The voice is so familiar that it sends chills up my spine, making the baby-fine blond hairs on my neck stand at attention.
I turn around against my better judgment and look into the eyes of the stranger who saved me years back. That night of my assault almost destroyed me, and it would have without all the therapy I underwent.
“What do you want?” I ask, even though I should be running far away from here.
My throat feels dry. “Evie, we don’t have much time. I need you to trust me if you want to live and get your sister back.”
I nod because, at this point, what choice do I have?
He holds his hand out. “Here, give me your ring.”
I go to take it off and hesitate. But instead of asking questions, I remove it and hand the ring to him.
“What finger did you wear it on?”
I raise my hand where it once resided, and he moves quickly and places it on the same ring finger on Rebekah as she lies lifeless, mouth hanging open and frothy saliva trickling down her chin.
“Grab your bag, Evie, we need to leave. I didn’t think I would make it in time, and I almost didn’t. At least I can save you.” He holds his hand out to me, and I hesitate briefly, looking at my family fallen dead at the dinner table with pizza that was barely eaten still on their plate.
“Poison,” the stranger confirms.
I take his hand, and we leave through the back. I stop, remembering the most important thing.
“What about Emma?” I ask, not wanting to leave, despite knowing that staying any longer here is ensuring my death.
”We’ll have to get her later. She won’t be coming back here.”
“I want to see first if she returns,” I beg, and he takes pity on me.
“Okay, but we have to hide quickly. It isn’t safe here.”
We run out into the shadows and hide amongst the trees and foliage in the newly sold house on the corner lot. The new owners haven’t moved in yet, so I know we are safe here. We barely get to the side of the house when a loud explosion shakes the ground, and its heat makes my skin buzz.
“What the…” I turn around to see my house engulfed in flames. I stand there, rocked to the core that if this stranger hadn’t saved me yet again, I would be dead in the house along with my parents, but I guess that was the point of the explosion.
People come running out of their houses, and soon, the street is buzzing with activity. Shortly after, sirens sound, and a fire truck is coming, attempting to get control of the flames.
This subdivision has acre lots, unlike in the bigger cities where the homes are on top of each other. If that was the case, there might have been other casualties, but more trucks come, and they seem to be getting this more under control; although the house is still ablaze, it’s just not spreading at this point.
The stranger speaks, and I can barely make out the words over the ringing in my ears. He turns me to face him, and he touches my face tenderly.
I think I am in shock. I feel funny, like I drank too much caffeine, and my body is light with energy that I can’t contain, but my skin feels cold. I shiver, and the stranger notices.
“Here”. He takes his hoodie off and places it over me.
I notice his broad chest and muscles that fill out his T-shirt and the black utility belt that holds up his cargo pants down to his black combat boots. He looks like an assassin.
“Evie.”
My eyes shoot up to meet his, and his lip pulls into a smile, showing his straight white teeth. There is something oddly familiar about him, something that makes me want to lean my head on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Evie. Uncle Andrés will send someone to meet us.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean, Uncle Andrés?” I ask, completely confused. “Who are you?” I squint my eyes to narrow my vision, hoping that if I stare hard enough, the answers will present themselves, making who this stranger is more apparent.
He takes a deep breath and stares me in the eyes. “I’m your brother Mateo. Yes, I just saw our mom get murdered. Believe me when I say that I am not okay right now.”
I gasp in shock. “No. It can’t be. How do I have a brother? Where have you been? Why don’t we know about you?” I don’t realize I am crying as tears roll down my face. He goes to answer me, but I place my hand over his cheek. “Have you been okay? Were you happy and loved, Mateo?”
