around me so bad that I thought I would die of sheer anxiety. But all I could do was sigh into the phone and say, “Hey, Mom. It’s me.”
“Airel?! Airel, is that you?”
“Yeah, mom, it’s me.”
After a good ten minutes of excited screaming and crying and pleading, Mom and Dad finally calmed down and quit talking over each other. I missed them so much. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen them.
I could tell that Mom was just really glad that I was okay and unhurt. But Dad…that was another story. I had never in my life heard his voice sound that way. I guessed he was beyond angry. Maybe a little of it was directed at me, which was only human, but most of it was directed at the nameless and faceless kidnapper. Well, he was nameless and faceless for now. I didn’t want to see how that particular confrontation would go down.
“Mom, I know. It sounds insane, but really it was all just a misunderstanding.”
“Just tell us where you are. We will come and get you.”
Then the phone changed hands. “Airel, this is Special Agent Gretchen Reid, FBI. We have geolocated your position and we’re on our way to rescue you. Stay put, stay safe, and stay quiet. If your attacker comes back be sure to hide the phone you’re using as long as possible. If he tries to move you, just dial 911 until you get a connection—”
“No! No, that’s—you don’t understand,” I tried to explain. “It was just a misunderstanding and I know I’ve been gone for probably months, but I’m fine. Really, and—”
The phone was quiet. Then the FBI agent said, “Airel, you’ve only been missing for 36 hours. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Wh—”
“We’ll be there in an hour. Maybe sooner if we can get a helo. Stay put.”
I heard some chatter in the background about mental instability. Oh, no! Oh my gosh! I hit the cancel button and ended the call; partly out of reflex and partly out of fear. Oh, NO! Now what have I done?
“What’s wrong?” Michael asked, a look of concern on his face.
I tried to control my breathing. I looked back at Kim, who was passed out again. “Did she make her call yet?”
“No. What’s wrong?”
“Dude, just please keep driving. Get us out of here.”
I didn’t know which way was up. All I knew was my fear. My parents had called the cops on me! And what was all that about 36 hours? How was that even possible? I felt massively unsafe; even more so now that my parents were wrapped up in all my problems. Everything I touch turns to dust, I thought. How could I even begin to explain this to them? I felt so powerless. There really is no going back. If I try to get to my parents I would risk their safety. I could never do that to them…
“Airel, seriously. What is going on?”
“It’s nothing,” I said, eyes locked dead ahead on the road. “It’s just that the cops are after us now.”
CHAPTER XV
Arabia, 1233 B.C.
“I AM NOT A child, father!” Eriel was furious. “I hate this place. I want to go to the city of Ke’elei and live my own life.”
“Daughter, please be reasonable.”
“You talk about reasonable? Talk! Mere talk! You are scared to live your life, father!” Eriel flipped her jet-black hair over her shoulder and huffed at him. “…And I do not want to miss mine because of you.”
Kreios winced, saying nothing. Eriel’s mind and heart were hard; as yet untested. She viewed the world through the eyes of a girl who had never known real danger or pain.
“Are you going to say something? Anything?”
Kreios sighed and turned a little away from her, dropping his chin. How could he tell her that she reminded him so very much of her mother? His wife…. That fire in the eyes. The beauty she had inherited from her. It hurt him deeply to think about his loss.
“I can see that your mind is made up. You condemn me already. For disobedience.”
“Eriel, no—”
“No! I will not burden you further.”
“I know you want to make your own life, but, daughter, you are not yet ready.”
“I know, father, the Brotherhood will come, they will find us. I have heard it all before, ten thousand times.”
“You must not try to find your abilities out in the open or you will—”
“I do not believe it, father! You have a naïve faith in children’s stories. Have they ever come?