I
slept in Grace’s bed to keep her safe. "Cahira?" I hear Grace I start
to open my eyes. "Yeah?" I roll over to look at Grace. "Why are
you in here?" She asks me. "Well after you left me in the tree house
I had a talk with dad and well it made me worry about you." Grace starts
to sit up. "What talk did you have with dad?" I sit up to look at
her. "You had an imaginary friend while I was in the coma?" Grace’s
face changes. "What about it?" Grace says a little defensively.
"Where did your imaginary friend come from?" Grace just looks at me
for a bit. "I met him at the hospital when they told us you might never
wake up." I can understand why everyone thought that Grace had an
imaginary friend. That must have been a hard time for her. "Grace he wasn't
imaginary, he saved dad that night." Grace looks up at me and jumps out of
her bed and runs down stairs. Her and this damn running. I follow her down
stair to the box. "I don't know why it didn't click before." I look
at her as my dad and mother come running down stairs. I think they heard us
running. "I didn't bury this box the last time I gave it to my imaginary
friend. He said he would protect my secret with his life. How could I forget
that?" My dad just looks at Grace. "Cahira told you about your
imaginary friend not being so imaginary I see. So is he using your secrets
against you now??" My dad asks
Grace. "No it means that whoever took Percy has been around for a lot long
than a few months." I explain looking at the picture of me and Grace as kids
at the carnival. My parents look at each other. I think the realization that
whoever has Percy has to do with them and not us just sunk in.
"So what is your secret?" My dad asks Grace. Grace looks my dad in the eyes. "To be
honest I am not sure any more. I knew what I thought it was but now... Does he
mean my childhood secrets?" My dad holds up the picture of Enrique.
"I think it is safe to say whoever this is wants a more recent
secret." Grace won't even look at the picture of Enrique. She just walks
away. "GRACE ANNE! You better come back here right now?" My mother
yells at Grace but she just keeps walking. "We only have 5 more days and
it doesn't seem like Grace is in a mood to spill." I tell my dad. My dad
nod and starts to walk after Grace. "This person is going to hurt Percy do
you not understand that or are you that selfish that you don't care about your
own blood! You would rather keep some secret with a boy." Grace instantly
stops walking and turns around to face my dad. "You really think this is
about a boy?" She asks my dad. "I am not sure Grace you haven't said
what this is about. You just keep running away from us like you don’t care
about what happens to Percy." My dad says. "I would do anything for
Percy! I will tell you guys my secret just give me time!" Grace screams at my dad. "You don't have
time Grace!" Grace is in tears. "Maybe I am just not ready for things
to change between us." Grace is
still screaming at my dad. "Grace nothing will ever change the way we feel
about you." My mother says. "Oh that is crap and you know it. Before
Cahira’s coma you didn't give a rat’s ass about me or Percy. Cahira was the end
all be all. But once she woke up different you were so quick to turn on her.
That is just how it is with you mom, if we do something you don't agree with
you would turn on any of us. So don't try to feed me that nonsense. I will tell
you everything but just not yet." The doorbell rings and we all seem to
just stop. "Are you expecting anyone?" My dad asks me. "Why are
you asking me?? I have like one friend and Chance would call first." My
dad starts to walk towards the door. "Do you think it could be the cops
with more information?" My mother asks. "Yeah let’s hope so."
Grace says. My dad opens the door to find a present. All of us just look at
each other. "What could it be this time?" I ask. "It shouldn't
be Percy's arm we had a week." My mother says. "Yes because
kidnappers who pretend to be your young girl's imaginary friend are known for
keeping to their word." I say to my mother. She gives me a dirty look.
"Grace I think time might be up." Grace just puts her hand over her
mouth and starts sobbing. "Please don't say that. I didn't mean for
anything to happen to Percy." Grace
says through her tears. My dad just looks down at the box for a bit. It is
wrapped in my little pony wrapping paper. "Grace what was our 8 birthday
party theme?" I ask her. "You guys had a My Little Pony party. You
hated it but Grace loved it, so you agreed to have the party she wanted."
My mother says. "The wrapping paper" I point. "Every detail
matters. Maybe there is more to these boxes then meets the eye." I explain
to my family. "I will be careful taking the wrapping paper off just in
case." My dad says as he starts to unwrap the gift.
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