Chapter 24: Lisa

When I woke up, I was covered in sheets in a comfortable bed. The room was dark. Moonlight seeped in through the windows, downwards...Was I in a basement? The place was dusty. From the smell, I could tell that it hadn't been used for a while. After turning around, I saw a girl sitting awkwardly next to the bed on a chair.

"I am glad you woke up. How are you feeling now?" she inquired.

I looked around. Marc and Mom were nowhere in sight. I didn't recognize the girl or the place.

"I am better now. Where am I?" I offered.

Her eyes beamed with happiness.

"Oh brilliant. I have panic attacks too, you know? Sometimes I can't breathe. Sometimes I have trouble standing. If it happens again, exhale with force, slowly. I can teach you a few tricks to control them better. Are you hungry? There's no food here. But it'll be here soon. Can I get you some water? Oh, wait. There's no water here, it's.."

"On its way here?" I finished her sentence as she found her breath and calmed down.

"HA. Yes." She let out softly. She was probably still in school. What was I doing with a teenager in a basement? I didn't want to scare her with questions, so I bit my lip.

I noticed my mother and Marc coming in just then.

"Mom!" I cried.

"Sweetie. Are you okay?"

"Yes." My eyes moved to Marc.

"So, I take it that you two have met?" My mom said, winking at me.

"Are you mad?" I asked her.

"That he is married? Yes."

"No, Mom." I held my tongue. She didn't know what Marc and I had been up to that evening, I realised. I didn't have to fill her in. Besides, I had so many questions that everything about Marc and I could wait.

"Oh, you meant if I was mad about the two of you?"sheshe continued.

I looked at her with horror. How did she know? I was beginning to feel ashamed when I saw her lips curve into a smile. I continued to gaze at her confused. "You are your father's daughter. You just had to be drawn to danger" she said letting a mysterious smile slip.

"What? WOAH. You and Bro. So you are a nerdy girl he told me about?" The teenager asked.

"The nerdy who he said what about?" I looked at Marc now. What was he thinking?

"A..um.. I am Lisa."

"I am Tia."

"Lisa, this is my younger sister." Marc finally spoke.

"Can someone fill me in on what's happening?" I asked, nearly begging with frustration.