In a small town like Farloore, secrets can be shared and kept, depending on the crowd. The town hall was filled the next day; filled with the gossips of the town. The Chase family is known for its wealth and golden child. All of that was forgotten years ago, when their only son died.
Farloore doesn't forget and they will make sure not to. The town hall overflowing with people, hearing about the announcement Mayor Rob called for.
"This is the sixth anniversary of Andrew Chase. Unexpectedly murdered and robbed of his last chance to say goodbye to his family." Sabrina, Hendrik, Donna, Amanda and Toby sat far from the rest and wore black clothing.
Sabrina couldn't be emotional; she hardly remembers having Andrew in the house. Those short lived moments where he was around, were nothing but fragments of memory. Convulsed memories. While his many girlfriends sat on the left side of the hall, weeping their eyes and making sure their mascaras were still intact, Sabrina could only shake her head in despair.
Her brother was a playboy, just like her father. He was known to be a charmer and a ladies man. He didn't care if the ladies had boyfriends, he would continue with his charming ways.
I guess one of the boyfriends had enough and murdered him cold blood.
"Are you okay?"
"Are your parents well?"
"If you need anything, tell me."
"Everything will be fine."
The whole town had dropped by at their house, offering their condolences. It was a futile attempt and she couldn't just turn her back away; they were her neighbour.
The time her brother died, she hardly knew about a boy named Hendrik Dawson. He was just another citizen in the small town and she lived her life simply.
The day she met Hendrik was something out of the ordinary. At the time, anything was out of the ordinary. Her whole life she was guarded by men in black suits and mute maids.
Meeting Hendrik was unexpected.
Perched in her favourite chair, staring out into the endless forest, Sabrina Chase pondered over what life out of the sterile walls was like. Her thoughts were answered when a sudden bang startled her out of her daze. The only thing she could see was a black figure, moving about in the trees.
Intrigued by this, Sabrina stood by her balcony and observed. All she could see was blond hair. Strikingly blond. Sabrina was only in high school and she had never seen anyone with such blond hair, strikingly blond.
The following days were the same, seeing blond hair and a sudden bang being heard. Sabrina was fed up and decided to check out who and what it was.
What she found was a beautiful boy, beautiful brown eyes and his attractive blond hair. Sabrina could only stare and before she could greet him, he was gone. Disappearing into the dark of the forest.
"Let's go Sabrina." Hendrik held onto her arm and led her away; he knew how she was when surrounded by people that reminded her of Andrew. She goes mute and acts like a robot half the day.
°•°•°
Amanda held herself hostage in her room. Her mother left to do God knows what and her father? She never knows where he his but he appears when Amanda does something 'bad'.
She's been feeling defeated and down. She couldn't find Akiyah and she's failed at being a perfect person for Toby. Her small phone buzzed to life; a message.
No it's a phone call and it's an unknown number. She answered, with little hope that it would be news about Akiyah.
"Amanda?" She couldn't believe her ears. The soft voice of her lost friend, Akiyah.
"Akiyah?! Is that really you?!" She forgot where she was and sprung up from her bed, ready to tell the rest that she's still alive. Fate had another plan and at that moment, her father came in.
"What's all this ruckus for?" Her father, as usual, wore raggedy clothes and his infamous open toe shoes. He had no job and depended on Amanda for money.
"Nothing father. I thought I saw a bug." Amanda fiddled with her clammy hands and cast her head down. Her father, Mikael Johnson, was once in the army and it all went down hill when her mother was pregnant with her first born. Amanda.
"Nonsense. Waking me up because you thought you saw a bug?!" He kept grumbling and huffing, his large figure disappearing into the hallway.
Amanda went back to her phone, clutching onto it for dear life. She whispered as softly as she could and was relieved that Akiyah was still there.
"Someone's going to pick you all up. I'll explain when you reach your destination. Tell the others." That was the end of their call.
Amanda told the others.
°•°•°
Sabrina, Hendrik and Donna were huddled in a black SUV, slowly driving to the location they were given. A tall, lean man sat in the driver's seat, mute and unmoving. It was an awkward drive to say the least but the unknown man despised noise.
"Touch it and you're dead." Is what he said to Donna when she tried to turn it on the radio. From then we all decided to stay quiet.
"What do you think she has to tell us?" Hendrik sat close to Sabrina, holding her soft hand. He saw how anxious she was, he couldn't leave her like that. They may be exclusive and confidential about their relationship but Hendrik still cared about her. Very much.
Some days, he would conclude that it's love and others he concludes that it's lust. Nothing more.
"I'm just glad she's alright! We haven't heard from her in a month and now we get to see her again." Amanda drove with Toby and another tall, lean man. These men seem to have come out of a movie. Men in Black perhaps.
"It's going to be fine." Sabrina just hoped that his words were true. She's holding onto whatever hope was left.
°•°•°
Arriving at the unknown destination, the group arrives at a beautiful Victorian house. This didn't look like a place to hold people hostage. Sabrina and Hendrik shared questionable faces and decided that they'll get their answers. The lean man stopped the car abruptly and if it weren't for Hendrik, Sabrina would've flown out the car.
"Out." Is all he said and the duo scurried out. Donna took her time, oblivious to the man's temper. "Call me and maybe you can loosen up." Both Hendrik and Sabrina did not expect such behaviour but her occasional gallivanting may have taught her these things.
"Donna, don't." Came Hendrik's warning, his hand gripping her wrist. Donna didn't care much about anything anymore, this side of Hendrik was something she was accustomed to.
"Guys, welcome to my home." Came Akiyah's sweet voice. Amanda joined the rest and Toby decided to watch the scene unfold, from afar.
"Akiyah?!" Donna, Sabrina, Hendrik and Amanda screeched and were startled by Akiyah's glowing face. She didn't seem in pain or anguish. She didn't seem like she was starved. She didn't have a bruised marks or any signs of being abused. The rest were also taken aback when she said 'my home.' What did she mean by that?
"In the flesh." Her smile was so wide, it clearly showed how happy and well she was. Sabrina took a step forward and examined her friend. Just a few months ago she was frail and had bags under her eyes.
"You look...radiant!" Sabrina could only be happy for her friend.
"And so do you." Akiyah struggled to keep her smile hidden. She was happy to see familiar faces. "Don't lie to me. Before we got a message from Amanda, we were at my brother's memorial, ready to dash out of there." Akiyah knew how important the memorial was and she missed it.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there." They hugged, cried and laughed at their ruined faces.
"Now, I don't want to see my beautiful fiancee crying." The deep voice came from the entrance and the little group turned to see who it was. Upon seeing him, Akiyah jumped for joy and rushed to his side. She received a chaste kiss. To say they were suprised was an understatement– Toby saw it coming apparently.
"Akiyah, who's this?" Amanda was both infuriated and left confused but she didn't show that she was bothered, she's with her best friend.
"This is my lovely fiancé, Jasper." Both Hendrik and Sabrina we're shocked but the rest stood nonchalant, observing Jasper.
"When did this happen? Did he not kidnap you?" Sabrina was dazed and confused by this. Akiyah and her fiancé, who so happens to be her kidnapper?
"His the very same man but during the time I've spent here, I realised not all everyone's bad." Amanda scoffed and scornfully watched Jasper's movements. The way he looked at Akiyah, the way he held her and the affection in his eyes. She could see it but she wanted to deny it.
"Shall we go inside. Akiyah gets cold fast, even when it's hot." Only her friends knew that. They must really be in love. The little group followed after them and were greeted with sweet aromatic food.
"My abuela loves baking. Excuse me for a moment." Jasper, still admiring his fiancee, kissed Akiyah and dashed out the room.
"Akiyah. Are you serious right now? You're going to marry your kidnapper?" Akiyah sat in her plush chair and gestured for the rest to do the same. She called one of the lovely maids and asked for lemonade for everyone.
"You're ordering people around now?" Sabrina couldn't hold back and Hendrik was worried that she'd say or do something.
"Sabrina, calm yourself. She'll explain." Hendrik gently held her hand and Akiyah did not see that coming.
"You guys are together?" Akiyah lift's one of her sharp eyebrows– she's been lavished since day one.
"We'll answer that once you answer our questions. What's really going?" Akiyah couldn't help but snort at Sabrina's questions.
"Sabrina, the golden girl and the most popular girl of all Farloore. This is my happy ending and I'm sorry it started out tragic but I'm happy where I am. See, not all of us can accept the fact that we have to live under your shadow. We want to live and this is my moment, darling."
Jasper and the maid, Mari, came as soon as she was done talking. Jasper took his seat, beside Akiyah.
"My lovely Kiki wants to live Sabrina. I promised to give her anything and everything she wanted. Now, is that a problem or are you bothered by the fact that I took her away from you?" Jasper cunningly stared back at the group and she recognized Amanda.
"Amanda, you ready to be a maid of honour?" Amanda had no words but she could only nod. Ashamed of herself, she stared down at her hands and Toby saw the opportunity. He raised her up from her seat and left with Amanda in his arms.
"Guess she's still shocked. Maybe I should talk to her." Akiyah stood up and left Jasper with her friends.
They stared at each other for a long time before Sabrina broke the silence.
"What do you really want? Money or her virginity?" Hendrik saw it coming but poor Jasper didn't, which resulted in him choking on his drink.
•°•°•
"What's going Mands? You can talk to me." The sun was setting slowly and the pair were idly staring at it– both were not in state to admire it.
"I just didn't expect–"
"Me to get married to my kidnapper and you becoming my maid of honour?" The pair jumped at the voice of Akiyah but settled back into the rocking chair.
"Yes, I did not expect that and for you to accept it." Akiyah could only shrug, sitting in front of the couple.
"There's a lot I need to tell you but I can only tell you. Love is true and it's out there waiting for you Amanda. I guess when you see the opportunity, you take it cause you desperately want to escape."
The couple couldn't help but look at each other when she mentioned the word love. Toby already loves Amanda and she feels the same perhaps.
"You two seem in love. Now wouldn't you fight to stay together, even if that means no contact with the outside world?" They looked back at Akiyah and she saw unshed tears in Amanda's eyes.
"Don't cry Mands, you've got me and I've got you. Always." They did they secret handshake and laughed about it after.
Didn't matter if she was gone for a long time, they always had each other.
"So tell me how this became a thing?" Akiyah lazily pointed at the pair and they both began to laugh– Amanda giggling like a little girl.
"We're not a thing, A."
"Nonsense. I can see that you both like each other, so why not become a thing?" Akiyah has always been a little girl in the inside.
"Well..." Toby stood up, bringing Amanda with him.
"I do love you and that's no secret. You know how stubborn and shy I can be, it's taken me this long just to do this."
Toby kneeled and both girls were stunned. "I'm not proposing." He chuckled at their antics.
"This is a promise ring. In the near future it will become an engagement ring. I promise to love you and protect you. To hold and be with you. Cry with you. Laugh with you. Do stupid things with you. I will always be your pillar, no matter what and I hope you know that." Amanda jumped for joy and couldn't help but cry at the same time.
"Did we just miss something?" Hendrik, Sabrina and Jasper stood by the entrance of the door, staring at what looked like a proposal.
"Don't worry, it's not what you think." They spent that afternoon reminiscing about the good old days. Jasper occasionally adding his two cent in or kissing Akiyah.
°•°•°
"You guys can rest here until you leave. I've got plenty of room in here." Hendrik and Sabrina decided to sleep in the same room. Amanda and Toby did the same.
"Goodnight everybody." A chorus of 'night' resonated to the far rooms. It might as well be a hall seeing how large the space is.
"You've been quiet." Sabrina held Hendrik's hands, placing them on her hips.
"Just hope wherever Donna disappeared to, she's safe." Holding his face and looking at brown eyes, Sabrina knew that he would have a restless night.
"Let me go ask Jasper, mh?" He absently nodded and she left, finding her way through the dark hallway. Continuing straight, she reaches the dark oak doors and laughter echoing from the other side of the door.
"Knock knock." She could hear them quietening and footsteps coming closer. "Ah Sabrina, how can I help you?"
"Donna, Hendrik's little sister, she was with us and now we're not sure where she is." Jasper slyly smiled and led her inside. She followed him to the balcony and saw him point down. "She's safe. You can tell your boyfriend she's with one of the bodyguards. They sleep in a house out the back, so that's settled." Sabrina giggled and heard Akiyah join in.
"Thank you and goodnight." Sabrina walked back and was met with a worried Hendrik, standing by the door.
"Don't worry Hendrik, she's with a bodyguard. She's safe." He sighed and led her inside. They set up the bed, lit up candles and sat near the balcony. "I wish I could give you this kind of life."
"What do you mean?" Sabrina sat calmly, shifting in his lap.
"A serene and beautiful life."
"You've already given me that." Hendrik Dawson knew at that moment that he had fallen for her.
"I love you." Sabrina giggled and kissed him passionately. "I love you too." They sat watching the moon slowly rise.
"I will always love you and protect you."
"You've done that many times, my love. Many times." He kissed her cheek and Sabrina sighed at the love she was feeling. It was overwhelming but she loved it.
"I love you." Was the last thing Hendrik whispered before she slept.
°•°•°
And that's a wrap! I'm so sorry guys for leaving you high and dry. It was not my intention. I've been focusing on my channel and catching up with school but I'm back. This ended well...I think.
Please don't forget to like, share and comment. Tell me if I did grammatical errors and I will fix them.
The next chapter is Part 2. I will be doing first person for ALL the characters. Tell me if that's a good idea. Continue with third person or first person?
Some people don't even read these so I'll go with my intuition.
Ciao