Chapter 1 Meeting

• Marina
• Age 5
• I was only five years old when I met him. My father always kept me on a tight leash, even on the family estate I was never allowed to stray too far from him or the oddly dressed men who followed me everywhere. Even when I played in the garden, they watched me with strange technology in their ears and rigid postures. I later learned that they were security tasked with protecting me. My dad apparently had enemies in his profession. I wasn’t sure what his job was either but he made a lot of money-- And I mean a lot of money. My mother and I lived under his luxury in Staten Island. We wanted for nothing. I got everything I ever wanted on my birthday, I never wore clothing without expensive labels. To be seen in anything other than Gucci or Chanel would be nothing short of a scandal, my mother would always say.
• On the day in question, I just wanted some privacy, I had been followed around all day since I got back from kindergarten earlier. The only time I had ever been left to myself was when I had to use the bathroom. I strayed a little too far from the garden while my one guard was speaking on the phone. Probably my father. The property was so large and I was so young. I walked through the trees and suddenly, I didn’t know where I was. I walked down the path slowly and the large trees surrounded me on both sides. They towered over my small frame, leaves got stuck in my brown hair, my expensive white Mary Janes were no longer pristine and I knew Mommy would be upset.
• Where am I? What is this place?
• I felt a hand on my shoulder and screamed.
• “It’s okay.”
• I turned around and faced a boy about my age. He was a little taller than me with dark hair and dark eyes. I had never seen him before. “I’m sorry.. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His smile was warm and I felt my fear slowly dissipate, but I was still on guard, just like Mommy and Daddy taught me.
• “It’s okay.” I mumbled, looking down at my feet.
• “I’m Julien.” He held out his hand for me to shake. I bit down on my lower lip and hesitated.
• “I’m Marina.” I shook his hand with a small smile. He seemed nice. “Do you live around here?”
• He nodded and pointed over the hill. “My Mommy and me live in a cabin a little farther up.”
• My blue eyes widened. “Y-you live on the property?”
• He nodded again. “Yeah, my Mommy works at the main house, over there.” He pointed to where I just came from, my home.
• “That’s my home!” I lifted my gaze to his face. “I-I got lost...” my eyes filled with tears and my fear returned. “I.. I don’t know where I am. I just want to go home.”
• Julien hugged me close to his small body. I began to cry and shake. I was lost in the middle of the woods and I didn’t know if I’d ever make it home, if I’d ever see my parents again. He held me by the shoulders and stared intensely into my eyes. “It’s okay, Marina. I can take you home to my mama. She’ll know what to do, and I can get you home. Okay?” He flashed me a reassuring smile and I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hands.
• “Okay.”
• We walked down the path together and soon the sun began to set. The forest grew dark and shadows played tricks on the forest floor. I bit my lower lip, which began to tremble. Something rustled in the bushes, causing me to grab onto Julien’s arm. “W-what was that?!”
• Julien grabbed my hand tightly. “It’s okay Marina. I’ll protect you. I’ll always protect my friends.”
• I felt tears threatening to spill. “Friends? I don’t have any friends..”
• “You’re my friend now and I’ll always protect you, Marina. I’ll be your hero.” Julien puffed out his chest and smiled widely.
• I giggled and nodded. “I like that.”
• We walked through the forest, my hand held tightly in his own. Every time I got scared, he hugged me close and told me stories about princes and princesses fighting off dragons and other scary creatures. I didn’t feel so afraid as I walked beside Julien. We finally made it to a smaller cabin in the woods. This house was nowhere near as big as my own and it was made of wood, not brick and stone. “Mommy!” He called out when he pulled me inside. The living area was furnished in comfortable looking couches covered in soft blankets. A small tv sat in the corner and there was a bookshelf beside it. To the right was a smaller kitchen area with a hallway to the left. “Come on. She’s probably in her room.”
• Julien motioned for me to sit and I looked at him. He wants me to sit? On the furniture? I’m not allowed to do that at home. Mommy always says the furniture is too expensive and I get yelled at when I try and sit on it. Everything in my house it white and clean and here, it’s kind of dirty and old but it looks so comforting.
• “Come. Sit.” He patted the seat beside him on the brown couch.
• “I’m not supposed to.” I mumble, biting my lip.
• “What? You’re not supposed to sit? On the couch?” I shook my head in response. “Why?”
• I shrugged. “I’ll get punished. Mommy says I’m not allowed on the couches at home.”
• His dark eyes narrowed. He reached out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me so I sat down beside him. “That’s dumb. We don’t have that rule.”
• “Julien? Julien honey, are you alright?” A feminine voice called out and a woman emerged from the back hallway. Her hair and eyes were dark like Julien but her face was soft and kind. I immediate drew the lines of comparison between her and my mother. Mommy’s face was angled and her blue eyes were always narrowed, always studying me. This woman’s eyes locked on me and softened. I immediately liked her. “Marina? What are you doing here?”
• “She got lost, mama. I found her in the woods.” Julien explained, squeezing my hand.
• “Your father must be worried sick!”
• I must’ve visibly flinched because Julien turned to me with a puzzling look on his face like he wanted to ask a question. Just her mentioning Daddy made my heart begin to race. Daddy wasn’t a nice man. He was controlling and sometimes.. evil. I was completely terrified of him and I knew I’d be punished. I shuddered at the thought of Daddy’s angry blue eyes, his large palms... his belt. Julien squeezed my hand. “You okay?”
• I nodded. I wanted to cry. I didn’t want to face Daddy. “Y-yeah...”
• “You sure?”
• I nodded again and stared at Julien’s mom who was on the phone. My eyes widened. No. She was calling him.
• “Yes, Mr. Vascotto?... yes... it’s Amelia... I have Marina. She got lost and my son found her in the woods...” She said into the phone. She bit her lip and her face went white as I heard yelling on the other end of the phone call. I was in trouble. I knew I was.
• “Is that your dad?” Julien turned to me and asked. I nodded, my throat suddenly too dry to form words. “He sounds angry.”
• “He’s going to punish me. I went too far.” I mumbled, mostly to myself.
• “What? What do you mean? Are you sure you’re okay?” He was concerned.
• I nodded. “Yeah. Don’t worry Julien.”
• Julien frowned but didn’t say another word. I knew I didn’t fool him. He could clearly see something was going on.
• “Of course Mr. Vascotto. Right away. Yes, in my home. Thank you sir. See you soon.” Julien’s mother hung up the phone an turned to me with a forced smile. “Don’t worry sweetheart, your father’s coming to get you.”
• Your father’s coming to get you.
• With those six words my heart rate increased. Julien looked to his mother and then his eyes landed on me. He was trying to figure out what was going on but I would never tell him. Julien was my only friend, the only friend that Daddy hasn’t been able to scare away... yet. I won’t let him. Time ticked by slowly. Julien kept trying to ask questions but I would only respond in a few words. I stared at the clock on the wall and nervously played with my blue dress in my hands as I waited.
• It was all I could do.