As I walk through the valley of death, I am alone, I am alone

And all those words that you once said, they longer take me home

★†★

I drop a duffle bag on my bed and rush to my closet, packing all the clothes in my closet and dumping everything on the bed. I walk to my side drawer to take my passport, I have got enough money to book myself a ticket to Australia.

They won't know what hit them, I can not believe they did this to me, me their only child. Not to make any wrong assumption, am still going with them not knowing that am alive, which doesn't make any sense.

Am about to pack some warm clothes inside the duffle bag when my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I take my phone out to see an incoming call from an unknown number.

This better not be a prank call. I thought as I pick the call. "Hello?"

I hear a muffles sound on the other side of call until it becomes clear. "Listen because am only saying this once. Four blocks from your old house, there is a coffee shop, wait there for me tomorrow at eleven hundred hours," A very familiar and unmistakable voice speaks to me.

My mouth drops open. "Dad is that you?"

I need him to answer that first before I start bombarding him with questions, but he hangs up instead.

I don't understand what's going on. What the hell is wrong with him? First he calls me after months of ghosting me, didn't say hello or ask how I have been or how I am for that matter. A coffee shop?

Is this some sort of game to him.

The door of my room opens. "So... I have this crazy-" Jessica cuts herself off when she notices me sitting on the floor in front of my bed with my phone clutch tightly in my hand. "Cami, what's going on?" She asks in a small tone as she approaches me slowly. "Where are you going?"

She gets on her knees in front of me. "What's going on?" She asks and her normal bright expression is replaced with a sad sympathetic expression. "Come on, you can tell me anything."

I sigh and look into my eyes. "I.... I just got a call from my Dad-" She interrupts me.

"Well, that's great," She squeals in excitement.

"I wish it was the case, he asked me to meet somewhere," I tell her.

She nods in understanding. "We are going go right?"

I shake my head. "I am going to go, Jessica, not we," I tell her.

My mouth drops open and her eyebrows furrows in confusion. "What? I mean- why-"

I sigh and adjust the way am sitting. "You are already in trouble because of me, I won't drag you into another one, so please stay," I just want her to understand.

She shakes her head furiously am afraid it's going to fall off. "You don't see me complaining, and you didn't drag me into anything and even if you did, I don't regret it, I'd do ever all over again," She stands her grow. One of the things I love about Jessica is that no matter how hard someone tries to change her mind, she won't back down, she won't let anyone change her mind. I know that there is no talking her out of this, I just hope she'd understand and see this from my point of view.

"I want you to understand that this is bigger than me, bigger than any of us. Someone is playing me Jessica, someone is watching me and I think am walking straight into a trap-"

"Then let's walk into it together," She concludes.

I don't know why this is difficult for her to understand, I don't know why she can't just see the danger in this.

"Jessica-" I say her with fear.

She grips my hand in her and looks into my eyes. "Cami please!" She pleads, her eyes is begging me to listen to her. "Don't ever tell me to stay, anywhere you go, I follow even if it's dangerous."

"This could be a trap," I breath out.

Her expression suddenly change to dangerous like she's ready for literally anything. "Let it. I am a Sage, let them come and we are going to give them hell," She says with full confident.

Now I know there is no talking her out of it. "Fine, let's go," I smile but it's quickly fades. "There is something I need to tell you," I realize that I haven't been entirely honest with her.

I don't even know where to start.

★†★

As weird as this school is, we have rules that we follow but only one of the rules is like super compulsory. No students should be seeing lurking around before eight o'clock in the morning no matter the circumstances, I got lucky before because I was with either Roman or Dean. The reason is because our janitors are human and we don't want to give anything out.

Jessica and I spent last night talking, I told her everything and she listens very carefully, commenting on every line. She wasn't really surprised when I told her about my markings, she said she saw them when I almost killed everyone at WestHigh. She sees and notices things and doesn't push for explanation.

We sneak pass the dorm janitors to the compound. Jessica uses one of her Sage powers to distract the people outside the dorm.

We made it to the gate safely. Once registered in the school system, the gate become sensory and opens whenever we approach. We runs out as soon as the gate opens and get to Jessica's car.

"Going somewhere ladies?" We stop at the sound at a familiar voice. We freeze and turn around slowly.

"As a matter of fact yes and there is nothing you can do to stop us," I reply him with a bitter tone.

He scoffs and keeps his hands in his pocket. "Am not here to stop you," He surprises me with those words.

Jessica leaves us and go ahead to the car. "Look Damien, just leave us alone okay," I say in a reserve tone.

He sighs. "Am not here to stop, am here to go with you," He tells me.

I frown and wrap my arms around myself. "I know what you said about helping but you don't have to, Jessica and I have got it," I tell him.

He nods in understanding. "I get and I apologise for what I said earlier, it was wrong and I do hope we can move on from it," He states up.

I chuckle. "You talk like an ancient adult, anyway how do you know where we were?"

He shrugs. "That's for me to know and for you to find out," He winks. "So," He claps his hands. "What's the plan?"

I furrow my brows and take steps closer to him. "You know where we are going?"

He nods. "You going to meet your Dad," He answers.

I chuckle. "You have me on surveillance?" I ask curiously. He better not be the one am looking for.

He shakes his head. "No but I heard you yesterday night," He says.

My mouth drops open, I cannot believe him. "You eavesdropped?"

"I was going to apologise to you when I heard you talking," He says sincerely.

"Fine whatever-"

"Come on guys, we are gonna be late!" Jessica shouts, I turn around to see her sticking her head out of the window.

I sigh and walk towards the car. This is going to be a long ride.

★†★

He's late, he is fucking late. He said eleven and it's almost twelve, I can't believe he is late.

We pick the last booth located at the back of the Cafe, Jessica and Damien ordered cappuccino and sandwich because we haven't had anything today, I'll eat when I see my Dad.

Jessica's hand on my thighis soothing and calming my nerves, but my heart is beating really fast because I don't know what to expect. I can tell she's also worried and nervous.

And then he appears limping forward, and once he is closer, I notice her disheveled and unkept appearance. His cheek is bruise and turning an ugly shade of color. His body seems thinner, weaker and he can barely take a step forward. My mouth drops open at his appearance.

"Am sorry am late," He says when he reaches our table.

I stand up slowly and approach him, I don't know what to say, am speechless. I use my hand to cup his face, careful not to touch his bruise because I know they'll hurt like hell.

"Da.... Dad," I manage to voice out and wrap my arm around his neck, hugging the life out of him. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me back.

"Am sorry, am so sorry," He whispers into my ear.

I pull away from him to his eyes filled with tears. "What happened to you, who did this to you?"

"That's why am here to talk to you," He says.

★†★

I made sure he eats and drinks something before he starts talking. I can't believe that is my Dad, he was healthy the last time I saw him. Am just waiting for him to reveal the person that hurt him.

He clears his throat and looks down on his hand, Damien and Jessica are sitting opposite my Dad and I, also waiting for him to talk.

"Cami, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll always love you and it doesn't change anything," He says in a withdraw tone.

"What doesn't change anything?" I ask curiously and look at Jessica for clue, she only shrugs.

"Listen- what am about to tell you is known to just few people, and I want you to promise me that you won't do anything stupid," He says.

I cock my eyebrows. "Define stupid," I really don't get him, first he said something about a change and now it's about not doing anything stupid.

"Just tell me, Dad," I press before I do something stupid.

He sighs and nod. "Eleven years ago, my wife and I received a visitor from a certain Dean Wallace-" I interrupt him before he finishes.

"Did you say Dean Wallace as in your friend Dean? I didn't know you guy go way back," I realize. I know they were friends but eleven years is a very long time, am just wondering why I never met Dean while growing up.

He nods. "Yes, the Headmaster of The Vale, that Dean."

"Wow! That's cool, Dad," I call. "That's Damien, Dean's son," I introduce.

Dad only nods without acknowledging Damien, Damien did the same thing. I will pretend I didn't see that.

"He brought a kid, a five years old girl to us. He said she's been through a lot and she needed a family, Corinne and I have been trying to get pregnant for a while and it didn't happen, you were a miracle to us, Cami," He explains.

What am I hearing?

"Did you just say Cami? Like I was the kid and Dean knew you weren't biological parents?" I can't believe my ears. I don't blame my Mom or Corinne but Dad, we were so close he should have told me, they never hinted me. Am not heartbroken, am hurt, I can't believe the person I trusted more than anything in this world is the same person that has been lying and keeping secrets from me.

He nods. "Did you know?" I ask Damien, I mean he should, his Dad is Dean aka The King of Liars, and I don't think they keep secrets from each other.

He shakes his head. "No, I didn't know," I can't tell if he's lying or telling the truth, I don't even know what to think. My head was messy before now it's offline.

"I know Cami, I know you are upset just let me finish," He begs.

Okay, I'll suspend all thought until he finishes.

"Ten months ago we called Dean to inform him that your dreams were getting worse and your powers were escalating-"

"You knew I had powers?" I can't..... I can't hear anymore.

He nods in regret. "Yeah, Dean mentions you were a special girl and a tendency of you displaying power."

I scoff. "Indeed. So he told to bring me to The Vale?" I need to know how many people am killing today.

"No! Two people came from the school; Roman Bennett and Sebastian Holme, they said you'd be a good fit," He tells me.

Wow wow. This just getting easier and easier. I recline on the chair and laugh. It's like am in sitcom.

"Why did you sell the house?" I ask curiously as I cross my arm above my chest.

"They asked us to go as far away from you as possible," He answers.

"Roman and Professor Holme?"

I knew something was up with Professor Holme, from the very first moment he made a comment about the song I wrote 'This is the Hunt' and the way Roman was always staring at me, invading my mind and always there whenever I needed someone, they knew what I am or they were studying me.

He nods. "They also said we should tell everyone you are dead," He adds.

I take a deep breath and up on my feet. "I can't do this, I need air, excuse me," I need to get out here before I lose control and do something I'll regret.

My Dad is quickly on his feet. "Cami please wait, there is more," He says.

I nod and sit down. "Continue." Might as well listen to everything before I blow.

"A month after we relocated to Australia. A man came to see us asking about you, we didn't give anything away because Dean wasn't happy with us for bringing you to The Vale, he wanted you to have a normal life. So this Man hurt us and got everything he wanted," He says.

"What about my real parents?" I ask, it seem foreign.

"They are dead, am so sorry. That Raven necklace was the only you brought when you came to live with us."

"What does this man look like?"

"He has scar in his face, has a weird name," He says. I fucking knew it.

"ArihmaTheo?"

"You know him?" At least he helped me.

"Yeah that bastard, he is working for someone."

"I think I know who," Damien adds.

"I don't care. Why the fuck did you keep it from away from me?"

"Mind your language, Camille!" Using the whole father tone.

"You are not my father, you have no right to tell me what to do," I purse my lips after replying.

"Cami-"

Am done, am fucking done.

"Let's go," I order and start walking away, I notice that no one is behind me, I sigh and stop. "I mean it, let's fucking go," I say through grit teeth.

★†★

I pack my hair in a messy bun and sit quietly on my bed as I stare deep outside. My mind is clouded, my head is messy, how can I even make sense of myself if I can't figure out what's going on with me.

I turn back and see Dean enters. I tense up and hug my leg to myself, I haven't spoken to him since we came back and honestly I don't know what to say.

"There is nothing you can say Dean," I tell him before he starts the whole sappy speech, I don't have more tears to shed.

I keep his head low and say. "I know."

"You lied to me," I still can't believe Dean knew.

"I know and you have no idea how sorry I am," He breath out.

"You are right, I have no idea how sorry you are and you have no idea how am feeling right now," I have no idea how am feeling.

"I have my reasons," He says.

I reply. "I know."

"Just let me explain."

"I will when am ready to know the truth, right now I need to focus on my school work," More like use school to distract my problem.

"It's okay to be upset."

"Am not upset, am hurt and I feel stupid," I answer.

"Cam-"

"Just get out."

"I understand you need space but if you need to talk-"

"Just because I haven't been openly hostile to you doesn't mean am cool with you," I channel my inner bitch.

"I-"

"It's as if you didn't hear me clearly, I said get out. Get. The. Fuck. Out," I say through grit teeth.

★†★

💗,Milia.