Finding Brittany

Chapter 25

Laying his head on a fluffy pillow on the bed, Axel exhales softly, holding a piece of the broken frame in his hand. He frown a bit, remembering the fact that Ariel broke it. He value it a lot, though, not the frame, but the picture on it which he used to remember someone who he loves so much. The picture on the frame was the recent photo she took before leaving, and ever since then, her where about wasn’t known to anyone.

He tried to look for her, his brother too, but all to no avail. It was useless looking for her, because many believes that she is dead or perhaps long gone in a far place beyond human reach. But he still feels it in his heart that she is alive somewhere, perhaps having fun or being miserable just like him over here. He prays in his heart to find her one day, before he leaves this earth

Getting up from the bed, he took off his shirt, revealing is stunning abs as he ruffles his hair in frustration. Aiden’s words of the other day came ringing in his ear, everything felt not right to him despite the fact that it had to do with Ariel.

Remembering the day she broke the frame and how frightened she was brought a frail smile to his face.

It suddenly became a frown as Aiden’s word swift back to his mind

“F*ck” he muttered, going to take a glass as he poured himself a drink from the bar stand in his room; with the other’s day’s scene replaying itself in his head

~Flash Back

Aiden entered Axel’s room without knocking and met him standing by the window looking out with a cup of coffee in his hand, no doubt, he loves taking that drink. He didn’t bother to look at whosoever entered his room, perhaps he already saw him while coming in through the gate, Aiden thought, walking closer to stand before him. He saw some pieces of glass on the table close by, and mentally noted it to be the frame Ariel broke.

He could vividly remember calling Axel the previous day telling him about his plan of coming to pick Ariel, but the dude sounded hurt, which gave him a clue of something bad. Axel was forced to tell him about what happened after much pestering from Aiden. Knowing how much Axel valued that frame, Aiden knew that its best to get Ariel out of there before she does what will enrage Axel to lash his anger on her.

After a few silence with none of them speaking at first, Aiden cleared his throat, collecting the cup from Axel who furrowed his brow at him. He took a sip, moaning a bit to the taste.

“This taste good, tell me…who made it” he asked, Axel scoff, delving his two hands in his pockets

“Come on dude, that’s not the best way to say a good morning” Axel muttered with a smirk, knowing well that he will provoke Aiden with that.

“The last time I checked I am the elder twin here, so who is to greet first” Aiden asked

“That’s for you to choose, I don’t mind you greeting first” Axel snickered, giving him a funny look

“F*ck your asshole mehnnn…..you are not ok” Aiden snapped jokingly, as he attempted slapping Axel’s head, who dodged it swiftly, as they laugh out loud.

“So…why are you here…..” Axel asked, exhaling. Aiden scoffs

“Can’t I come see my little bro again, come on..how bad do you think of me?”

“Very bad….more than that of Esau”

“F*ck you”

“I love you……” Axel spurted. Aiden smiled

“I love you too” he muttered ruffling his hair

“Hey stop that”

“What?”

“I’m not a kid, do you know who I am” Aiden rolled his eyes

“And who are you?”

“I’m Zel……and you know what that name does to lots of girls, and even guys who wanna go down with him”

“Huff…..whatever…the almighty Zel is still my kid brother” Aiden snapped

“So easy for you to say, you have not still tell me what you are here for”

Aiden heave a sigh and switched to a serious mood, he has succeeded in making Axel smile, so it’s time he tells him what he has to say.

“I came here to pick her….look dude, I’m really sorry for what she did, and all she had been doing. I know how much that frame mean to you but- we just have to forgive and forget, okay” he patted his back. Axel shrug

“ I wasn’t really at the fact that she broke the frame…well it meant a lot to me, being that Brit had been missing for a long time now and I love her so much, but that is not even the reason I was hurt, you know” He muttered softly

“So—if I may ask…what did she do, or say..i mean…you know” Aiden asked. He glanced at him briefly, before returning his view back to the window.

“Never mind, it’s already in the past…I hold no grudge against her” He smiled, Aiden exhale softly, more like he was holding his breath at first. He pats his shoulder softly

“Don’t worry, Brit will come back to us someday…trust me” he assured. Axel nodded

“I love her” Aiden blurted out, as Axel gave him a questioning look

“Who?” He asked

“Ariel….i just discover it some days ago, I started having some strange feeling towards her and I just think she is the right girl for me” he smiled, resting his butt on a close by table. Axel watched him keenly as he talked on about her, flattering her in all aspect.

 No doubt, he could firmly admit her beauty and curves; she has it all….but that’s not what is making him frown at this moment. The fact that Flora left hum hanging is what is still troubling his heart, but here is his brother, happy about finding someone, while he is left dejected.

“Axel…Axel” Aiden called, sensing the fact that Axel wasn’t listening

“Oh yea?”

“You zoned out, what’s wrong”

“Oh…nothing…just thinking about something…so you really like here right” Axel muttered, trying to change the topic. Aiden noticed this, but just doesn’t wanna force it. He smiled and continued

“Yea…..and I’m thinking of asking her out”

Axel nodded, less interested about the whole story, he just wanna go out and clear his mind. What Aiden is speaking of is reminding him about Flora and he doesn’t wanna think about her any longer

“And I think you should move on bro…..just forget about Flora this once…okay” Aiden advice

“Yea….thanks….” he muttered, as Aiden patted his back and exit the room

~~

A call came into his phone drifting him out of his thought as he put it on a loud speaker after picking it up.

“Hey Zel…..where the hell are you” Dylan voice came up. They are supposed to have a little outing together today, as best friends do. But he strongly believes that he will tag his girlfriend along, which will make him really uncomfortable without one

“Stop screaming dung, do you wanna burst my eardrums?”

“Just tell me where you are now, let me come get your f*cking ass outta there, for damn sake…we the fun is about to begin”

“I will be there in five minute…” he hang up before Dylan could speak up. He suddenly remembered Ariel and how her presence in the house made him feel good, having someone around, at least, to argue with, even if they don’t get along well. Now that she is gone, he suddenly feels lonely; a frown appeared on his face when he remembered Aiden talking about proposing to her. He shouldn’t feel bad about it, but he just couldn’t get the fact that what Aiden is about to do is right, he still think it’s not right.

He sighed frustratingly, as he heads out of the room, after properly dressing up.

~~~~~

Aiden’s Suite

Ariel picked on her food while she eats alongside Aiden; they were just served breakfast, and he had been watching her from the start; she wasn’t really concentrated on the food she is eating.

“Huhnn….” He cleared his throat

“What’s wrong Ariel…..why aint you eating, don’t you like the food” He asked

“Oh….no…I do.. I’m actually eating” She said, taking a full spoon into her mouth

“No…you actually zoned out, you were picking on your food. Tell me, what’s wrong, I can ask them to serve you another”

“Huhmmmm” Ariel sigh defeated, Aiden has been super nice to her ever since she left Axel‘s house, well he is usually nice, but this type he treats her more like a queen, he has even assigned a special maid to her. She felt special each time he ask her questions like this, but now what is really bothering her is about Axel, who was the lady in the frame that seem so special to him.

The picture of the lady kept coming to her mind each time and most times she finds herself wanting to remember the face. She felt like she had had an encounter with such person a long time ago, but how? She couldn’t explain.

She never really had friend in her lifetime, but that person seem really close to her, why is she feeling this way, she thought, and smiled at Aiden, who has been watching her all through.

“I…erm…it’s about the frame I broke..”

“Uhnn…come on..it’s all in the past” he cuts her in

“Yea….I’m not bothered about the frame…it’s about the lady in the picture, I mean..erm…who is she?” I whispered. He frowned at first, then gave a weary smile

“Hmm…she is my sister….our sister” He mumbled, fixing his gaze at me as I stared in return with mouth agape.

“But…where is she now…..”  Ariel asked. He sighed rubbing his temple gently

“She left….” He muttered as silence took in for a while, before his voice came up again

“She wanted to kill herself; we saw the letter she wrote before leaving that day. She wrote it in tears vowing never to come back, until everything is set right. We don’t know what she is talking about even up till now, what she wanted to be set right is still not clear to everyone of us.

 But after the letter was found, we tried searching for her for a very long time, but couldn’t. It felt like she left this earth already. Her whereabouts couldn’t be traced; mum was down for a long time, Axel who was her closest companion couldn’t get her off his mind. He loves Brit so much being our only sister, and talks about her every day, sometimes he claims having nightmares about her too.

That year was a painful moment for every one of us, she was a sweet little girl who had lots of dreams; but she never told any of us what was bothering her, until the day she vanished without a trace” He ended his story with a sad note

“Oh…I’m sorry about that…now I’m really feeling guilty for breaking the frame, which should have been the only memento he uses to remember her” Ariel muttered. He smiled

“It’s all in the past now, though we still miss our little sister, but we can’t continue to mourn over her for so long, even if we don’t know if she really killed herself as stated in the letter. All these happened 5 years ago…it’s a long time already. Come on, I will want you to eat up now….I don’t want you to get thin” He chuckled. She smiled softly, taking a spoon full of the cereals into her mouth.

~~~~~

*Dung Town*

~~

<Brittany’s Hideout>

“Hey sleepy head….good thing you are awake now….huhhff, you slept like a pig” She huff, tucking her fallen hair behind as she stared down at Elsa, who seem puzzled at the position she saw herself. She suited her eyes at the young lady in from of her, trying to remember how they got to meet, and in what situation.

“Hargghh” She grunt, as her back aches

“Where am i….” She asked softly, still a bit dizzy. Brittany stared at her with pity which didn’t last long, as it was replaced with a hard frown

“Don’t tell me you can’t remember anything….huhnn” She rolled her eyes

“Well….I don’t think I can remember what happened next after the fight you had with the guys who tried to rape me..”

“Oh…ok..this was what happened, you passed out….”

“I did what…” Elsa yelled a bit

“Can you just let me finish, and lowered your voice, this isn’t a helicopter” She glared at her, as Elsa gulp down nothing

“Okay….please continue” Elsa managed to say after few minutes of silence

~Flash Back

“Brit-Brittany……” Elsa muttered, as she smirked at her

“Missed me” Brittany asked, grinning widely. Before Elsa could reply, a sudden vicious feeling overwhelmed here, making her eye lid heavy as she slump to the ground, but was caught by Brittany. Her face turned pale as her lips ran out of its normal reddish colour. Her temperature level increase, as she burn up in higher degrees.

“What the F- Elsa…Elsa..hey wake up…shit!!” She cursed

She drags her unconscious body to a secure area before drifting the plan on bringing her over to her apartment, which she eventually did

~~~

“So now I have explained how you got here…so now you know” She scoffs

“Thanks…..thanks for saving my life” Elsa acknowledge, Brittany nodded, handling her, a cup of tea.

Later in the day, the duo settled down to talk as Brittany was bent on knowing why she left the mansion, and same thought was running in Elsa’s mind. What made Brittany leave the mansion some years ago and why is she still alive after she was confirmed missing and probably dead, due to the content of her letter?

“So… why did you leave the mansion, as a matter of facts I know that you don’t have any relation here in Dung Town, and that is even if you had a relation, tell me…what’s going on” Elsa asked, rather maturely. She doesn’t seem to be the little fourteen-year old girl she knew years ago, before she left.

She now looks like a lady, with all her curves and not just that, her beauty seem to glow more. But the fact that she now talks like some sort of touts is what puzzled Elsa. She cleared her throat and fixed her gaze on Brittany who wasn’t looking away.

“Erm…Brit dear….I don’t think I feel too good talking about this. This isn’t the best time to state this, please….just….” Elsa muttered, but stopped after Brittany cuts in

“Have you ever wondered why I left the mansion” She asked, with fury clearly erupting in her face

“Yea…..but we couldn’t get a clue…we all searched for you Brittany, your mum was downcast, even your brothers…we hated ourselves for not finding you. But I’m still amaze here, if anyone should tell me that I will meet you again, I might have doubt that fellow” Elsa replied

“I regretted leaving the way I did….i was just too young to face all that I passed through in the hands of that Monster….” She gritted, leaving Elsa more perplexed

“I wished I haven’t left that way…but there was no going back…I couldn’t reunite with you all…it was too late” She scoffs, getting up from the little bench she sat on, as she scurried towards the window, backing Elsa. Her hands stuck in her skinny black jean, as her hair drop to her shoulders. Elsa stood up gently, groaning a bit, due to the pains on her back, perhaps the loads she carried while escaping, erupted the pain. She moved towards her in a slow pace, stopping some meters at her back.

“So why did you leave?” Elsa asked her

“Tell me yours…first…” She blurted. Elsa sighed, contemplating on whether to spit the truth to her or not..but she have no choice. Brittany is bent on knowing her reasons for leaving, and she just can’t find herself lying to her. Her eyes already betrayed her as tears began rolling down her cheek…

“Its…..it’s …your father….”

“He is not my father…. I have no father” Brittany barked, facing Elsa in rage as she back out in fear. Brittany eyes were already filled with fury as a glinting watery crystal rolled down her cheek. She was also crying; pain and hurt, clearly written on her face.