[Long, long time ago (just about 2 years I believe!) I started writing something. Not quite sure what was it to be honest, lets just say simply: a story.
If interested – you can find the previous parts here:
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 ]
… Anise wrapped her fingers around the mug. Truth was the obvious choice for her. Not that she was always telling the truth, she thought with a bit of a regret. But given this choice… She never wanted to know the future. Her friends in high school would go to the fortune tellers, she never went with them. No, she’d rather wait and see… She’d rather believe that nobody knows what’s going to happen… Well, God, maybe, but nobody here, on Earth. She liked to think that her decisions are hers to be made, and nobody should know what they were. Even now – had someone predicted what she’d choose?
She shook her head gently.
‘The Truth, Abe.’ She looked into his eyes. He smiled gently, and started:
‘I have to warn you Anise – it might seem, well, pretty hard to believe. But it is the truth…’ A smallish rabbit hopped to Anise’s chair, curiously tilted the head and reached with his front paws to her lap. Not even thinking about it, she lifted him up and put on her lap. He settled there, visibly content with her decision.
Seeing that Abe’s smile widened and he continued.
“Long time ago, two families came to live on this Island. It looked different here, then. Not just forests and paths, and meadows. The soil was rich and yielding nice crop…” his eyes dreamy, he seemed to have traveled back in time. He shivered slightly and came back “As I said, two families, both with…”
A sudden crash made them both jump. The bunnies hopped off their lap and scattered around the room. Two men barged in.
“Don’t move! Hands up where I can see them!” – yelled one of them.
Anise turned towards the men.
“Mike! Joe!”
Just two jumps were enough for the last one to find himself next to Anise. He wrapped his arms tight around her, surprising them both with that move.
“Are you ok, Anise? What happened? Are you hurt? Did he…” he wouldn’t dare to finish this sentence… Even a thought that something might have happened to her was unbearable.
“No, Joe, I’m perfectly fine.” Anise said looking in Joe’s face. “Don’t hurt him!” She yelled to Mike who was just about to put a pair of solid handcuffs on Abe’s wrists. “leave him alone, he’s a friend!”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Anise. Yes, everybody was surprised, herself included. Friend? Yet there was something special she felt towards the man, she didn’t know… Or did she?
“What’s going on here?” Mike started “Anise, wasn’t this the guy who kidnapped you, dragged you who knows where and…”
“Yes Mike, but honestly I think he was trying to help”
“Some way of helping” Joe mumbled under his breath.
“Can we just let him talk? And then you can decide…”
Mike didn’t say anything to that, just stared expectantly at Abe.
The man smiled gently, and continued: “Both families were poor and in awe of the beautiful land they could call their own. They were brought there by boats, and the people that dropped them off, said they will find everything they need in the log cabins. The also said they’ll be back, but the families didn’t think about it much.
The Rock family had 2year old twin boys, the Forests – second family – 6 months old twin girls. They were very happy, each in their own house, with nice piece of land between them. Land which they started to cultivate the moment they came in. And they came prepared – with seeds of fruit and vegetables. Soon they discovered there were quite a few fruit treas on the island as well. They were happy here for a few years. Then the tragedy happened… Some men dressed in strange uniforms, armed up to their teeth, came in, tied up the parents, and stole one child from each family…”
“No!” a scream came out of Anise’s throat.
“Were they those people that dropped them off?” Joe asked Funny how he also felt like there was something familiar about Abe.
“All they said they were following orders. Didn’t say whose orders… The girl was about 3 years old, and the boy almost 5. The attackers left as quickly as they came. They left instructions behind, pretty short, that were saying that they are not to try to find the kids if they want to keep them safe .Both families were in deep shock at first, but then that’s what brought them closer together. Of course they attempted to leave island but after each try the whispers were more present, and they aren’t anything nice. The kids grew to love each other, but there always was an empty space in their hearts…”
“That’s all nice story Abe, but what does it have to do with us here?” Joe asked.
“I’m getting to it Joe” Abe smiled slightly as he answered.
“How do you know my name?” Joe asked again, looking at the man suspiciously.
“I know a lot about you… But let me finish, and believe me – you’ll understand.
One day the kids, well adult now, came back from a long walk around the island, only to find their log cabins empty, their parents missing. They knew the story of the kidnapping of their siblings… Found another note in one of the cabins, saying that their parents will be safe as long as they do not try to look for them. It also said there will be someone who will be helping them from now on.”
“Let me guess, and that some one is you?” Mike asked sarcastically.
“Yes. I was on this island from the moment they first landed here… my rabbits and I were here from the beginning… ” Abe’s voice was changing into a dreamy whisper… The whisper that sounded so familiar…
Joe looked Anise and noticed her eyes were closed. She seemed to be dreaming or thinking about something, her fists clenched. Suddenly she opened eyes, looked firmly at Abe and said:
“Was that… Were they…”
Abe stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Yes Anise. Those people you saw there, was that young couple, that was left on the island.”
Joe looked sharply at Anise. Her face was white as a sheet of paper.
“Are we… And them… and us…” She couldn’t find any words.
“Yes. They were your siblings… You are the kidnapped twins… And you came here to find your destiny…”