Uh," I laugh. "Is this a joke? You guys are funny." I look at my father and shake my head. "The tears, Dad? You're good!" I chuckle as I walk out of the kitchen. My aunt loves to prank people. Kudos to her for actually getting Daddy to help her. He isn't the joking type at all.
I open the front door and head down the porch steps. I want to check on the guys. Once I finish, I'll get something to eat. I am starving! I feel like I could eat an entire chicken.
I'm going to make a right towards the barn when I immediately stop in my tracks. I begin to shake when I suddenly realize Alice and Daddy aren't lying!
I take a step forward as my heart begins to race. There, where we always park, is Daddy's mangled green truck. It's almost flat, covered in dirt and grass.
I run my hand through my hair. Panic starts to set in. How?! Why don't I remember this? A sense of dread fills my chest as I walk around the truck and stop. The driver's side door is missing.
I hold my head as a headache erupts and a flash of memories come to me.
I saw the light that night! The one in the sky. I followed it, not knowing it would take me to the Castor Estate.
I remember walking through the other side of the maze and seeing Levi. But he wasn't himself. He was some sort of alien. I was trying to get away from him when I hit an abandoned car on the road.
Are Alice and my father serious? Had I been asleep for two days? I look up and see my dad smiling. I can tell he's trying to mask his genuine emotions. I slowly back away from the wreck, run to the porch, and hug him. His arms embrace me as he kisses the top of my head.
"I love you, Daddy." I look up at him. Tears pool in my eyes. "I shouldn't have left that night."
He nods and lets me go. "No, stop. I'm just relieved you are here and healthy. Our hearts dropped when we saw the truck. How you escaped without a scratch is a miracle, Em."
We both look towards the truck. I can't imagine what Daddy felt. He lost both his sons and wife. Losing his daughter would've sent him over the edge ultimately.
"I guess we will drive the tractor around town, huh?" I say as I let him go. I place my hands in the back pockets of my jean shorts.
He smiles at me. "Sandy bought Alice a car. Well, Alice calls it loaner. Alice couldn't wait to get home and show you. That's why I came back alone that night."
I am impressed. I know Alice is ecstatic about the car.
"That's not all. Did you know Mr. Castor was a doctor? Well, back in New York, he was. Mrs. Castor is the one that's loaded. Levi was the one that saw your accident and brought you back here. He called his father, and Mr. Castor raced over. He said it was best not to travel to the hospital in stormy conditions. We were to let you rest. You would regain consciousness in two to three days. Mr. Castor was here every day to check in on you. It's scary how he knew when you would wake up. I guess that's why he gets paid the big bucks."
Daddy takes a seat and smiles at me. "Anyway, Mr. Castor had a loaner delivered." He pulled out a small remote.
"What's that?" I ask, grabbing it from him. All of this new information is too much to process!
"A key to another loaner. A truck," Daddy says, pointing towards the side of the house.
I am surprised. Strangers giving away vehicles for free? Odd. I walk off of the porch and toward the other side of the house. Surely enough, a forest green truck stood there.
It shined as I walk around to the back of the truck. It was the exact truck I managed to wreck. The Ford F-150. Just a newer year. This year I imagine.
I walk back to the porch and ask Daddy to borrow the truck. Daddy is hesitant until I tell him I want to thank the Castors for all their help. He agrees. The condition is I have to carry my cell phone on me at all times. He takes my phone out of his pocket and hands it to me.
I stare at the phone and sigh. I had completely forgotten about it and left it in the box and everything. Well, I left the phone in the box purposely. Having it on me doesn't feel right.
As I make a right out of the farm, I smile. This truck had a brand new smell on it. I happily inhale. Tapping the brake pedal lightly and the vehicle quickly reacting is a joy I can't explain. A girl could get used to this! However, this doesn't mean I want a life of new vehicles and technology.
No, sir!
As I make my way to the estate, I see the clearing and all the trees I went through the other night. It led to the other side of the maze. Flashbacks of that terrible night start prancing around me. I should have been dead. I shudder as I see the tire tracks from the night of the accident when I entered and exited the clearing.
I slow down when I reach the entrance. I make a right off the road, and the gates immediately open. They must have seen the truck and knew it was one of us.
I drive to the front of the house and jump out of the truck. I look around. I don't see Rick or Sandy's cars.
Only Levi's.
I am going to walk to the front door when I feel myself gravitating towards the maze. I take a deep breath and follow my instincts.
I'm crazy, right? Every time I leave the maze, I am either upset or, until recently, scared for my life. Why would I put myself in harm's way on purpose?
This is insane, but I have to see that fountain again! For some reason, I feel like it's everything to me when it isn't. It means something to Levi. He is always there.
I travel through the maze-like I have been through it a thousand times. I never hit a dead end. Strange how I know exactly where each dead end is. I reach the entrance to the fountain and stop. I inhale deeply and make the final right into the garden.
My heart begins to race when I see Levi sitting on the bench. His legs crossed, his arms stretched out on top of the bench. He is looking right at me. Is he expecting me?
I scrutinize Levi. His hair is black, his eyes are blue, and he has no wings. He looks normal. I sigh in relief as I begin to walk forward. I stop when something about the fountain catches my eyes. I turn towards it. The angel's wings are fully extended, not closed like they always are. It is still holding the sword in the same position, though.
I'm stunned. "How is that possible?" I ask, barely audible.
"Is there something you need, Emery?" Levi asks, causing me to jump. I compose myself and walk towards him. I hesitantly sit next to him.
"What are you?" I blurt out, terrified to hear his answer, but I need to know.
"A mammal. Next question," Levi says. He then scoffs and looks back at the statue.
"Your hair, your eyes. It was you, but it wasn't. And how did I escape that accident without a scratch?"
Levi didn't answer. He just continues to look at the statue.
"Isn't this the part where you tell me I am hallucinating? That I probably hit my head?" It is the only answer I am praying for. I will accept it and leave.
I think.
"Just thank me and be on our way, all right? I'm not a social experiment or a freak! We both know what you saw," he says as he stands angrily.
"I'm not judging! Please! Tell me." I beg him as I stand and walk toward the fountain and turn to him. "Are your parents-"
Levi snaps his head towards me. His eyes suddenly turn red. In the blink of an eye, he is right in my face. "No! And I advise you to keep your mouth shut, mortal!"