I stood at the corner, waiting. I didn't know how to feel about this. But I didn't have much time to think about it as a black stretch limo with dark opaque windows pulled up next to me. A door opened, and I stepped in. Immediately, of course, I was blindfolded.
Me: So where's the piñata? Nobody laughed, Tough crowd.
I sat there for about 30 minutes, it felt like we were in a tunnel but I wasn't sure. Finally, I was guided out of the limo and my blindfold was taken off.
Grandpa: Welcome, young Miss Stryker! ... to only one of my grand estatesIn front of me, there was a building the size of two large townhouses.
Me: Woaah!Grandpa: Oh, that's just the garage. this is the house. We walked around the oversized garage to find what appeared to be the same size as two stacked skyscrapers laying horizontally.
Me: This an estate?! Grandpa: This is one of my smaller ones, I largely prefer my castle in Scotland above all other homes though. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll take you there. Me: *mumbles* and they say crime doesn't pay...He smiled. Though this place was awesome, it was completely creepy. Like a haunted house or something.
I followed him through the garden and into the house. The halls were regal and elegant, and several portraits of him hung on the wall.
Grandpa: So I- His phone rang.
Grandpa: Oh excuse me, I have to take this. He answered the phone. I hardly heard the conversation, something about an special away assignment to a country in Asia. I don't know. Evil bosses :T He hung up and walked back toward me.
Grandpa: I apologize for that, the events tonight are these. We will walk, explore. Shortly after, we shall eat; I have a dress prepared for you in one of the rooms-Me: I have to change? What's wrong with what I'm wearing? I looked down at my sweater, it had a spaghetti stain on the sleeve and a little of the side had teared. In other words, nothing wrong with it!
Grandpa: ... Righttt... You want to wear that to dinner? What sort of common unmannered household did you grow up in? Me: Excuse me? Grandpa: Well, you don't even wear clothing that fits! Where did you even get that sweater? The garbage can? Me: ... My best friend gave me this sweater... She passed away in sixth grade. There was a long silence.
It was true. In middle school I had a very close friend named Amber, she had a severe medical condition. And well, you know the rest. I went through a tough time after that, and my parents weren't very supportive. I spent all day hearing "You have plenty of friends, you'll get over it". Amber's family let me go through some of her stuff, my parents told me that I could only take one thing because they didn't want any clutter. So I chose the jacket, it reminds me of her.
Grandpa: I'm sorry for your loss. But wearing a dress to dinner is-Me: Your kidding me. I am not wearing the dress! I needed something to throw on the ground for dramatic effect so I grabbed the book on the pedastal next to me and slammed it down against the floor.
Grandpa: Young lady! This is not appropriate behavior. I am your grandfather! You are to treat me with the utmost respect! Me: Well EXCUSE ME then! It's not like I grew up with an entire organization devoted to my every whim and an incredibly messed up but loving family that I've always wanted! How am I supposed to know how treat every individual member of my family?! #sass Yup.
Grandpa: Well, how about your boss then?! Me: Oh so we're bring this up now are we? Even though it was the creepiest and weirdest way possible, you brought me to your house as a member of the family, NOT AS AN AGENT! I pushed a vase off a tiny table. A ninja dived in, caught it, and placed it securely back onto the table. Then he disappeared on ropes leading to the ceiling.
Grandpa: YOUNG LADY! I am-Me: the name is XURA! I clenched my fists until the knuckle bones were white like snow. There was a hesitation on his part.
Me: My name is Xura. Not "Miss" or "young lady". I'm Xura Stryker, and I have no idea how to be a granddaughter. And clearly, you don't know how to be a grandfather. I sat down with my back against the wall.
He sighed and shook his head.
Grandpa: I've waited all my life to meet you, I thought this would be easy. It wasn't difficult with Angela, why you? Me: Angela and I are not the same person. We had different lives, and we have different morals. Grandpa: But you had the easier life, didn't you? With these organizations, Angela was constantly-Me: Around people who adored her, and people who followed her every order. Grandpa: But weren't you? It's likely you still live with your parents, correct? Me: No. My "parents" hate me. They left me the second I left them. They cut off all my funding, even my lunch money!The only thing I asked them save.... Wow. That's kinda sad. My main priority, even though I had no idea where I was going, was food. Welp. Food=life. I'm sure Cassie would say something like that.
Grandpa: I'm sorry, I didn't know. Me: I find that surprising since you do own a stalkerish organization and everything. Grandpa: I-I didn't know where you were! We scoured the city with no results. Me: You know, this is getting exhausting, I just want to go home. Grandpa: and where is your home? Me: ... Where's yours? I began to storm down the hallway.
Grandpa: Wait!I stopped.
Me: What? Grandpa: Please come to dinnerMe: No thanksGrandpa: I am not a man to beg, but I desprately want to get to know you. I know that I'm insensitive, stuck-up, and a little stubborn... But your more important than everything I have. I sighed. To be honest, after the whole Asgard scene, I needed to take a nap. But, then again, he'd probably never say this again. Why is my life so crazy?!
Me: Alright, fine. I'll stay for dinner but not any longer. I had a long day today. Grandpa: School? Me: Uh... Yeah. School... And fencing lessons. Grandpa: Fencing? I thought you had no funding. Me: My boyfriend is richGrandpa: You're living off others money? Me: Pretty muchGrandpa: How much money do you have in your pockets right now? I reached into my pockets and turned over what I had.
Me: hmm... In the left pocket we have, a string, 2 pennies and a bean! That's right, folks! We said we have a bean! A soybean to be specific. And now onto the right pocket. Well, it appears we have a dust bunny, a rubber band, and finally, a stick of gum! Wow for all of you back home we sure know which pocket is the winner. I unwrapped my piece of gum and popped it into my mouth.
Grandpa: That's ridiculous. My wallet in my left pocket has at least $2,000 dollars in it! How much is in your bank account? Me: Not that I actually have a bank account, but aren't these questions an invasion of personal privacy? Grandpa: What? You don't have any money? Did you ever get allowance? Me: Woah, woah, woah! Back up there buddy. I have at least $500 back at home. And allowance? What even is that? Soooo long story short, we got into a big discussion about money and the borrowing of money and how it's important to have a bank account and yadeyadeyada.
Grandpa: That's it. Tomorrow your getting a bank account. I'll start it with a million dollars and fund it each month with $100,000. Me: A million dollars?! Grandpa: relax, I'm a billionaire. That amount is small potatoes. Me: ... Ok. Thank you. He smiled.
Grandpa: I know that we can never have a perfect relationship because of how everything has happened... But I wouldn't mind having a relationship.I smiled. A relationship with my evil boss that also happens to be related to me... And I'm spying on him... going to betray him in the future... Yeah. this oughta be interesting.
Me: Okay. But if we really want this to go somewhere and mean something, lets start over. Wow this entire thing has been like one of those cheesy movies.
Grandpa: Alright.So, we talked. For a long time, until we went to eat. It was at a long table and it had 2 silver platters sitting at each end.
Grandpa: I hope you enjoy the dinner. I had it imported from France this morning...I sat down.
Me: Sounds like it should be goodI lifted off the lid of the platter to find shells and slimey stuff.
Grandpa: Escargot! Me: Oh... Snails... How uh... Interesting. Grandpa: Interesting? That's all? Me: *ahem* uh...Well, that wasn't one of my best moments.
Me: I don't like eating snails. Grandpa: What! That's ridiculous! Everyone loves snailsMe: O_o Where have you been all your life? Grandpa: it's just- I was sure you would like them. Angela does. Me: For the last time I am NOT Angela! My glass of water broke next to me.
Grandpa: I know, I- He paused.
Grandpa: Did you do that? Telekinesis. I felt my heart rate go up. You know that feeling when your lying or holding a secret and you just want to burst?
Me: I must have knocked it over. Grandpa: Peculiar. A shame too, it was a $400 glass made of pure diamond- hard to break. He glared at me.
Me: ... Grandpa: Mind explaining? Me: I don't think I can, It was a spontaneous accident. Grandpa: What aren't you telling me? Me: What do you mean? Grandpa: Why do you continue to play dumb? Me: Maybe I'm not playing... Oh wait. I take that back, I didn't think that one through. Listen, I don't know what happened, okay? Grandpa: How does a glass made of diamond break like that?! Me: I don't know! Maybe it's not really made of diamond! I picked it up and read the bottom.
Made in the Rocky Mountain mines
Gem material: Diamond
Me: There, that's the proof. It says here that It was made in China, and it's glass. Secrets are just awful.
Grandpa: I specifically requested diamond glasses for this occasion. I-He lifted up his glass and looked under it.
Grandpa: I-I- this... This is glass made in China. WHAT?! I. Can. Not. Believe. This. Just. Happened.
Grandpa: You-you were right. I can't believe I even doubted you. I thought that you might have some kind of mutant ability or something. Me: Mutant ability? That's a little crazy, don't you think? AGH!!!!! What is happening?!!!!!!!!!
Grandpa: Yes. I suppose it was a little... Farfetched. I apologize for my behavior. It appears that my smuggler friends have cheated me. *sighs* I will have to take care of this in the morning. In the meantime, If you will not eat escargot, what food is of your interest?Me: Well, I like pizza. Grandpa: Pizza? You could have any food in the world right now, surely you can think of something else! Me: Uhm... No. Pizza sounds good. Pizza and maybe a coke in one of those styrofoam cup thingies. Grandpa: But-but that food is... *sighs* I can have my chef ninjas prepare it. Me: Chef ninjas? Suddenly, ropes fell from the ceiling all around us and ninjas swiftly slid down and flipped to the floor. Yeah, sounds ridiculous. BUT IT HAPPENED! They had big white chef hats and belts filled with sauces, knives, and ninja stars.
Ninja dude: Hoy! *salutes*My Grandpa whispered some stuff to him. The ninja nodded, saluted again, and then kartwheeled out of the room with his other ninja companions.
Grandpa: So let's hear about school. After that, we began a large conversation that was just pretty much boring. Finally, the time came to leave.
Me: *laughs about something* It's been nice seeing you.He nodded.
Grandpa: Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.Me: Oh.. Uh.. May the force be with you! George Lucas, Star Wars. He shook his head and facepalmed himself. I got into the limo, and again, was blindfolded immediately.
Me: Really? Again? Agent dude: Sorry, nothing personal. The voice sounded somewhat familiar. But then again, I know I lot of people so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just some random stranger. The limo doors closed and we began to drive off. Since I had nothing else to do I began to think about the voice. Where had I heard it or something similar to it before? Joey? No, his voice is a bit Australian. It can't have been Jake or Matthew. Definitely not Coleson, he has a distinguished way of speaking.
Agent dude: Would you like a drink? it's a long ride. Then, it hit me. And I knew instantly I was trapped. I wasn't heading home or to that corner where I started. This guy in front of me wasn't someone on my side.
Emerald
I don't know how Cobra could have found me so fast but I know I have to get out of here. Because I'm in a limo I know I would have no chance at jumping out, so I have to come up with another plan.
Me: Uh... *cough cough* no thanks. I have to act natural
I crossed my legs, leaned awkwardly to the side and tilted my head back. Natural: Nailed it.
Emerald: What are you doing? *sighs* and you sure you're not thirsty? Me: Just Uh... You know, .... Uh... stretching! And yeah, I'm not thirsty.Emerald: You sure look thirsty. Me: I'm not-I stopped myself. He keeps wanting me to drink this. There's probably a sedative mixture inside it.
Me: Ok. I am thirsty. But I can only drink with my blindfold off. Emerald: What? *cough* Uh.. er.. But you can't see which way we're going! It's against the rules. Me: Okay. I won't drink anything. Emerald: .-. If I take your blindfold off, you have to look only at the floor.Me: Okie dokie. He moved next to me and began to take my blindfold off. A strand of my hair hung loosely in front of the tie. His fingers were incredibly gentle as he delicately slid the strand aside. My heart almost skipped a beat. It was unusual for people to touch my hair, especially so gently. A shy feeling took over, and my cheeks became hot. Emerald hesitated and undid the tie.
Right away, I saw the floor. I cleared my throat and he awkwardly waddled the other way. He handed me the glass.
Me: Oh no. I can't drink this. Emerald: What now? *ahem cough* I mean what's the problem? Me: don't you know? I have to have all my drinks tasted before I drink anything. I heard some cars pass and I felt the road bumps of the city. The door wasn't locked, if we stopped I could run for it.
Emerald: Tasted? What are you? A princess? Me: Well, I am the daughter of two crime lords, the sister of a crime lord, and the grand-daughter of yet another crime lord. Wow. Saying that aloud, I think I finally realized how important I am. I mean, if I owned a secret organization, I would even kidnap me. I felt the car slowly pulling to a stop.
If I was going to do this it would have to be now.
Wish me luck!
