Strings Of Time

VII

"Well... Yeah. Yeah, I do."

"Pfft!" I shook my head and smiled. "Well I guess fate has a way of playing with you."

It's true. Fate has a way of playing with people's mind and emotion. Christopher can't be a girl. Alex might look like him but she's not him. Christopher wasn't an alcoholic person, he was a sophisticated soft spoken man, he was charming in his own way, and he could turn a bad day into a good one. I could have married him and have kids with him, grow old together and leave this world in God's time until we meet again in the next lifetime. But everything was destroyed when I disappeared. He wasn't in Ashton when the attack happened. He was in college in another state finishing med school. He was to become a doctor. Cindy said, Christopher immediately went back to Ashton when he heard of the news, he didn't gave up on me... he kept on looking for me until his frustrations defeated him. His family was safe and they moved as far away from Ashton and started a new life somewhere else safer. Nobody heard of the Carlisle's ever again. Cindy said that he might have married someone else or grew old alone. Nobody knows.

Olly and I went out of the restaurant and grabbed our bikes. I was about to cross the street with my bike by my side when suddenly a Ford truck came to a sudden halt right in front of me.

I was shocked and I couldn't move. My whole body was shaking. I almost died.

"Oh my God! Ely, are you okay?" Oliver came to my aid and checked if I had any injuries. His concern embraced my whole body, "Oh my God..."

I could feel his chest pounding, "O-Olly, I'm... I'm okay..." I whispered.

A man came out of the car and was dumbfounded with what happed. His eyes widen in fear, "Oh dear God... Are you okay, child? I'm so sorry..."

Oliver breaks his embrace and confronted the man, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Can't you read that sign, old man?" he pointed out the slow down sign, "That means slow down! You could have killed someone today!!!"

I grabbed Olly's arm to stop him from shouting at the old man, "Oliver, stop. It was my fault, okay? I wasn't—"

"No! You could have died today! You could have been hurt really bad!" Olly's rage wasn't going down. I know he was only looking out for me.

"Let's go, Oliver." I demanded. "You're making a scene." I glanced at the old man he was looking at me in a strange way.

The old man slowly walked towards us as his eyes narrows his sight at me, "Young lady, w-what's your name?"

Oliver stepped in front of the old man and said, "Her name is none of your business, old man."

Once again, I grabbed Olly's arm and dragged him back, "Oliver, that's rude." I scolded. I looked at the old man and hinted a smile, "I'm sorry, sir. Next time, I'll look both ways before crossing the street." I pulled Oliver away and grabbed my bike. I figured that Olly was still upset and might lash out at the old man.

Later on, Olly accompanied me in front of the gates of Hadleigh Hall. He had calmed down when I showed him that I'm really okay. I tried wiggling my hands and doing jumping jacks till I ran out of breath.

"Well... here we are." I said smiling at Olly. "I better go now, I have a lot of things to do. I'll see you tonight at supper."

Olly hinted a smile and pinched my cheek, "You be careful now, okay?"

I nodded and hugged him. But it was interrupted by that annoying voice.

"Woohoo! Look at that scene... It's like I'm watching a telenovela. Who's your friend there, Miss Summerhall?"

I broke free from our embrace and sighed irritably at Joey. "Alright now, Joey. Open the gate. You had your fun."

Joey snickered and said, "Can't hear ya, missy. You have to speak through that box, remember?"

I pressed the red button and readied myself for a big shout, "OPEN THE FREAKING GATE!!!"

Joey screamed like a girl and Olly and I laughed. The gate opened and I waved goodbye to Olly. The path was slightly steep so it's gonna be hard for me to ride my bicycle. So I just strolled my bike going up the mansion.

As always, I was greeted by the housekeeper and helped me put my bike away. I went to my work space and slightly opened the door just to see if Mr. Mathew's daughter will come out.

An hour later, I heard a crash from Alex's room. I stood up and opened my door wide and saw the maids running out of her room. They were screaming at the sight of their master.

"I told you to run down the store and buy me one!" shouted Alex from the inside of her room. She suddenly threw her things and smashed it everywhere. "Where's my drink?!" she shouted again.

"B-but, your father told us not to—"

Like a monstrous creature, Alex kept shouting and cursing at the maids. Indeed she was intoxicated. She caught one of the maids and shouted at her, ordering her to buy her the drinks that she wanted. The maid started to cry and that's where I draw the line. I stomped my way towards the twisted young master and pulled away the poor maid from her clutches. She shouted at me and grunted like a beast. She was more than intoxicated. I suddenly had the urge to lift my hand and struck her on her face. And sure enough, she stopped. She was rather stunned, actually.

"You shouldn't have done that..." she spoke with a husky tone of voice.

"I can do it again." I answered bravely as I slightly moved to the left, waiting for her to do something rash.

She slowly walked wobbly towards me. I was amazed on how she figured out where I was standing. It was like she can see me. I was more surprised when she stopped in front of me and just stared at me.

"I can't see you, but I know you're there." She whispered.

I held my breath and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, Alex was on the floor... unconscious.