I am greeted by the yummy smell of pizza....Hmmm...I close the door, walk to the square, black dining table and see mom before a large chicken, cheesy pizza she ordered.

"Yummy...how is it?", I ask and grab one impatiently. "I didn't taste it, I was waiting for you to come home and I thought that we will eat together", I pout, "Aww my shweet mommy." She shakes her head. "What are we waiting for, let's dig in."

After we were satisfied with the pizza and washed the dishes I urge mom to sit on the couch as I want to tell her something. With my fingers crossed, I finally break the news to her and tell her about the whole cruise trip from the start to the end.

I didn't look at her in the eye, because I didn't want to see her reaction. After I had finished, I muster the courage to look at her.

She remains silent and her face bares no expression. She just stares at me. Finally she opens her mouth and all she says is, "you can go...but be a good girl....", without thinking about what she had said, I rattle on like an idiot.

"I knew that you were gonna say that...I know that I have to be here in South Africa and I can't leave and put myself and you in danger....", then I realise what she just said and looked up at her shocked, "What did you just say....??....I can go...I can leave the country...you are permitting me to go on a holiday to the Portuguese islands?", I question her.

She places her soft, motherly palm on my cheek and says, "it's been 7 years now...we have been hiding from the world for 7 long years...and no one has found us yet."

"I think that they have given up on looking for us. The world thinks that along with your brother and father...we have also died in that fire that day. We are dead to the world. We have new identities and for 7 years you looked after me. You have never really lived. Your friends at school would go on holidays and have fun but you...you were my angel...you stayed by my side and looked after me. We have always lived in fear. Always on the lookout for shadows in the corner. It's time you lived and stopped fearing...you are Amy BROWN. A white South African. You are tall, and your features may be of your dad...even your brown hair...but you are fair skinned like me...no one will guess that you have an Indian father and who we really are...and you will tell no one who you really are..because Amy and Sarah KHAN, died a long time ago.", tears are running down my face and I hold my mother's hand.

I cry for a long time. I have held all my emotions in me for long but it all comes out now. "Go and live your life...be it for 4 weeks...At least it would be a break..A get away my love." I hug mom tightly and she wipes my tears away. "How about you help me pack?", I ask her.

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After we argued and fussed about what I will and will not need on the holiday, we finally finished packing. Only a few more things are needed, like more sunscreen, a smoking swim suit that is not too revealing and a few last minute things that mom will get from the mall tomorrow...I trust her taste.

It's finally the end of the day and I look towards my bedtime clock which reads...00:02. Well that is very late for me, and I need to sleep. I switch off the lights, tuck myself in bed and just when I close my eyes, my phone starts to ring.

Who would it be so late in the night? I groan and reach out for my phone next to my pillow. Unknown number. I frown. Who is this? I answer at the fifth ring.

"Hello.", I speak into the phone. No answer. I hear light breathing at the other end of the phone. "Hello are you there?", I ask. The person doesn't answer. I look at the calender on the wall and I realise that it is officially April 1st, it's after 12." I know it's you Sabby...or ...Layla." I smirk. "April fools....", I shout into the phone and I hear a heavy chuckle. The line then goes dead. "What the....", I start and then shrug. I will catch them tomorrow.

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Mom runs into the room and mistakely messes the scrabble game Jameel and I were playing on the floor. Jameel looks at mom's worried expression and becomes concerned. I look at both of their concerned faces and become worried myself. "What happened mommy?", I ask in my sweet, innocent voice. "Where is daddy?", asks Jameel. Mom holds onto a heart pendant and clumsily scatters things around the room as she searches for something. Suddenly a loud shatter of the lounge window is heard.

Mom hurries to us and tells Jameel "You and Amy go into the store room and close the door! Do NOT come out okay..until I come and fetch you." Jameel nods realising the seriousness of the situation, grabs my hand and we run to the store room. I help him close the heavy, old wooden door our baby hands too weak for the heavy, old door, and a splinter pierces my index finger.

Blood starts to ooze out and I begin to panic. I start to cry and Jameel tries to calm me down. I hear my father's voice and other people shouting. Mom is crying.

We remain in the store room for what seems like ages. After a while everything becomes silent, but mom doesn't come to us. My shirt is soaked with blood. Jameel tells me, " I think I should get a plaster or a bandage for you." I shake my head. "No...mommy said we mustn't leave the room.", I say between my tears. "I have to go and see where mommy is.", he says and stands up."Help me with the door Amy.", he tells me and I use my free hand to help him. He turns around one more time before leaving." Don't go.", I tell him. His blue eyes stares back at me, "Wait for me...I'll be back", he replies and he walks away.

"Don't gooo", I scream and wake up from the dream. Tears sting my eyes. When will I stop having these dreams?...These nightmares. I wipe my tears and look towards the heart pendant on my dresser table. I must keep it safe. I wake up, walk to the dresser and take the heart pendant in my hand. I put it around my neck and am satisfied that it is close to my heart where I can keep it safe.

I go into the bathroom, have a quick bath, change into a long, tight grey top and blue tights. I tie my hair into a quick bun and shove my feet into my denim pumps. I can hear the kettle boiling on the stove and realise that mom is also ready to leave.

"Amy...I'll drop you to campus today.", she shouts from the kitchen. " Okay" , I reply from my room as I get my denim bag. My phone starts to ring in my pocket. I pull it out and sit at the edge of my bed. Unknown number.

Again? I slide across my phone to green. "Hello", I say. No reply. I frown, irritated. I hear the soft inhaling and exhaling at the other end. "I know that you are there...I can hear you breath." I tell the person. No answer again. "Okay... I'm scared... happy..... yayy ...you pranked me... ", I say, "Won't you say April fools.", I continue. "Don't board the cruise.", a rough, soft, rafty voice tells me at the other end. It's so soft, i can't tell if it's male or female. I clear my throat.

"Why? Why mustn't I board the cruise?", I ask. No reply. "Are you there?" The soft, croaky voice returns. "Because your life is in danger.", the person warns. I laugh. "Ooh scary...", I carry on amused with this person. The line goes dead again .

I shake my head. I'm gonna get you Sabby and Layla.
Last year, Layla and Sabby had pranked me into believing that they were kidnapped. I go to the kitchen, eat my breakfast (buttered toast and tea), and leave with mom. What does this day have to offer me?

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"Bye mom", I kiss her on her cheek and rush to physics. Dr Donald, our physics lecturer is late as usual and I sit on a seat in the only empty row right at the front of the class.

Sabby and Layla walk in laughing loudly at something and sit next to me instinctively as they rattle on about how they fooled the janitor that Layla was having an asthma attack. I hit Layla on her shoulder, "you shouldn't do that!" Dr Donald walks in and the boring lecture starts.

The day goes by slowly, lecture after lecture until we finally had a free period. We walked to the cafeteria and as I enter I bumped in to a guy dropping his books down. "I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to..." , I begin and then notice that it is the same boy I had the parking lot fight with yesterday.

"Are you following me missey?", he asks me. I purse my lips, pick up his two books from the floor and shove them in his hands. I push past him but he grabs my hand. I stand shocked.

He turns to face me, "you won't get away for what you said.", his grip on my wrist gets tighter and he comes closer. I gulp. I stare at him afraid of what he will do next. "Beautiful.", he whispers in my ear. My heart races. What is he going to do?

I look around for help, but the other students mind their own business. I feel the urge to cry. Then, suddenly, surprisingly, he then lets go of my hand, winks and walks away.

Oh! Wow! I don't know what else to think. I can't help but watch him walk away.

Sabby and Layla walk in,"who was that?", Layla asks. "Mr murderer.", I reply. "Who...what?", she asks.

"There is a message for you by the way...All the people who will be boarding the cruise tomorrow is told to meet in the Dean's office.", Sabby informs me. "You can go after we eat.", Layla tells me.

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I enter the Dean's office. Mr Hillburg was sitting on his office chair facing the wall. His brown hat sitting as usual on his head. " uhmm...Mr Hillburg...I'm sorry I'm late...I was told that you wanted to meet me...and all the others boarding the cruise tomorrow."

I look around but no one else was in the office besides Mr Hillburg facing away from me. Mr Hillburg taps his pen on a book in his hand. "Sir..", I say. He doesn't reply to me and I begin to worry that he is angry because I am late. He clears his throat.

"Miss Brown, I am sorry to say that you are expelled from this university." I frown. Why is Mr Hillburg's voice sounding so different? I walk up to the chair, grab the brown hat and swing the chair to face me. Guess who?

Richard sits on the chair and laughs hysterically. I shake my head. "It's not funny.", I tell him. "It is.", he argues. "No its not", I carry on. "Sure is", he replies. The door suddenly opens and Malak walks in , her mini skirt swaying from left to right.

"I could hear you people from like a block away.", she exaggerates. "Am I late?", she asks us. "I guess Mr Hillburg is the one late.", I reply. She shrugs and sits on a chair...so I follow suit and wait.

After about 10 minutes the door swings open and Mr Hillburg walks in. "I apologies for being late. I had some important work to complete.", he takes a seat in his office chair and looks for his hat. "I think you are looking for that.", I tell Mr Hillburg pointing to the hat on the floor next to Richard.

Richard picks the hat up and nervously hands the hat to Sir. "It's very windy today..", he mumbles. "Anyways.. The cruise will leave tomorrow at 10:00 am sharp. We would meet at the harbour at 8:00 am. Is that clear?", he orders. "Yes", we confirm. He explains the rules to us.

"Remember...you are representing us.. This campus...so don't get up to any mischief.", he warns. "Anyways. I will be there to keep an eye on you people.", he says. Malak's excitement vanishes. "Will you also be coming with us?", she asks.

"Yes ofcourse... sure I didn't win a ticket but it's the opening of the Saphire mermaid, the prices are very reasonable...so I booked a place for my wife, my son and myself. ", he tells us proudly. "This old man needs a break too. So...we are done...you can go now."

We all plaster a fake smile on our faces and leave the room. "Uggh..", Malak says. "Bye my two girl friends.", Richard shouts as he jogs away. "Say Heyy to Layla for me will you Amy?", and he runs off. Malak was about to turn to go when I stop her.

"Uhmm Malak", she turns to look at me. "I'll need a ride home today.", I tell her. She rolls her eyes. "Money??", I take out a 50 Rand note and she grabs it from my hand. Why does she keep asking for money? She is like the richest person on this campus anyways.

She walks ahead and I stand confused if it's a yes or a no. She stops and turns back to me. "Are you coming?", and I quickly follow behind her.

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Yes all you lovely readers...This was a very dramatic chapter...I wish I could write longer chapters like other books on wattpad but it just doesn't happen. Well this was the longest I wrote so far. I hope you guys love this story...I love you all. ..Each and every reader...thank you so much for appreciating this story. Comment and plz vote. Mwaah thank you. ××× :-) :-* oh!! And please read on...This story is full of surprises...The story hasn't even started.