Endless was the right word to use in my situation.

The unexpected.

It was a long and frustrating journey with my family, meeting new people who ended up being related to me.

School was over, and my dad forgot to pick me up.

Again.

I checked my phone,and it was half past four. I had no choice but to walk home.

I always found it relaxing when I walked around the neighborhoods of Lukeway Valley. The people always minded their own businesses and I felt like everyone was just having their own problems to deal with.

The birds chirping helped me relax as I walked past the beautiful cherry blossoms as it's flowers bloomed in the park.

Parents were exhausted and needed to relax so they'd bring their kids to play and leave them there just for their own benefits.

As I walked around the park, I spotted a girl and her mom playing together and it reminded me my mom and I playing like the old days. It was fun sometimes. She'd either buy me an ice cream or scold me for getting hurt.

The last time I saw her was the day our family broke into pieces. She had a huge fight with my dad and was never heard from again.

It was heartbreaking to see her leave. My dad pulled me aside from her and didn't want her to take me with her. I was angry and sad at the same time but I sometimes I try to forget about it but for some reason I can't so I decided not to talk about it.

I love my dad but it would have been nice to have a complete family and do what all families do.

I tried to collect some info on her but I ended up getting nothing. I gave up when someone sent me an email saying she was one of the most wanted criminal in the world and till now no one knows her whereabouts.

It was really hard for me to take it in. I never told dad about it because I figured it was the reason why he didn't want me to go with her.

She's history now....

To me.

It was a long walk to my house. I was only five blocks away when I got a text from Anika, my best friend to meet up and help her shop.

ANIKA: "Hey, sup?"

CHORUS: "I'm good. Just heading home now"

ANIKA: Your dad forgot to pick you up again 😒?

CHORUS: Yep. I'm only five blocks away I'll be there in no time.

ANIKA: No no it's ok wait for me at the mall I'll be there in five.😆(sounding excited)

*sigh* CHORUS: sure...

I didn't want to sound like a party pooper by saying no. I needed some company besides, my dad hardly paid attention to me because he was always busy.

I mean he literally forgot his own daughter at school 😭

Anika, was my best friend, but we had our differences. She was the extrovert who was my source of information about what happens at school and on the internet but I, was the opposite.

A teenage girl who loves music and like to write her own songs, loved my personal space and never had any interest in going to parties and whatever else that happens at school.

So I decided to meet her at the mall 😁.

The mall was two away from my house. But when I got there, Anika wasn't there yet, so I sent her a text that I have. I was getting bored by waiting, so I decided to look around for a while to kill time

With my headphones on, I walked past the most beautiful red sneakers I've ever seen. It had music notes designed with pretty diamonds which reflected through the glass wall catching my attention.

I was so busy admiring the sneakers that I forgot my mission with Anika. I finally got back to senses when I got a text from Anika telling me to meet her at the Kiddie's Zone

I was shocked for a moment because every time I ask her to help me with my babysitting job, she'd always tell me that kids were gross or send me a "BIG. FAT. NO." all in capital letters through LINE chat.

But that time, she wanted to meet up at a playground for kids. I stopped admiring the sneakers and headed straight to the Kiddie's Zone.

I was speechless when I saw Anika playing with the toddlers. I quickly brought out my phone and took a picture of them and tried my best not to laugh. So I covered my mouth with my rag, but she caught me starting at her a d quickly changed her mood.

She cleaned her throat and called me like nothing happened 😂 oh God, that's my bestie

"H-hey MC!!" she waved her hand to know where she was. I was still trying not to laugh. When she saw I wasn't going to move, she came to me and saw me trying to hold in my laugh.

"What's so funny?" she asked giving me the' you-never-saw-that' face sounding annoyed by my actions.

"Nothing, but I think you should get a job here after we graduate." I said laughing my a** off which caught a few people's attention causing them to give us death stares.

"It's not funny you know?" she said walking away.

"Ok...ok, I'm sorry" I said trying to shut up and catch up to her.

"Whatever 🙄" she said her back facing completely.

"So, what do you want to buy" I asked trying to change the subject.

"Clothes-" I cut her off because every time Anika went shopping for clothes, she lets me carry all the bags which isn't fair to me because she has a Butler

"This again? Anika, you've got a lot of clothes enough to fill out my parents bedroom. What kind of dress do you want now?"

"...."

"Besides, what's the occasion?"

"They're not for me silly, they're for you and I've got the perfect outfit for you. And trust me bestie, you're going to be the main attraction for the Annual Football Game next week"

"N-no. Ann, you kw I don't go to these things and you knlw, Josh's going to be there."

"Duh he's gonna be there brat"she said smacking my head " he's the star player and the team Captain you can't just hide forever you know"

"Oww that hurt and I'm still not going to that game Anika"

She smacked my head again"Jeez..what's your problem"

"My problem is you not clearing things between you two. Just because he dumped you doesn't mean you can't be friends with him"

"That hurt you know" I said looking at her with teary eyes

"I'm not taking no as an answer"

"Ok" I sighed

"Great then let's hurry up and get something to eat" she said skipping away

Chorus, a name given to me by my grandmother was uncommon to people. She always told me it was special, and it came from someone from our family. She told me my parents fought over a name for me when I was born.

"We should name her Poppy" my mom would say

"No Richard, let's call her Molly"

Poppy?, Molly? I don't look like I was born to pop something, and I wasn't born to mold something either 😂 but that's what she told me before she joined her husband two years ago.

Anika and I finished buying the outfit and headed back to buy some hamburgers 😁

(Yep I ate hamburgers for dinner and I don't care.) We parted ways and I continue my journey back home.

I was trying to eat my burger in peace when I passed by an alley and felt something or someone following me. I picked up the pace and started running, but the figure was catching up to me.

I turned to look behind me and I hit my head on a lamppost. Hard.... I fell down groaning in pain. My head started to spin then i saw the figure closing the space between us. I backed up trying to stay away from it

" S-stay back" I stuttered. But the figure wouldn't listen. Then I turned to look at the other direction seeing another dark figure. Gasped for breath and tried to scream for help

"HEL-" And everything went black

TO BE CONTINUED.........

I woke up being tied to a chair in a dark room. The room looked small which looked more like an apartment. A light bulb dangled from the ceiling producing a dim light making it hard for me to see the figure in front of me.

I was scared as hell, but I managed to say something. " Wha-what's going on?. "Where am I?"

"Stop whimpering and keep quiet if you don't want a bullet in your head". A man said.

"B-b-but-"

"SHUT UP!!"

I was shaking, and I began to sweat, feeling a sharp pain in my head. I noticed blood dripping from my hair. Not only that, but I figured out the cause when I saw the bloody stick on a desk near the closet

Suddenly, the door burst open and a tall man twice as much as my dad entered and was totally built with tattoos all over this left arm. I gulped as he took a seat and asked me the most confusing question ever.

"Where is it?" He grunted.

"I-i-i-"(got cut off)

"Listen kid, I don't have time for games so tell me where the f**k the key is!" he sounded very angry and made sure I got every single word he said.

Key?! Key?!! I didn't know what he was talking about back then, so I did what every human being would do

"I don't know what you're talking about sir pl- don't kill me" He raised his hand and slammed it on his thighs and smiled

"Tsk, you sure she's the one?" He asked the guy standing next to me.

"Yes boss, we followed her throughout the day, and we have all her records and files sir"

The tall man nodded with interest and asked me once again

"Where's the key kid?!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!! PLEASE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"

The man got up, reached for my collar and clenched his fists to punch me. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the pain and prayed for a miracle.

And just as I did, I heard a voice, calm and, soothing to my ears. I opened my eyes to see where the voice came from. I almost choked on my saliva when I saw thin golden lines, each turning into tiny people singing a lalluby

To the two men who ended up falling down in thud.

I was feeling dizzy due to the cut on my head. I was loosing too much blood too. Suddenly, a guy came from the ceiling and untied me. He wore a full body tracksuit, and he covered his face with a mask so it was hard to identify him.

"Let's go" He said grabbing my arm looking for an exit.

"Who are you?" I asked freeing my arm.

"No time for intros. We've got to get you out of here. Fast." He said with a serious tone.

"....."

"Look Chorus, I'll explain everything to you later but right now, we have to leave or else you'll die. Your life's at stake and I can't afford that so please...*sigh* trust me will ya?"

I took a moment to process everything that's happened so far. I sighed and reached for his hand and followed him.

A stranger asking me to trust him.

TO BE CONTINUED.......