2 The davis

The Davis family lived in a small house, two blocks away from the city park. The house was painted soft white like an egg shell. It was Caleb’s paradise on earth. On the lawn at the front, the small wood workshop stood timidly, in which he would build small toys and some crafts that helped him earn a little sum. It was his third child’s idea, Alexis, who took photos of his crafts, uploaded them online, and printed small brochures to promote his works for sales. She was not too greedy for money but to boost his energy. Of course, he was proud of himself and his little angel’s clever idea.

Caleb parked the vehicle inside the garage. This old gray mini-van served the Davis faithfully for about twelve years. He helped Bianna get down in an act of a true gentleman and he had this regular habit since their first date. She had big dark-brown eyes that warmed his heart. Her dark bronze skin was the same shade as his but more beautiful, softer, and healthier. Bianna was a chubby woman and possessed the brightest smile that anybody could compare with. They dated for two years and Caleb proposed to her. They took a lot of effort to have a child but failed. Later, they decided to adopt Jesse. But as they saw him play alone, they thought about expanding the family. Two years later, Bryce became their daughter, followed by Alexis as the fifth member of this big family. However, children grew up quickly. They did not want to be alone. Eleven years later, Charlie was the last adopted child.

The Davis was not rich but just a family of the middle class. The house was available for four members to stay comfortably but with six members under the same roof, it was no different from a rabbit hole. Still, they did not get financially obstructed but were unable to be prodigal.

Caleb and Bianna walked into the living room where Charlie was sitting in front of the television watching his favorite animation. The boy was only six. When he heard his parents’ arrival, he turned his face to show the red cheeks like the tomatoes in Bianna’s backyard. He was the only blond in the family and had ivory-white skin. Everyone called him ‘Little Charlie or Monkey’ (or Shorty Charlie when Jesse was moody).

They were lucky Bryce stayed home for a few weeks due to summer vacation. So, she could take care of her little brother while Caleb and Bianna went to work. Without Bryce, they had to leave Charlie with the old lady who was their long-time neighbor. Unfortunately, the boy hated going to her house because she would not allow him to watch the animation channel. After all, she was also addicted to a melodrama series and could not miss any episode. Without Bryce, Alexis would do the job but she had gone from home this week due to her part-time job. She worked as a no-named model, the job that Caleb disapproved of.

“Be a good boy today?” He carried his son just when Charlie bumped his forehead at his legs.

“Yeah, I’m always a good boy.” His melodic chuckle combined with Charlie’s clear voice.

“A serious case?” the girl in the oldy orange t-shirt and white track pants asked. Her skin was golden tan but the most eye-catching parts were the straight black-raven hair, high cheekbones, and angular jawlines. Her height was moderate. Bryce was studying medicine at the University of Delphi where Alexis would continue her study unless she could win the scholarship.

“Yes, my dear,” Caleb replied releasing his son to the floor. Bianna rushed to the kitchen, greeting no one. He was amused seeing her starving, then laughed. “I left the chicken stew in the fridge. Did you see it?”

“We already cleaned the pot, dad,” the girl said and laughed with her bell-like voice. Her father was very good at cooking and his stew was the best in town. Blamed the job at the hospital, he rarely performed this marvelous skill.

“Alex is already home. Just so you know.”

Caleb raised his brows. “Oh really? She came early. I thought that it will take a week.”

“Yep, but the star boy is missing. I can’t remember his name but my friend…hmm…I mean everyone is talking about his news. Ask her the details, dad. I have to do my assignments now so…gotta go.” Bryce gave him a short hug and walked into the room she shared with her younger sister.

In the third year, the study was tougher than ever. Bryce could not allow herself to spend more time for a little chit-chat even during the vacation, that was why Charlie kept himself addicted to the television when his sister would appear during meal times only. Bryce was close to Alexis but they shared no similar traits. His eldest daughter was not talkative but strict with her schedule. When she meant no time, she really meant it.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, young lady,” he shouted and shook his head when the girl kept silent, did not reply any single word, too focused on her study desk.

“Darling, they left your stew for the two of us.” Bianna placed the pot on the table. Both of them smiled at each other, Bryce just told him they cleaned it all but she lied.

Caleb and Bianna were the parents that would never leave home if they had no work to do because they preferred family time more than anything else. But sometimes, they got a lot of workloads and had no time to buy an instant meal outside. The kids were kind enough to warm food for them.

When his parents were messing with the meal, Charlie went back to his seat and continued staring at the screen. Caleb saw and sighed, thinking that he should spend more time with the youngest, and wondered why did Jesse and Alexis hide upstairs instead of playing with the little boy?

“They’re talking. Maybe something serious,” he revealed the suspicious thought to Bianna. Caleb was always interested in his kids’ business. A little bit bossy dad he was. Still, he had an excuse, because, unlike Bryce, Jesse and Alexis were entertainers and they would not leave Charlie stayed alone like this when they were at home. Teenagers loved to keep secrets from parents and Caleb was not the cool one.

His wife seemed not to be interested. In contrast to the husband, she was the kind of a mommy who understands how teens are. “Why? I mean why you have to be so curious? They’re kids. It’s their business. They will go down soon, don’t worry. Come on. Sit!”

With Bianna’s scary disapproving glare, Caleb sat down and focused on his meal quietly. He was the one who had never agreed with Alexis’s decision to work as a part-time model. Thought it was risky to let the child involving in a business that regards appearance more than the brain. Contradictory to her husband, Bianna thought it was another big opportunity for Alexis to have one more choice in her life. Caleb knew wholeheartedly that the main reason the girl joined the modeling agency was because of money, some privilege discount, or free clothes from the brands (if she was lucky), but he could not find himself at peace due to the underlying reason. Compared to Bianna, he was more conservative and overthinking.

“They grow up. They have lovers. They have to leave us someday. It’s their lives. It’s okay for them to have some secrets that we have no idea about it.” She grabbed his hand and looked at him like a mother teaching a little son. His heart melted, surrendered to those eyes and her reasoning, as always.

“It’s okay to be worried as a parent but we know well how they are. They’re wonderful kids. You know that.”

“Yes, you're right. You’re always right.” He tried to be agreeable with his wife. “I don’t know why I am always concerned about her more than the others. Perhaps, because…”

Bianna understood what he was going to talk about. “Oh, come on! Don’t start it.”

Caleb ignored her remark. “You know I always dream that she leaves us. I always fear that dream.”

“Oh, I know,” she replied, uninterested.

Caleb often had a nightmare. He saw Alexis standing on the cliff. He told her to come back to him but the dark wave swapped the girl away. He could see her face, hearing her voice against the furious wind, saying goodbye and waving a hand. “I’ll be alright”, she said.

But my heart was torn.

It was weird when he kept dreaming of it. Sometimes, the scene changed and she was dragged away by mysterious hands, into the darkness. Caleb told Bianna just one of the nightmares.

“It’s just a dream, honey,” her voice was not stable as before when Caleb switched to the serious mode. The dream was only a dream but the same dream he kept dreaming…was dangerous to the heart.

Sometimes Caleb believed in predestination but he tried not to believe in bad omens. All of their children were good and smart but Alexis had something more than that. The secret Caleb and Bianna had never talked to anyone else. They tried to forget it and let the girl live her life. Even Alexis had no idea of the danger of her talent.

While Caleb felt anxious and Bianna denied her instinct, in the deepest corner of consciousness, both perceived the strong signal from the premonition as it told them that Caleb’s dream would become true someday. Bianna tried so hard to be rational but she was spiritual more than she tried not to believe.

“When I was young, I saw the oldest son of my neighbor beaten by the cops. He was arrested and disappeared. Those who protested the laws and those who requested to amend them… disappear. No more sound, no traces, no witness, they’re gone.”

“It’s long ago. This is the new age, love.”

New freedom meant the new method to terrify us, Caleb mentally opposed it but did not speak it out.

It was Act 2966 that turned the society into the age of terror until the Revolution by the law enforcers themselves. Later, as President Lawrence declared in her propaganda, “New Hope, New Freedom.” It seemed the situation had been ameliorated. In fact, the terror kept hiding out of the light. People knew the terror of this law still existed.

Bianna turned her face away from him. Caleb knew she did not want to hear the truth. “This is why I want to keep her low profile. Being a good student is our pride. Be bigger than this…”

“She told us—confirmed us that it’s just part-time. Honey, it’s just small work. No one talks about our girl. No one recognizes her except her friends. She chose her path already, to be like you. She’s gonna be fine.” Bianna insisted on her thoughts.

Then Caleb thought of Mary, a nurse and colleague in the hospital, the one that tried to seduce an unattractive married man like him. She was not born here but moved from the other city ten years ago with her sister’s family. Regardless of her Casanovi behavior, she was nice and clever. Until one day, when he took little Alexis to the hospital just to survey his workplace, Mary insisted on playing doctor-and-patient with the girl. After he came to take his daughter back, Mary had registered information of the girl’s medical history in the database system that connected all hospital networks of New Hope. Moreover, Alexis' profile indicated that she was allergic to dust.

“But you’re not!” He said to the two. “What’re you doing, Mary? You added the fake information details in the data. If they find out…”

“She didn’t, Daddy. I do have an allergy. I always feel sick—I think I get a rash every time I clean the room,” the girl opposed and started to fear what the woman had planted inside her head.

“Oh, for god’s sake!” He eyed the nurse fiercely. “Let me edit her profile now.”

The nurse shut the computer down and smiled at him. “We have done some tests, Doctor. Don’t be serious. Think about your daughter carefully. I save her.”

The message inside those green eyes implied everything. She had discovered the girl’s secret. Caleb found out that Mary did not do it to Alexis only but to a few kids too. He had mixed feelings every time he saw his daughter cover her nose and mouth, feared being sick when she had to do the cleaning, and asked for a mask every time. Ten years later, Celeb still wondered why he had not edited the girl’s profile and why he had agreed with this woman.

“Are you alright?” asked Bianna, her eyes showed how much she was concerned when her husband kept silent.

“I’m alright. Let’s finish it.” He pointed his finger at the bowl.