by Ana Slash
I wondered if I would remain in this place with pristine white walls and a strange dystopian luck.
The doctor walked up to me and said, “well, it looks like you’re fine, you’re doing much better now. You must count yourself lucky your father is an amazing man.”
I said, “why am I still here then if my father is such a wonderful man? I said to the doctor, You know nothing about my life, my step Dad did not try saving me from falling off the ledge that night and he is to blame for my being here. I shouldn’t be here. My step father did nothing to save me.”
For a moment there, I sounded crazy.
The doctor looked concerned and said, “it’s normal to feel this way when you are dealing with this virus it causes loosen nations and all that you are perfectly OK and you have a great father just so you know.” He looked at me like I was crazy or something, no I am not losing my mind, but the blank look on his face said otherwise.
19
Maxim
Maxim’s father has the plane ready to go to their personal island.
This pandemic was not going away. Plus, he is working out a deal to have Maxim’s case thrown out. Susan confronts Maxim’s Dad. Everyone’s hurting and he has the power to help. Bella’s step father says he has proof that Maxim did it. The bad girls Jessica and the others gang up against him with a hurtful statement.
Maxim lets go! I heard my father’s stern voice call out! I looked around the room, not understanding why we had to leave. I didn’t want to go. I hadn’t heard from Bella in a while and I was freaking worried. I kept calling her number, but no response.
“Maxim, where are you?” Dad called out, I sighed, picked my mother’s photograph and placed it in my pocket.
I walked out with trepidation to see my father hurriedly stuffing a suitcase with items, I looked at him with widened eyes. Yes the pandemic had become something else but we were asked to stay put and stay indoors that’s also why I couldn’t just drive over to see Bella. Matteo’s party had ended suddenly too when hungry hurting individuals descended on the boat, yes it was insane they overpowered the security team. There was nothing they could do to stop the crowd from descending on the boat. I got lost not knowing what to do. We had to leave for our safety so in a way it was great we took Bella home when we did but still no word from her and it sickened and worried me to the core. Was she alright? I hoped she didn’t confront her stepfather but then my father’s pensive look seemed to say otherwise, Bella must be in trouble.
“Dad what’s going on, what’s with all this?” I asked, watching as my usually calm father frantically threw things in a bag, ready to escape the world we had grown accustomed to living in. He shot me a dark look and said, “what does it look like I am doing, I am getting us the fuck out of here! You are in even bigger trouble, I have to work out a deal to have your case thrown out now. You must have noticed there is pandemonium out there, hmm. The virus has spread all over the place and you and I are not safe here for your information!”
My father spoke like a madman, he shook his head and said, “we are leaving on a private jet this afternoon to the private island until this all blows over.”
I shook my head and protested, I couldn’t leave without Bella, plus we haven’t gone through our final exams. I said, “Dad, I really don’t think leaving him is the best idea.”
My Dad stood up and towered slightly over me and said, “you are insane, how dare you speak up against me, you are going with me whether or not you like it. I will not leave you here to wallow away.”
I swallowed and said to my father, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave father.”
He laughed and said, “well do you have any other ideas what we should do? Maxine you are so naïve do you really think the people out there care about us right now? I said to my father, “I can prove Bella stepfather did what he did that night.”
My Dad shook his head.
He yelled “quiet this is not the time for that you are naïve and you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. All I know is that we need to get out of here before we get infected, before we get stuck here.
I have always looked out for you and this is just another aspect of that.”
I shook my head and said to him, “Dad, you always look out for me? I beg to differ. You haven’t always looked out for me. In fact, I have been through so much because of you.” My Dad was now mad.
He said, “You are still an ungrateful son.”
But that you have the power to stop this, you have the power to save people.
Many people are hurting out there.
Why should we leave when we can spend a lot of money and help the people out there, people are dying so we can save them.You have the power to help?
Why won’t you do so? My father turned to me and said, “Because we can’t save the world. Think of your future generation, I have shut my company down until further notice, do you realize what that means? I can’t afford to take care of the entire world. Look, let’s stay focused here. Get your stuff and we can talk about it on the flight.”
“No, I am not leaving. I said. “I am not going away.”
My father frowned and folded his hands.
He blurted out, “you have no idea what you are going up against, do you? You think this is a game? Well, let me make it clear to you. You are in trouble. Bella’s father claims to have proof that you did it. He said he has a sworn statement from your previous girlfriends, oh and I guess you haven’t had your television turned on in a while because you’d have noticed this. Well, since we have a few minutes, how about you look at this while I load up the car.”
Dad handed me his phone and I stared down at it, stunned!
There they were, Jessica and Samantha pouring their hearts out. Telling the world that I tried to hurt Bella because I confided in them? I won’t do such a thing. I turned to Dad and said, “That’s not me. I won’t do anything to hurt Bella. I love her with all my heart. She’s the only one for me, Dad.”
It’s okay to be worried and frightened about the outcome of things son but we shouldn’t let that take over what we have to do. Don’t worry, my lawyers are on it, we just need to get out of her to be safe. So let’s go. Reluctantly I agreed, I walked out with my Dad, got in the car and stared out the window. The home I knew no longer existed, I now lived in a dystopian world. I glanced out the window to notice the place I once called home, a shell of itself.
I wondered if I was doing the right thing? Was I abandoning Bella in her time of need? Should I ask my father to turn the car around? Am I being a coward in all this? Plus, what is Bella doing? Is she alright? Why has she avoided my calls? These thoughts ran through my mind. I sighed and looked down, twirled my fingers and turned to my father, a man I couldn’t imagine at one time being in the same room late alone in isolation for God knows how long but then it was happening and there was nothing I could do about it too.
Oh dear Bella, will you forgive me? Will you? I am sorry about this, but I have no powers over the situation. I called out to the universe, praying she would hear me. I know it sounds frivolous to think my calling out to the universe would make a difference, but I hoped it would.
Bella, if you hear me, I miss you and I am not abandoning you, darling. I want to see you again. I want to have my mood uplifted. I am suffering thinking about my life. I miss your lips on mine. I feel so vulnerable thinking of you. I wished I could be with you right now. I hate myself for letting you go that day. Something must be happening for you to avoid me this long. Oh Bella, what’s going on? I looked at my device and noticed a text from Killian.
“Where are you?’
I decided not to answer; it was hard telling the guys, my best friends, I was skipping town with my Dad and wondering if this was the right thing to do.
I turned to my Dad and listened as he said, “Yes we should be there shortly, Get the plane ready.”
Oh no, this is reality!
20
Killian
&nbs
p; I couldn’t believe it. I knew that we had to get out of that place. It turned out that she got taken away to some psychiatric hospital. I found this house from the lady who works over to place Rosa.
I was livid. I knew that I had to get my woman out of there. I turned to Mateo and said to him, “whatever it is we have to get Bella out of that facility.
Rosa stuck her neck out. We have to help Bella. I can’t imagine her being in there, especially now that she revealed exactly what she remembered about that night.”
Mateo agreed with me and said, “yes, we need to get her out. We can’t do this alone, we have to get Maxim on board.”
I said to Mateo I sent Maxim a text, but I still haven’t heard from him! He’s not responding.
“We must find her, we can’t wait for Maxim,” Mateo said to me.
I nodded.
I decided we’re going to get a route but right now we were in a fight to save peoples lives.
Mateo and I gave away most of our trust funds to a company that makes life saving supplies for individuals dealing with the black rain virus.
We were amid this when we heard that Bella was no longer at home. I tried to call her but I figure she needed some time off and she was lying low because she mentioned that she was trying to work things out before revealing everything.
I wondered if she talked to Maxim’s father, or at least a lawyer to kind of help out.
And then I got a call from Susan telling me she hadn’t heard from her in a while, and that’s when I knew there was something going on. They had to be its own like her not to at least call Susan.
I tried reaching her but she didn’t respond Susan said the exact same thing too. And so when we finally got the word from Rosa, I knew we had to act.
“So what are we going to do?” Matteo said as he packed up some boxes, which we meant to donate over to a shelter for the homeless .
Things are going crazy around here and I knew that my father and Mateo’s Dad were probably planning something and I knew the longer we waited the last time we had.
The pandemic had already spread around at a faster pace than anyone I’ve imagined.
We had to act now, or we would forever regret this. I said to Rosa when she told me the news that I will do my best to get a route. I would not let Bella stay there.
I sent Maxim a text; he didn’t respond. What was going on with him? It’s very unlike him to not to respond, especially when he knows that Bella is in danger. I said, “call me, call me right now?”
No response from Maxim.
And then I saw the news conference where Bella’s father claimed Bella was hurt and had to go away, and that Maxine’s case is still pending. I thought he said he would let it blow away?
I decided we need to call Maxim because he’s not picking up his phone and that’s a problem. So I turned to Matteo and said, “We need to call him. I think Max might even be in trouble.”
Matteo looked at me and asked, “why would you think that? She’s probably just hanging out at home or something. It’s not like we can go drive all over the place.” I said to Matteo, “Yes but I think of something else going on. We should call him, we really should. It’s important that we do so.
Matteo sighed and said, “yes, let’s go ahead and do that. So I called Maxim. He picked up the call and spoke in hushed tones.
I said to him, “Maxim, you alright?”
He said, “yes.” I could tell he wasn’t alone because he seemed a little guarded, so I said to him, “we really need to find Bella. He said OK.” And that’s when I thought to myself, he’s probably in a place where he can speak.
Maxim
I was just on my way to the airport when I got a call from Killian. I could tell Bella was in trouble. I looked at my father; he looked at me and then I tried to hide the fact that I was talking with Killian.
I didn’t want my father to react. He said my father said, “Well it looks like we’re here.” I said, “yeah Dad it sure looks like it.” I watched as my father stepped out the car grab a couple of the things and of course the guy on the jet came out and helped him grab his things and he walked ahead I said to my Dad that you know what I just need to make a quick call if that’s OK before we leave at least let me call and see if I to my friends." My father said to me, “well you go ahead and do that then.” And that’s the moment I quickly picked up the phone and called Maxim I’ll be over there right now. I looked in the car note and noticed my father left the key in the ignition. I got in the car, started it and backed up and I know he’s my father waving his hands asking what the hell are you doing?" I didn’t pay attention. Instead I spun the car around and drove off to meet Killian and Matteo.
Once I got to Matteo’s place, they looked at me with widened eyes.
Matteo said, “isn’t this your father’s car?” I said yes get in we’re going to the facility. He looked at me and said, what do you mean? I said I just got a text from Susan. She says Bella’s at a facility.
“And how does she know this?”
I looked at Killian and said, “you know the reason, she’s having an affair with Bella’s step Dad.”
I said, “Oh my God I just hope we get there on time; I hope she’s not in trouble.”
Killian looked at me and we exchanged looks.
Oh God--
I hope we can get there on time and so I did the best I could and we drove to the place but even if we get there what are we going to meet? Is it safe to go in? What if we get infected? Or would we jeopardize your safety by even trying to go to this place?
Only one way to find out, Killian said, “Drive”
And I did.
21
Bella
It was early enough at the facility; I thought, I will be stuck in this place forever. My anxiety increased as I thought about my mother. I figured she listened to my step Dad all the time and will not listen to anything I had to say. Where is she and why hasn’t she stopped by to visit? I mean, she is my mother, she should be here.
“It’s time for your daily exercise.” I heard one of the nurse attendants say in a firm voice. I watched as she helped me up on my feet. I told her I am not crazy, someone just wants to keep me in here. She nodded. I realized they have trained her to act that way around the patients. I knew this was a losing battle and no matter if I tried, there was no way I could win this fight.
So I followed her on a walk outside. The other residents glanced at me and did not say a word. They looked straight ahead. Some shook their heads in pity, as though it were a poor thing. I kept it moving. I turned to see the television blaring in the break room.
There they were, the guys I loved on the screen helping the homeless and the less fortunate during this tough time to risk their own safety. Their actions made me smile. I guess there are not the elitist bullies portrayed, but the others in school? I noticed many people were struggling with the pandemic.
I honestly wished I could get out of here to help, but I had to be realistic that will not happen. I am stuck in this home, not by choice.
I really want to get out of her. I can’t believe my stepfather could be so cruel? What happened to the promises he made, to protect me? Well, it was all a lie; it made sense now. He wanted to replace my mother with me? It will not happen.
That’s the moment I heard my stepfather declare on air, I am divorcing my wife, I gasped and the other residents noticed and snickered, ‘Rich guy divorces his wife during a pandemic. How cruel. A lot of the residents did not know the man on the television screen was my Dad. And of course I pointed it out.
They looked at me with widened eyes. A female resident with dark hair spoke up and said, “What? that’s your Dad?”
“Step,” I corrected.
“Well, he’s hot but why are you here?”
I shrugged. I knew fully well why I was in this facility, so I won't speak up against him in Maxim’s defense. I don’t get it, why wouldn’t my mother show up at this facility. The nurse then said, “Let’s go
for your walk.”
I nodded, but then I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen. I turned and looked up once again as my step father spoke and declared that once graduation was over, he’d marry his love Susan!
Horrified, I couldn’t believe it. Is he crazy? And who gave him the opportunity to speak? I guess people love distractions?
I palmed my lips this is not happening how can he do this? The nurse and the others looked at me curiously. Do you know his fiancé? Stunned, I said, “That’s my best friend.”
Their eyes widened, that’s the moment the other residents shook their head. I knew I had to speak to Susan, but I didn’t know how. I followed the nurse who couldn't care less about my past onto the field.
I walked around and told her I needed to sit. She nodded and said, “You can sit here. Oh and don’t try anything,”
I smiled wryly and said, “You have my word.”
And with that I watched the nurse walk away and I promptly figured out how to reach Susan. Then I noticed one girl holding a device. I asked if I could use it? She was taken aback by my boldness. But then she said, “Oh alright.”
I smiled at her and called Susan, hoping she would pick up. I thought she wouldn’t answer, but then she did, to my surprise!
I called Susan.
She picked up the phone calls even though she did not recognize the number.
She asked, “who is this?”
I said to her, “It’s Bella, can you come and visit me? I know you know where I am because you’re obviously sleeping with my stepDad.”
She said, “Who is this? Bella, is that you?”