CHAPTER 16

FLASH BACK…
TEN YEARS AGO…



"Come on Cal, or we'll miss the bus." Sidney yelled from the door of Calla's house.

"Daddy, I'm full. I can't eat anymore. Moreover, I'll be late and they will leave us." Calla said while patting her full tummy.

"No you need to finish it or you'll feel lazy and weak throughout this whole trip." Xavier said. Calla was now pouting like a baby.

"Xav, stop being overprotective. I know you still don't want her to go for that trip." Mara said, annoyed with her husband's overprotectiveness towards her sister.

"Yes, I don't want her to go and I'm going to ask you one more time Cal, please don't go." Xavier said in a pleading tone. Mara rolled her eyes and calla giggled.

"It wasn't a question daddy, it was you, pleading to me not to go." Calla said.

"So don't go, please." Xavier said in a worried tone.

"Cal! For the love of God, please come out or I'm leaving now." Sidney yelled again.

"Wait for me, I'm coming." Calla yelled back. "Please Daddy, Mara help me you promised me." Calla said in a pleading tone.

Mara sighed and picked Calla's beg from the ground, made her wear and before Xavier could protest again, she took Calla to the door and kissed her cheek. "Stay safe sister, call Xavier if you can and eat on time." Mara said with a smile.

"I promise I will, bye bye, LOVE YOU DADDY." She yelled the last sentence for her brother in law.

"LOVE YOU TOO, STAY SAFE." Xavier yelled back but didn't come out.

Calla came out and hugged Sidney. Sidney sighed in relief and said. "Gosh, your family is crazy. Who does that to a high school student?" Calla laughed out loud.

For Sidney, that all was still too dreamy. "My family, call them crazy, but I love them like that." Calla said to her friend. Sidney sometimes tells her that Xavier isn't protective but he wants to cage Calla. But Calla knew Xavier always had loved her as his own daughter. Calla hadn't seen her father ever. He died before she was even born. But Xavier was always a father figure for Calla. Even before he was married to Mara, he ever cared for Calla like a father. And when Calla's mother died, Mara and Xavier adopted her and raised her as their own. After all, she was only five when her mother died.


Calla and Sidney got out of the bus and looked at the camping spot, it was beautiful and breathtaking. They both jumped up and down in happiness. They both set their tent together. After that they went for a walk. Sidney felt hungry, she came back but Calla wanted to reach the cliff and take some pictures of the beautiful scenery. Calla reached the cliff and took out her camera. She started talking snaps. "You know, if you lose your balance you're dead." Calla heard that voice and turned around to see, it was none other than Janet. Janet was a cheerleader and she was a brat. She always tried to harm Calla as she was more popular in school.

"Go to hell Jen, I'm not interested in your lame threats." Calla said in an annoyed tone. She turned back around and started taking pictures again.

"Are you sure they are lame threats?" Janet said, Calla gave her an annoyed look and left. She spent the rest of the day with Sidney. After dinner they all were exhausted, so the guide allowed them to sleep early. They all went to tents. Calla and Sidney went to theirs, Sidney got into her sleeping bag and in a few minutes she was snoring. But Calla couldn't sleep. It was because Sidney was snoring so loud. Calla was habitual of sleeping in all peace and quiet. After an hour or so, Calla got up and went out. She looked around, everyone was sleeping and it was dark and cold. Calla started walking towards the cliff again. She liked that place so much, it was peaceful and quiet. Calla sat on the edge of the cliff, her legs were hanging down in the air. She took a deep breath, inhaling chilly fresh air in. She wrapped her arms around her body and looked at the sky. It was a full moon night. Moon was big and extra shiny. Calla smiled and started singing the lullaby her daddy sings for her whenever she's feeling low or couldn't sleep.


Uncle sun has gone to sleep,
It is dark outside.
But baby you don’t need to fear,
Daddy will always be by your side.

For the birds those sings,
And the stars that shine,
You are the only princess, my sunshine.

No monsters under the bed,
Daddy will always check.
No bed bugs will ever bite,
My princess will always sleep tight.

For the rain that falls,
For the fairies those fight,
You are the only princess, my moon pie.

Your smile makes the flowers bloom,
Your eyes sparkle like glittery night.
Your heart is bigger than the ocean blue,
Your shining hair makes the world bright.

For the roads ahead , difficult to easy,
We will always together fight.
Daddy will love his princess Calla,
The love of his life.




Calla heard a crack, like a twig cracked under the foot. Calla was about to turn but someone pushed her. Calla lost her balance and fell. She heard an evil laughter, she knew it was Janet who had pushed her. She was about to hit the ground, she closed her eyes and a tear slipped her eye. She didn't hit the ground but felt someone's holding her tightly and protectively. She opened her eyes and found a very handsome and muscular man. He sat down on the giant rock with Calla on his lap. She felt safe with him, in his arms. He hugged her and rubbed her back soothingly. "Shhh… it's okay, you're fine. Calm down, no one can hurt you. I won't let anyone hurt you." He lovingly cooed her.

Calla buried her face in his chest and sobbed for a while. His masculine scent and warmth made her fall asleep. He didn't let her go. He kept her in his arms. Sun started to rise when Calla opened her eyes again. She was clutching his shirt tightly and still on his lap. She looked at him, he was awake. He stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers. "How are you?" He asked her in a worried tone. Calla's cheeks turned pink.

"I'm fine thank you." She just whispered. He pecked her forehead and looked at her again.

"Last night you gave me a heart attack. If I wouldn't be here, only God knows what would have happened. I promise I will protect you till my last breath. But you have to promise me that you'll take care of yourself as well. I will die if anything happens to you. You don't know but you're my everything." Ethan said with teary eyes.

Calla wiped his tears and whispered. "I promise." Ethan smiled and looked into her eyes for a few seconds.

He then whispered in her ear softly. "Nothing had happened to you last night. You slept on the cliff and you woke up alone. You hadn't seen me, it was just a nightmare." He said that made her close her eyes. He scooped her up in his arms and took her back to the cliff. He laid her down on the ground, kissed her forehead and left. He then went to Janet, he grabbed her by her neck and pinned her with a tree. Looking into her eyes he whispered. "Every time you'll look at Calla or even think about her, you'll see boogie man around you. Who will scare you and make your life nothing but a living nightmare." He said and pulled away.




"Poetry credit, Niharika Katare (Serena)"