CHAPTER 03

Man: Beware the darkness that soon will rise.

Baby Calla: Daddy…. 

Man: The time will tell you and teach you everything about your future soon.

Baby Calla: Daddy where are you?

Calla was looking around for Xavier, she never had seen her father, but Xavier fulfilled that part in her life. She called him daddy since the beginning. She remembered that time, she was 6 and they were playing hide and seek. She looked everywhere but didn't found him. She called his name again in fear but no response. She sat down at the corner of the room, hugged her knees and sobbed hard. She was calling her daddy between her sobs and hiccups. But he didn't replied. Suddenly the door opened and she covered her face with her palms. The boots stopped somewhere in front of her and there was a thump as whoever it was settled down, their breath warming her hands.Whoever it was grabbed her wrists and his hands were massive, they made her shiver in fear.

They removed her palms from her face. She shut her eyes tightly, a loud sob escaped her lips when that huge figure held both of her wrists in one hand and with the second they pinched her chin softly. She didn't open her eyes, not until they kissed her lips lovingly. She opened her eyes and looked at the strange man sitting. A smirk plastered on his lips he again came close to her and kissed her, this time she kissed him back. He licked her lower lip, asking for entrance. She didn't protested. Parting her lips, she let him in. His tongue slid into her mouth, tasting every single corner of her mouth. She was almost out of breath when he released her. Breathing heavily, she looked at her reflection on the shining marble floor. She wasn't a baby anymore. She was back in her age. 

He held both of her wrists above her head and leaned down until his lips reached to the nape of her neck. He bit her weak spot lightly and she moaned out loud. He kept kissing and nibbling her neck until she gave up and stopped resisting him. He let go of her wrists and pulled her in his lap. He trailed wet kisses from her jawline and ended up at her chest. She was holding his shoulders tightly. In a flash he strip off her shirt. She closed her eyes as he reached to her pulse, but instead of kissing he spoke, in a deep voice.

Man: Beware the darkness that soon will rise.

As he said it, darkness enveloped her again and then she was standing on a highway. She looked here and there then the reality hit her hard. She was at the same highway where her daddy and her step sister died in a car accident. She clapped both of her hands on her mouth to block her sobs. It was the most horrible night of her life. She lost her family that night. She was sleeping in her bedroom with Sophie when her phone rang in the middle of the night. She got up and went out of her room, she didn't want to disturb her niece in her sleep. Sidney was in the guest room as her apartment was under the renovations. She picked up the call and spoke in her half sleepy voice.

Calla: Hello. 

Woman: Are you Miss Calla Davis?

Calla: Yes, who is this?

Woman: I'm officer Kelly miss Davis. You have to came to highway. I'm sending you the location. 

Calla: Wait why? What's wrong? 'she asked in confusion.'

Officer Kelly: I'm sorry Miss Davis. But Mr and Mrs Luke are no more. 

Calla: What? 'she yelled out loud that Sidney heard it too and quickly went out of room.

Officer Kelly: Their car caught in an accident. I'm sorry Miss Davis but they are not alive anymore.

Calla fell on the floor, tears rolling down on her cheeks. Sidney asked her and she could only get her self to say a few words. "Daddy and Mara are gone." She burst into tears and sobs. Thanks God, Sidney's driver was there too. She told her driver to take Calla to the location, was sent to her by officer Kelly. He nodded and took her there as fast as he could. An an hour they were at the highway. Officer Kelly came to Calla and gave her a piece of paper, something was written on it. Tears pooled out of her eyes when she realized that Mara used her blood to write her that latter. She opened it and read it.

   " I'm sorry Calla. I don't think so we 

    can survive this, but we will always be

    watching you, like a guardian. 

     Promise me, you'll take care of

    Sophie and will raise her like your

    own child. Promise me that you

    will protect her and look after her

    like me and daddy did to you. And

    keep one thing I'm your mind, you'll

   always be my older daughter. 

                    Love you Mara."

Calla held that letter to her chest, knelt on the ground and cried. She felt hot breaths on the back of her neck. Someone grabbed both of her shoulders and stilled her movements. Then again she heard that same whisper.

"Beware the darkness that soon will rise."

With a loud gasp she woke up on her bed. Sophie was still sleeping. She sighed in relief that it was just a nightmare. She looked down and found herself naked in bed. She looked around and found her nighty was on the ground. She looked around but everything was on it's place. She scratched her head in confusion, then got up and wore her nighty back. She stepped into the shower, washed her body then got out. She wore her skinny jeans and t-shirt and paired them up with boots and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. She went back to her room. Sophie was already awake. She helped Sophie in bath. Then she made Sophie ware a cute pink knee length puffy dress and they went downstairs to have their breakfast. After breakfast, she dropped Sophie to her school and came to work. She entered her office and sat on her chair. Suddenly, the door burst opened and Sidney barged in. She had an angry face and she looked pissed. She asked Calla in a loud angry voice. "What happened yesterday? And why in hell you didn't call me?" 

Calla replied in an annoyed tone. "Good morning to you too Sidney."

 Sidney sat on the front chair and spoke again. 

"I'm serious, tell me what happened?" Seeing her worried face Calla gave her a smile and spoke again.

 "Nothing happened. Whatever happened, should have happened long ago. I was noticing his behavior with Sophie. I can't stand anyone pity her or call her names."

 Hearing her response, Sidney leaned back on the chair and thought for a moment then asked her back. " Are you alright?" Calla nodded her head and spoke again. 

"To be honest, I'm feeling like I'm free, after a long long time. I can do whatever I want and there is no one here to stop me."She said it with a satisfied smile. 

Sidney giggled and spoke again. " Well then happy Independence day to you. Now back to work." 

She stayed in Calla's office for a good long hour. They discussed their weekly plans and talked about the problems and everything. After an hour, Sidney left for a business meeting and Calla was left alone in her room. She busied herself in her work. In an hour or so she was done with her work. She sighed in relief, leaned back to her chair and closed her eyes. All the scenes of her hot dream came back to her mind. She didn't understand why she was acting like this. It was just a dream. 

Her hot thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. Annoyed with the sudden interruption she picked up the phone and yelled at whoever had disturbed her. "What?" 

She heard a woman's voice from the other side of the line. "Miss Davis, it's me Annie. I'm sorry to bother you but Sophie isn't in the school." Fear gripped her and her mouth went dry.

 She swallowed a lump that formed in her throat and spoke again. "What do you mean by she's not in the school? I dropped her myself like every day." 

There was a moment of silence on the other side then Annie spoke again. " Im not sure what happened? She went to toilet but didn't come back." 

A loud gasp escaped Calla's mouth and she spoke again. "I'm on my way to school." She hung up with that, picked up her mobile and car keys and ran to Sidney's office.

 She barged in and spoke with the heavy breaths. "Sophie's missing, I need to go to school right now."

 Sidney stood up in shock and spoke. "Take my car and driver. I don't want you end up in the hospital." Calla nodded and ran out of the building. The driver was ready and waiting for Calla. As she came out he held the door open for her. She sat in and they drove off. All her way to school, Calla was praying that it all would be a prank and Sophie would be in her classroom.