Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Mia was released within a couple of hours from the doctors checking on her wound. By that time the entire team had entered the hospital. Leah too was being tend to from her wound on the head. But it was Matt that needed to stay over. Reina watched silently as he dozed away from all the anesthesia they gave him. Erin entered quietly as she watched them “It’s him.” She smiled.
Reina turned to her with raised brows “What?”
“You may be a good liar, but your concern is written all over your face. So…when did it start?” Erin pressed with a teasing grin.
She looked shy for once “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Erin nodded “Okay, we can play that game. I’ll be there to talk when you’re ready. I’m going home first. Tell him I dropped by.”
“Thanks.” Reina said, it had a double meaning that Erin knew.
*************
Mia allowed Darren to support her into the house, her stomach was still aching “Did they doctor tell you if you should be on any diet?” Darren asked sincerely.
She paused and turned to him with annoyance “Are you saying that I’m too heavy?”
He laughed when she misunderstood him “Of course not! I was talking about the fact that your stomach is in pain. Certain foods will sit in there causing you more pain…” as he explained, she quickly put on an innocent smile. The grin reminded him of Bonnie “I wonder how she is?”
“I’m sure she’s safe.” She hoped.
Fate heard him calling as the home phone rang. Mia turned to him curiously as he helped her to the couch and picked up the phone “Hello?” Darren answered, his eyes nearly popped out when he heard his little girl’s voice.
“Daddy!” She cried happily “Daddy, it’s me…Bon Bon.”
“Sweetie! Are you okay?” Darren was half relieved and half worried.
“Bonnie?!” Mia cried as she reached for the phone where Darren gave it to her “It’s mommy, hi sweetie…are you okay? Do you know where you’re at?”
“I’m scared Mommy, I wanna go home.” The little girl cried openly.
Suddenly, he snatched the phone away from the little girl’s hand “Mia. Long time no talk. Do you remember me or do you still have amnesia?”
Anger took over her eyes as she turned to Darren “Chris…”
Darren took the phone back as he snapped “What the hell do you want?”
“Nothing. You know, I’ve always wanted a little girl. And yours is so adorable. I could eat her all up.” Chris said through clenched teeth “Glad to know you haven’t forgotten this friend. She’s a smart little girl. I asked her if she knew her home phone number and she did. You’ve raised quite the little rascal.”
“Let her go.” Darren threatened.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…Darren, that sounded like a threat and you know I don’t like threats.” Chris teased.
“I’ll give you anything.” Darren began begging “Please…don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything you ask.”
Chris narrowed his eyes as he pet Bonnie’s head like a puppy “You’ve promised that before and do you remember what happened? Betrayal.” He reminded them.
“Please…I’m begging you. Don’t hurt her.” Darren didn’t know what else to say to convince their enemy.
“Blah, blah, blah…that’s all I heard.” Chris sighed tiredly as he handed the phone back to Bonnie “Here, talk to him…could be your last time.”
She was too young to comprehend the meaning, but she was happy to take the phone back “Daddy! I’m scared…take me home…please…” she said between gulps.
“It’s okay sweetie. Be strong.” Darren said, his heart aching as he sat down next to Mia, who was in tears “Do you remember how much you liked the playground?”
“Yes.” She answered through tears.
“Daddy’s going to get you a big swing and slide set when you get back.” He paused to collect the lump growing in his throat “You don’t have to wait until you’re five. I’ll buy it for you tomorrow.”
“Okay--”
He heard a click and turned to Mia who fell into his chest while she sobbed “She’ll be okay. She has to be…” he was trying to convince himself more than her “Nothing will happen to her. He just wants money…she won’t die.”
************
Erin stepped up to the Radio station for the fifth time. She did it numerous times and each time she was closer to the door, she would turn and walk away. But the nagging feeling could not be ignored, she had to do it. When she chickened out for the sixth time, Luke walked out and recognized her from behind “Well, well…I was beginning to worry. It’s been over a week since I saw my stalker. I was beginning to miss you.”
She was in no mood for his flirting “I want to talk to you.”
“Okay.” He nodded “Talk.”
“Here?” she looked around at the busy street. A few people passed by and looked at them strangely. They were a few feet apart but were conversing.
Luke smiled “You’re pick. Any restaurant.” She nodded and sat in his car to direct him to the Mountain View restaurant “Nice choice.” He grinned at the dimly lit place.
“Don’t.” she pleaded “This is serious.”
He sighed “Why must everyone be so serious?”
“Who’s everyone?” Erin asked.
“My parents…my co-workers….you.” he said nonchalantly.
“Don’t you feel the need to be serious? At least once in a while? To know that you are human?” She questioned.
He laughed “Life is too short to be so serious all the time. Worries only give you wrinkles and a serious life means an unhappy one. Mine was too happy.”
She snickered at the irony in his words “Not really.” Muttering the words only added to his confusion.
“So what is this about that I have to stay serious for?” he asked with interest, a smile still plastered on his face.
Erin frowned “Can you not smile when I tell you this?”
His grin dropped “How do you live your life Erin? Worrying over everyone around you?” she opened her mouth to speak but he was not finished “Sometimes worrying will cause other people unhappiness. What is it about your life that is so tough that you have turned into such a bore and a worrywart? You always have that wrinkled up forehead and your eyes have not smiled in ages, I could tell.” He added.
“You want to know?” Erin asked with a tilted head.
“Try me. I’m all ears.” He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms.
“I told you before that I was an orphan. I would have grown up in a happy home but my parents were suddenly taken away from me in one day. My sister was raised by a stranger that took her away before I even remember that I had a sister. I was four when I was moved into an orphanage. When I turned twenty six, I found my real sister. We had lost twenty something years together and when I think we would have a whole life ahead of us to make it up, she is brutally murdered in her own home. Barely married for a couple of years. But alas life has not always been that cruel. I met the love of my life and when we were on the verge of settling down, he was killed but a hundred bullets in front of me by a madman that wanted to marry me because that way he would earn an inheritance of millions of dollars. I have the money now but it is useless when I cannot share it with anyone. So excuse me Luke if I walk around with a chip on my shoulder and a scowl on my face. I have every reason to be sad.” She finished with ready tears in her eyes.
It sounded like a story to him but when she finished he knew the girl had endured too much. Shocked, he had no idea what to say, how to console her “I’m sorry.” Was all he managed to let out.
She shook her head “It’s not your fault. I’m just bottling up a lot inside lately.”
“I truly am sorry. I know I do not help with my nonchalant attitude. But you have to understand that I was raised a happy child, I had no reason to be sad or upset. Maybe that’s why I have a hard time talking to women who always seem to have something sad to talk about. That’s when I break away from them, never giving them a chance to finding and knowing the real me.” He looked down at this hands “To be honest, it gets lonely in my apartment sometimes. Especially when it is filled with people, drunk people.” He snickered “I didn’t think reality would hit me now. With you. A girl I barely know but feel like I’ve known forever.”
She smiled, it was the most honest thing he had ever said to her “There is a serious side after all.”
Luke looked up and nodded “Great, now that you’ve brought me down. What is it you have to tell me? Is it your boyfriend? Is he mad that you keep stalking me. If so, I can talk to him myself. Man to man.”
“And he’s back.” Erin sighed “No, Ted and I…we’re on a break.”
His smile faded “Seriously?” she nodded “Is it because of me?”
“No, no…” Erin began the lie but decided she was digging a deeper hole for herself “Actually, yes…”
“Then I have the right to know.” He pointed out.
She nodded “I know. I did something that you might be angry with but I hope you understand that it’s for your own good.”
“This is getting too serious…but go on.” He urged leaning towards her on the table.
“Remember when I said you looked like a friend of mine?” he nodded “I hired a detective to search your background. When I discovered that you were born in China, I decided to go over there myself and find out the truth behind your identity. It seems you were part of a twin. When you were born, a man named Lee Wai stole you from the hospital and took you away. He was captured and put in jail.”
He did not believe the story but went along with her “And did you meet this man?” Erin nodded earnestly “And what did he have to say?”
“He was hired by your parents to steal a child from the hospital. They were desperate for a child and the woman was sterile. They paid him a great amount to do the deed. He agreed and now is paying the price for the greedy heart.”
Luke raised his brows and nodded “Wow…that’s incredible. What’s next? You pull a rabbit out of your sleeve?”
Erin’s face fell “You don’t believe me?”
“Erin, I really want to. But it’s very hard when you’re sitting on my side and listen to you bash about the parents that raised me in a happy home. They were poor if you must know and they did not lie about my adoption, they even showed me the papers.” He shook his head sadly “Why must you accuse two dead spirits?”
“Because it’s the truth.” She said through clenched teeth.
He raised his hands “That’s it. I have had enough listening. My treat.” He pulled out a wad of bills and threw it on the table. She watched in dismay as he left her angrily.