CHAPTER FOUR: A THREAT

“But ma… you said she was welcome. Her mother was also one of us,” Clara argued.

“That was her mother, Clara. She’s more dangerous than you can ever imagine,” she retorted.

“But you don’t know that yet, you can’t just treat her like a dog,” Clara insisted.

“Who’s she, Clara?” I managed to ask.

“She’s Mrs. Hunter, her family leads the institute,” Clara yelled.

“We are not treating her like a dog, Clara, we are simply putting her where she belongs for now,” Mrs. Hunter retorted.

“She doesn’t belong in a cage, and you know it,” Clara responded.

“I have lived hundreds of years, and not even once have I made a wrong choice, so you have to trust me on this one too. I won’t do anything to cause trouble to the institute my family governs. Melonie here is the daughter of our enemy, Warrick Aeron…you don’t know how dangerous she is,” Mrs. Hunter replied, and with that, she turned away without looking back, with men pulling me behind her.

Rough hands grabbed my arms, holding me in a vice-like grip. I was dragged away, unable to resist. I caught a glimpse of my captors’ faces, their eyes cold and unforgiving. I knew I was in grave danger.

I was thrown into a dark, damp cell, the door slamming shut behind me. I heard the sound of locks clicking into place, trapping me inside. I was alone with no way out.

As the hours passed, I heard footsteps outside my cell, the sound of voices whispering in hushed tones. I knew I had to be careful, that one misstep could mean disaster. I waited, my heart pounding in my chest, wondering what lay ahead.

“Four walls, no windows, and a door that wouldn’t budge – my world was shrunk into a suffocating cage.

“If I don’t belong in the human world, nor this world…then where exactly do I belong?” I thought to myself, weeping with a ferocity that seemed to consume me as if my tears were the only thing that could express the depth of my sorrow.

My eyes suddenly fled open, I looked around in haste and then remembered I had been locked up a night ago.

Soon, I heard a twist on the doorknob, and Mrs. Hunter, along with some men, walked in.

Gawking at her, she threw a smile at me which just wasn’t recommended. I sat there frowning.

“I’m sorry you have to be locked up in such a cozy place,” Mrs. Hunter blurted out.

“We are simply taking safety precautions,” she added.

“By locking me up?” I asked, pissed.

“I’m sorry Melonie, we are not your enemy, this is where your mother belongs, and so do you,” She declared.

“You are making yourself my enemy, families wouldn’t lock themselves up,” I retorted, sending her a sad smile.

“I need to know everything about my father,” I demanded.

“I’m not sure whether or not I should be the one to tell you that,” Mrs. Hunter responded firmly.

“Would you prefer I find out from my father himself? Warrick Aeron, right?” I asked, sarcastically.

“Not advisable, he wants you dead,” she stated.

“Okay… why? Why does my father fucking want me dead? There must be a reason, I want a reason, I…I need a reason,” I yelled in agony.

“I don’t know Melonie, I thought about it too. Why a father would want his own daughter dead is mysterious to me,” She blurted out, truthfully.

“Okay…what if he doesn’t want me dead? What if he’s searching for me?” I reasoned out loud.

“We don’t know that, Melonie,” she retorted.

“Well, let us find out,” I protested.

“No,” Mrs. Hunter declared.

“Why?” I argued in fury.

“Are you stupid, Melonie? He sent his men and attacked your adopted mother and her friend just to get to you, and you think it’s an informal greeting to his beloved daughter? If for nothing, know that only you are a threat to his strength. For years, we fought a battle with Warrick Aeron but couldn’t win. Thousands of innocent people in my realm died from his war, and now we only have the institute and the magical wars surrounding it to keep us safe. I won’t let you bring us more trouble. If Warrick Aeron finds out we have his daughter, he is going to find a way in and turn this place upside down. We are already in danger by letting you in, Melonie. Please don’t play with our lives,” Mrs. Hunter yelled out.

“You brought me here on your own accord, I told your men to let me go, but they refused…so this is your problem to deal with,” I retorted, spanking her with the same energy.

“If not for our help, you’d be long dead by now,” Mrs. Hunter responded.

“Then let me go and die. I’ll be far away from your realm, so you don’t have to worry about your safety. If I am truly as powerful as you claim, then I can take care of myself,” I replied.

“You are not even aware of what you can do yet, Melonie,” Mrs. Hunter calmly stated.

“I’ll have to find out,” I retorted.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t risk it,” she stated, firmly.

“You don’t own me,” I said, staring at her in disagreement.

“But we need you, we need you here, Melonie. We have a bigger threat than your father, Warrick Aeron. Your mother’s people are dying, and only you can save us,” Mrs. Hunter pleaded.

“I-I don’t understand,” I stammered, confused.

“For months now, we have been battling with a dark walker. It blends into the shadows so no one can see nor fight it. We are hoping you’ll be able to see and fight it. Melonie, a lot of your mother’s family has died,” she blurted out.

“If I heard you clearly, you just stated that the only reason you brought me here is to use me to solve your own problem?” I asked to be sure while struggling to be calm.

“Melonie…” she called.

“D-don’t call my name. I don’t even know if I can trust you,” I stated.

I felt like a pawn in their game of power, forced to fight for a cause that wasn’t mine, but to serve their selfish desires.

I felt manipulated, with lies and half-truths, using my conviction to fuel their own agenda, without regard for the cost to my soul.

“So, I’m nothing but a tool, a means to an end, wielded by those who cared little for the battle’s true cost, only for their own gain…isn’t it?” I asked sadly.

“Don’t think of it that way, Melonie, you are our savor…a means of a change,” she corrected.

“Spare me that nonsense. I am a shadow to myself, I suddenly don’t know who I am and just when I want to find out, you lock me up because you want to use me as a tool?” I stated, disappointed.

“I need to leave,” I blurted out.

“And where would you go?” She asked, walking closer.

“To my father, I’d rather die finding out what I am than stay in this hole fighting for you,” I responded.

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that,” Mrs. Hunter stated firmly.

“What makes you think you can stop me?” I asked and smirked.

“You will get yourself killed, Melonie. You really shouldn’t joke with Warrick Aeron, regardless of the fact that he is your father. I’m aware of what he is capable of more than you know,” she protested.

“I’m tired of being in the dark,” I retorted.

“If you want answers, you will find them with time, you need to calm down,” she reasoned out.

“I’m sorry, you can't talk me out of this,” I replied.

“If I can’t stop you from stupidly killing yourself, then the door will. It was created specifically for powerful beings like you,” she declared with a smile.

“Even your strong door can’t stop me," I retorted, standing tall, my presence commanding attention, as I wielded my strength with precision and grace.

My eyes blazed with an inner fire, illuminating the path ahead, as I walked with a confidence that inspired awe. With my mare thought, I could move mountains, shatter obstacles, and bend reality to my whim, my power limitless and boundless.

With a snap, I melted down the huge door and stormed out like a hungry bear released to consume his meal, ready to take down anyone that tries to stop me.

“Yes!!! I am Melonie, the nightmare.”