I Sent No One

Elle's POV

The ride back home grew quieter the farther we drove in. Apparently the bubbling atmosphere was more of a town thing. Deeper into the community was a more intimate and quiet experience but no less enjoyable. 

I loved the fact that there was an option of different atmospheres and I could focus on anyone I was feeling more at a time.  

“So how was your time back in the big city? I hear it’s pretty nice up there.”

“Oh it’s…it’s okay, I guess. Although with this quiet drive, I’m kind of reminded about how much I actually miss this place.”

“Right? You should come often,” she said with a smile. 

“Oh you don’t need to tell me anymore. I will.”

We both let out a small laugh. 

“About my father, could you tell me what the exact problem is? Have the doctors been able to find anything?”

She sighed gently, slightly avoiding my gaze like there’s something she doesn’t want to tell me.

“Mara, is there something? Please tell me if there is, don’t hide it.”

“It’s not like I don’t want to tell you. I just don’t know how your father will take it, he doesn’t want you knowing about any of it.”

“But he doesn’t have to know,” I pressed.

“Look Mara, that man means everything in the world to me. He’s all I have left and if anything happens to him, I’ll die.”

Silence.

“Just tell me what you know. However bad it may be, trust me, I can handle it.”

She focused her attention on me, staring with a deep intent before finally letting out a deep sigh. 

“Fine, I’ll trust you and tell you the truth as I know it.”

“Thank you.”

She sighed deeply again before opening her mouth.

“Well, according to what I told you before…I lied.”

I squinted my eyes in confusion. “What do you mean?”

She looked away, certainly avoiding my eyes intentionally.

“Your father…your father's illness is not by any chance a minor one.”

My chest dropped. 

“What?” It came out in a whisper.

“Are you saying…soemthing bad is going to happen to him?”

She looked at me once again. “Well…something like that,” she mumbled. “If we don’t do something about it earlier, he could…lose his lif—,”

“No,” I yelled. “Don’t finish it, please.”

She stopped. 

A charged stillness settled in the air between us and I looked towards the window, unsure of how to react.

“Is there any way out? Is there any way I can help you?” I finally whispered, actually feeling hopeless.

“Well, yes. That was the main reason I actually called you back home.”

I turned. 

“There is a way to help your father but I don’t think he’ll want you to do it.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Your fathers illness is beyond ordinary eye. To cure it, you must also go beyond the ordinary.”

My brows furrowed as confusion settled over me. 

“I’m sorry but I’m really not understanding what you’re saying.”

She paused, taking a moment to run her eyes over me.

“Have you heard about the rich ones or our community?”

“Rich ones? No. What is that?”

“It’s a group of wealthy but strange people that live around us, not very far from your house actually.”

“Oka—y. But what do they have to do with this?”

She sighed. Not angry but contemplating. “Their wealth doesnt just involve money. They are known to have special earth minerals and stones that do all sorts of things for the human body, including healing it. For your father to be healed, we need to get that stone. The problem is I don’t know how possible it is to get it.”

Suddenly I felt a pang of hope that seemed to be slipping from my fingers. 

“Uhm, why do say so? I can definitely get it.”

She stared at me. “

“Yes but that’s the problem. Apart from the fact that they don’t let others come close, you know your father is also very protective of you. He will never want you with them because of how strange they are.”

My heart pumped because she was right.  

The rest of the drive was quiet but I knew we both had the same thing running through our minds. She pulled into my driveway and even though it had been ages since I last went there, I instantly recognized everything. 

“Why don’t you go join your father, he’s expecting you. I’ll just grab something from my house and join you shortly.”

“Okay, thank you,” I whispered, still shaken by her earlier words.

As she walked away, I turned and saw her house up ahead. It really wasn’t far away so I figured she’d be back soon. I just walked up the porch, eager to see my father.

“Dad,” I pushed the door open, calling out gently.

“It’s me Elle, I’m home.”

Silence met me so I figured he must be asleep or something. I just walked up the stairs and straight to his room. 

When I got to his room, I paused for a moment.

I didn’t know what I'd see on the other side but whatever it was, I didn’t want my reaction to be so blatant so as not to spook him. I drew in a deep breath before twisting the lock. 

“Dad!” I called out with a smile spread wide on my face, trying to conceal the fear. 

“Elle?” He called out, pulling his body halfway off the bed. 

His eyes were wide—Not in a pleasant sense of seeing me but in shock, like he was genuinely surprised to see me there. 

“Elle, what are you doing here?”

I paused, confused. “Dad, it’s me.”

“Yeah, I know but what are you doing here?”

He didn’t sound mean or harsh but his tone was clear, he didn’t want me there.

I swallowed, feeling more confused. “What are you talking about? You sent that pretty neighbor of yours to pick me up. The same one you sent to tell me about your illness.”

His shock turned to horror, making me feel more confused. 

“Dad, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“I…I didn’t send anyone to you, Elle. I didn't send anyone to pick you up,” he muttered. 

My heart dropped instantly.