Wicked Road Read online

  The next day...

  The daily newspaper, which was always in Todd's hands every morning, told a heart wrenching tale. On the home page, the fire was the first thing his eyes caught. He knew the people who lived there, but not well. He'd seen their daughter as a patient in the past. They just lived a couple of blocks away, in his very own neighborhood.

  “May God give both of you peace,” he whispered.

  He placed the newspaper down and sipped his morning coffee. He had that tingly feeling of what death felt like as he grew older each year, grew closer to death. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Mathew yet at such an age to face the world all alone.

  Across the table from him sat his six year old, Mathew.

  “God give who peath?” Mathew asked. He had a lisp, because his front teeth were broken.

  “Some neighbors that died in a fire last night.”

  “Really?” he raised an eyebrow. He didn't know how to exactly feel towards this, but he knew death was a scary thing.

  “Yup. Hurry up, finish your breakfast. We don't want you to be late on your first day of school.”

  Mathew smiled showing two missing front teeth. He placed a spoonful of cereal crunch toast in his mouth.

  Mathew was so excited to start school. He’d kept nagging Todd about it. Today was his first day in first grade. He couldn't wait to make friends, play, and meet friendly teachers.

  Todd chuckled lightly at the expression on his face, the enthusiastic spirit for loving school. He just hoped that when he grew up he wouldn't hate it. He also hoped he'd raise him into a good man with many dreams that he wanted to do.

  After parking in front of the school, Todd was surprised Mathew wasn't nervous on his first day. Well, he shouldn't have been surprised since Mathew was excited to start school. Instead, he was in a very chatty mood, like his usual self.

  “Okay. Here's your backpack, Mathew. Now, remember, don't go wandering anywhere alone, okay. Always listen to what your teachers say. Please don't give them a hard time.” A word of advice from a parent wasn't so bad, he thought. It gave him a piece of mind at least, so he wouldn't be worried about him.

  “Yeah, yeah. Okay, okay,” Mathew said impatiently, wanting to go see his homeroom class already. He wanted to break into a sprint to get to the classroom first. He was that anxious.

  “Angela is going to pick you up at one, okay?” Angela Sniper was Mathew's nanny/babysitter ever since he came into Todd's home. He got a nanny the day after Todd filed Mathew's paperwork. He had been lucky and till this day she still helped Todd with him.

  “I got it Todd.”

  Todd felt that little sting every time Mathew called him by his name. He was an honest man though and refused to hurt Mathew someday when he let him read the note he’d save. He didn’t want to see that disappointment on his face once he knew the truth of his past. Even though he wanted him to call him Dad, he didn’t mind so much because it was best for Mathew.

  Of course Mathew had asked why and Todd had answered as truthfully as he could.

  “You’re special Mathew, not like other kids. Someday, when you’re older, I’ll tell you the truth”.

  Mathew never mentioned it again. His feeling of specialness stayed with him, always.

  “Thatta boy.” Todd messed up Mathew's hair.

  “Todd,” Mathew whined.

  “See ya later runt.”

  Then, he watched Mathew walk into his classroom with a huge smile on his face. Todd chuckled at him on his way out of the school. He drove off to work.

  On the way, he thought about the fire last night.

  The parents were dead, but the little five year old girl was still alive. He hoped people would take her in and raise her right.

  On a second thought, he wanted to take her into his home. He wanted to add just one more person to their family, and she would be perfect.

  He wanted to try raising a boy and a girl under his roof. He wanted to learn the difference since he'd heard so many stories of when it came to raising kids. He'd try his best to give her what she wanted, and needed, to make her happy just like he's doing with Mathew.

  Losing both parents at such a young age would be really tough. His own dad ran out on him when he had been eight years old. His mom had died from alcohol poisoning when he’d turned eleven. When he’d had nowhere to go, his aunt, from his mom's side had taken him in. She’d raised him to be the man he was today.

  Let's hope she's still there. I guess I'm going to adopt her, he thought as he turned his car around and headed to the Department of Children’s Services. Even though it’s decided, he still wondered if she has any other family to take care of her. What if she has God parents? He thought. If she did have God parents, it doesn’t hurt to at least check on how she was doing since he was her doctor.

  “Hello Mrs. Varcer.”

  “Why, hello Mr. Ronalds. What can I do for you today?” She smiled wide at his sudden appearance.

  “I was wondering how the young girl from yesterday's fire was doing?”

  “She’s distraught of course, but with our counselor while we find her a place to stay. Unfortunately, her parents didn’t leave a will or document as to who to appoint as her legal guardian. The only other person in her life, according to records, is her doctor. Which would be you Mr. Ronalds.”

  Todd was a bit shocked that he was the only other person, and her only doctor her parents appointed, but glad that he can take this chance. “No relatives or close family friends?”

  “When I spoke to the neighbors they all said the same thing. No one ever visited except them. Their family was perfectly nice and very sociable, but they had never seen anyone else.”

  “That’s so terrible.”

  “Are you interested in taking her in? You’d be perfect since she already knows you.”

  “Yes, of course. I'd love to.”

  “Lovely. I’ll let our counselor know you’re here to file guardianship papers. Fill these out and leave them on my desk. I’ll get her paperwork done quickly so she can go home with you today.”

  Todd took the papers and filled them out, all the while feeling a bit edgy about this big decision.

  While he waited, he pondered on how Mathew would feel. Would Mathew accept her? He knew he would understand. But would he reject her? Will jealousy overcome him?

  Moments later, Mrs. Varcer came back smiling.

  “Here she is,” Mrs. Varcer said.

  It had been some time since he last saw her. She was the most adorable little girl with her black hair and green eyes. Her eyes were empty and lost. She walked with her head down, barely aware of her surroundings. It was clear the girl was in shock and heart broken.

  He saw her hand injured, wrapped up in a bandage. She was pale and had obviously been crying recently. She needed someone to hold her and explain her tragedy otherwise the little girl would become a non-responsive shadow the rest of her life.

  He remembered then how his mom had died and how he’d become so angry. He had turned out a rowdy teenager always getting into trouble and getting into things he wasn't supposed to get involved in. He shoved the memory away. It made him edgy.

  Would Donnie turn out like how he had been as a teenager? Since then he had gotten control over his feelings, he’d gotten used to it.

  Mrs. Varcer gave Todd Donnie's important documents.

  “Come on, Donnie, say hello to your doctor, Mr. Todd. He will be taking care of you from now on.”

  Donnie just looked up at Todd, through her dark hair, with emptiness and grief. The pain on her face was hard to avoid.

  “She hasn't spoken a word ever since she got here. None of the kids will play with her either. She stays away from them too. I think you may have a silent one here.”

  “I'll take care of her. No worries. I still have Mathew and he's happy to be with me. I'm pretty sure she'll come around and start talking.”

  He reached out his hand and took her unwounded one in his. She went with the flow
as it held no feeling to her, no emotion. She just had to take his hand, because she had nothing else to do.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you?” she asked.

  “No, but thank you.”

  They left and headed to his car. He read her documents while the car warmed up.

  Today was her sixth birthday. That brought tears to his eyes. The memories of his past childhood began to reel in his head again.

  He looked at her. She wasn't looking at him, but staring ahead into emptiness, into nothing.

  What a bad day for her that when she grows up she's going to be remembering her parents' death just a day before her birthday, he thought. He bet she had been expecting to have nice presents today and a birthday cake. He wanted to tell her happy birthday, but decided against it. It wasn't the time to tell her just yet.

  On the way to his house he calmed himself.

  “So, are you hungry?”

  She didn't say anything.

  “Would you like to see where I work?”

  She didn't say anything.

  “Do you like chocolate?” He began feeling desperate for an answer. He wanted her to at least say something. Anything, even if it were a whisper of a breath.

  Still, she didn't say anything.

  He decided to tell her what awaited ahead of her, how her life would be every day.

  “There's a kid I have, about your age. He’s a year older than you, actually. He's not really my son. He's one of those kids who were abandoned by their own parents.”

  Again, she didn't reply.

  “I found him when he was just a newborn...Oh, who am I kidding talking to a six year old?!” He was just trying...

  She finally sighed.

  He looked at her. Now, he thought, progress is starting. He spoke softly saying, “So, where would you like to go?”

  For the first time since her parents passed away, she said, on the verge of tears, “Home.”

  For a moment Todd wanted to cry. It blistered his own heart with fierce warmth that such a child at this age understood what was going on in her life. It was harder to imagine. He wished he could erase all this pain for her, to comfort her.

  He sniffled. “Don't you worry. You'll be the luckiest girl on earth, with the best home, and the best room. My house is huge. It's a two story so I've got a few extra, empty rooms. You'll love it. Would you like us to go buy room decorations? Anything you want, you'll get. The payment is all on me.” The last line he spoke as a joke.

  She hesitated in her answer and in her next move (not being in the mood for jokes). She looked at him and nodded. It sounded good to her. The fear of not belonging began to vanish from her soul, realizing that Todd was already spoiling her, and accepting her into his life. They headed to Sleep Well Depot to buy her a room full of decorations.

  “Anthela, I have a quethton?”

  Angela smiled and giggled at the way Mathew talked. It was too cute to her.

  “Yes Mathew?”

  “Are you really a thniper?” He asked, giving her a questioning expression.

  She laughed kindheartedly.

  “Of course not Mathew, it’s just a last name. Is Todd letting you watch too many action movies again?”

  He nodded proudly with a smile, showing off his missing front teeth. She laughed again.

  They reached Todd's house. Angela got confused when she saw Todd's car parked in front of his open garage. “That's weird, Todd's home early.”

  “There musth be thomthing importhant.”

  “Maybe. Alright, come on.”

  He hopped down after she opened his car door and handed him his mini Batman backpack.

  “Todd, we're here,” Angela called out, both of them walking inside the house.

  He appeared at the foot of the stairs, and rushed down. “Hey guys, guess what? We have a new addition to the family.”

  “Really? Who?”

  “The girl from the fire last night.”

  “Donnie Sparks?” Angela guessed.

  Todd nodded. “Hey Matt, would you like to meet Donnie?”

  “Thure.”

  “Don't be hard on her, okay? She had a really tough night. Right now it’s not easy for her. You understand?” Todd told him with determination.

  “Yeth,” Mathew told him with sincerity in his eyes.

  “I knew you would.” Todd smiled. There was something good and nice about and in Mathew. He had a good heart, even though he was only six. But, as they say, age is just a number.

  This day, Donnie didn't feel like a total stranger or an outcast. She was accepted very quickly and trusting them felt easy. They all loved her from the first day. They all helped finish her room.

  Todd threw her a little surprise birthday party along with nice presents and that made her forget about the negativity that had surrounded her for a while at the moment.

  She made her wish before she blew out her six candles. She wished her parents were alive, but since that wasn't happening, she only wished them heaven. It brought tears to her eyes when it all came back to her and Todd shed a few tears along with her. Even Angela sniffled just by seeing at how broke down she was.

  Mathew was too shocked to even react. She cried, covering her face with her baby hands, to hide the tears.

  Todd felt bad all of a sudden thinking that it wasn't really a good idea to throw her a birthday party right now. He picked her up off the chair and sent her upstairs to her room while she wept in his arms. They all knew she was too broken. Nothing in the world can erase the blackness that shrouded her soul, the grief she was now going to live in. Misery indulged her.

  But the positive side of everything was that she felt so welcome and at ease in this new home, with this new family. But she still felt alone without her parents. Going to sleep in her new, green bed that Todd let her pick out on her own, she thought sadly, no more color pink and no more princesses for me. It consisted of pretty white flowers on it.

  She had only one thing on her mind right now, while trying to fall asleep. She kept seeing the ceiling of her parent's bedroom fall on top of them and her house burn to the ground. That was a nightmare to her. She had a feeling that this nightmare wasn't the end, that this wasn't the end, but a beginning of something new to learn. It was a fresh start to a new life and she had to strive forward. Still though, her precious mind that used to be filled with light and life was now a dark curtain filled with sadness and misery from every angle she tried to turn to.

  Chapter

  One

  Present Day.

  Heading to Springville High school, two weeks into the school year already, my best friend Ronnie, wasn't with me today to walk with me. It comforted me to have someone who was into the same things as I was and willing to be my friend. He cheered me up with a smile every day of my life since the beginning of it all.

  Today though was one of those days where crap was brewing in the air. I had to go with Mathew, and his friends to school in his car. Apparently, Ronnie was sick with the flu on this rainy day, which was still a beautiful day to me. I would've taken my car, but the dweeb wouldn't let me.

  I'd taken my car once, last year, and I took advantage of it by skipping school all alone. In the end I got caught and in trouble – I could be a rebel sometimes. And Ronnie couldn't come with me, because he was sick at that time. Is it always flu season for him every year? I never questioned him about it even though I was kind of anxious to know.

  Heading to my first class, which was Physics, I wanted to run away. Not from the subject, but from what was standing by its door. It was Tina Reese and her three followers. It's been like this ever since I entered high school. I knew I should’ve been used to it by now, but I wasn't. Once she saw me, she couldn't tear her glare away from me. She made my bones chill and made my spine tingle. I could feel the goose bumps forming under my sweater already.

  Her other friends laid their eyes on me too. Even so, I kept it all cool. Even though my heart was quietly panicking and my stomach ke
pt twisting into one big, fat knot.

  They were silent when I approached the door. Then all of a sudden one of her followers, I think Jeannette was her name, whispered something in her ear which had to be something mischievous since she gave me an ugly stare.

  I mean, don't mean girls always talk crap about freaks like me? Yeah. Who wouldn't know?! Everyone knew mean girls were divas and thought the world revolved around them. They needed to grow up really. The way they were acting was pathetic, and a bit childish.

  I breathed deeply as I walked in between them as if everything was okay and chill. Chill until when I reached my corner seat, I tripped on my own foot. It happens on ‘special’ occasions. My feet betray me every time.

  I heard laughter by the door, and some snickers in the class. I wanted to cry, and my heart felt like leaping out of my chest to run away, and hide, but I held it all in since I was used to all of this.

  No way in hell was I going to be a wimp during my last year in high school. Instead, I was going to stand up for myself. I was sick and tired of being mistreated. I got up off the ground and kept walking to my desk without looking back. As I sat, while class began, I covered my face with my bangs and waited until class was over. It was better that I kept quiet right now. I didn't want to start mess just yet.

  I headed to the cafeteria, buying a bottle of water since they don't serve us energy drinks, and went to sit at Mathew's table. Spike, Jade, and to my surprise Ronnie, was there while Mathew was in line getting his lunch for the day.

  “I thought you were sick?” I asked him in a sad, disappointed tone. He shouldn't be here. He should be in bed resting.

  He coughed, obviously sorry. I slightly got angry at him since I had been feeling a bit worried about him.

  “The dude can't talk. He's got a bad sore throat,” Jade answered with a cunning smile. Jade is the bassist to Mathew's band. He had natural brown hair with dyed blonde highlights that reached to his shoulders, and hazel eyes.