Life is worth living again -Justin Bieber

‘Freedom’

My thoughts at the moment:

There are so many places I want to visit. There are so many cultures I wish to learn about.

I haven't spent so much time with my friends and family.

Is this how my life ends?

Trust me, having a gun pressed against your head will make you see all memories from your life.

"Time is ticking, brother." Uncle Peter sings the words, forcing me up to my feet.

"Take off the blindfold. I need to be certain you have my daughter."

Uncle Peter scoffs but he complies. I would have been excited having to breathe in fresher air but this isn't time to fuss about the smelly blindfod that smells like Blake's socks.

My father's eyes are on me but his face betrays no emotion.

"Alright. Let her go. I agree."

What?

Even my uncle is suprised that dad agreed to his wishes.

Dad raises a hand and two figures appear through the door behind him. One of them is mum.

When did she come back from the hospital?

"What is this?" She asks, blinking from my dad to his brother.

"Let the children go." Dad ignores mum.

Peter shrugs and lowers the gun from my head. The man restraining Charlie does same.

"That was pretty fast but I'm impressed you did the right thing." Peter lets us walk to the other side where my dad is standing, and in exchange, mum is forced to go to Peter.

I can see how much fear passes through her at the mere sight of the man.

Can I blame her?

He traumatized her several years ago.

"You belong to me, Florence, don't you see?" Peter smiles. He's too focused on my mother to notice the sniper hanging in the shadows.

One. Two. Three.

It all happens in a rapid moment. No one hears the trigger pulled but when a bullet lodges in Peter's head, chaos breaks out. Someone pulls me to safety and I don't remember much after that.

♀♀♀

Something warm presses against my cheeks and I glance up to see Shawn watching me with concern.

We're in my room at the moment.

Frowning, I roll to the other side.

"Oh, come on Haze." He groans, getting on the bed with me.

"Leave me alone."

He scoots closer and I edge away until I'm pressed against the wall.

"What did I do?"

Scoffing, I flick at his forehead so hard that he yowls, rubbing the spot. "Hazel!"

"Where have you been for the past couple of days, idiot?"

His gaze softens. When he takes my hand, I do not resist. "I had so much to think about lately, Haze. My future, you in it..."

My heart misses a beat. What is this boy on about?

"But when I heard about your kidnap, I had to come out of my retreat."

A snort leaves my throat. "Where did you go anyway?"

"Dad's house in Arizona."

I often forget that like my father, Shawn's dad also has good money.

"So-" I see how his eyes trail down to my lips but Blake chooses this moment to barge in.

Bad timing, bro.

His eyes narrow upon Shawn's proximity to me.

"Erm, what is going on here?" He gestures from me to Shawn.

I roll my eyes. "Nothing that concerns you, bug."

Getting of the bed, I enter my bathroom, hearing my brother's words before I shut the door:

"You will leave the door wide open anytime you're in this house, got that?"

And protective brother mode is on, people.

It's dinner time.

After wearing some comfy clothed, I stalk into the dining room, surprised to see so many people there.

Shawn's parents and his sister Allie;  Sebastian and Tanya, my friends, Gemma, Winston, Chad and Charlie, Dad, mum, mum's parents and dad's step parents. Also, there are two unfamiliar faces and they're the first to catch my entry.

"Had a good rest?" Gemma asks, pointing at the empty chair beside her.

Shrugging, I settle in and put my eyes back on the pair of golden brown eyes curiously studying me from across the table.

Conversations float in the air and most are oblivious to our staring contest.

Well, hello there.

I raise a brow and the boy does the same thing.

Gemma nudges me. "Stop doing that."

Well he started it.

Where's Shawn anyways?

"Hazel, could you help me with this?" Allie pleads. I look down at her plate. Gemma laughs.

"No, Allie, broccoli is good for you. You need it to grow." I tell her, hoping that that would console her.

She scoffs. "I'll rather be a dwarf then."

"Allison darling, you need to eat that." My mum says across the table. All eyes now are in our direction, even the boy.

At least he has a good reason to be looking my way.

“No. I don't like broccoli." She insists.

Winton cheerfully picks the offending vegetable on his own plate. "There, conflict resolved."

Everyone's amused at the little drama.

Dad introduces the strangers to us. The woman is his new business partner, Caroline Bergdahl and her son Xavier Bergdahl.

Xavier.

Hmm...

Gemma kept giggling beside me, probably at their weird names.

Finally dinner ended and I was glad to escape the awkward interactions, however, I had barely sailed past the threshold when Dad holds me back.

"Not so fast, Haze. I've got to properly introduce you to my new business partner.”

okay everyone, I'm excited that Hazel's out of captivity and Charlie too.

and finally, Peter dies after such a long time.

I was thinking of killing him off in previous book, but I thought it would lose its dramatic effect.

so, good...

well, we've got a new character, Xavier.

what do you think about him?

let me know your thoughts below.

and oh, don't forget to hit that tiny star  😊

How are the holidays treating y'all?

well, me, I just pass the day sleeping like a cat and then waking a little to do the chores, eat, write or read and then it's back to sleeping again... 😊