CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
My dad wheeled himself closer to where I sat on the big bed and took my hands in his, then he hugged me to himself making me feel protected. I'd been opened to these strangers who didn't see me as a person but as a tool for their own gains so it felt amazing to be back in my Daddy's arms again.
I cried uncontrollably, the emotions of the last couple of weeks overwhelming me.
Momma sat down with me on the bed and began rubbing my back soothingly and I finally lifted my head up, ready to hear what they had to say.
“My beautiful, smart and amazing daughter,” my dad said to me as he cleaned the tears on my cheeks even though he seemed close to shedding tears himself. I've never seen papa cry except when Grandma died; they were really close. So seeing him close to tears right now made me fidget and I decided to take whatever that comes out of it because it was obviously not easy for them to come to such a conclusion.
“Yes Christopher. We made an amazing child, didn't we? She's so perfect and graceful,” Momma praised me but it only served to make me more apprehensive about what was coming afterwards.
“I'm sorry about all of this. I should have just given in to his demands when I got here instead of delaying the inevitable. Now I'm being forced and I don't even know what is going to happen to me,” I said to them as I sat up slowly.
“Don't ever apologize for having true beliefs and morals. This isn't how the world is supposed to be, our mind and soul isn't designed for things like this so you can't just go with the flow,” My Dad said to me, his voice kind and gentle.
“But look what resistance caused. The King is not someone you say no to, in fact being here is probably just pissing him off more. I'm so scared Momma,” I sobbed, burying my face in my Mom's shoulders.
“Your father is right, Tess. None of this is your fault and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. But we need to do something because I can't stomach the idea of you turning into some mindless Zombie for these aliens. We've already given too much, there's just no way,” My Mom said, shocking me.
They made it look like I was going to get reprimanded for my actions or something but they actually understand me and why things turned out this way.
“But what can we do? I have already signed myself away on paper too. It's a sealed deal. I thought marrying him would be the worst thing to happen but now, I don't know what to do anymore. And to think I only got a whiff of this whole arrangement this morning!” I exclaimed in anger and frustration.
Not only will I not have the chance to not marry Xavier but I'll be made to love him and desire him, giving the rest of the world that crazy smile I used to hate on the faces of the brides that get married after fulfilling their part in the SOS experiment.
“We can run,” my dad said and we all looked at him in shock.
“Come on Dad, be serious.” I replied.
The security in this mansion wasn't something one could ever dream of going against. I've taught about running more than once and there's just no way.
“I can create a distraction and while they're focused on me, you and your mother will get out of here and run. I have family in Jamaica, they'll hide you all. This is the only way,” he said to us but we shook our heads
“Honey, don't be silly. They'll kill you immediately they discover what happened and they'll probably not even let us an inch away from the mansion. Besides, how do we escape airport security?”
“You'll go with the van, wear a disguise and I don't mind dying so you guys can have a semblance of a normal life,” he said, looking deranged as he thought more about it.
“Dad, please stop it. There's no way I'm abandoning you to your death just so I don't have to marry someone. It's ridiculous. You know what? I'll just see this as a sacrifice. I'll ask for whatever you guys want no matter how ridiculous it is and since he's decent enough to feel guilty unlike his father, Xavier will do it so give me a list,” I said to them, making up my mind
It's time to wear my big girl panties and stop obsessing over the inevitable. I'll be a mindless drone to the Prince of our planet and there's nothing I can do about it. Best to get it over with.
“But are you sure? Even if your father's idea is ridiculous, we could still figure something out, we just need time,” Momma said but I'd made up my mind. There's no need to go round and round the same thing when we'll still arrive at the same place.
“Don't worry Momma. I've got to do this. Maybe I'll actually be able to get him to change things when he becomes king. He's not as harsh as his father so let's try and look at the positives, no matter how bleak it seems,”I said to them.
It would seem crazy to an outsider that I was the one comforting them but I have always been the stronger one emotionally until this whole journey messed up with me but it's time to stop crying and actually do something about my situation even if it's literally giving up.
I got up and got writing materials from the table in the room and gave it to my dad. His handwriting was clearer, mine always looked like a drunk chicken wrote it.
“I can't think of anything besides Anna going to a medical school, Tess. I feel guilty sacrificing you for money, it's wrong,” my Dad said and I understood where he was coming from.
“I get you Dad and the contract I signed already took care of you guys. You're going to walk again and Momma's gonna get a bigger shop here in their side of town but I'm talking about stuff for everyone else. Our friends and the town, maybe we can start with a hospital that actually works well. If I'm going to be used as a sacrificial lamb, at least let's make something out of it for our people,” I told them.
“You're right. Maria’s only child died from cholera last week all because the clinic ran out of drugs. I really thought it was going to lead to a protest or something but everyone went home and didn't think about it again. It's all weird,” my mother mused, a weird expression on her oval face.
I noticed she added another wrinkle since I last saw her and it gave me a tiny relief that I'll finally be able to get her some form rest even if it cost me my freedom.
“Fine. A hospital and another school. The other one is overflowing and the teachers are paid pennies anyway so there's no enthusiasm to do anything. It's like they're intentionally keeping our children dumb,” my Dad fumed as he wrote things down.
“Thankfully, you made sure our girls had a better life. I feel that is why you scare them so much. I nearly laughed at his facial expressions when you said you didn't want to marry his almighty Prince. The King wanted to go bonkers,” my Mom said and we all laughed hysterically.
Then the door opened and we went back to frowning.
It was Corbin.
“The King said your time's up. No more stalling,” he said.
I took a deep breath and got up with my mom.
I really can't believe I'm about to hand over my willpower to an alien right now.
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