Chapter 1 My father's Murder

Gemma's POV I looked up the window and was mesmerized by the wondrous sight I saw. My parents and I have just arrived at the black yellow beach in Hawaii and our first visit to the beach after we discovered that I am allergic to salt water. Well forgive my manners, let me introduce myself. My name is Gemma van cleave and I am the only child of my parents Mr and Mrs Richard van cleave. They got a vacation leave from their companies so they decided that we should come to Hawaii for the vacation.

They also want to dip themselves in the ocean but not for me I just came to see and feel everything in the island But in this particular vacation, an incident that changed my life occurred and it was an unforgettable experience for me. A week before we went to our vacation, we lived at Tulsa,Oklahoma. I noticed that my Dad made a lots of call especially at midnight when everybody is asleep. I knew this because I always come to my study room to read which is close to my dad's balcony where he makes those calls Did I mentioned that he disturbs me with those calls. He is always discussing with different people every time because of the names he call when he is on the phone, not that I was eavesdropping but I couldn't help it . I didnt thought so much about those calls,I didn't even tell my mom. But I regretted not telling her because those were the clues we needed to prevent that horrible incident if we could. On that fateful day 25th June,2017, my parents and I went to watch the annual Hawaiian festival called "Le Sorufu festival". It was a pretty colorful festival with lots of performances but what I really wanted to watch was the surfers. We stayed at the festival till it was dusk so we went back to our hotel rooms. It was around 12.00am when I was awaken by some noise like something is breaking. I tried to wake my mom up but she was so exhausted and couldn't wake up. I then decided to check what happening by myself, I opened our door and then I heard the nose again. I followed the noise to a room used for storing wine and the first thing I saw was my Dad's head. Like literally his head removed from his body and a man butchering a meat or might I say my Dad' body. The shock that I felt at that moment was unimaginable, I couldn't shout nor move just stood there frozen and watch as my world crumbled and fell. My Dad's murderer made a phone call and I quote his words "Target down, family next" his last word made me turn around and walked back to our suite. I crazily woke up my mom and told her that a man is coming to kill us. she didn't ask me any questions but some how found a way to get us out of the hotel into a private jet and flew to her home town Texas. I couldn't remember how we made the journey but I clearly remember my Dad' body lying in pool of his blood and being butchered. We lived in Texas till she got a job at Alaska,I am now sixteen years old. All our days in Texas we lived on a low key because my mom is afraid that the people that killed my father will come for us. At first I didn't want to travel to Alaska because of its weather condition but my mom said that we are not longer safe in Texas anymore. During our stay in Texas she told me the stories of her and my Dad and that both of them were former FBI agents. She also said that my Dad's killer might be one of the hardened criminal he got arrested. she also taught me how to fight and shoot guns. I looked forward to living in Alaska because I am going to start school, I was homeschooled when i was in Texas. Alaska starts a new goal in my life, find my father's killer and get over the biggest trauma of my life. "Stop drinking" I shouted at my best friend Tammy as she gulped another glass of wine at a go. "Leave me alone" she retorted. Today is Sunday and also valentine day and we were at the club partying. Tammy reached for the bottle of wine again but I took it and kept it far away from her. She was already drunk and another glass won't help her. "I think it time for us to go home" I said to Tammy while helping her walk out of the club to our car. I helped enter her the car and also got in myself, I looked at the rearview mirror and watched as she sleepily found a comfortable spot to sleep. I smiled and wondered what life would have been without her. I still remembered my first day at school, she was the one that helped me locate my classes and sat with me at lunch. At first I tried to shut her out but my mom advised me to let her in that it would help me and it sure did. I started the car and drove off, of course Tammy is sleeping over today because her parents are out of town. As I was driving home, I saw someone walking alone along the abandoned shopping mall and her physique looks like someone I knew. I stopped the car and told her to enter that I will drop her anywhere she is going. She turned and I recognized her as one of the cheerleaders in my school, forgotten her name. She smiled and told me not to worry that she was already close to her destination, so I left her and drove off. But it kinda strange because I think I saw her at the club with her friends and none of them are with her now, well not my business. A few minutes later I pulled up at our house, opened the gate and drove the car to our garage. I help Tammy out of the car and into the house and my room, well technically our room because she is always here. I helped her got to bed and went to the kitchen where my mom was drinking her tea . " Sorry we woke you up mom" I apologized. "it is okay baby, not your fault I hope you guys had fun tonight?" she asked. "yes" I replied. "I am glad, goodnight baby " she said.