CHAPTER 18: COINCIDENCE?
1457 Words
I am sitting in my favorite spot—the bench at the corner of the school garden. It's peaceful in this part of the campus, yet I could see the entire surroundings. I can immediately see if there are rogue Daywalkers around. It's almost five o'clock in the afternoon. My last subject got cancelled. I had nothing to do but to hunt vampires. After a few minutes of looking around, I saw Justin approaching me.
"Hi, Vanessa," Justin greeted me as he's walking towards me. He waved his hand.
He's really good-looking. He's like a model coming out of a magazine with his dashing look. His white shirt is loose but doesn't hide his lean chest and his jeans outlined the long lean muscles in his thighs. What am I thinking? I shook my head and flashed an awkward smile.
"What's wrong? Are you still mad at me?" Justin anxiously asked.
"No, I mean... I just feel tired, that's all."
"What happened?"
"It's nothing. What have you been up to?" I tapped the bench, instructing him to sit beside me. He sat down, a few inches away from me.
"I'm just happy. Look." Justin held the gold pendant on his chest. It's round, bigger than a dollar coin and looks like a vintage pendant.
"That's a lovely pendant." I held it to check the engraved designs on it. It has a lotus design. "Wait, it's a locket!"
"Yes it is. Open it." Justin looked down, telling me to open the locket and see what's inside.
I opened the locket and found a picture of a beautiful woman inside. She has a wavy brown hair and a deep-set eyes. Her nose is small and cute. She was smiling on the photo. Her face is heart-shaped. "Who is she?"
"She's probably my Mom. Val said I was wearing this when they found me. He thought he lost it but he found it in the storage yesterday." Justin's eyes are showing happiness and excitement. I can see a kid longing for his parents. I suddenly missed my Mom.
"Now you have a clue. It will be easier for you to find your parents."
"Right. Although if she survived that day, she's old aged by now, or she's already dead." Justin took a deep breath, then he sighed. "But I have high hopes I can find my vampire Dad. If you haven't met him, he's probably still alive." Justin chuckled.
"Crazy. I don't kill vampires without reason."
"I know. That's why I'm still alive, see." Justin opened his arms wide.
I laughed. "I just had this strong feeling that time that you need to stay alive."
"Thank you for that. I owe you my life." Justin smiled, he pulled out his bag and opened it. He pulled out a folded ripped white cloth. It has stains of blood. He opened it. There were words written in blood. "My Mom also left this--wrapped around me. It looks like a ripped dress of my Mom."
I read the message. "Take care of my Justin. His Dad will find him."
"My Dad will find me. I believe my Mom." Justin's eyes have full of hopes. "Will he really find me?"
"I'm sure he will. He just doesn't have a clue where to find you." I returned the ripped cloth. "Now that you have missing pieces of your past, it will be easier for him to find you."
"That's the reason we returned here. Vlad said they found me in the forest nearby. I' m hoping he's around, too." Justin put the ripped clothing back to his bag.
"How old are you again?"
"47 years old." I tried recalling the conversation I had with Louie yesterday. A suspicion suddenly formed in my mind. Is this just a coincidence? Louie lost his family, and Justin, abandoned when he was still a baby—most likely happened almost at the same time?
"J-Justin," I asked hesitantly. "What would you do if you find out who your father is. Will you come with him or will you stay with the rebel group?"
Justin couldn't answer my question.
"I know you treat Vlad as your father, too."
"You're right. He saved me when I was a baby. He took care of me since I was a child, but still, I want to meet my real Dad. Ask him why he left my Mom alone. Why he abandoned me." Justin sighed.
"Let's go to our house." I suddenly made up my mind. I will trust my instinct. "Please keep our hide out in secret."
"I promise." Justin raised his right hand.
He and Louie even have the same mannerisms. Why am I caught in the middle of this? "Good."
We used my car to go home. I drove as fast as I could, hoping we could catch up with Louie before he and Ana leave for hunting tonight.
"Why are you in so much hurry?" Justin held tight on the car seat.
"I'm doing this for you. Hold on tight!" I smiled as I drove faster.
We arrived home in no time. I quickly got out of the car. "Come in," I told Justin as I was walking towards the main door. I opened it up and walked to the living room. I saw my entire family sitting and watching TV. Louie is sitting on the couch across the room.
"Vanessa—" Louie stopped as he saw the person behind me. He immediately got up to get ready to fight, but I raised my hand to stop him.
"No! Please, calm down, Louie, everyone."
All of them seemed wary upon seeing Justin in our house.
"Vanessa! Why did you bring him here?" Uncle Fernand asked.
"It's a long story, Uncle, but I did this for Louie and Justin," I explained, though I'm sure it will be easier to explain with evidence. I pulled Justin beside me. "Louie, do you recognize this locket?" I pointed on Justin's necklace.
Louie was standing like a statue. His eyes gazed on the gold pendant. Tears welled up in his eyes. "W-why are you wearing Emily's necklace? I gave that to her."
- Writer
