Valley Of Glamorgan (6 page)

Not long after our conversation was cut
short, we pulled into my grandma’s driveway. So many memories came
flooding into my mind. I was looking at her little yellow house
with the porch swing that we sat on all summer long, talking and
laughing. I was not ashamed to say that my grandmother was one of
my best friends. The thought made me smile and I watched as the sun
started to set, making me pause and look at the beautiful orange
glow. Once we were parked I took a deep breath and unbuckled my
seat belt, looking at Knoll and thanking him. He started to
unbuckle his seat belt and open his door but I stopped him
abruptly, trying to explain that I needed to do this alone. He just
said, “I do not feel safe letting you go in there alone Mina.”

I laughed, and replied, “No worries, my
eighty year old grandma isn’t going to hurt me.”

Reaching over he pulled my door closed,
showing that he was being very protective before saying, “No, she
won’t, but what if they have been following us?”

I sighed, saying, “Well then, I will scream
for you. Seriously I can’t show up at her door with you in tow,
saying; ‘Hey grandma, it’s nice to see you. Sorry mom and dad
couldn’t make it, this man here killed them!”

Knoll grunted and slamming his hand down in
his lap he looked at me and reluctantly said, “I understand that
would be the least smart thing to do Mina. I just hate putting you
in danger.”

Nodding to show I appreciated him caring, he
had to understand that I wasn’t going to hurt my grandma any more
than I had to. Placing my hand firmly on his, I reassured him that
I would yell if I needed him. Reluctantly, he finally nodded in
agreement, even though I could still see the worried expression
displayed across his youthful features. As I got out of the car I
waved before heading to knock on my grandmas door. I knocked twice
and waited for her to make it across the room. When she opened it I
greeted her by flinging myself into her arms, nearly knocking her
over. The smell of vanilla filled my nose, making me smile and
causing the tears to pour down my face. Holding me tight she
whispered in my ear that everything would be alright, and then she
led me into the house, closing the door behind us.

“Have a seat Carmina.” She had never caught
on to my nickname, and to tell the truth I liked that she hadn’t.
As she sat next to me she placed her hands in mine. There was a
worried look, and a tone to match, as she asked, “What in heavens
is wrong dear? Where are your parents?”

Wiping the tears off of my face I took a
deep breath to try and calm my speeding heart. This, I thought, was
by far the hardest thing I would ever have to do. How was I going
to tell this sweet loving woman what her son was, and what I had
had to do in order to live? I silently prayed that she wouldn’t
hate me as she was the last solid thing I had to hang on to.

“Carmina,” she questioned again in a sweet
concerned voice, breaking me from my thoughts.

“Grandma, I have something to tell you, but
first I want you to know that I love you and thank you for always
being there for me.” I spoke softly, trying to keep my composure,
which was proving much more difficult than I had anticipated.

“Carmina, whatever it is, you can tell me.
You know I will never judge you,” she replied.

I smiled at her, saying, “I know this is so
hard but I have to tell you….. Mom and dad are dead.”

Tears began to run down her time-consumed
face, as she replied, “Oh my God child!” She placed her hand on her
heart then pulled me closer. “We must call the police,” she
said.

I sat up quickly and in a panicked tone,
yelled, “No!”

Her eyes became wide as if with
understanding. Continuing to sit there, with my hand in hers she
waited before asking, “What has happened Carmina?” And so I went on
to tell her about that night; from the beginning up until the
moment we drove into her drive way. Throughout she sat silent and
still the whole time, never pulling her hand from mine. Finally she
responded.

“Oh dear,” she said, once it was all out, “I
am appalled at my son’s actions but, I can’t say that I am
surprised. I’ve always known something wasn’t right with him for a
long time sweetie. I can’t explain but I just felt it.”

I shook my head in understanding, surprised
at how calm she was. I’d figured it was some sort of shell shock,
and that at any moment she would snap out of it and throw me out of
her life and home for good. Instead, she started to softly cry,
telling me she didn’t know why her little boy was so evil; that she
hadn’t raised him like that. Suddenly a thought entered by head as
it dawned on me that my dad must have been adopted. Once she had
confirmed it, I knew for certain that my grandma didn’t know
anything about what was going on. Continuing to hold me close she
ran her hands through my hair as she used to do when I was a little
girl. The love coming from her could have filled the whole room and
I didn’t know how I could leave her. All I wanted was to stay
there, safe and loved in her arms, in the house that I was
practically raised in. However, I knew that I didn’t have much
time, and that others were depending on me.

As if she could read my mind, she stood up
and told me that I must go. If those things were looking for me,
here would be the first place they would come. I jumped up from the
couch and realized that she was right and, feeling awful, I started
blurting out, “I could have risked your life coming here! If
something happens to you because of me…”

Raising her hand in the air she stopped me
from continuing as she declared, “Carmina, dear, I am eighty years
old. If something happens to me, then its Gods will, and I am okay
with that.” Then quickly smiling she hugged me once more before
walking me to the door. Stopping she asked me to wait while she
went into the next room. She was gone for quite a few minutes and I
was starting to worry about her. Just as I started to walk to the
room where she had disappeared in to, she came out of the darkened
place to meet me. “There is something I want you to have Carmina,”
she told me and instructing me to hold out my hand I felt a cold
object being placed there.

Looking down I held up the necklace she had
given me. “It’s so beautiful,” I announced, staring at the long,
winding, delicate chain that was met by a single emerald locket at
the end. It was breath taking. Smiling she told me to open it, and
when I did I had to fight the tears inside me. It was a photo of us
two, taken one summer a few years back at one of my dance
recitals.

Still smiling she announced, “That locket
was given to me by my mother, it is my most valuable possession.”
Then hugging me tight, she wiped my tears away and kissed my cheek.
I thanked her for the gift, promising I would never let it go. She
just smiled back, whispering into my ear, “Carmina, my promise in
return is that I will never let you go,” and placing my hand over
her heart she told me that I would always be there and that she
would always be in mine.

Then just as quickly she opened the door and
pushed me through it, and before she could close it I turned to
thank her once more. As I made my way to the van I put the locket
on, tucking it carefully under my shirt. It now sat right above my
heart, where the memories of my grandma would always be. As she had
closed the door I had felt as if I had really left my heart there
with her.

It was as I walked back to the van that I
noticed a black car drive past the driveway. Then it had turned
around and drove past the house again. I knew something wasn’t
right so rushing over to the van I knocked on the window, telling
Knoll to look at the strange car. Getting out of the van he raced
towards the car. When the driver saw Knoll racing towards him he
sped off, making an ear-piercing squealing sound with the tires. He
peeled out of the residential neighborhood and disappeared from
sight. Knoll screamed for me to get into the van, racing back to it
himself. Diving in we set off at a high speed and he drove angrily
for a few miles before pulling off onto a gravel road. He cursed
under his breath, and for once I was glad I couldn’t hear him,
because what he was saying couldn’t have been pleasant.

Chapter 4

Sometime later we reached a small bed and
breakfast that was out in the middle of nowhere. To my surprise;
there was no-one else there other than the owners. Knoll parked the
van, telling me to stay inside, and with no more explanation he got
out, slammed his door and made his way to the house. After a few
knocks, the door opened and an older gentleman with salt and pepper
hair let him in. Leaning over to the driver’s side I hit the lock
button on the control panel then I leaned back in my seat. Reaching
over to the back seat I grabbed my pillow, and then pressed the
cold, cotton lump over my face and began screaming; over and over
again until my voice grew harsh. I wanted to be angry with the
world and scream, ‘Why me?’ However, it seemed useless. I felt
tired and helpless so I leaned the seat back and began humming
lyrics to random songs that popped up in my mind.

Finally, Knoll came back to the van and
placing his key in the door he unlocked it. The noise just about
made my heart explode. It was pitch black outside so I could hardly
see my hand in front of my face, let alone who was unlocking the
van doors. Once the dome light shone brightly on his face I laughed
nervously, saying, “You scared the crap out of me.”

Apologizing he went on to explain to me that
we were no longer safe driving the van and that he had called my
father to request that he be granted the money to purchase a car.
We were to go to the next town on foot and buy one. And all this,
because they would be searching for the vehicle, was thanks to me;
I am sure he would have muttered if he could.

“What about all of my stuff?” I asked him.
Knoll just muttered an apology telling me that I could only take
what was absolutely necessary. Then he went on to inform me that
new clothes could be purchased and that we would have to make the
best of what we had.

Quickly I rummaged around, emptying my
school books from my book bag; at least I didn’t have to do
homework anymore. I choose to bring a notebook that held notes from
Katelyn, and I also packed my drawings and poems; things that would
remind me of the good times back home. Next, I tore the keychain
off my duffle bag and shoved it inside the book bag. I had repaired
the bag with Banksey’s first collar, tying it to the bag and using
it as a handle, since the original one had broken. Now I was glad
that I had used it out of all things I could have chosen. That way,
at least, he would never be forgotten either. Then I grabbed one
change of clothes and left the rest behind.

Leaving the van parked by the side of the
road we began walking down a path that led into the woods. I tried
to protest, but Knoll argued it was the safest way to get to where
we were going without being seen. I also suggested that we stop and
sleep at the Inn, and then we could call a cab in the morning.

Knoll responded with a laugh, saying, “Mina,
if it was an option, I would more than gladly let you rest. But we
cannot trust anyone. They have a location on us now and it would
just be a matter of time before they found us.” Rolling my eyes in
exasperation I hoped that at least the town wasn’t hours away. We
set off walking but to be honest I was past tired and on my way to
becoming exhausted.

On and on we walked, through endless brush,
thorns and mud. My boots were soaked from all the puddles and
creeks we had to walk through; and I was slowly freezing. Knoll and
I didn’t speak. I just followed him silently through the black,
cold forest. Finally, as we reached a small clearing he stopped and
turning he asked me if I was alright. Slowly I nodded my head,
pretending to be fine; even though I was pretty sure if we carried
on like this for much longer my feet were going to fall off. They
burned as if they were on fire and my poor toes had started to
become numb.

Knoll looked at me for a moment before
cautiously starting to continue on through the clearing. Suddenly,
he whispered and motioned for me to stay close to him, all the
while sniffing the air; then his body went rigid. Stopping abruptly
he said quietly, “Mina, go back to where the trees will cloak you,
danger is near!”

Swallowing the fear that was building inside
me, I kept telling myself to stay strong. Clenching my fists by my
sides I quietly walked back a few feet to hide behind a large oak
tree. I was worried about Knoll, and so against my better judgment
I peeked around the tree to watch what was happening. Suddenly I
heard a deep growl and before I knew it, Knoll was surrounded by a
pack of snarling wolves. I knew wolves were common to this area;
but at least I knew it was real wild life that Knoll was facing and
not someone cloaked as such. Knoll growled a deep growl and for a
moment I thought I heard bones moving in his body. In the blink of
an eye the man standing in front of me had transformed into a lion.
I gasped! That was the animal he had chosen to be, and it wasn’t a
bad one I might add.

Whilst I hated to see any animal harmed I
knew in my heart that the wolves would tear us to shreds and eat
our remains if Knoll didn’t kill them. The larger wolf had an
all-black coat, matched with large, glowing green eyes. Suddenly it
ran and lunged at Knoll but the animal was met with a powerful hit
to the face from the lion’s large claws. The wolf fell, whined and
then ran off into the woods. Watching, I couldn’t believe that
several more wolves tried the same movement, but all were met with
the same reaction. It was like watching a cat playing with a
mouse.