Set in Stone: The Rose Secret

Chapter 25: The Hero 🦸🏼‍♂️

We hopped in the white vehicle. I sat in the passenger seat. "You painted it white!", I smiled to the driver. "Like I said I would!", he grinned. Iren, our saviour. "How did you know we needed help?", I asked.

Iren smiled and started the car. "I know what you know.", he said driving us through town. "But, how?", Sasha asked. From the backseat I could hear Krista say, "what is going on". I laughed a little. Seeing Krista confused for once was funny.

"Well, as you know, I am adopted", he spoke softly. We all nodded. "Recently I dug into my history to find my biological parents. I did. I also learned I have a half brother who is thirty years older than I am. His name is Eddie De Francis. We share a father.", he told. Eddie is Iren's brother? What! "Go on!", Sasha said. "I tried to meet this Eddie guy but he always seemed busy. I was strolling to the beach after dropping White off at her house a week ago, when I saw him with Blue's bag she had on that day when I saw her at the café. Something didn't seem right. I did some digging, learned about the curse and assumed the worst. He captured Blue.", Iren told as the car went silent.

"Also, when the man on the motorcycle was chasing you, that was me.", he said. Sasha, Antonia and Lianetta all looked at me. "But I wasn't after you, I was after Marla. The woman who was working with Eddie. That mean witch!", he yelled frustratedly. I nodded still trying to put all the pieces together. "I am not affected from the curse because I don't have hearthstones blood. However Eddie does. His mom was a Hearthstone, mine wasn't.", he sighed. Iren seemed to be more relaxed now that he spoke his mind.

The car had come to a stop at a familiar place. The school. "Why are we here?", I asked. "This is where Marla and Eddie are, they have a hideout in the gym storage", Iren said. He handed Antonia a walkie-talkie. "Use this if there is trouble, ok?", Iren told her. He opened his door and went to the trunk. He pulled out a baseball bat. "And I am here to stop them", he sternly said. I got out of the car and followed him. "You can't go alone!", I screamed. "Then come.", he frowned. Iren yelled back at the rest of the carload, "Krista, take Blue and the others out of town where the other relatives can't find Blue.", he ordered.

Their car pulled out. We came to the front of the school. Iren opened the door. The school was empty because it was the weekend. It was weird being alone(except for Iren) walking in the halls. The halls were dark. I stayed close to Iren's side. He led us to the gym doors. We peered through the lane of glass. Inside was Marla and Eddie arguing over something. Marla turned and caught a glimpse of my face. She ran to the doors. "Run!", I yelled. My sneakers squeaked on the floors as we ran down the halls. "In here!", Iren yelled running into the science lab. I hid under the desk. I then decided to search the desk for a useful weapon.

I plundered into the drawer rifling through the neat files of paper. Mr. Arnoldo's plaque sat on the desk, the bold letters staring at me. Thoughts ran through my mind and voices started crying in my head. I need a weapon!

My walkie-talkie went off. I pressed my ear against the machine to hear what message was coming through. I jumped when a sharp scratching noise sounded from behind my back, like nails on a chalkboard. I shot myself under the wooden desk, spun around to face the door, and was on guard. My walkie-talkie went off again. As quick as quick could be, I turned down the volume so I would not be heard.

Another scratching sound echoed through the empty classroom this time getting louder. The walk-in-talkie went off, I turned the volume back up. It was my friend Antonia, "Get out NOW" she yelled! My heart leapt from my chest. Were they coming? It Couldn't be! Will they find us? Thousands of questions filled my mind until, I heard another scratching sound. This time I guaranteed myself I was not alone. They had found us! A chill crept down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stuck upwards. My heart pounds against my chest, beating faster and faster. I feel like I'm seconds away from screaming. The door starts to open...