I think life will be hard enough for them soon… or currently, depending on when you’re reading this and if what I think is going to happen actually does. Just… don’t add to it. And do not act like I was your world or play the mourning father card, Jack. We both know that’s a lie. And if I deserve nothing else, just do not spit on my memory like that. That’s all I have to say to you. You’re not worth another minute of my precious small amount of time.
Your Ex-DAUGHTER,
~Syren Nova Velasquez
Okay, that’s done let’s just slide it into this envelope and label it… okay, perfect. I think Mom should be next. It seems only fair to go oldest to youngest.
Dear Mommy,
I love you mommy, so-so much. I wish I was still here to tell you this in person. I’m sorry for any pain or stress I have caused you. I’m sorry for any pain or stress I cause you in the future. Please take care of them, mom. They’ll need you more than me. Also… in case Jack doesn’t take the hint in my letter to him. He is cheating on you. I don’t know who with but I know he is. I think you know as well you just don’t want to admit it. But if he doesn’t ask for a divorce, you divorce him. Fight for all the assets, the house, the cars, the money, everything. Do not let him get even the smallest amount of custody.
Oh, and make sure his Child Support payments are the maximum amount and that he pays them on time. I-I don’t know for sure if what I think will happen actually will… but if it does. And I fear it will. Please don’t focus on me. I’ll be fine. I love you, mommy.
Love your eldest,
Syren Nova Velasquez
I one hundred percent am sobbing now. I still have five more letters to go. Well, five plus the yearly letters I will put in boxes for my siblings and friends. I stand up and stretch before walking to my window. Its beautiful outside. I really think this has been the prettiest winter in ages. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a paper stuck to my window seal.
Opening it slowly, I reach out and grab it. Unfolding it, I pale at the contents.
Syren, I bet you’re just wondering how I got this up here. Well, I am a man of many talents. This is your only warning. Tell no one about this or your family will die. You don’t really want that to happen, do you? No, I don’t think you do. On the twenty-second, a box will be delivered. Take it to your room and wear the contents of the box on the twenty-third. I expect you at the gym by five am that day. DO NOT LET ANYONE SEE THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX. I’ll see you soon sweetheart… oh and enjoy your last few hours with your family.
~W.H
I grab the note and shove it in my desk drawer. Slamming the drawer shut, I let out a guttural scream and sink to the floor. Thankful that my letters were hidden from prying eyes. I couldn’t breathe. The world was spinning around me. I could hear running and voices from a distance and then nothing.
Groaning, I shift on my bed… wait on my bed? Sitting up, I realize everyone was in my room asleep. What happened?
The note. Oh, my god, the note. I close my eyes, willing the tears away. It would do no good to wake anyone up.
“Syren?” I run my arm across my face and look up at Allie.
“Syren, you okay?” Smiling, I nod and lean over to pick up the four-year-old.
“Yes Allie, I’m alright. I just had a terrible nightmare last night and didn’t quite wake up. I thought I saw a monster in the closet.”
Allie gasped, eyes wide with wonder, “was it-was it big and hairy? With twenty jillion eyes and forty eleven legs?” Laughing, I shake my head no.
“No, it was even scarier! It was a giant orange blob that kept eating everyone’s toes!” Laughing, I lightly grab her toes as she squeals and laughs. These moments are the moments I want them to remember. Not the scary ones that are sure to come.
“Come on, Allie bear, why don’t we go make pancakes for everyone?”
“… Rainbow sparkle pancakes?” I stand up, shaking my head.
“Sure, Al. Anything for you.” I pick Allie up and tiptoeing out of my room. Today would be Allie’s day. I will make this the best day ever for her. She may not remember today or even me for that matter but I will know that I did everything I could to make her happy.
Chapter Eight
Rainbow sparkle pancakes turned out to be mock confetti pancakes. Not what I would normally choose, but hey it made Allie happy, and that’s all that matters. The other wondered in slowly. Thankfully, no one dared to ask about last night. It was like they made a silent agreement.
“Mom, I’m going to take Allie out to the mall today… and Whitley tomorrow. That way, they can buy their last-minute gifts without worrying about people trying to peek. Is that okay?” Glancing at my mom, I could tell she was at war with herself. She was probably worried I would have another breakdown or something while alone with Allie or Whitley.
Finally, she looks me in the eye and nods. “Alright. Just promise me you’ll watch them and stay out of trouble, please.” I run towards her and engulf her in the tightest hug, all while chanting a chorus of thank you’s.
“Ha ha okay, why don’t you two go get dressed. Syren, the keys are on the table. Drive carefully!” and then, to my surprise, she kissed my head. She hadn’t done that in years. Not since I was Whitley’s age… not since I started ignoring her and being rude. I know it’s a teenage thing, but that’s no excuse. She never deserved to be treated that way. Letting go, I give her one last smile before heading to my room to change.
Allie was ecstatic, hyper, and just all around a bundle of energy. At the mall, I tried to get her to hold my hand and walk with me. Tried being the imperative word. In the end I got one of those firetrucks looking strollers and placed her in it. Safely contained and entertained. It was a win win as far as I was concerned. We spent all day shopping riding those kiddie rides (yes, I even rode them with her.) getting treats.
We had one more store to stop at, Barnes and Noble. My favorite store. Allie, well… it wasn’t Claire’s, a toy store, or a candy store, so it held absolutely no value to the four-year-old. Walking into the store was like walking into a second home. The smell of burned coffee and new books was everywhere. I had quite a few things I wanted to pick up. Not for Christmas. Well, some for Christmas, but also for birthdays.
I was going to pick up birthday and Christmas gifts for my siblings for every year up till their twenty-first birthday. Thank goodness they have carts in this store because this was going to be a lot of gifts. Not to mention the wrapping paper, gift bags, cards, stationary, you know all the things. I also thankfully had the foresight to make a list of how many gifts each person gets. Taurus is fifteen, so they’ll get fourteen gifts. Seven for Christmas and seven for birthdays. Taurus is probably the easiest to shop for as well. We have known each other since birth. We are the same age and like similar things. Whitley and Allie, on the other hand… well, I’ll leave them for last.
I quickly exchange the bags from the stroller and place them in the cart’s bottom, snagging two of those handheld baskets to stick it all in. Now just to put Allie in the cart and abandon this. I swear I will put it back where it belongs… after I finish in here.
“Syren, how long do we gotta stay in here?”
“Uhm, I have quite a few things to buy in here but I can buy some of them tomorrow with Whitley. Would you like a coffee and treat from Starbucks?”
“Hmmm, alright, I guess that’s fair. BUT I WANT A BIG ONE!”
“… A big one? A big coffee? Al, you know you won’t be able to finish it.”
“I don’t care. Big one!” I will admit. I totally rolled my eyes but walked to Starbucks and ordered her a big vanilla frappuccino and a chocolate chip cookie. I also bought a pack of four twenty-five dollar Starbucks gift cards. I figure it’s an easy little extra thing to place in my family’s letters or cards for a birthday.
“Hey Allie, I need to find some wrapping paper that fits Taurus and some that fits Whitley. Wanna help me choose? You can even choose some bags, tissue paper, and bows.” I swear if
I had my phone still I would have taken a photo of her face. Imagine a four-year-old holding a frappuccino the size of them in one arm and a cookie in the other with their mouth wide open and eyes nearly bugging out. Yeah, see, it’s a hilarious image.
“DUUUUUUUUUH! LETS GOOOO SYREN!” It seems like those might have been the magic words to ignite the fire of energy once again. Thankfully, once we got to the gift wrapping station, she was too focused to actually try to climb out or throw things, or you know scream because she wants down to run.
“Syren! Taurus needs these two!”
“Uhm… sesame street and blue’s clues wrapping paper?”
“YES.”
“Allie, are you sure this isn’t wrapping paper you want? Do you really think Taurus will like these?”
“YES.” Okay, so new tactic… OH.
“Okay, how about this? We get these, but we also choose two more that Taurus might like. BUT, they can’t have characters on them. In fact, we will make it a game. Whoever spots the most Taurus wrapping paper wins a… stuffed animal from the kids’ area?”
“YES YES YES! I’m GONNA WIIIIIN!” Of course she is, it’s not like I’m going to actually try to beat her. But I would look for wrapping paper for Whitley at the same time. Ten agonizing minutes later, Allie has finally chosen her two picks.
“Okay soo I got this pink sparkly one that has blue and green shimmery bits on it and then I gots this one that’s black wiff kittie cats.”
“Ooooh, I love those! Those are perfect for her why don’t we put them in the cart. I just chose this blue glitter paper with mermaids and then this candy themed paper. I bet Whitley would like these, don’t you?”
“Mhm! She will loooooove them.”
“Okay, one thing down gifts to go. Allie, why don’t you be on the lookout for something Whitley would like. Something big okay?” If you’ve ever seen a four-year-old attempt to look serious and concentrate, it is one of the most adorable yet hilarious things. She had her lips all perched out, eyes squinted, and was leaning over the cart to get a good look at everything the store had to offer.
Thirty-eight gifts later, Allie and I are both exhausted and starving. I place Allie in her car seat first and make sure she is buckled safely and then proceed to fill up the trunk with the mountain of things we bought before climbing into the driver’s seat, cranking up the heat and turning up the music.
“Hey Al? Do you want McDonalds?”
“Uhhmph.” What in the heck does that mean? Looking in the mirror, I see Allie barely keeping her eyes open… well, I think I’ll take that as a yes. Thankfully, at seven o’clock at night McDonald’s isn’t too busy and I’m able to order and get us home by seven thirty. I gently unbuckle and carry Allie inside before walking out to grab the food. It takes me ten TEN different trips to bring all the bags up to my room. But I did it.
“Taurus! Whitley! Come here, Allie and I brought dinner!” Waking Allie gently, I carry her to her high chair and lay out her happy meal and juice.
“Thanks for bringing us food. Mom forgot she had work at the hospital and had to rush out about thirty minutes ago. And well, we both know I am a horrible cook.”
“It’s fine, I remembered as I was pulling into the drive through that mom had work. So I figured even if you two ate, you’d still appreciate a snack.”
“I wuuuuv vew,”
“What? Whitley, don’t talk with your mouthful.”
“Seriously? Jeez, it’s like having a second mom. I said I love you, by the way. I was starving.”
“I’m going to put Allie to bed and then probably head to bed myself. I didn’t get much sleep last night… actually none of us did.” I could feel Taurus’s eyes on me and pointedly ignored them.
“Thank you and goodnight, Taurus. Whitley, why don’t you go head to bed as well. We have a long day shopping tomorrow.”
“Fine. But I’m not doing it because you told me to. I’m just actually tired and was going to go to bed soon anyway…”
“Mhm sure Whit, goodnight and I’ll see you in the morning.” I actually should head to bed as well. Well, to my room. I have too many things to wrap, organize, and write and literally no time.
Chapter Nine
As I enter my room, I allow a few tears to fall. I would miss it. My beautiful bed that I searched everywhere for a blue velvety comforter. My dresser that had makeup stains all over it from me being clumsy and dropping literally all of my makeup. My closet that was overrun with clothes that don’t fit and I haven’t worn in years, but I could never bring myself to give away. And then my desk. My pride and joy. I saved up for two years to get my desk and computer. It was an enormous desk with multi-levels that held my computer screen on top, then the modem thingy in the bottom. It even had a drawer and multiple places to keep stationary.
This was my world. My aqua walls filled with cheesy quotes or random celebrities like Zac Efron. My floor with different stains on it from the many spills that’s happened over the years. I know I’m being dramatic… I don’t even know that he will kidnap me or kill me or whatever. But, I just can’t chance it happening and not leaving anything behind. It will be hard enough for them without having to worry about all of my stuff or whether I loved them.
Looking around, I find the bag holding all my new papers and pens. I carefully arrange them on my desk. It was time to write Taurus’s letter… then maybe Jordyn and Marina’s.
Dear Taurus,
Wow… that sounds really formal, actually. But how else am I supposed to start this? I guess. No, I know you’ve noticed how weird I have been lately. I wish I could tell you why or that I’ll be okay… but the truth is, I don’t even know if I will be. I can’t even begin to explain the situation. I’m just following my gut and my gut says- I need to write these. This will be the first of fourteen. One for each birthday and Christmas until you turn twenty-one. I figured that’s the age when you’re completely grown up… so maybe you’ll have moved on by then. I love you so much Taur. You have always been my best friend. My partner in crime. My sibling. We have shared everything with each other. I just- I feel so guilty keeping this from you. But I won’t let you or anyone else get hurt. I love you and will always be with you. Merry Christmas.
~ Love, Syren
Dear Taurus,
Happy Sixteenth birthday! I hope your birthday has been everything we dreamed it would be. I love you so much! You should totally apply for that school you’ve been “secretly” looking into since seventh grade. They’d be stupid not to accept you. Plus, you have this whole diversity factor. I hear Harvard loves that. Well, I guess this is the end until Christmas.
~Love Syren
Merry Christmas Taur,
I bought you something special for this year. I hope you like it. I know the anniversary is coming up… but please try to move on. Live your life, be happy, find love, go to school, achieve your dreams. Not for me, but for you. If you don’t, I’ll know and haunt you.
~Syren
Letter Four…
Wow I can’t believe its already been four letters. I guess happy seventeenth birthday… I don’t really know what to say anymore. I’m trying not to cry so I can finish these… I love yyou Taurus.
~Syren
Christmas. Wow, its been two years already hasn’t it? How are the little ones? III can’t believe I wwont get to be there for them. I HATE HIM!
~S
Happy eighteenth birthday,
Its going on three years now. I’m on letter six. I don’t have much to say other than I love you… please never forget me…. don’t let them forget me.
~S. N. V
III can’t continue lying to you. I love you.
~S
Nineteen,
Wow you’re getting old. I love you. I do hope you took my advice and went to Harvard or wherever your dream school became…. I know you want answers… but…I-I can’t yet.
~Syren
Christmas Christmas Time Is Here Time For Joy And Time For Cheers,
~S. N. V
Taurus. You. Know. Him.
~Syren
Appearances are deceiving…. please watch out for the little ones. Do. Not. Give. Up.
~S
We trusted him. Everyone loved him.
~S.N.V
Taurus. Did they ever find my backpack? He hid it. Check the place I was the last day of school before break… hopefully he didn’t hide it.
~S.N.V
You get an extra one… Here are his initials. G L H. I trust you to stay safe. DO NOT LET HIM KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING!
~SYREN NOVA VELASQUEZ <3
I know I probably shouldn’t have done that… but. Taurus would never just give up…. I don’t think they’d give up at least. I finish labeling the last of their letters and placing them in the box behind the label “Taur”. Hopefully, they obey the yearly thing. Otherwise, they may get hurt, and that is what I am trying to avoid.
I reach over and grab the wrapping paper, bows, and labels Allie and I bought. Thankfully, I put Taurus’s gifts under the desk so I didn’t have to get up and possibly lose my nerve. Taurus was going to get a cold case detective book and a book on staying aware of your surroundings. They would recieve two (besides their normal Christmas gifts) this year. For their birthdays they’ll receive a journal, a book on laws, a documentary on crimes in the U.S., a Starbucks gift card, and another journal, but this one with guided thinking. Now Christmas was when I was throwing in the big guns. They would receive a book on kidnappings, a book on abuse, an evidence journal, a photo of Marina and I and the soccer team, one of my soccer medals, and a book on coaches.
Glancing up at the clock, it’s already eleven pm. I essentially have three days left. Three days left to see my family. My friends. Three days left of being Syren. Okay, deep breathe time to focus on Jordyn and Marina’s letters. They were just getting two, so in theory, it should be easier.
Vanished (Syren Nova Series Book 1) Page 3
