THIRTEEN

 SOMETIMES in our lives, challenges tend to overshadow our efforts and we end up failing, not because we're a failure but because we are meant to let it go.

When I was ten, I had a tutor, he was like a brother I never had. My dad had hired him because my grades were falling and my mom was scared. His name was Benjamin, I call him Ben. Sometimes when he was in a good mood, he would take me to the park. Those moments were memorable because I loved it. Until something happened, I wander, I don't know why, but I did and no one found me until the next day.

The fear that ran down my quill at ten, chill through me now, as the thought of never be find skips within my mind.

"What if... nobody finds us?" I angle my body to Stella. She bores me with a skeptical look.

"It's just a thinking that crosses my mind, what if-"

"Hey, hey, we'll it make out, we will escape. Okay?" she interjects trying to cool me down.

I nod and resume looking at the window.

"Jeremy said you prefer cats to dogs?" I dive out of the blues, desperate to form a conversation that will ease the tension.

"Ain't they cute?" from the corner of my eye, I can see her grinning.

"So you ever own a cat?"

"Yes, her name was Luciana. White fur. Witty, she died a year ago."

"Oh," I giggle turning to her and forgetting where we are.

"And you, you like cats?"

I nod in affirmation, "but my Mom got allergies."

The actual fact is that mom hates cats, she claims to have bad dreams because of those skinny, sweet creatures.

"Jeremy too, he never fancies cat. He's a dog person." she is absolutely right, Jeremy has a big heart for dogs. Silent endorses the room, I am very sure that the pounding of my heart is so audible.

"Are you scared?" Her voice yaks in an undertone.

I crack and bring my knees close to my chest, resting my head on my knees. As I did this, something hard pressing against my skin. I raise my head slowly, wondering what's trap underneath my dress.

I tug my hand down the pocket and bring out a device, my phone. My eyes widen and I hear short gasps. I dart an innocent at her, her eyes almost popping out.

"It's n-not what-" I sputter and disconnect myself as soon as I become conscious.

Stella and I stare at each other for a short period of time in shock before she screams at me to call 911. Unconsciously, I mouse the empty room. Maybe it's because I'm afraid or something. I breathe rapidly, feet getting cold, what if they catch me? Ralph will probably change his mind and kill me immediately.

"Do it!" Stella's low demanding voice squeaks.

I nod sharply-

I freeze at the footsteps approaching, I glance up at Stella. Her sapphire blue eyes distends. Without hesitation, I drop the phone back in my pocket and continue staring at the window. Some strands of my black hair fall on my face, blocking my view, I tug it behind my ear and clap my hands together on my knees as I gather it close to me. I glance up when I perceive an intensive stare on me. Messiah survey me calmly, his eyes skim me, making me feel uncomfortable under his gaze. But, I didn't look away. I can't give in for suspicion.

"Come with me." although his voice all smooth yet commanding. I didn't move. As he prepares to scram. When he discovers my butt is still stuck down, I hear him breathe heavily.

"Come with me, Haley"

I turn to Stella, she looks confused.

However, she nudges me to go. I clear my throat and rise up and walk him. When he climb down, he wait for me to climb down as if he's watching my steps, I miss a step but he catches up with me, his large hand clamps my buttocks I bite my lips to avoid cursing him.

"You're okay?"

I nod to avoid embarrassment, the tingling feeling on my skin makes me stiff. His hand slowly moving up in a sensual manner. My breath levels, I clutch tight to the ladder, it's like my head stop functioning for a minute. His hand wanders in his exploration, it digs inside my pocket.

I inhale sharply and close my eyes. He fetches the phone.

My doom.

I open my eyes and look down at him, his beach hair is facing me as he examines the device with him. Quickly, I climb down breathing heavily, I bore at the device with him.

"I...I...I-" my heart pound.

"Follow me." he orders and walks away.

I stalk after him.

The living room where the fatty and I displayed our madness appears, Ralph sits on the sofa I sat on when I entered the house.

I wish I listened to the voice in my head.

His look's ruthless and calm as always. His green eyes shift to mine and he scoffs before looking away.

"Sit" Messiah's voice startles me.

I stride to the kitchen where he's. Two stool are already pull out, it is similar to the ones we have at home. He sits on one and urge me to sit on the other.

Like a spell cast on a princess, I follow his suit and settle down. He spins my stool to face him, I inject at his action as my eyes widen. My legs are locked between his.

Refusing to meet his gaze, I look at our intertwine legs, feeling the heat rising between my legs...

"Haley," he calls.

I look up at him, his blue eyes bore blankly.

"You're only still here because you ain't supposed to here."

I furrow my brows in question, I really don't understand what he's talking about. He looks over to Ralph and looks back.

"You have his dirt." he tags.

"What are you talking about?" I inquire.

"Ostensibly, you would've audited the woman in there is your boyfriend's mother,"

I become numb, unable to speak. He probably finds out through Ralph. He's right, I have his secret. When I did reply to him, he continues.

"You know what family does when one of the members is in danger. They safe him, shelter him and abode him,"

"Ralph is in danger and we have to protect him, mantener a salvo." That's Spanish and I suppose it means to keep safe. He's probably a Mexican. At this moment I feel so lucky to have learn Spanish.

"What has that got to do with me?"

He primes his lips together forming a thin line when he releases them, they were redder than before.

"You can tell the world."

"What?" I laugh, " I'm definitely not gonna let your cat out." Well, that's a lie. I ain't gonna let him have Stella.

Messiah smile faintly, because it disappears the moment it pop out. His blue eyes become full, he looks over to the kitchen island board where he's resting his arm. He pulls a sheet beneath my phone, it isn't a blank sheet. It's full of words. He looks through the sheet and passes it to me.

"You have to do what written on the sheet to keep your family safe, mantener a salvo."