Ch 2 - Area Alpha 101 Bewitches Yet Another Victim

SHAY'S POV

Turkey sandwich and mango juice in hand, I headed back to my laptop and fired up the search engine. I’m not active on social networks anymore, but I do keep up with the news. I was looking at random things when I accidentally clicked on the wrong link and an article popped onto my screen. I was about to ignore it and press back, when the caption of the article caught my attention. It read ‘AREA ALPHA 101 BEWITCHES YET ANOTHER VICTIM’.

I was curious so I sat there and went through the article.

The article was about a man who had apparently been brave enough to approach this Area Alpha 101, despite the warning against human presence. Apparently now the man is insane and won’t stop talking about a beacon.

I was fascinated by this place and that’s how I came to know that while it is an area, no-one knows how large it is, or what lies behind the ‘barriers’. I learnt so much about what people had been saying over the last few years. It was crazy how everyone had their suspicions and all, and how until that article, I had no idea that such a place existed, if it even existed.

I was brought out of my research by a knock at my door.

“What is so important that you’re late for a session?” Claude asked from the door. I shut my laptop and turned to face him.

“It’s nothing. I just got lost in time,” I smiled.

“Well, let’s go! I’m ready to kick your butt already,” he chuckled.

“Oh please old man!” I scoffed as we headed up to the gym. We have a whole floor that’s a gym.

Yeah, I know.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not old Shay! I’m only 29.”

“29, 92, who’s counting?” I teased.

“And THIS is why you don’t have a boyfriend,” he taunted.

“No Claude! I don’t have a boyfriend because I don’t want one. I’m too hot to handle anyway,” I smirked.

“I think the term is dangerous,” he said, looking very amused.

“Don’t tell anyone,” I whispered before we reached the gym.

“You’re such a great girl Shay. I wish the world could see this side of you,” he commented. He’s like the big brother I never had.

I shrugged. “I know Claude, but I’m too awesome for this world.”

He laughed at that. “Yeah sure, that’s what it is.”

“Are we doing this or what?” I asked, getting unnerved by our current topic.

Three hours later, we were both panting. It’s always rewarding to know that I can be a challenge for someone as experienced and as big as Claude. He’s told me a countless number of times that I’m his best and fastest learner.

This is the one thing about my life that I’m grateful to have.

“That was a great session!” he smiled.

I nodded in agreement. “As always.”

“Well, I’ll see you next month,” he said sadly. He was needed in another country, so our sessions were on hold.

I hugged him. “Aaaw, I’m going to miss you!”

“You sweaty beast!” he smacked my hands. I giggled and held on tighter.

“I’m going to miss you too squirt,” he chuckled, hugging me back.

“Hello children!” my dad chuckled from the door.

“Hey daddy,” I giggled.

“Saying your bittersweet goodbyes?” he asked. We both nodded.

“It’s only a month,” my dad pointed out.

“A month of loneliness,” I mumbled, but they both caught it.

“I’ll call you every day squirt,” Claude smiled.

“Really?” I asked in hope.

“Yeah! And you’re going to tell me about all the hunks you get after your extreme makeover!” he replied in a high pitched voice.

“Yeah right!” I laughed, with my dad joining me.

“It’s so going to happen! Don’t say I didn’t say so!” he smirked.

“Whatever you say old man,” I teased.

“I’m not old,” he groaned.

We left the gym and I walked him to the door before watching him leave in his flashy sports car. I ran back to my room and took a much needed shower. I’d brought my pyjamas in the bathroom with me. I changed into them before blow drying my hair.

When I was done, I left the bathroom, only to find my dad sitting on my bed. He was staring off into space. I cleared my throat and got his attention. When he noticed me there, he patted the spot beside him, and I approached it warily before sitting. I was surprised to be pulled into his side. He kissed my forehead and I felt safe again.

“I’m so sorry Shay,” he whispered.

I looked up at him in confusion. “What for?”

“I’ve failed you. I’ve failed to be the father that you needed. I abandoned you when you needed me most. I don’t want to be like that anymore baby girl. I want my baby Shay back, and I want to be the father you used to run up to when I walked through the door. Please forgive me Shay? Please give me another chance to prove myself worthy to be your father?” he pleaded.

The tears rushed to my eyes once more and I sobbed into his chest. He just held me as I cried. I couldn’t believe that my dad was back. I’d missed him, and I could only hope that he was being serious about wanting another chance. I don’t think I could handle being abandoned again.

“Does this mean I get a second chance?” he asked. I nodded with a smile as he wiped away my tears.

“Good! I got us movies and got Yolanda to make us our favourite meal of all time. How does a movie night sound?” he smiled.

“Really?” I croaked excitedly.

“Really,” he nodded with a chuckle.

I beamed. “That would be awesome!”

“Alright! Go ahead and get cleaned up while I get everything,” he suggested.

I rushed to my bathroom and rinsed my face before going back to my room. I turned on my TV and got the DVD player ready. I grabbed a huge blanket and threw it onto the bed before setting up my big pillows for back rests.

My dad rolled in with a trolley full of food and the DVDs. While streaming is the in thing, we still prefer DVDs. I smiled when I saw that he had all the Transformers movies to date, all the Fast and Furious movies to date, The Parent Trap, and all the Harry Potter movies.

“So, what will it be?” he asked.

“Uhm, Transformers,” I smiled. He nodded and popped the first one into the DVD player.

We got comfortable under the blanket, with our food on top of it. The movie started and we were paying attention. This is one of our favourite movies of all time. I’m a bit of a tomboy when I’m with my dad, but only because I love what he does, so I used to spend a lot of time with the army. You pick up on some things when you spend time around that much testosterone.

When all my food was finished, I cuddled into my dad’s side. He wrapped his arms around me and brought me closer. He still smelt the same, not having changed his cologne since I was a baby. He’s picky about such things, but it’s one of the loveable things about him anyway. The whole movie played and soon enough, the credits were rolling.

“Do you want to watch another one, or do you want to talk?” he asked.

“I’d like to talk,” I smiled. He nodded and turned off the DVD player and the TV.

“Alright! Let’s start with you. How’s school?” he asked as I sat up.

“Uh, do you want the great and unrealistic version, or the truth?” I asked nervously.

He chuckled. “The great and unrealistic version.”

“Oh, then I have a 4.0 GPA,” I giggled.

He was instantly worried. “Shay honey, are you really failing?”

“I am daddy. My Math teacher, Mrs Roberts, thinks that I may be dyslexic,” I noted with a frown.

He raised an eyebrow. “But you were never dyslexic to begin with! When did this problem start?”

“After the incident! I can’t focus. You’re probably going to think I’m insane, but my senses are heightened beyond what’s normal. I can see things that are miles away clearly, I can hear sounds that are miles away clearly, and I can smell things that are miles away clearly. It messes with my mind, so I can’t focus on anything,” I confessed, my eyes tearing up. I thought my dad would be mad, but he just hugged me tighter.

“Everything is going to be ok baby girl. Do you still want to continue with school?” he asked.

“You’d give me the option to leave?” I checked.

“If that’s what will make you happy. Right now, you sound like someone who goes to school for the sake of it,” he commented.

I nodded. “I do.”

“You do want to continue, or you do go to school for the sake of it?” he asked amusedly.

“The latter,” I giggled.

“Well, you don’t have to go if you can’t stand it. Do you want us to get you any medical help?” he asked. I shook my head.

“Well, anything you want, just tell me. How’s Pixie?” he asked.

My whole face fell. “She’s still trying to reach out to me.”

“Baby girl, if she’s still trying, then doesn’t that prove that she will never give up on you? It’s been two years,” he pointed out.

“I know, but what if she believes what everyone else is saying? I couldn’t stand it if she of all people didn’t believe me,” I admitted.

He hugged me tighter. “I’m pretty sure she’ll believe you, just like I do.”

“How’s mom?” I sidetracked. He stiffened.