London, England.
Peter Martins drove slowly as thoughts filled his head. He couldn't say which thought in particular worried him. Whether it was his father who slowly slipped away from life or what he would have called nonsense if it had not come from his own mother. He sought for room for doubt but there was none. There was something hanging on the lips of his father which couldn't come out. He exhaled tiredly. What's the meaning of this? He wondered. If they were not really his parents, then who birthed him? How did he get into the hands of the only parents he has ever known? He needed to qualify to actually know this truth.
"This is madness." He muttered to himself . A horn blared from behind. He became more conscious. He drove too slowly to be on that road . Now, increasing speed, he drove and gave more space to cars behind. Whatever the truth was, he would soon find it out. He steered into a small street. Their house had to be the only house there for security purposes. Though, the compound was large enough to contain too many buildings in a street. He used the intercom system to announce his presence and the big black gate moved away for him to go through. He wondered as he drove. Whatever would certify him to be eligible for knowing all he needed to know about himself was right in their house. Which part of the house could it be? After thinking for a while and getting no positive results, he just stepped out and headed for the main house's entrance.
" Good evening, Sir." The chief housemaid greeted him. A woman that was already of age , old enough to be his mother still felt comfortable working in that manner. When he asked her her reasons for doing it, there was no positive reply. It appeared she just wanted to do it for working sake. Her children were all established. It dawned on him that feeling lonely wasn't an option. She probably stayed there to feel the life of the compound.
" Good evening, ma'am." He greeted her with the little smile he could muster.
" You look worn out . Is there any problem?"
He smiled again. " Not one you can handle."
" Is your father dying?" She asked calmly.
" Hmm…" he exhaled. Getting upset at this had no sense in it. After all, it was the truth. He knew his father was dying. " Cancer may not be curable but that does not mean we should be this outright with such matters. "
" Okay Sir. Well understood."
" Can I go now?"
" Yes. "
He turned and began his walk. Almost at the door , the same woman's voice stopped him.
" Sir ."
" What the hell is this….?" He muttered to himself. " Ma'am could you just—"
" Most people lose their way on the journey of truth without any guide."
The words resounded in the ears of Peter Martins as he turned slowly to her. " What did you say? "
" Without guidance, people easily get lost in this journey."
" What journey are you talking about?" He asked, confused.
" The one you are about to embark on."
" What do you know?"
The woman said nothing.
" Who are you?" He now came closer to her and stared deeply at her. She wasn't flustered. On a normal note, she would maintain the worker mode of trying much to give every respect she could muster. Something was just different about her now. The seriousness and boldness manifesting in her tone was odd. A blonde beautiful woman who would have been far more beautiful in her youth than what she looked like now.
" Which should I answer ? Who I am or what I know. Which of them?"
" You can't possibly be serious. I have something to settle inside the house. After that, I will come out and have this conversation with you."
" I'm the truth you seek." The woman said.
" You are getting into my head! What truth are you talking about?! "
" The truth behind you. The truth about your true identity. "
Peter Martins was temporarily dazed. He found it difficult believing this wasn't a dream. If it was , someone needed to wake him up. After years of joyful coexistence with his family, he discovers that all of that was a dream and that the reality was about to manifest.
" How come? How did you get to know about this? Did my parents tell you about this?"
The woman said nothing.
" Oh… does the silence mean they actually told you about my story?"
The woman smiled. " There's much for you to know. Why are you here?"
Peter kept mute. He still had his suspicions and didn't want to give in if it was a trick.
" You are here to prove yourself worthy. Isn't it? "
" Have you been monitoring us?"
" You came to unlock the safe and prove you are qualified to know its content. Is it not so?"
Peter couldn't believe his ears. Was this actually happening? How come she knows everything?
" If you must know, there's nothing you will understand from that safe."
" What's that supposed to mean?"
" It means you won't find the truth you seek in that safe?"
" My mother directed me to it with all seriousness."
" That's only to train your memories. There's nothing there that will give you the information you desire to know. It can only direct you to someone ."
" Direct me to someone? "
" Yes, my son. "
My son? Peter wondered in his thoughts. Could it be that this woman was his real mother? She can't be so nice all this while for no good reason.
" I am not your mother. But the content of that safe will only direct you to me."
" If I may ask, for what reason will my parents not tell everything themselves? Rather, they're directing me to you. "
" That's because besides them, I am the third reserve. Should anything happen, I will let it out to you. "
" Fine. Tell me what I must know."
" Like I said earlier, your journey has just begun. Your journey on the path of truth has just begun. Just as you have been directed to me, I too, will direct you to another destination. "
"Hmm." He exhales. " So,from what you have said now you are trying to tell me that you, my father, my mother are not the only ones who happen to know this truth. "
" If you wish to survive for long, you must listen carefully to all I have to say."
" But why? I have survived these years without anyone's special help. Tell me what I must know now. I'm losing my patience."
The woman smiled, cleared her throat and began. " As a smart man, you must wonder why your parents esteem me highly. " She smiled. " When you were a boy, you often said I was your mother's sister because of the closeness I shared with your family. An ordinary chief housemaid can't possibly have such rights and privileges as I do in this house. Years ago, a man had danger knocking on his door . Not really that he was in danger but rather he saw what the future entailed. He had something in his possession. A powerful weapon. The only irony is that the weapon came in human form. Since he had no other choice, he came running to my brother for help. "
" Please, if you don't mind, let's move Into the car."
" I have no problems with that." The woman replied as they walked to the car.
"It's better off than just standing." Peter said as he opened the door and settled.
" Sure." She replied as she went round the car to settle next to him.
" At that time, my brother couldn't refuse since he too once had a connection with the parents of this child. Though he knew the possible implications of the decision, he could not have declined. As a woman, I felt for the young boy and at the same time did not want the risk when I heard part of the story. " She paused for a while. " My brother never gave me the full detail. He insisted knowing any further would only end up getting me into the trouble I might not be able to walk away from. I tried to stop him but he was bent on it. I understood his connection to the story was a strong one. Probably, he still had something to do with the parents of the boy. He was not just being caring or sympathetic. It was beyond that. I saw fear locked up in that body. I decided to take care of the young boy as our own. After a short time, I got really emotionally attached to the boy. But he wanted something else. He wanted the boy out . He needed him to go somewhere very far from home. Somewhere where he surely won't be found . He made the arrangements and sent the boy to London, England. I had no choice other than to go with the boy and look out for him. "
" Then, from all you have said, the boy is…."
" You." She cut in.. " you are the boy I followed all the way from Germany to London. "
Peter tried to hide the emotion seeking to erupt to no avail. His voice could show it. How on Earth could someone have done that?
" Why?" He asked… " Why did you do all of this for me?"
" Even, I can't explain it. If I had not done it back then, I would have spent the rest of my life remembering that day. "
" Thank you very much. You deserve to be called my Mom."
" I have no regrets, son. " She smiled. " My boy is now grown."
" You said I am a weapon. This was the reason my parents forsook me."
" Do not say that again. No one forsook you. You are just lucky to be surrounded by too many loved ones. Don't you think so?"
" My parents abandoned me."
" No, son. They secured your life at the expense of theirs. It's only great parents that can do such."
" You said I am a weapon. I need an explanation for that."
" Well, it is a pity you can't get that from me. "
" Why?"
" Did you understand the story well? My brother never gave me the privilege to know everything."
" Is he still alive?"
" My brother?"
" Yes. "
" He is alive."
" I guess I have to see him."
" You have to. That's your next step. "
" I just hope it ends there. "
" You will be disappointed. What we are dealing with is beyond what you can imagine. Until you understand what weapon you are and get rid of it, you can't be free. "
"Hmm." He exhaled. " How do I meet your brother? Where does he stay?"
" Of course, you can't go today."
" Why not?... Oh. He doesn't reside in London. "
" He is currently in South Korea."
" South Korea? Can't believe I am doing this. "
" Like I said earlier, your journey has just begun. You have too many places to visit. "
" You lived in South Korea?"
She smiled. " No… My brother moved to South Korea eight years ago. "
" Which makes my journey more complex. "
" That's true. There's no time to waste. Book your flight. Tomorrow, you will be headed to South Korea. You must meet him."
" How? I don't even know him. How do I locate him?"
" Do not bother. He will find you. In the meantime, you have to relax. Tomorrow will be a long day."
" From tomorrow onwards, the long days will begin. "
The woman stepped out. Peter did the same.
" Go freshen up. You will need to meet with your mom."
" Thank you for everything. I owe you greatly."
" No worries. I only did what a mother can do for her son. Take care. " She turned and started marching out. Peter headed in. After some time, her phone rang. She picked.
" Hello. "
" How did it go?"
" Went fine. Your son seems ready to embark on this journey."
" I hope so too. Thank you for your help. "
"As always. Do not forget he is my son too. "
" Noted. Bye." The call ended.