Some asked why you are able to vote on some chapters while not on others? The reason is that some chapters are completely new while for others I'm just adding and making all the right changes. So please vote on chapters you can, and just read the updates for the others...
A/N: Not Thoroughly Edited.
ENjoy :)
Chapter 12 – Damn Dmitri (Kalenah Conrad POV)Pt. 2
"He's... there is something different about him right now, Lena," Ansel whispers about Samson.
He is right of course.
In two years I had not seen this – openly caring – side to my Samson since his twin Silas passed away, the light in his eyes, and his actual pleasure in being around anyone. Sure he was content, thoughtful and very kind to those around him, but my son was different, ever changed without his twin around.
I could only describe it as a lost look in his eyes somehow, my older children all had their significant others, except for Samson. He tried dating, had his eye on different girls but from what I could see it hadn't gone anywhere serious. While he was handsome, hardworking and intelligent and had many admirers the one that was the closest to him was Taylor Rosario – the daughter of lifelong friends.
Taylor wasn't the one for him though. Romantically speaking.
While Talia was with Javier, Taylor and Devin's older brother, and Brennan was with Devin herself – Taylor wasn't the right girl for Samson.
Sure Taylor was a lovely young lady, but it wasn't the right match, not in my eyes – or that of a few of my children. She had a way of going along with what Samson would find interesting, whether she was into those things or not I wouldn't know, but I didn't want a puppet for Samson.
He – again in my opinion – needed someone that could be patient, peel the layers of his complex mind back. He and Silas were as thick as thieves, staying up late, in one of their rooms and whether they were outdoors or indoors, as long as they were together, they were happy.
Ignoring thoughts of Samson's behavior as of late, I sit reading my poetry to Faith as she struggles to breathe, the child not needing one more thing to go wrong, but yet here it was.
The flu.
I had expected this when I first received Faith's files – when she was to be my client – but instead she was severely burned instead. But –unluckily – now here she was with the flu I had expected knowing that her immune system had been altered by living so isolated. After being contacted by Walsh, and their specialist they brought Faith to, when they first removed her from the prison Dmitri kept her in, all the different medications, I was expecting her to be less advanced than she was. Not giving me much detail I had expected a far less intelligent individual, yet was knocked off my feet when I finally placed my new patient to the girl that was in the kitchen in the dorms independently making a meal for my family.
Composed until the end, it was only when Faith realized who I was – of course because I informed her of myself believing that deceiving the girl would not lead to a good rapport between us – did she flounder.
However with her drive I realize that, Faith was alone, and in her loneliness work, of any kind, whether mental or physical was her coping mechanisms. She finished the meal in a tense, methodical haze, pulling away from us, while still maintaining her wits to complete the meal she began. It was heartbreaking to watch, but informative. In her position, fear of being alone may have crippled others but I understood how Fatima survived alone. Instead of faltering, remaining incapable of functioning, Fatima became hyper aware of her needs, satisfying them to the best of her ability while locked away.
There was no reason to starve because though Dmitri was gone, he left her with provisions that he had taught her to prepare. There was no reason to remain awake because for years before Dmitri had left Fatima on her own, he showed her that no one would harm her where she was. He instilled that faith of true safety in her, which he used against her by keeping up the charade of wartime. She studied because what else was there to do? Watched movies, listened to music, ate, slept and even worked out, kept up a schedule in a home she thought was meant to keep her safe but was actually her prison.
Lost in my thoughts, unsure now but determined to help Fatima, I think of what I've learned in her fevered induced speaking. I had truly thought that Faith was eating my meals, it came as a blow when in her – frenzied hallucinating state – that she confessed to Dmitri – her captor – that she hadn't been eating, the words said as though we would intentionally make the poor girl sicker.
A few pieces fell into place once again as that slip came forth, Faith wasn't isolating herself here because she preferred to be alone, it was because she didn't trust us. Sure, she came here but in truth, with knowing so little in the world, where would she have gone? Walsh said that he found that the home Faith was in, was used, you could tell she was a neat individual, however looking at her room now, even as she slept, her body held tight, everything in its place since we moved her things in. Nothing out of place, the lamp where it always was not moved a bit. The books we placed on her desk in the same order we had put them before, though I know she's studied.
We had to drop her and Talia both form their physical education class, entering them into an elective course – Fashion Fundamentals. I couldn't exactly say that Faith would enjoy the class, I couldn't say much at all because she seemed to just complete tasks placed in front of her. She gave me all her make up work completed when I knew that over the weekend Talia hadn't left her bed unless one of us carried her down, much less pick up her text books and assignments and complete one. I knew that all children were different even those I had myself, had their own personalities but I also knew that it was different.
While Talia could be around the lit stove, she couldn't seem to look down at her injured leg when I changed the wraps and bandages. Again even that experience for the two girls were different, Talia was asleep through it all, Faith was the one that ran into the burning building, experienced the fire burning her hand, and finding a way to get it out.
But I digress; my mind is in total chaos at what was uttered in her haze, so when Faith wakes up, I keep my voice controlled, soft and nonjudgmental as possible while inside my heart – the heart of a mother – is breaking for this poor child. The doctor in me also knows that I have to let Sonya know just how distrustful Faith really is... she had told some of the lies she was told, but as far as I knew and hoped, I had started to believe that she knew we meant her no harm.
She didn't know that. She lived with us, but was expecting us to hurt her. She wasn't sleeping, eating but she was stressing out, expecting – waiting on baited breath – our evil transformation to come. And what was worse, what rang in my mind, "He always leaves me, why – why won't he stay?" my husband finally seeing just what was happening, though I knew he had already had Faith planted in his heart but the look in his eyes at that precise moment, the images of his own children – or any child – saying those words. Gritting his teeth, he pulled his brother from the room.
"I do not understand how this bastard was able to do this for so long? He made her-" I've already heard Ansel's rant so I tune them out, just keeping vigil over Faith.
Now though, my head tilted back, I read the poem 'If You Come as Softly,' and when the last stanza is left, Samson enters the room, murmuring the words that normally made him flinch when he heard them. Silas enjoyed the soft rhythm and flow of the words, but now, I watch Samson finish the words, his face serene, focused on Faith with two cups of tea, one for himself, and myself.
Or so I thought.
"I – I made you tea – your favorite, and one for me too," but he doesn't have eyes for me at all in the corner of the room. No, his blue eyes are focused on the sickly girl in the bed that is going to refuse to drink the cup, or take it and then throw it away. I watch in awe, pretending to be somewhat oblivious but I see the look in my sons' eyes for this girl, the interest that I know will fly right over Faiths radar or be pushed away. Sitting on her bed as though she invited him too, not keeping his distance from her like everyone else seemed to be doing, when he makes a move to leave her hand darts out to stop him, and as though she acted without thinking, she pulls back shocked like his skin burnt the tips of her small hands.
With no flinching and little to no reaction, Samson settles in, and speaks about their project and with complete eye contact Faith listens.
"Fatima-" I wait for the moment where she corrects him, tells him to call her 'Faith' but that never comes.
She lets him call her Fatima... I think idly until I joke about wanting the cup of tea and I curse myself when Faith hands it to me. I had planned to see if she would take a drink, but when I explain, something that would've – should've been simple to answer, seemed to bring her pain.
I take the glass and Samson takes his leave claiming he is going to bed, but I'm sure that he's saying that for my benefit. Exhausted, clearly ill, Faith slips into a restless sleep struggling to breathe, and ten minutes later, when the door creaks open, and Samson comes in slowly, "I thought you said you were going to bed Sam," I chide him, though inside, my heart warms. He nods, but comes into the room more "I went and got the humidifier for her." He answers me, eyes on Faith a slight frown on his face. Reading him, taking a moment to watch, not speak or jump to conclusions, I just watch Samson. It is a moment that I've experienced, and have watched happened with my children, Talia, Brennan, Thaddeus and Harleigh.
The look of caring about someone not just on a basic human level. It's the care so clear behind the eyes that they cannot be questioned.
"You... care about her?" I ask hesitantly leaving my chair to help him setup the humidifier in the room and he doesn't answer right away. "I guess... she's different mom and I just," he shrugs, "I want to figure her out." Worried for the heartache both Faith and Samson could feel if he went about his feelings the wrong way, I licked my lips carefully picking my words but still when they come out it is not how I planned.
"She's a person, not a puzzle Samson," I say nearly snapping at him, protective over Faith, and him as well. But moreover, without Dmitri's confession on why he treated Faith the way he did, all I can think is this was some type of observation thing – though from Walsh himself, he said that there were no video recordings of Faith. The only way that Dmitri kept track of Faith was the traps he set on the path to get to Faith.
"I know... but... it's like she doesn't react like I think she will," he admits in a whisper, and when the machine is turned on, I follow him out, knowing his voice, and wanting to be a sounding board for my intricate-minded over thinking child.
"She surprises you?" I ask not sure how much interaction Samson's had with Faith, but as a mother, I knew I was right about him and Taylor; she wasn't the one for him. She liked what Samson liked, did what Samson enjoyed to do, and granted after Silas' death she was whom he turned to, while also retreating into himself – Taylor wasn't what he wanted.
He nods with a heavy sigh, his fingers tapping on his pajama bottoms – one of his stressed out tells I hadn't seen in a while – and I bit my lip before I gasp, before I hinder whatever change I'm witnessing right now. Instead I remain silent, knowing I should send Samson to his room, tell him go to bed, since he has school in the morning but knowing as well, that sending him down to his room with his mind filled as it seems to be, he wouldn't sleep anyways.
"You know how – well I snapped at her in class," he whispers with some shame, I frown, "Are you being kind out of guilt, because I don't think-"
He shakes his head, "No, and Fatima would know that it wasn't real," he says as though they've been lifelong friends.
Again with her name and not the nickname we've all adopted.
"It's just... her reaction wasn't what I was expecting, I thought she requested to be my partner in class but then, she snaps and says that maybe I'll be the one to hold her back," he says while picking at an invisible piece of string on his pants. "She even offered to move, but then I was still so angry about – well you know what day it was," he whispers. I do, and even with a millions and one things on the tip of my tongue I do not say them from fear of breaking the sharing mindset Samson is now in.
"She tells me when she doesn't like something," I look at him skeptically, because we weren't really discussing the same girl right now.
Samson lifts his head up to look at me reading the skeptical expression on my face, "no mom, she does... I mean you just have to read her face is all, she – I don't know – she seems afraid of us – but she also has her own opinions you know?" I nodded blankly. Who was Samson describing right now?
"How's Faith?" Ansel asks, startling me as he climbs up the stairs, "Samson... Lena... are we having some kind of meeting?" he jokes and the moment of sharing between Samson and I is broken, and quickly my son stands, bidding us both goodnight before he heads down the stairs.
With Samson gone, Ansel leans forward, opening his arms for me, welcoming me with his strong embrace"Really how is she?" my heart warms, with the amount of compassion in this man of mine, with a sigh, I give him an update before returning to my spot of vigil.
Minutes tick by the only sound in the house comes from Fatima's breathing and the humidifier, until even in her sleep she breaks my heart, "please don't leave me... don't leave me..." Damn him. I curse Dmitri. How could he hurt her this way? He brought her everything from food to entertainment material, but starved her of love.
.
.
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© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved
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Q & A's:
So many are asking whether Faith is a werewolf, werecat or something supernatural? I'd like to see what YOU all think, because, yes I've given a hint in the form of a picture on Facebook, it could mean anything... what are YOUR ideas?
So Samson... do we like him? I'm not going to make this cliched and have his love heal her... ** rolls my eyes ** but she has to reach out to someone and I think it's easy to point out, that he's taking her cues.
What is making faith sick is it the food that she is consuming or lack of protection from germs because of being isolated so long. So true! It can't just be all sunshine and daisies I mean, she's lacking in things mentally and physically and the more Faith isolates herself, locking herself up in her own mind, the worse it gets.
Loved this chapter!! I liked to get the other perspective :) Thanks, While I will be keeping this mostly in Faith's there will be some Kalenah, Samson and two others... can you guess whom?
they have enemies and walsh and patricia trusted them with Fatima!!!
silas died two years ago i think it has to do with the arsonist. So I've said this but who knows if what they (Walsh and Patricia) told Faith was true. I mean I will go as far as saying that the F.b.i part is true, but there were a few hints in the first like four chapters... about the mystery that is Faith.
we've started betting you n outcomes again so far looks like the first win is gonna be mine. thanks roxann haha! I'm guess you win all the time huh? lol
Kalenah said that they are different, maybe not entirely human and in the past she works as a therapies, so she knows what is wrong with Faith and trying to help her . I hope fatima is okey coz whhat Lena said that she suffered so much ,well it is true. Thank u for the update,every chapter ,the story is getting better and better, like Unexpected you build up the suspense but i like the way you wrote it, it tickles my imagination with the way you play with words, i have to read between the lines THanks!! I know it sucks having to read it in pieces since it's a WIP, but I love that you guys reading like the hints, and the suspense and having to debate with yourself what's going on (or making bets, winning and losing...).
I also know that many are confused about what's going on but don't worry because if you keep with the story, you start to see the same things others did a bit earlier.
Bravo Roxann. I loved it, I totally understand her hesitation and way of thinking, she has to be cautious. But I like how you have her second guessing her actions towards them. More of this will lead to her taking more chances on them. Kalenah and Samson is her Island in the distance while she's determined to stay in her life boat that feels safe but those waves are getting higher and higher, and that island is looking more and more inviting, promising much more than her little life boat. Can't wait for more! Well... I didn't leave you hanging for very long now did I? lol Anyways, I know maybe some readers are like why can't she just trust them already, and for those are that, I think you need to take a break and come back in a few chapters lol.
I mean, think about it, is her reaction now more believable than her waking up magically happy and not at all cautious of anything around her? just knowing what everything is, and how she's supposed to behave?... I think if I did that I would have a TON of complaints about how she's behaving and when did she learn to be how she was after only being outside for three months and two therapy sessions... I'm sure those that want that would've been the same ones to stop reading and be like "ugh, Roxann this is a fail." lol
I love the way you said it though, her Island in the distance, but she's sorta on this sinking ship and she has to decide because the waters are getting rough. Does she abandon ship or does she try her hardest to go to that inviting, promising island.
I love that she admitted to herself that she should have taken the tea, that's progress. Her poor body has been through so much, and she needs proper food to get better, and stronger. Samson is just to cute with her, and she seems to trust him a little bit more than the others. Thank you for the update!! Oh yeah... that is MAJOR promise in my book, because one it was her favorite, Samson drank from it, he didn't get sick, but after warring and letting that moment pass, it's a huge deal that she thinks, 'darn I should have taken it.'
Why? Because!!! Well let's say that you're waiting for the bus and one passes by you, and you spend all your time thinking about whether or not you should have tried to run to catch it. The next time that happens, you're not going to stand there and think about it for as long as you did that first time.
Faith admits to herself, she wanted it by saying that she should've taken it. And though it's already gone, I guess this to me is a very nice little stepping stone accepting a bit more. Now it's not going to go all out of control, but in that moment she doesn't think Dmitri would've been proud that i didn't take it. She thinks for herself.
Thanks for not leaving us hanging long wondering what was wrong with Faith . The constant battle she is going through in her mind is wearing her down ,along with her lack of proper nutrition ,she actually thinks the oatmeal made her sick which is just going to feed her paranoia. She does believe that the oatmeal made her sick, but then that tea, she didn't drink it and Kalenah did. Think of Faith's mind as the justice balance scales... it's so black and white to her, and I'm going to go throw in some shades gray and love.
So yeah. And while this story is about Faith, Samson has some growing to do as well, the whole family really, I know they seem to have everything together from what I've said but now you're learning different things and how they are now, in the after math of losing a child. Which is why I'm going to have more of Kalenah and Samson's POV's because Kalenah is a mother, she's lost one of her children, and even with that loss, knowing the pain, she's opened up her heart to Faith.
that's all folks.
roxann :)