Running On Empty

Chapter 13 ~ Jaylin~

"You will get out." It was the first time I had to demand someone to do something twice.

"What is so special about that girl?" Frica's voice snap impatiently.

"Her name is Silya. It is none of your business." I turned to face her and reached for my wheelchair.

"I believe it is since I will be marrying you in a couple of months. It may be even weeks.

Wait....what?! Marriage... with this person?

"You must have been hit by a car before coming over here. Who said I was marrying you?" She laughed a little, making me shiver a little.

"Oh, Jaylin, surely you have heard it from your father, I'm your bride to be.

"Like hell you are!" It was the first time I had cursed at someone. I wanted to take that back as soon as it slipped out of my mouth.

"I am!" Frica stomps her heel on the ground. Then she grabbed my wheelchair that I was in and spun me around until our eyes had met.

"No matter how much you hate this fact, I am your future, so suck it up and be a man." Her face was about four inches away from mine. I couldn't slap her because she was a girl. Her face was getting closer to mine.

I had waited for this moment the whole time on the camping trip. The only thing was that she was not Silya. I pushed Frica away and she fell on her butt, her eyes widen with disbelief.

"That is the last thing you will ever do with me." I wheeled to the door and opened it.

"Wait, I'm not finished!" Her eyes lit up with fury.

"You may not be finished, but I am." I shut the door behind me and left her to cry.

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"Young Master!" Madeline's voice shouted from behind. She was running with my crutches in her hand.

"Don't try and stop me," I said, turning to face her, "I already rejected that Frica girl.

"That's not it... you forgot to take these. If you want to see your father, show him that you can walk with these. Trust me, it will be better." She stops to catch her breath.

"Where is Silya?"

"She went home. The Headmaster told her to see you next week." Madeline's bun had little strands of hair sticking out.

From behind, I heard Garrett's voice call out to me, "Young Master, wait a moment please!" The next thing I knew was that I had both my personal servants trying to catch their breath.

"Let us help you," Garrett places his right hand on my shoulder and Madeline walked up from behind and held my wheelchair. She hands my crutches to Garrett.

"You can do this, Young Master! We have your back. He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the chair. I fall into his arms, hearing his heart beating strongly like I never had before.

Madeline pushes the wheelchair out of the way and wraps her arms around me and Garrett. "Now this is more like it," she laughs softly, "Young Master-no, Jaylin we love you."

"I love you both too." I closed my eyes as I let myself enjoy the hug. My father had never embraced me like they had. At that moment, I knew that this was what was called "family." It was a feeling like no other. No matter where I would end up, these two would always be in the shadows, watching over me.

"I will go talk to my father now." They let go of me and place my crutches in my hands. Both of them had looked like they were going to start crying.

"Alright," Madeline rubbed her eyes. "Jaylin, we wish you the best of luck."

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I walked in my house again for the second time. All the guards and servants watched me from a distance. I heard them whispering into each other's ears. I knew that they must have been taken aback by me walking with my crutches.

"Jaylin, where is Frica?" I see my father's stern face emerge from the shadows.

"Perfect, I was just coming to see you, Headmaster." I smiled in a corky way. His face twisted in disapproval.

"You will address me as your father."

"No, I am finished taking orders from you."

"Surely you didn't think you would be able to stop me if you said that. Is that all you have learned...after twelve years of being locked up?" He snickers, making the servants around us, tighten up. They had all seen this side of his. They knew what was going to happen next.

"I'm stronger than you think I am." I didn't let his gaze leave mine.

"I gave you freedom and this is how you repay me?" He walks forward, his black dress shoes, clicking on the floor. "It's time for you to wake up."

Someone pulls me backwards and covers my mouth with a cloth. Something was wrong, my father's presence become nothing more than a silhouette.

"Sweet dreams, my son."