Chapter 34: Next time.

Mel walked to the entrance of the clearing and sighed inaudibly, she was back...

Hiding the things, whatever it was given by Mr. Terror ( to her ), she walked in sighing, only to find a furious few- Lucas, Spencer, Skylar, and Scarlet.

' Wow, now that's a fine lot of people to handle. ' she thought and subconsciously her eyes shut.

" Hi, guys." she greeted awkwardly, grimacing at her rotten luck.

" WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU? " Lucas emphasized every word. Fury evident in his face alone, while his eyes were filled with relief.

" Could you just calm down and listen? I just went out to clear my mind and unfortunately, as always, I got lost. " she went and hugged him. " I'll take you with me next time. "

Lucas calmed down and sighed. ' No one can be angry with this a*s, can they? '

" Oh, so there's gonna be the next time?" Brenden's voice resonated in the tent. Mel shivered involuntarily and turned to face him.

" Everyone, go to bed. It's late. And 'you', come with me. " he said sternly and left.

The others put off their lamps and torches and looked at Mel.

" You deserve a nice scolding. " Scarlet said and left.

Skylar patted her head but he couldn't deny that he was horrified that she went missing.

Lucas looked at her and smiled, " Go on, he wouldn't scold you. You know that. " saying that he retired to his tent.

Mel sighed, ' I know that he wouldn't scold me, but the thing is that, I'm guilty here! '

....

She walked around and found Brenden sitting at the edge of the cliff.

She was petrified and called out to him, " Bren, get away from there, come back here. "

He was startled by her loud voice, " What happened? ", 'Was something there, some insect or reptile? ' He now knew that she was terrified of reptiles and tiny crawling and creeping creatures, with a few exceptions ( which were rare, very rare! )

" You're sitting at the edge, what if you fall?" she whispered. He chuckled but tried to muffle his laughter and smiled at her antiques.

" Come here, it's safe. I'm here," he assured her and they both sat down at the edge of the cliff.

....

After some time Brenden sighed, " I've received an opening to college, a short tech. course for three months. What do you say I do? " he asked putting his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

She smiled, " What's there to say? Go, get admitted to it. It's as simple. "

" Well, it requires me to go to NY," he added hesitantly, making it as convincible as possible. He needs her to let go of him, not him leaving with just a few words to her, just as he does to others.

" Ok. Go, I'm not going to stop you, in fact, you would love to go there. And you wouldn't have hesitated much if it weren't for me. " she said, maintaining her smile. "It's just three months, it'll pass before you even know it. "

He looked at her, surprised by her understanding towards him. He really couldn't believe that she was more mature in some situations, even if she was childish with most.

She would make a fine lady! My little sunshine is growing up!

" Ok then, I'll talk to Erick by tomorrow. "

She nodded and looked at the horizon below her. It was gorgeous, the fog, fading mountains, and cool breeze, they were all that she needed to keep her emotions under control.

' If you really like it here, that much you could actually stay here!!! ' her subconscious nodded along agreeing to her thoughts.

Yep, she could do that! Someday!

....

Mel retired for the day with the others.

As soon as she went into her tent, which Lucas had set up for her, she pulled out the things that Mr. Terror had given to her.

She put on the torch from her phone, so that she doesn't disturb the others.

' Being so considerate! ' her subconscious exclaimed sarcastically.

There were two envelopes, one big and another small, which she assumed to be his.

' Ok, let's do this some other day after we get home. ' she decided as her gut feeling was almost screaming at her. She cleared all of it and stuffed them into her bag, when the tent opened.

Turning back she saw Scarlet, wow, now that, was unexpected.

She was in her nightwear and still looked good, ' How does she do that? '

' It's called beauty, which you clearly lack! ' her subconscious scoffed.

'My', her sarcasm is getting out of hand with every passing day!

" Do you have a couple of minutes to spare? " she asked and got in when Mel nodded.

....

Scarlet sat down on the travel bed, alongside Mel.

Mel looked like she was being eaten up by her own curiosity as Scarlet didn't utter a word for almost 4, no, exactly 5 minutes.

" I actually don't like Brenden," she spoke at last with a sigh.

Mel looked at her with an obvious, kinda expression. " Isn't it obvious? "

" Was it really so obvious? " Scarlet blurted out and frowned, mostly questioning herself, when Mel nodded.

" What is that you want to share? Or we can talk, you know? " Mel said placing a hand on Scarlet's shoulder, comforting her.

The latter didn't answer but smiled at her.

" Thanks, I really don't know why I came here. I'm sorry, to have disturbed you," she said standing and walking towards the entrance. " Goodnight," she added as she left.

Mel already had her assumptions and she might really be correct.

' Woah! So many people to tease the first thing in the morning! Skylar, I guess it's time we talk. ' she grinned surrendering to slumber.

....

The next day they all traveled back, their trek was totally ruined as they were busy searching for Mel instead, for which she was really sorry.

While walking back, Mel went to walk with Skylar.

He usually used to stare at Scarlet with puppy eyes and it was always only meant for her. He used to show minute concerns, which no one knew of and to know that he had consoled her, yesterday after the phone call from her father, was just too many coincidences to make them count under- coincidences!

This matter was reported to her from Lucas as he still had many doubts about Scarlet.

"So, it's Scarlet, isn't it? " she nudged him and gave him a teasing smile.

" What do you mean? I don't get it," he said diverting away from her eyes.

" Oh, come on brother. She is so gorgeous, I can understand, if you can't help but, fall for her. " she persisted, still grinning.

He sighed and glared at her, playfully. He knew that, if she were to confront something, it would be throughout-ly checked and he wouldn't be surprised if she had some proof.

" My dear little sis, get lost to your boy, please. " He teased back. He knew that she had a crush on Brenden.

It was Mel's turn to glare at him, now.

" Humph... You don't even have the guts to confront your own love, you dare tease, me! " she snapped and left.

Leaving the hurt, sulking brother, behind.

....

By evening they returned to the main White mansion, everyone were quite exhausted and directly, went to bed.

Brenden watched as the crowd dispersed after they greeted Erick. He walked to Erick and asked,

" Do you have a sec? "

Seeing that his 'this' grandson wanted to talk to him, he agreed instantly.

....

Erick's study:

" What is it? " he asked as they sat on the couch in front of the enormous oak table.

Brenden sighed, " I need to apply for a tech course, in NY. I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll be away for three months. I just..." Erick cut his sentence in mid and continued it for him.

" You want me to keep her safe, isn't it ? " he asked, he had now understood that his grandson had some weird feelings towards his adopted granddaughter. How complicated! Poor kid!

He nodded and stood up, " Please, do that one thing for me. " and went to the door and stalled, "Thank you, Erick. " he smiled and left.

Erick smiled bitterly, he couldn't understand this boy, who could ?? Well, now he could think of a possibility, but as told, it was way too complicated !!

....

The white mansion, in the city :

The children had returned from the main mansion by morning has their school started soon.

After being welcome by Judith's hugs Mel went to her room, locked it, and pulled out the envelopes.

She took the big white one first, she was a lot curious about what was inside.

She cut open the seal and carefully placed the contents out.

There were letters and a few folded sheets.

Most of them addressed to Patrick Lambert or written by him.

" What the hell !!! " she muttered and gulped.

' Why did Mr. Terror, have all this ?? Is he related to the bomb blast ?? What is going on ?? ' she thought, ' Wait, first let's think logically. Yes, logically. '

1: Why would he be present all the time when I'm in trouble ?? Unless he watches over me ???

2: Why would he give me these ?? Wouldn't it be useful to him, if he was the guy he claims to be ??

3: Why were these with him and how was he to know that, I would be present in the woods ??

I didn't plan to run into the woods, but he had always wanted to give these to me, but, why ??