1. Surprise Visit

"Dad, you said you'd be here for Christmas," Ava's shoulders slumped in sadness.

"I'm sorry, honey. The workload is hectic. I'll try my best to come," Jacob said on the phone.

Ava sighed. He always does this. It has been three years since they last met. Sometimes she feels like he has forgotten that he even has daughters.

"You always do this," She complained. Her voice was a lot meeker than before.

Jacob sighed. "I'm sorry, honey. Please, understand." His voice sounded bleak which gave her a little hope. At least he wants to meet them.

"I'll wait for you, Dad. Annie misses you," She said with a small smile. "I miss you both more," Jacob said as they said their goodbyes, and her dad dropped the call.

Ava tossed the phone on the bed as she plopped down with a sigh.

Blinking, she gazed at the cream-colored ceiling of her room. She missed her dad so much. Three years was a lot of time for them not to meet. Though she could understand her father, Annie was just ten years old. She had cried on her last three birthdays when Dad only FaceTimed them.

They didn't live that far though. She was born in Mexico City but she was sent to a hostel in New York. Her mother died while giving birth to Annie. Ava was eight years old then. She cried a lot at her mother's funeral as her father was holding baby Annie.

Things were difficult for them especially for her father as he sent Ava far away. She begged him that she didn't want to leave but he thought it was for the best. He drowned himself in his work and handed Annie to his sister. After elementary school, Annie was also sent to New York for middle school.

Ava always tried her best to spend all of her free time with her younger sister. They only had each other in such a big city.

Jacob often used to visit them, on Father's Day, Christmas, and new-year Eve but slowly his visits deteriorated to their birthdays only. But they lost this small happiness also when he didn't visit them for the last three years. From the meetings only once a year, they now Facetime once a year.

Though she was glad she had her father. But oddly she felt like an orphan with no parents. If not for her father taking care of all her expenses she would've believed she had no one in this world except for Annie. She understands he was working hard for them but all they wanted was to be with him.

Whenever he talked to them. They felt happy.

Jacob bought an apartment for her in Greenwich Village when Ava graduated from high school. It was her gift and she loved it. 

She was waiting for Annie to complete middle school because after that both the girls would live together in the apartment. Annie could go to High school in Greenwich and Ava would apply for university and look for a part-time job for some extra cash.

The money her father sent her was only enough to pay the bills and keep her belly full and she was more than thankful to him for that.

But Annie would start living with her too. She wanted to fulfill her small wishes.

She got up and walked into the kitchen. Her eyes fell on the calendar as she was making a sandwich for herself and her eyes lit up.

The day after tomorrow was her father's birthday and Christmas was in the same week. Though she knew he didn't like to celebrate his birthday. But how would he react if she would surprise him? She missed him a lot. She wanted to talk to him about so many things.

Ava felt so lonely. And it has been 8 years since she last saw her hometown back in Mexico.

She hurriedly made the sandwich. Sauntering into her room she grabbed the envelope from under her bed. Sitting down on the bed crossed legs. She munched on her sandwich with one hand while with the other she counted the bills.

She had little savings and it was more than enough for her round trip.

Her hazel eyes shined with delight. Grabbing her phone she checked for the cheapest airline ticket.

She breathed the air of Mexico as soon as she stepped out of the airport. Her big hazel eyes looked around the place in pure joy. It felt surreal to be back after so many years.

She was smiling ear to ear in joy. Hailing a cab she got inside as the driver put her duffle bag in the trunk.

She gave him the address. Rolling down the window she gazed out in awe. She wouldn't dare to tell Annie about this stunt of hers, Annie would start crying that Ava didn't take her along.

The sky was dark as the ghastly grey clouds were slowly covering the shining stars. It will rain soon.

Her heart was beating faster as she got closer to her destination. She wondered how her father would react. She just hoped he wouldn't get mad at her. Every time she mentioned coming for a visit, he would panic and curtly tell her that he was busy and she must not come there because she was not old enough to travel alone.

It hurt her but now she was a big girl. He won't mind it. She felt like crying in excitement. Three years. She'll be seeing him after such a long time.

The driver stopped the car as she paid him the fare. She got out of the car as he handed her her duffle and left. 

Ava noticed at least five sleek black cars parked on the sideway. All of them screamed money and she was sure they didn't belong to anyone living in this area because they cost a fortune. 

She ambled to one of the cars and stared at her reflection in the tinted black window. She looked presentable enough.

The taxi couldn't go further so she walked through a long alley before she could reach her house.

She noticed that there was a blackout in the area. Power cuts were a regular thing in the local areas. She sighed, turning on the flashlight in her cell as she padded closer to her destination.

A loud rumble of clouds had her gasping as she turned off the flashlight and shoved her phone in her pocket before jogging to the nearest door that had a shade on it.

Before she could notice the little pitter-patter of rain someone got her attention.

"You bastard!" A deep animalistic growl was heard.

She flinched as her eyes shot up and her gaze flitted to a mob of men. They were all dressed in black. They were huge, like giants. All muscular from her line of vision. All of them had either buzz cuts or undercuts.

"Why do you look so pale!" A booming snarl echoed in the place making her jolt badly as her heart came to her mouth at the menacing tone. This man didn't sound like a human, he had shoulder-length hair.

She gulped. They were far away. They couldn't see her. If she had to get home then she had to walk past them but looking at the scene right now that would be the stupidest thing to do.

These men looked dangerous. Their presence explains those expensive cars parked there. They looked like loan sharks or gangsters.

The scattered pieces of ghastly grey clouds rumbled with a clap of thunder. She stifled her gasp by cupping her mouth.

It was an incessant untimely downpour. The rain droplets were heavy as they clashed on the floor where the puddles of water were already forming.

Ava glanced at the bunch of men. She noticed a guy crouching on the floor in the middle but she couldn't have a proper look. This looked like criminal activity and she was the witness.

The rain was too strong and she could feel her shoulder getting wet. She fidgeted with her phone and dialed the cops hoping to get help for the poor man kneeling amidst those scary men. She pulled back to gaze at the screen only to realize there was no network coverage at the moment.

There was no soul out there to help the guy who was being harassed by such a mob. She wanted to help the poor guy by calling the cops but it seemed like she couldn't help him.

She heard a groan of pain as her head snapped in that direction. "Where is the rest of your unit?" That deep growl again had chills going down her spine as fear started to swell inside her heart.

She looked at the pathway she came from. She wasn't safe here. She should leave this place ASAP. She could stay in a hotel for the night and call her dad first thing in the morning.

Why did she think she was brave enough to travel alone and come all the way here?

She barely took a step away from her hiding place when she heard an all too familiar voice.

"I don't know," She turned her head with such speed that she would've had a breakneck.

"Dad," the word left her lips in a mere whisper before everything froze. A rumble of thunder echoed and her heart stopped beating when her eyes met with the luminous golden swirls of the man standing in the middle of the mob. Her stomach churned when she noticed wolfish canines.

And just like that the rumble of thunder disappeared and darkness surrounded them again but her wide horrified eyes were fixed on the spot where he stood.

The image of those terrifying eyes was printed inside her head. Her eyes flickered down to the man on the floor and all she heard was her father's loud yell.

"RUN!"

She didn't want to run. Instead, she wanted to help her father but she was so terrified, her body having a mind of its own as she dashed in the direction from where she came from.

"GET HER!" That deep voice growled and she felt goosebumps on her flesh despite the heavy rain pouring down on her.

Heavy footsteps sprinted after her and her heart pounded in her ears as she ran faster.

Ava was clutching her duffle to her chest as she ran with all her might.

Was it her father or had she misjudged that voice? If he wasn't her father the guy would've never yelled at her to run but screamed for help.

Her guts churned in anxiety as big fat tears poured out of her eyes and they got mixed with rain.

She could hear the heavy footsteps approaching fast behind her. At this rate, she'd be caught in no time.

Her footing slipped as she stumbled badly and barely saved herself from tripping and falling.

"Stop right there or else I'll shoot you!" A growl was heard from behind her and the fear in her heart doubled over.

She was going to die. They will kill her. What about her dad?

Just as she got on the road a car honked at her. But she didn't stop. She kept on running. The car zoomed right behind her as she crossed the road.

Instead of running into the alley in front of her she changed her direction and ran towards the club that was down the road. That street was lit with fairy lights and gave off the vibes of approaching Christmas.

There were no heavy footsteps behind her and it scared her even more. She looked over her shoulder while running and there was no one there. She showed her ID with shaky hands as the bouncers looked at her weirdly before checking her duffle, she rushed inside.

The place was fully packed and everyone was enjoying themselves. So many people were dancing on the floor.

It was her first time at a place like this but she was so thankful for being there. Walking to the corner she stood in the shadows and kept her eyes on the door. Afraid that at any moment those men would barge in.

Some of the people gave her weird looks. She was wet because of the rain and was clutching the duffle to her chest.

She immediately took out her phone and cleaned it hoping for it to be still working.

Opening her bag she took a black jacket and wore it. She tied her wet hair up in a ponytail and wore a cap. Trying to change her appearance in the hope they won't recognize her.

She noticed how her hands were shaking. Her dad was in trouble. Who were those men? What should she do? She had to get to the cops before they did anything to her father. They even had guns.

Walking to the back she looked for the backdoor before she finally found it. She stepped out only to pause when she noticed a bunch of men smoking and drinking. All of their eyes whipped in her direction and she abruptly stepped back inside, closing the door in fright.

She bumped into a drunkard and stumbled back. "I'm s...sorry," She stammered.

"Watch it, bitch!" The man hissed, making her flinch back. Bowing her head in an apology she stepped out of the front door. Standing on the side still hidden behind a wall in the alley, she looked in the direction she came from only for her heart to lurch to her mouth when she found those men in black on the street.

She pivoted to go back into the club when someone cupped her mouth and she was yanked from there before she was tossed into a van. She inhaled something and then everything went black.