Abducted Love

Bella's POV:

It was the last day of the school before summer vacations start. I just wanted this day to end so I can go back home and lie on my bed then indulge myself in some thrilling fairytales where a handsome hero appears from nowhere to protect the damsel in distress from the villain. Unfortunately, that was not my plan for summer vacations. I had always hated thrilling fairytales and stories of a damsel in distress, simply because I never trusted them. However, I had always believed that "heroes" do not appear from nowhere and saves you from the villain.

A normal seventeen years old would be dreaming about exotic summer vacations with her friends before the high school ends, sadly not me.

It was the last class of the day; my chemistry teacher was just sitting on her table sorting some papers while my chirpy classmates were sharing their plans for summer vacations with each other. I wanted to yell shut up but I kept the poker face on, I did not want to get in trouble just a few minutes before my freedom.

Let me get this out of my chest. I, Bella Dias, had always hated this school. Everything about Greenwood High School made me irked to the point where I wanted to murder myself just to escape from this hellhole. Regrettably, I never got the choice to escape from this school and my life.

A group of beautiful cheerleaders entered the class and all the heads turned to look at them. The hunky Jocks in the class stared at the bare legs of cheerleaders as they made their way to them. I never bothered to know the names of anyone in the class and I could say they returned the courtesy, so I had no idea what was their names. One of the cheerleaders smiled and grabbed the Jock by the neck then smashed her lips on his. The teacher stayed oblivious of the attention the cheerleaders were getting from the male population while I sat there with the "gross" written on my face. Before I could vomit my non-existence lunch, she pulled away and slipped something inside his pocket. He took it out with a dazed look on his face and kissed the note.

A loud voice of the principal caught everyone's attention and we looked at the speaker.

"Good afternoon, I have a very important announcement to share. Get settled down on your seats and hear me very carefully."

Everyone rolled their eyes and did not bother to obey our principal. Our chemistry teacher got up and switch off the lights increasing our confusion. She turned on the projector then put a video on. The video started, showing students talking, laughing, and singing in the forest. There were a few instructors informing students about how to survive without a luxurious life. Honestly, it seemed weird. I did not understand why they were suddenly showing us a film of a bunch of crazy people experiencing life in the forest.

"It was a clip of a camp that my very dear friend started last year to provide people an experience of life in a forest without luxurious. This summer he is arranging another one-month camp, especially for students. Many Ivy League schools and colleges around the country apply every year to be part of this camp. I am very proud to announce that your class will be joining this camp in summer vacations."

I heard the loud groans of disappointment and a few curse words from angry flocks.

"I want all the senior year students to join this camp without any protest. I have already discussed this camp with your parents last PTA and I have their consent. The teacher is going to give you a form that you need to fill and give it back to your teacher after getting it signed from your parents. Do not think about ditching this camp if you want to graduate this year. Thank you all, now you can resume what you were doing."

Just like that, the teacher switched on the lights and started slapping forms on our desks. I gazed at the form in shock. It was not one of my horrendous dreams; the summer camp speech was real.

Now you all know why I always hated this school, exactly.

Who would in their right mind like to spend their summer vacation in bloody nowhere with wild animals around and nasty mosquitoes sucking your blood every night?

I was furious, no cut that, I wanted to burn the principal for putting me in this situation. A shiver ran through my body thinking about my father; I already knew he was not going to like this.

The final bell rang and I got up from seat racing out of the school building. I needed to get home on time if I don't want him to give me another lesson on its importance. I pushed my sleeve up and traced my fingers on the red mark; a reminder.

I ran faster not taking a moment to breathe while one thing was circling around my head, how the hell I am supposed to convince my father to let me go to this camp?

-🖤-

Gabriel's POV:

I stared at the picture of my real parents and three brothers in disbelief. I could not understand why they did it to me. Why did they give me up for adoption? What I did wrong?

My dad placed a hand on my shoulder and I stuffed the picture in my bag. I looked at the man in his early sixties who I had been calling dad for the last twenty years of my life, knowing well that he was not my real father.

"Hey?" I got up from the chair.

He smiled at me handing me my boarding pass. "The flight is a little late. Your mom is coming to see you off."

"She doesn't have too," I said.

"You are leaving Italy for the second time in twenty years of your life and she is worried. She doesn't want you to go, you know." Dad said.

"I know...I think I don't want to go either." I sighed, taking a seat again.

Dad sat down beside me with a faraway look on his face.

"They are your real parents, sooner or later you will need to meet them." He said facing me.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. I did not want to meet my real parents and brothers, I was happy with my adoptive parents living in Italy, far from the United States.

"Sono estranei per me (translation: they are strangers to me)," I mumbled.

"Sono il tuo sangue (they are your blood)." He replied.

A bitter smile appeared on my face on the word blood. If they were my blood then why did they abandon me?

"Figlio, I have trained you to be a strong man. I have taught you to face your problems instead of running away from them, haven't I?" he asked.

"Yes, capo. But I don't want to leave you and mamma here." I said.

"Don't worry about us, we are not bambine. They are not going to keep you there forever; it's just two days before you will be off to your camp." He laughed and slapped my knees.

"I am going to miss you, Dad," I said.

"I will miss you too," I replied hugging him.

"Mio Figlio, why are you not taking our private jet?" My mother's loud voice rang in the quiet waiting area of the airport.

Dad and I turned to her.

"Mom, when did you come here?" I said hugging her. "You know, I want to travel with my classmates. It's a college trip, not my private vacations."

She patted my back sniffing and I pulled away to find her crying.

"Why are you crying? I am not moving to the US forever."

She glared at me and slapped my shoulder.

"Don't you even dare to think about leaving us," She said wiping her face.

I loved my mother, she did not give me birth, but she brought me up like a real mother. I cherished her and valued her more than my real mother.

"Come back home safely and don't forget to call us every day." She instructed.

My dad put his arm on mom's shoulder and pulled her towards him. "Tesoro, he is a young man, he is going to be fine. Don't worry."

Mom nodded her head then pulled a box out from her bag.

"These are your favorite cookies. I have baked it for your trip."

I took the box and put it in my bag. We heard the announcement of my flight and I knew it was time to leave.

"Thank you, mom, and dad. Take care." I kissed my mom on the cheeks.

They both waved at me as I left with a heavy heart.

After a long and tiring flight from Italy to Columbia, I finally landed. My first thought was I hated traveling, especially alone.

After collecting my luggage, I made my way out to see a tall man holding a board with my name. A petite woman was standing beside him looking anxious.

Instantly, I recognized them. They were my real parents. My dad looked a lot like me physically. He was tall, his features were sharp, and his eyes where exact hazel color as mine. My mother was petite; she had black hair exactly like mine while my dad's hair was brown. She had a round face with chubby cheeks making her appear innocent while her brown eyes shining with unshed tears.

I made my way to them trying to appear calm when my heart was beating wildly inside my chest.

"Hello, I am Gabriel Russell," I said extending my hand.

My mother took my hand and shook it excitedly. "Hello, I'm Pamela, your mother. He is Frank your father,"

I gave a tight-lipped smile to the man. "Welcome home, son," The man said, hugging me.

The sudden hug surprised me and I awkwardly hugged him back. My mother noticed how uncomfortable I was.

"Frank, C'mon, I think we should leave. Gabriel must be tired after the long flight," she said, patting her husband's arm. My father agreed and extended his hand to take my bag from me.

I stopped him and said, "I can carry my bag. Please, don't bother." I picked my bag following them to their black SUV 2015.

Frank opened the back doors and I got inside. They both settled on their seats and my father started the car.

It was the most awkward half-hour ride from the airport to the house. Frank stopped the car outside the double story house in the posh area. It looked decent, not like the "Russell Mansion" in Italy where I had spent my childhood. My adoptive parents were rich; my dad was a well-known business tycoon in Italy.

"Come out of the car. Your brothers are eagerly waiting to meet you," Pamela said.

I got out of the car and pulled out my bags then followed them.

They unlocked the door and walked inside. I saw three men sitting on a couch playing some video games.

Pamela coughed making all of them got up from the couch.

"Gabriel, meet Nick, Matt, and Harry. Nick is studying medical; he is twenty-four. Matt is in college; he is twenty-one. Harry is in high school; he is seventeen," Pamela said.

Nick was tall, he had the same eyes and hair like mine, his features were sharp, but he was lanky. Matt was tall, he had brown hair and eyes like our mother, he was muscular, and his features were sharp as well. Harry had an average height; he had soft facial features and boyish look on his face with mischievous hazel eyes.

My throat clogged up with unknown emotions. I knew it was going to be difficult to meet my family but I never thought it was going to be heart-wrenching.

I felt claustrophobic to see my brothers. They all looked well behaved, educated, and brought up in a healthy lifestyle. The house had all the luxury items, clearly showing they were not poor.

One question was running around my head. Why did they give me up for adoption?

"Hello, I am Gabriel," I said extending my hand.

I was nervous, I was angry, and most of all I was in pain. My parents looked financially stable to look after another son yet they gave me up.

Nick shook my hand patting my back. Harry and Matt also shook my hand.

An awkward silence fell in the room as we all stared at each other.

"Where I am going to stay?" I asked feeling sick.

I did not know if I wanted to get away from them because I was tired or because my emotions were all over the place.

"Oh, Harry can show you your room," Pamela said looking hurt.

Harry snatched my bag from my hand and told me to follow him upstairs. He stopped outside the first room in the corner.

"This is your room, bro. See you at dinner." He said to me with a broad smile on his face.

I went inside the room and sat down on the bed. The room was nice with white curtains, bed sheets, and expensive furniture.

"Why did I agree to meet them? Why after all these years?" I mumbled.

I slumped down on my back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"What has dragged me here?" I asked myself.