Sorry. I had an SSL error, so the internet bugged out a bit.
The lady turns to me. She is angry. And she is crying. Why is she crying?
She growls at me like a monster. She walks to me. I see a gun in her hand.
She points it to me. I scream. I am scared. I want to run but I can't move.
Why can't I move? Why can't I talk? I scream harder, but nothing. I move harder. I still can't.
- Alvin "AJ" Seville-Miller, Jr.
Brittany couldn't help but look ridiculously at Alvin, and the present(s) he got for Brianna and Jay. For one thing, he was completely spoiling them. And wow, he did know the kids' birthday - it was written on the DNA test results he got from Simon. Just looking at his gift(s) made her feel low. For Jay, he actually bought him a laptop, complete with the latest updates and games. For Brianna, he got her a pink Iphone. And all together, he prepared a huge and expensive party for them, complete with the catering services of Theodore's restaurant.
It was a Monday afternoon and the party was ready. Everyone was there, except for Miss Miller. The old lady was in Colorado, and due to her arthritis, she couldn't make it. Everything was in place, and all that's left was to fetch the kids from school. They weren't told about the party, so it's a surprise.
Brittany could say that she was impressed. Alvin's finally put his money to good use, not that he never had.
"Seriously, Alvin, you're spoiling them." She looked at him, glaring, but smiling inside.
Alvin slipped an arm around her waist. "I'm not. I just love them."
She laid her head on his shoulder, smiling on the outside this time. Brittany felt his lips against her forehead. She loved that.
"Come on, it's time to get them. I'm glad you took the day off today."
Brittany pecked him on the cheek. "It's our kids' birthday." She loved how the words, 'our kids' came out of her mouth. It sounded perfect and right.
The visitors were in the living room. The whole Sevilles were there and a few friends. They greeted them as they passed by, heading to the door. Outside, the car was parked, with Nathan standing by and ready. He opened the backseat for them, and they got in.
"Where to, Mr. Seville?" Nathan asked when slipped behind the wheel.
"The school, please, Seno," Alvin said in an authoritatively and firmly. He sounded more like a boss.
Brittany looked at Alvin, curious. "Seno?"
"Family name. He's Spanish," Alvin whispered so only she could hear.
Spanish? She never noticed an accent.
Brittany held Alvin's hand as Nathan pulled into the road, driving carefully and effortlessly. Thankfully, the traffic wasn't heavy and they slipped through without being bothered by any red lights. It was already past three-ish, and the kids were probably already dismissed in school. That, if they didn't get detention, which is unlikely, of course. Not once have Brianna received detention. AJ,... not so much.
As they neared the school, Brittany could see an unusually vast amount of crowd surrounding the school's parking lot in front of the building. As she looked closer, she noticed the people's face were written with concern and shock. She didn't know what the commotion was all about, but none of them were smiling, so this couldn't be right.
"What's going on?" Brittany asked.
Alvin didn't answer. Nathan continued to weave into the crowd, trying to find a suitable parking space. But as they neared the parking lot, they heard a tap on the window of Alvin's side, startling Brittany. He opened the window, and the man looked distressed.
"Mr. Seville?" The man asked.
"Yes?" Alvin said firmly.
The man sighed. "I'm sorry to say this, but..." A dramatic and suspenseful pause as the man looked into his eyes. "It's your daughter."
What? Hearing those words, Brittany's heart pounded in worry and concern. She gasped and looked out the window, dozens of people blocking her view. Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She clutched Alvin's hand tighter. No, Please no, please no. Not on her birthday.
Alvin forcefully let go and opened the door, and Brittany could feel the rush of adrenaline in his veins as he left. All she could do was watch Alvin leave, weaving through the group of people, yelling out her daughter's name. Finally, Brittany shook her head and headed out as well. She panted and tears started to threaten as she weaved through the crowd.
Once she got through, all air left her body, and she could feel herself getting paler. She screamed out Brianna's name. Under all the crowd, their daughter was lying on the cold hard ground, unconscious, drenched in her own blood. It was horrible.
She and Alvin got to her side and knelt down. Alvin held him, and Brittany noticed the tears in his eyes. He shook her, in hopes of regaining her consciousness. But her eyes remained closed. A drop of blood spilled from her lips. Brittany checked for wounds, but nothing. She looked up and saw the school building.
"She fell off the roof." Brittany looked up and the school guard was there. "I saw it."
Brittany cried and buried her face into her daughter's chest and wailed.
"How? How in hell did she fall off? Isn't the roof off limits?" Alvin's voice was forced and mad.
"Only for kindergarten students, sir."
"Damn it," Alvin whispered. "AJ. Where's my son?" He asked.
Oh, please let him be alright. Please, please let them both be alright, Brittany kept whispering the words like a mantra, a prayer.
"He's in the guidance's office. He wouldn't stop crying."
Brittany watched, her daughter in her arms as Alvin turned towards her. "We need to get Brianna to a hospital now. Can you stay with AJ?"
No... Leave Brianna? Brittany would never leave her daughter. But then again, she'd be leaving AJ, if she comes with Brianna to the hospital. But she was hurt and bleeding. There's no way she'd leave Brianna like this. Sniffing back and wiping a tear, she turned to Alvin.
"No. I-... I'll stay with Brianna. I can't leave her like this." She wondered how Brianna could fall into such accident. She's the responsible, and there was no way she'd be staying up on top of the building.
Alvin looked at Brianna, then at the crowd, then back to Brittany. With a huge sigh, he nodded. "Okay. I'll stay with AJ. Don't take an ambulance. Let Nathan drive you."
Brittany sniffed, then nodded.
. . . . . . .
Alvin called Simon as soon as he got to AJ. He was in the principal's office, unable to stop crying, or even speak. He called another driver, and took AJ home. During the drive, AJ stopped crying, but he couldn't talk when Alvin asked him how he was doing. He only feared that AJ might stop talking, just like Brianna a few months ago.
When they arrived home, AJ still didn't talk, and he shook his head when asked for a snack. The only guests there were Dave, Eleanor, and Theodore. Jeanette rode with Simon to the hospital to attend to Brianna, since he was their doctor. The rest of the guest went home.
Alvin lead AJ to his room, where he started crying again. As he sobbed, Alvin knelt down in front of him and patted his shoulder.
"Son, it's going to be alright. Trust me. You uncle Simon is with Brianna now. He'll take care of her." But AJ seemed unmoved as he spoke. He sighed. "It's alright. Just keep crying. Just let it all out." He took him in his arms in a warm embrace. He caressed his back and comforted him.
AJ sniffed. "Is-... Is she going to be alright, dad?"
Alvin felt a wave of relief. At least AJ was talking. "Yes. I promise. Would you like to go to sleep?"
He felt AJ's nod. He released him and lead him to his bed. Not bothering to take off his shirt and pants to change into his pajamas, Alvin set down and raised the covers up to his chin. He pecked AJ on the forehead, followed by a pat on the shoulder. "Go to sleep, son."
Without waiting for a response, Alvin walked to the window and set the curtains, since it was still a radiant afternoon. As he did, he noticed the police car parked in the driveway. The sound of the doorbell followed.
When he got down the stairs, Dave and Theodore were talking to two policemen in the living room. When Alvin entered, the two policemen stood up from the couch and glared at him. One of them had his hand close to his weapon.
"What's going on?" Alvin asked. "Is it about my daughter?"
"Alvin, it's-" Dave spoken, but interrupted.
"Alvin Seville, this isn't about your daughter," One of the policeman said with rock-hard intimidation, with a voice that spoke years of authority. From the couch, the police officer reached for a transparent plastic bag with two items that Alvin knew he was familiar with.
Presenting the bag to him, Alvin recognized the items inside. Something he has forgotten a few months ago. His army badge, and knife. But what shocked him was the blood that coated the knife. "Familiar, Mr. Seville?" He asked.
The knife still had the engravings "Red Aces" on the handle, his nickname in the army. There were three stars engraved in the edge of the knife. His badge still had his rank and serial number, and name.
"Where'd you get these?" The last time he thought of them was when the airport misplaced his bags.
"Mr. Seville, these were found at the crime scene. The knife was used for the murder of Officer Rex Ramirez in a hotel room in North Carolina. The badge was found at the door, but we found only your fingerprints on each evidence." The police officer gave the bag to his partner. "But also, we know you haven't stepped into that part of the country in a long time, and the murder happened only last month."
"I'm not the criminal you're looking for, if that's what you're asking. I've been here for the past two months, and I haven't stepped foot out of the state boundary, officer," Alvin answered. The name Rex rang a huge bell, but he couldn't remember. "You mean someone's trying to frame me by using my badge and my knife? I'll have you know that I would've had them now, if the airport hadn't misplace my luggage. My army Duffelbag flew to Germany."
"But did you give the airport your address so they can give it back?"
Yes, he did. He sent Charlene's address right before he found her and Rex-...
Rex.
Rex. That's it! Alvin felt a click in his brain. He knew Rex. The guy was the one Charlene had it with.
Alvin gave Charlene's address to the airport. So that meant his weapons were with her. And she killed Rex? No, that's not possible. They were together.
"Mr. Seville?" The policeman spoke again.
Alvin shook his head. "Uh, yeah. I did. But was this officer Rex in a relationship, by any chance?"
"His friends mentioned a girl. Charlene, I think her name was."
"She has all of my equipment from the army. I sent her address to the airport."
The officer craned his neck. "Are you acquainted with her?"
Alvin nodded. "We used to be in a relationship." Until she cheated on him with Rex.
The two officers nodded at each other. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Seville. We'll call you in case the station has some more question."
. . . . . . .
I watch the lady. She is walking with my sister. She takes us to the roof. She said that she wanted to show us something. I don't like her. She looks ragged and I see a wound on her wrist. I am scared, but I don't want to admit it. Not in front of Brianna.
They both stand on the roof. At the edge. I stand far from the lady. She is scaring me. Suddenly, she smiles. I don't know why. It looks scary. It looks evil. She grabs Brianna's shirt. She glares at her. The lady is looking angry. Why is she angry at Brianna?
She growls. Brianna just stands and looks at her. Brianna looks worried.
"What are you doing?" My sister asks.
The lady looks even more angry. She looks like a monster. I am scared and confused. I can't move. I try to run to her. But I can't. My legs feel like rock.
"You!" The lady growls. I can hear her voice in my head. It's scaring me. I put my hands to my ears and just watch. But when she speaks, I can still hear her in my head. "You're supposed to be my child! Mine!" The lady punches Brianna's cheek. She falls down, but not on the ground. She falls from the edge of the roof. She screams. I can hear her in my head.
I scream. But I can't speak. My mouth won't move. I can't move.
The lady turns to me. She is angry. And she is crying. Why is she crying? She growls at me like a monster. She walks to me. I see a gun in her hand. She points it to me. I scream. I am scared. I want to run but I can't move. Why can't I move? Why can't I talk? I scream harder, but nothing. I move harder. I still can't.
I can't move. I can't speak.
I can't breathe.
Brianna! Where's Brianna!? Is she okay?!
Brianna!
AJ!
AJ!
I open my eyes, and I sit up from my bed. I can't breath. I try harder and open my mouth. I find air. I breathe harder. My chest hurts, and it feels like exploding. I blink many times. I am sweaty and it is so hot in my room. It is dark and night. I blink again. Dad is in front of me. He looks worried.
"AJ," He whispers.
"Dad," I say.
He takes me in his arms urgently, as if he wants to protect me. He hugs me tight. I can breathe again. I can talk and move. It was all just a dream. But it looked real. The lady pushed Brianna off the roof. I saw a gun, and I ran away.
Dad runs his hand along my hair. Something mom would do. "AJ, it's alright. You're just having a nightmare."
"It looks so real. Dad, she was real. She killed Brianna." No. No. Brianna is not dead. I don't want to believe it. My sister is alive. My sister is alive. My sister is alive.
Dad lets go of me and he looks at me. I can feel that he's confused. "She? AJ, what 'She'?"
"She pushed Brianna. Dad, where's my sister?" I ask. She's alive. She's alive, I know it.
"She's in the hospital. Excuse me."
Dad lets go of me. He reaches for his pocket and pulls out his cellphone. He dials a number, and he talks. I listen to him.
"Nathan, are you there?... Contact Luke... the head of security, yes... The school, I want all security cameras checked and the roof inspected right now... No, I don't care what time it is... No, no police involved. They've been here already... How's Brittany?... Brianna?..." Dad breathes a sigh of relief. Brianna is okay. I knew it. "Tell me if you get anything."
Dad turns to me. He smiles but weakly.
"What's going on, dad?" I ask. "How's mom and Brianna?"
Dad pats me on the shoulder and sits down on the bed. "Your mom can't stop crying, and Brianna's still with your uncle Simon. And you should be asleep, son. It's 8 o'clock. But you're not going to school tomorrow, so you want dinner?" Dad smiles.
I notice my stomach growling. I am hungry. I nod.
"Alright. Come on." He stands up and walks to the door.
I come out of my sheets and follow him.
Sorry about the slow update. I was on vacation.
And about AJ's point of view. I know that it's not like ordinary point of views. But he's a kids, and I notice, in some other books(Fifty Shades), that kids have this kind of POV.
And also, I guess that you know who that 'lady' is already. I'm not good at putting things away from the obvious, so... :D