Chapter 5

I decide to leave for town instead of thinking about the past. I put on my plain white t-shirt and blue denim pants. I reach for my socks and put on my favorite black, high-cut leather shoes. I grab my black cardigan and hang it in my left arm. I check the doors and windows to make sure they are all locked before I leave.

I'm whistling and at the same time tossing the car keys in the air using my right hand while heading my way towards my wooden garage. I lift the garage door and get to the driver's seat of my red Ferrari. Well, technically without the real heir, I as the adopted child inherited the Brown's wealth. Yes, it's not only that they let me borrow their daughter's identity but they adopted me legally.  They had personal reasons why they didn't let people know that they've lost Adele. It's only them, their families, and the private detective who knows about it. It wasn't explained to me and I didn't even try to find out the real reason for using my telepathy. I respect them so much. People think that I am Adele, the biological daughter of the Brown couple. But the truth is, my birth certificate clearly states that I am Adele Martina Brown. Adopted child.

Martin and Margarette are both from affluent families in the big city of West Land. When they died, they left their riches to me and of course, to the real Adele. Martin was the President of a long-time running family business of the Browns', the Brown Architectural Design Company. It is one of the leading Architectural companies in the country. With his death, the high position in the company was initially given to me. But, truth is truth. The Browns' knew my real status in the family. Especially, Uncle Marco Brown. To stay away from trouble, I let him take the position temporarily until I find the real successor. I would always visit the company once a month. I couldn't let my greedy Uncle Marco play tricks with the real Adele. I see to it that he won't stand a chance to fool me, rather.

I start the engine and drive the car out of the garage. I get out of the car to open the wooden fence. This place is better than living in the complicated city of West Land. Moments later, I'm already driving my car in the silent road until I reach a small restaurant in New Land. I straighten my back to ease the stiffness of my muscles before getting out of the car.  It's good that only a few people are here. There's a young couple at the table in the corner, an old woman and her grandchild in the middle, and a group of high school students near the entrance. I roam my eyes to find a comfortable place to sit. The high school students are a little noisy so I won't sit next to them. I won't sit in the middle tables, either. Finally, I settle at the table next to the young couple. It is the best location to sit if you are hiding from someone. I grin at this thought.

"What's your order, Ma'am?" The waitress approach and asks me politely.

"I want rice and pasta salad, grilled chicken, and orange juice." 

"Rice and pasta salad, grilled chicken, and orange juice. Did I get it right ma'am?" She repeats it while jotting it down. 

"Yeah." 

"Alright ma'am, I get your order and have your meal be prepared immediately." She smiles respectfully before heading to the kitchen.

My food arrives just a few minutes of waiting. The smell of the pasta reaches my nostrils and I can't wait to taste it. My hands excitedly pick the fork and I start eating. The soft texture of the pasta feels good against my tongue. My taste buds are enjoying it. I am in the middle of my hearty meal when my sense of smell recognizes a familiar scent.

"It's Catherine," I tell myself.

I fix my eyes on the floor to focus and listen to the sounds around me. I can't hear her voice but her heartbeat is so fast and loud. She is scared and it's like she is running. 

"She's in trouble again?" I mumble with my furrowed brows. 

I can also hear men running after her. The running sounds are getting nearer. Why does this woman always run in my direction? I don't think I need to meddle with her life anymore. It's enough that I helped her in the woods before. Just when I am about to close my sharp auditory sense that a loud gunshot explodes into the air. 

"Shit!"

I mutter a curse in my mind, following this is a sudden rattling noise of the fork when I let it go off my hand. The questioning eyes of the people in the restaurant meet my sight as soon as I raise my head. I signal the waitress to hand me my bill. She immediately gives it to me. Confusion is written all over her face seeing that my food is not yet done.

"Didn't you like the food ma'am?" She cautiously asks. 

"No. The food is very delicious. I just remember something." I smile at her and hand her the cash. I hurriedly stand and take big strides towards the door. 

"Ma'am this is too much, you have to wait for your change!" She exclaims.

"Keep it," I tell her. 

"..." 

I sense her scratching her head in disbelief. It is quite a big amount than a regular tip. How I itch to teleport to get fast to where Catherine is, but there are security cameras in all corners of the establishments in this area. I can't risk my secret just to help this woman. It's a good thing that my sight works extraordinarily. I can see through the walls like a transparent crystal whenever I want. I quickly run to the corner where the security cameras wouldn't catch me. Seconds later I disperse from where I stand.

Her eyes widen in shock when I appeared in front of her out of the blue. 

"Ms. Brown!" She exclaims shockingly.

"Be quiet."

I grab her by the waist and pull her to the corner while covering her mouth with my palm. My back is leaning straight against the wall while her head is on my chest. I can feel her cold palms holding my wrist. She is shaking in fear.

The men fail to notice us and run forward in one direction.

"Hurry up, we have to find her!" The leader shouts angrily.

"Who are they?" I ask her loosening my palm on her mouth. 

Catherine moves away and faces me. She is pale and her lips are trembling. She seems like crying any minute.

"Zubah's men. They followed me. Thank God I've noticed them before I head my way to my new home or else I would be dead."

"It looks like they won't leave you alone." 

My comment makes her even paler. Her eyes turn red and tears well up her eyelids. She quickly wipes it with her hands before it flows down to her face.

"I know that." She says in a cracking voice.

"Where's your place? I'll drive you home." I offer her. 

She tells me where she stays. I hold her by the arms and teleport straight into my car.

"Wow! You can teleport?" 

She can't believe that in just a blink of an eye we are already sitting inside my car.

"Mmm."

I answer her and insert the key to the keyhole and start the engine. 

"How did you do that?" 

She is eager to know how did I do it. I did not say anything. I only talk to Martin and Margarette so much about who I am and whatever is happening with me. Now that they are gone, no one is left to listen to me every time I discover something new to me. I was only fourteen when I discovered my ability to teleport. When I was fifteen, I learned that I can read minds and I can interact using mind-link with the people close to me. All those times, my foster parents were there to comfort me when things can't be controlled. 

"I can't believe that humans have this kind of ability," Catherine says with her wide eyes not parting from me.

"I'm not human." 

"..."

From the corner of my eyes, I see that her jaw drop and mouth widely open from what she heard.