Chapter 10: Chapter 9

My phone went off for the thousandth time today. It was morning now and yesterday was the best day ever.

After, we exited the office he took me to eat in a very cozy restaurant. People would think that, since he is so rich that he would be very sophisticated and would only eat high prized meals.

But that was so not the case. When we entered the restaurant we quickly were rushed in a booth and he ordered a lot, like a triple cheese burger, a large chocolate milkshake and a large serving of fries. And the most weird part, he didn’t even get fat. It was as if his stomach was a black hole.

Whereas I, couldn’t even finish my single cheese burger, which he ate at the end. We talked about anything and everything. He had four people in his family, his mother, Angela, his father, Francis, Crystal and him. He graduated from Harvard’s Business University with top scores. He has a child-hood friend Nathaniel, who is a scientist and is working in Reed’s Science division.

But there was something off about him when I changed the topic to Sylvia. His answers got jumbled and he started to stutter. And it didn’t take a genius who has three Masters degrees in Computers, Engineering and Science to know that.

Huh, must be a co-incidence. On to more important topics.

If he is lying then he have to go through my fist then have a mouth-to-mouth chat with me.

Oh, you dirty people, I meant talking.

I also shared about myself, like I live with Amelia and Max, which he already knew, I was raised by my dad, Marc Costello, since my mom left us at an early age and we don’t talk about her. I hate her for ever leaving us but we both only think that it was her loss that she lost some awesome people in her life.

It was hard growing up with only one parent and that too being a male one. When my periods came dad didn’t know what to do about it and took me to the hospital immediately when I told him about seeing some blood on my underwear.

The doctor there told us about my menstruation and he was so embarrassed by it. I kept making fun of him for months about it.

Luckily, I heard all about it from the senior kids in my bus. Thank god, I was saved from the awkward talk.

Even on prom when he was about to give me ‘the talk’ I practically ran away from him. But, nonetheless, I love him.

He was there when she wasn’t. But the weird thing was Brandon’s face grew very angry when I mentioned my dad.

Well, back to the present.

I groggily woke up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I stretched and yawned, when my phone went off again. I answered it without seeing who it was.

“Hello?” my voice was still rough from sleep.

“Hey babe, did I wake you up?” Richard’s voice spoke from the other side, followed by a low growl.

“Um, I mean, uh, I have something to tell you. It pains me to say this but we have to break up.” he continued and my eyes widened at his statement.

“It’s not you, it’s me. I found someone better than you and we are going far away fro-” there was a loud clanking sound on the other end, followed by a thud, but he continued anyway, “I meant, you are great and awesome and I don’t deserve you because I cheated on you. I am sorry Ember. I just wish you will be okay after loosing me, I-I mean, I wish I will be okay after loosing a girl like you.” with that he ended the call, not before I heard someone’s voice saying ‘good work’ and I just know who it belongs to.

Other than that, I knew some part of Richard’s apology was heart-felt.

I quickly went in my bathroom to shower and change.

When I went out of the room, I heard hushed voices from the kitchen. I tip-toed there and hid behind the wall.

“...Now is not a good time to tell her this. We don’t know how she will take it, besides it is her father who is on line.” Amelia said and my eyes widened at the mention of his name.

“I understand Ams, but we have to tell her about Marc’s decreasing health. What kind of friends do you think she would think of us if we of all people didn’t tell her?” Max countered and my throat closed up.

“The worst kind that is.” I spoke and revealed myself. My eyes were burning from the unshed tears.

They both got up from there seats and stared at me with shock.

“I-I-We, how much did you hear?” Amelia asked and walked over to me. She moved to hold my hands but I jerked away from her and felt my cheeks beginning to wet.

“Enough to not come back for the next few days.” with that I ran towards the door and took my car keys from the bowl.

They followed me and kept shouting my name, but I was too hurt to talk or face them. With tears streaming down my face, I rushed into my car and drove off to me safe haven.

A wonderful waterfall with greenery everywhere. It is a bit secluded from the outside world. If they know about this pure place then they would take no time to destroy it.

This place has been a second home to me. When my mom left us, me and my dad came here often and just looked at the beauty in silence, embracing the fact that she was gone but we still had each other.

And now, I don’t think I even have my dad. He lied to me, along with Amelia and Max. God help me if Brandon was actually sent by them so that I could be happy for a few moments. I don’t even want to know what would happen to them.

My phone pinged with messages and calls but I made no effort to pick it up. I left it in the car, switched off so that they won’t even know how to get my location.

I just wanted some peace and quite.

I heard a voice say in the darkness that prevailed around me.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” my voice echoed.

the voice broke down and the darkness was filled with light somehow.

Sylvia was standing in front of me. She looked weak and she collapsed on the ground. I rushed to help her and held her.

“Sylvia? I-I don’t understand. You and I just have the same fucking face. How are we connected?”

“Wake up. Ember? Are you listening?” I opened my eyes and saw Brandon.

“Brandy?” I croaked out and sat up only to notice that I slept in my car and now it was night.

“W-What did you just call me?” he gasped and looked at me with disbelief.

“Brandy? Why is it wrong?” I asked.

“No no, you don’t know how long has it been since someone has called me that.” he smiled and I smiled too but it turned to a frown soon.

“Wait, how did you find me here? And how did you know I ran away?” I asked.

“I got a call from Amelia and followed my gut here.” he said, rather nervously.

“But she doesn’t have your number yet.” His eyes widened momentarily before he hid it, but I freaking saw it.

“You lying bastard. Were you in with them?” I screamed at him and hit his chest. I needed to get this anger out of me.

“What are you saying? I was with no one.” he shouted too and held my wrists in his hands.

“The fact that my father is dying. Were you with them?” I asked again and he froze.

“Your father? He is dying?” he asked and I stopped my struggles and looked at him. “Thank god, he is.”

I gasped and slapped hard across his cheeks.

“How dare you say it? I love him.” I spat at him.

“You slapped me because I wished for that bastard’s death? Seriously? Don’t you remember yet? What he has done to you? And your mother? He is a monster.” he seethed with anger and I took a step away from him.

“H-How do you know my mother?” I asked.

“You loved her, Sylvia. Your father used to beat you and her. He even broke your fucking arm when you were 10.” he took a step towards me but I was too shocked to move.

He took a hold of my shoulders and started shaking me. “Why don’t you fucking remember? Here I am loosing all the amazing times I spent with you, for what? Fucking hell Sylvia. REMEMBER!!!” he shouted and like something snapped inside of me, my memories broke free.

The scene changed and I was in front of Sylvia and Brandon.

Now I was in some kind of destroyed workshop and Brandon had a hammer in his hands and Sylvia was strapped to the chair, crying.

Next, we were in front of some kind of machine and they both were looking at each other lovingly.

Lastly the scene changed to a 90’s movie with a girl trying to get cozy to Brandon and Sylvia was storming from the other side.

I got back to reality and suddenly felt very weak. My knees buckled and Brandon caught me.

“Sylvia? I am so sorry for shouting at you. I don’t wanna loose you again.” he apologized.

“Brandy.” I whispered and gestured him to get closer. “Brandy, I won’t leave you again. Your Sylvia will be yours only, in every time-line. I… just… want… to sleep. So tired.” With that my eyes closed and darkness surrounded me.