"I thought about how there are two types of secrets: the kind you want to keep in, and the kind you don't dare to let out-Ally Carter.
Tata... there's a reason Mama and Papa left so early.
I can't put it in paper for the sake of privacy,but I don't want you to hate us.
We did not leave because we didn't want you.
On the contrary,we want you so much that it burns."
*
*
*
*
F.B.I Undercover Agency
Dracula Unit
Unknown Location
Southern Indianapolis
"Agent Larry...you're making a huge mistake!"
The tall strict looking but young black woman turned to look at the shorter man.
"I am sorry Agent Joseph...but I want you to understand that the only mistake that we'll be making,is not going after them."
The short white man sighed frustratedly,and ran his fingers through his black hair.
"We have been at this for how long now? Uh? FOURTEEN YEARS! I'm sorry Vicky...but this is all just a waste of time and resources!"
She slammed her palms on her big wooden office table.
"Maybe you don't understand what I'm saying Richard...maybe you're too dumb to understand.
We have a lead on them. This...this is the strongest lead we've had in all these years,and I...I am not letting it slide!"
"Vicky..."
"It's Agent Larry to you,Agent Joseph."
"Vi... Agent Larry... please reconsider."
"The only thing that would need reconsideration would be your job here if you don't get to work."
The man's face fell.
"You...you..you are threatening me? What the hell Vicky! I am your friend! You have no rig..."
"That's where you're wrong Richard! I'm not threatening you...I'm telling you what is,and what isn't!"
She paused,and stared at him in the eye.
"Listen...my husband and I have been working at this for so long to just...just back off now!"
He took in a sharp and shaky breath, shifting his gaze between her and the table.
"This... this is not about you and Benjamin! Vicky... I want you to be more rational! Do you remember what happened the last time we tried to attack them?!"
She glared at him through the side of eyes.
"Don't bring it up!"
"No!! I will! Last time,we lost more that a third of our best men out there!"
He began to tear up.
"Stop it Richa..."
"I lost Kenny...I lost him!"
She bit her cheeks hard.
"We all lost people we loved that day. That is why...that is why this...this is more than just some 'kick ass project' "
She paused and stared him in the eyes.
This is PERSONAL! We have to show the world that the Dracula Unit agents who died that day,did not sacrifice for nothing! We need to strike back!"
"Oh God... Vicky please."
"I'm sorry Richard...but these terrorists under the Infierno and Abismo Mafias, have done more than enough! WE need to stop them,and if...if... even if it means that I break off our friendship, so be it."
His face crashed into bewilderment.
"What..what?"
"Sorry Richard."
"We've been friends for 20 years!"
She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Everything ends someday."
To say that he was surprised,was an understatement.
He was baffled and dumbstruck.
"Oh..ok.."
"Get the team ready... we've got some terrorists to catch."
"Yes...yes Captain."
*
*
*
*
True Faith Church Premises
AnderFaith's Residence
Sunount
Indianapolis
"I said I went to get some air!"
"For crying out loud, DON'T LIE TO ME,YOUNG LADY!!"
I mentally groaned.
This reverend never gave up!
It was so frustrating.
We were seated at the really large dinning table with a total of 13 seats for each one of us, including Mike and Muna.
It was a Wednesday morning,and we were just trying to have a normal family meal.
Key word...trying.
"Mikey...I think you should calm down and let her talk to you at her own time. I'm just saying."
I rolled my eyes at Muna's 'helpful' suggestion.
What part of 'I don't ever want to talk about it', is difficult to understand!?
"Oh God...you guys have been like...at it for like 15 minutes now.
Like...can't we just like eat norm..."
"Say 'like' one more time, Paula and I swear to..."
"No swearing at the table!"
Adah yelled.
But when was she not yelling.
"Guys...calm down...it's o..."
But poor Mike was cut off.
I saw him weave his fingers through his hair in frustration before he gave up, and began to talk to Muna.
"Adah...no need to yell. Paula is right beside you!"
"I KNOW!"
I saw Dasha roll her eyes,and plug her earphones into her ear, nodding away to whatever music she was listening to.
Trust her to be so indifferent.
"Jeez...Israel,you're eating like a pig!"
Henry commented.
His twin brother eyed him,but kept on eating either ways.
Seriously,I didn't know how these twins actually spent nine months together in the womb!
The thirteen year olds could not bear to even sit together.
I saw Roy tapping away on his phone with his right hand, while eating with his left.
The 6 ft 3 chiseled face blondie, looked like he could care less if war broke out at this table, right now.
After a while,he smiled,more like blushed.
I kicked him from under the table.
He furrowed his brows at me.
"What"?
He mouthed, looking confused at my actions.
I nodded towards the direction of the phone.
His face immediately turned red.
That's it...I'm definitely finding out what was up.
Leaning over the table to reach his side,I tried to grab the phone.
"What are you doing?!"
He whisper yelled.
"Oh c'mon...Royish...you know you should not hide things from me."
His frown deepened.
"Really now? Zibah... leave me alone!"
"Zibah... your butt's in my face."
I gave Ancil a dead look that spelt...'You're-so-dead-when-I-finish-with-Roy.'
But on second thoughts,I could finish him off first,since he was closer.
I pushed my butt closer to the left,so it could be directly in front of the French teen's face.
"Ancil..."
I called in a sickening sweet voice.
"Oh Mon Dieu... comment?"
"Say cheese."
"Uh...what are you..."
PUUUFF...PHEEEWWWWW...
The sweet and calming sound of Zibah's fart, answered his question.
Amoli burst out in laughter,as Ancil's face morphed into horror.
"Oh my God...ZIBAH!!!"
Roy looked shocked, while Dasha didn't even care.
She trusted me to do stuff like this.
I flicked my curly wooly black hair with pride,and sat down.
"MIKE!!!"
The reverend snapped.
"What's the problem,Ancil?"
"ZIBAH FARTED IN MY FACE!!"
The whole table burst out in laughter,Amoli was even choking on her food.
Apparently, everyone except Mike found and of course,Ancil, found it funny.
Couldn't the man take a chill?
Even Muna had a small smile plastered on her face.
"Zi..."
Before he could finish,I toppled over the table,in an attempt to grab Roy's phone, making the whole table tilt in my direction and in a split second...it all came tumbling down.
Everyone was silent for a while.
Then...heavy fits of laughter ensued.
And boy...was Mike mad!
"ZIBAH.NAVA ANDERFAITH!!!!!"
I gave a nervous smile,as food and water had covered me completely,and I had been surrounded by broken plates.
"Oops?"
*
*
*
*
White Mountain Highway
Eastern Sunount
Indianapolis
Mike had bought a bus for all of us two years ago.
We called it our 'Faith Fury.'
It was a really cool bus considering the fact that when Cairo came into our home earlier this year,he also came with his crazy art ideas.
Since he was selectively mute,we decided to let him express himself in the way he loved.
The result...we had a completely spray painted bus with hilarious and awesome bus art of all our names and some other cool stuff.
Roy was the one who drove us, dropping baby Kathleen at her elementary school before taking us all to school.
The ride to school today,was pure torture!
Everyone just looked at me like I was some alien from space.
I mean,what did I possibly do? They were all just overeacting.
Maybe I did go too over the top with the fart and the table.
But mistakes happen.
Yh right... mistakes.
Ancil's face was squeezed into a tight frown throughout the ride,I feared his face would tear or something worse.
"Hey Ancil..."
I rolled my eyes.
Once Dae-ho spoke up with that his annoyingly cute Korean accent,he often had something evil in mind.
As I sat clench fisted at the back of the bus,next to 5 year old Kathleen,who was doodling on her note book,I could think of a million things Dae could say to make things worse.
"Dae-Ho,please don't make it worse. Ancil,I'm sorry ok?!"
The Korean boy glared at me.
"Leave me alone!"
Ancil seemed to snatch the words out of his mouth.
Dae-Ho gave a sinister smile.
"Anyway, Ancil...the nose and mouth are connected right?"
Ancil grew suspicious.
"What are you driving at?"
Others in the became quiet,to hear what Dae-Ho had to say.
Dash gave me an amused stare which I ignored.
Traitor.
Dae-Ho glanced towards my direction and smiled innocently.
I wished I could just burn the smile off his face.
Innocent? Pff...Maybe as innocent as the devil.
"So...Ancil,my Frenchie,if the nose is committed to the mouth,then..."
He made an unnecessarily dramatic pause.
"How did Zibah's fart...taste like?!"
Ladies and gentlemen, that was what started World War III.
It's still a mystery to me,that we arrived school in one piece.
Still a big mystery.
White Mountain Middle
And Highschool
Eastern Sunount
Indianapolis
The foster care system has been one of the most important systems the country had ever set up.
Though,I knew that I was lucky to have a wonderful foster family because Mike had always told us about some foster parents who maltreated the kids in their care,not caring a bit about their well being.
It really broke my heart.
Reverend had taken in fourteen of us,(Dasha's baby Evva incuded)in the past 13 years, giving us a family,a home and mostly, giving us love and God's word.
The first five kids to come in were me, Flourish,Dasha,Roy and the wheel chair boy(which I had called him for a long time),Ancil.
Dasha,Roy and I were age mates,but months apart,with Dasha being the eldest,born in January,then Roy,March and I, June. We were all seniors.
Five year old Ancil came two years later,just a week after Flourish had died.
He was a Junior
A year later,Adah and Dae-Ho came into the family.
Adah was a Nigerian, whose parents immigrated to the states, while Dae-Ho was a Korean.
Dae-Ho was 7,just like us,while Adah was 4.
After about 2 years, Amoli,the long silky haired Indian,came.
The malnourished 6 year old, was selectively mute for about 3 months before she finally opened up and spoke to Muna.
Three more years passed,and it seemed that the Reverend and his wife were through with taking in fosters, then 8 year old Latin American, Paula,came in.
The next year,the overly identical 9 year old twins,Henry and Israel, fought and quarreled their way into the house.
After 2 long years, Kathleen,the cute 3 year old,came home.
It was early last year that 14 year old Cairo,came in, bruised, broken, abused and mute.
As a family,we helped him back up, although he still goes for therapies. Doctors believe that he was selectively mute.
But his art works were awesome.
Then finally,late last year,Dasha gave birth to the beautiful bundle of joy...Evva.
So,in accordance of arrival,we have....
Zibah(me), then Flourish,Roy,Dasha,Ancil,Adah,
Dae-Ho,Amoli,Paula,Henry and Israel, Kathleen,Cairo and baby Evva.
Then, in accordance to age,we had...
Flourish(She'd have been 18),then Dasha,Roy, Dae-Ho and Zibah(me again), we were 17 but we were seniors because we had taken extra summer lessons so we skipped a class.
Then Ancil who was 16 and a sophomore.
Adah,Amoli and Cairo,the 14 year olds were in middleschool, followed by 13 year old Paula and the twins and then,5 year old Kathleen before our baby Evva.
The forteen of us
Although 11 years ago, 7 year old bubbly Italian Flourish,passed on,making us 13.
I could still remember her beautiful smiles and her freckles which made her look adorable.
She had her Sickle cell crises really often, each worse than the previous.
She was the second foster child Mike and Muna took in.
She had come in just 4 months after I did, making her my first friend even when she was a year older than I was.
Although,she was sick more than half the time,she made sure she told me beautiful stories about trees, flowers and princesses.
Honestly,I didn't understand what she was saying half the time, because her voice was really calm and she always laughed between her words,I loved listening to her speak.
She was the most expressive and fascinating kid I had ever known.
Then one day,on the 23rd of June,11 years ago,the beautiful caramel haired girl,with freckles,a beautiful smile and a weak body,fell ill,went to the hospital,but never came back.
"Hey Zibah..."
I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to Roy who was wheeling Ancil on his wheel chair.
"Yeah.."
"You look... I don't know... distant...sad...?"
I shook my head.
I was about to say the usual...'I'm ok.'
But this was my family.
"It's just that..."
I paused, losing a little bit of confidence.
"Zib...Sestra...you know you can tell us anything right?"
She paused.
"YA vsegda zdes' dlya vas. Vsegda"
Roy raised his brow at her.
"Fine...it means,I'm always here for you."
"Calm down on the Russian Dashy... I doubt you'd like it if I spoke French all the time, droite?"
Ancil asked cockily.
I smiled a bit.
"It's 18th of September today, Flourish's birthday would have been on the 19th."
Roy let go of Ancil's wheel chair, wrapped his big arms around me and pulled me close to his broad chest,while Dasha gave a sad smile.
They all knew her really well.
Dash and Roy came only a week after Flourish,but on different days.
Roy really liked Flourish,and treated her like a baby sister though he was younger.
Since she could not play with us always,Roy made sure to describe the games to her,and sometimes, sneak her out so she could watch him play in the field,to make her feel like she belonged.
"Its ok Zib... God's with her now."
A small sob escaped my lips,as I fought to keep my tears in.
"Yes Sestra...No sickness up there, remember?
I nodded slowly.
Ancil did not really know Flourish. He had come a week after she died.
"I'm sorry Zibah..."
Ancil started.
"I'd have really wanted to know her... maybe if she was here, you'd be more decent and avoid farting in people's faces."
We all burst out in laughter, gaining some weird stares from the few people who were in school.
Why were we this early in the first place?
Oh...some one caused chaos at breakfast.
Wonder who it could be.
"Hey Roy!"
Dae-Ho called from the other side of the hallway,while we were helping Ancil collect his stuff from his locker as usual, before going to ours.
"Yh man...what's up?"
"Coach's calling all the football players for a briefing.
He nodded at us before trotting off.
"Byeeeeee Roy....kick some a..."
I kicked her, giving her a warning glare,not to use the word.
She pouted and frowned.
"I mean... amazing shots!"
I chuckled a bit.
"Bye Ancil."
"Bye Zifart."
I cocked a brow at him.
Seriously? He could do better.
I chose to ignore him and walk up the stairs to my Calculus class before the bell rang.
"Bye Zibah!"
Dasha screamed and turned the opposite direction for her French class.
Seriously, wasn't she tired of knowing languages?
I knew only one,and it was enough work already.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
I pulled it out and checked the message.
It was from an unknown number.
You have 46 hours left.
I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat.
How could I forget?
***Author's Note***
Seriously,if I had a sibling like Zibah,I'd murder her in her sleep and bury her body in hot chilli sauce.
I hope the relationship doesn't confuse you?
If you're confused,leave a comment and I'll reply.
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I wanna know if it's too long or too short.
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Byeeeeee😘