents were in the sitting room watching TV.
"I will be out for some minutes if not hours… I want to see a friend," Angelo said, and they both nodded.
"Stay well,"
"I will,"
Angelo left their presence as he cleaned the remaining tears in his eyes. Sasha was waiting for him outside.
"Are you being bullied again?" Sasha asked.
Angelo shook his head negatively…
"What's wrong then?" Sasha asked again.
"Nothing…" Angelo replied.
The three bullies sighted Angelo, and ran towards him.
"Hey tortoise," One of the bullies called out, but Angelo ignored.
"I'm talking to you," The bully pestered.
"Leave me alone," Angelo whispered enough for them to hear.
"You say?"
"f*****g leave me alone!" Angelo shouted as his eyes became red due to the tears mixed with anger.
"Woo, Woo, Woo, cool down mate, we just wanna play with you," One of the bullies tossed Angelo's head.
"What has gone into you?" The other bully said.
"Just leave him alone now, unless, I will call the authorities to take care of you,"
Immediately the bullies left…
"Your threat worked! But, it won't next time!" One of the bullies screamed as they departed.
- Writer
