Book Of Secrets

The cold Louisiana wind whipped at Elijah’s chiseled jawline like no other. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that this night would be even more brutal than the last. There was the option to call his unsympathetic mother and father up for a warm bed for tonight. Deep down he knew that Hell would have to freeze over several times for him to grovel at their feet.

Deciding to go dumpster diving in his usual spot, he was looking forward to whatever food would be available when the restaurant closed. Never in a million years would he have thought that he would be 24 years young and homeless. His mother and father were both successful. His mother Annie, who was a Professor at a local University, loved him dearly and would always try and fight his battles. His father James on the other hand, seemed to despise him.

Elijah figured it was because he wanted to be an artist and not follow is his father's footsteps in corporate America. Either way, love and compassion were far from his father's heart. That was why he decided to pursue his dream of drawing. If corporate America can turn one so cold, he definitely wanted no part of it.

Elijah finally made it to his spot down an alley close to where the exit door was at the restaurant. Having no idea of the time, he decided to find a halfway decent spot to sit while he waited for the night crew to exit with at least something halfway decent to eat. He sat there so long engulfed with thoughts of his family he hadn’t realized he dozed off until loud voices woke him.

“You think he’s the one that broke in here last week.” A woman said whispering.

“I don’t know but I'm tired if these fools coming around here and starting trouble, I got something for this one.” The man replied in disgust.

Elijah heard feet quickly going inside and decided he wasn’t going to wait around for whatever the man assumed he deserved. He jumped up from his spot causing the woman outside to scream. She conjured up the most blood hurdling one she had because even Elijah looked alarmed. Making his way by her as fast as he could, he heard the door opening from the side of the building. The night light gleamed off the pistol, and that alone was enough to light fire under his feet to get from around there!

As he was running a single shot rang out. He immediately jumped into a pile of trash bags for cover. Praying he wasn’t hit he decided to play dead until the coast was clear.

“Andy...is he. Did you?” The woman said, her voice breaking.

There was a long pause before the man responded.

“I thought he was trying to attack you. He broke into my business a few days ago! I mean, what was I supposed to do!”

Elijah lay where he was listening to them go back and forth not even coming to check if he was even alive or not.

“I’m calling the police!” Elijah heard the woman say before they quickly entered the building.

That was enough for him to move fast and be gone because he definitely wanted no issues with the police. Moving too fast he stumbled over a few bags, losing his balance. Stumbling to his knees, his free hand grabbed for the brick wall on side of him. He felt a few bricks cave in under his hand. Pulling himself up from the ground he looked up at the wall to see what happened. Two bricks were pushed in slightly looking as if they were cut out of the wall and put back. What really caught his eye was a sheet of paper that was slightly visible under the brick.

Out of mere curiosity he reached and pulled the bricks from the wall, which revealed the white sheet of paper and a little black book.

“He’s alive Andy come quick!”

Elijah turned to see the woman standing with both hands on her chest looking like she had seen a ghost. Reaching his hand into the hollow wall, Elijah pulled the items out before fleeing the area.

By the time he made it back to his makeshift tent underneath a bridge he was not only exhausted but hungry. Throwing himself on a small pallet it crossed his mind that he may need to visit his parents for some type of assistance. He was the only child and would probably have to use that to his advantage with his mother. Turning over to get comfortable on his small mat, the black book he had pulled from the wall earlier slipped out of his coat pocket. He had forgotten that he had it. Hoping it was worth something of historical importance he opened it. Why else would it be hidden behind a brick wall?

Opening its cover, he could tell it was pretty old because the pages looked worn. Flipping through it quickly he realized it was a journal.

“That would be my luck.” He said aloud amused at himself for thinking it could be worth something. He was about to throw it out until he saw something that caught his attention.

The journal entries were written out to a person with the same name as him. The name Elijah was written on almost every page. Apparently, whoever had this journal was writing to this Elijah person.

“Dear Elijah, at least that’s what I believe your name is going to be. Your mom and I are still debating on that one....”

He started reading from the first page and was halfway done before he quickly slammed it closed. WHAT IN THE HECK!!

Elijah just lay back down and pulled some cover over himself trying to get warm. Here he was thinking he found some treasure when all alone it was a damn journal!!!

Three days Later

Elijah paced outside under the bridge infuriated from the events earlier. He could not believe his mother and his father’s opinion of him. Apparently, the building on side of the restaurant he had visited a few days ago belonged to one of his father's business partners. When the police came to the scene the restaurant manager had no working cameras on his side of the alley but his father's business partner did. He was quickly identified as the man being shot at by his father's friend.

Now here they were trying to pin the break in at the restaurant on him! His father's friend had no problem calling him up telling him what his “drugged out” son had attempted to do. Crazy part was he had never used drugs in his life! Yet his father believed every word! His mother just sat with sad eyes barley being able to look into Elijahs face when he appeared at their doorstep to ask for at least a bath and a hot meal.

“You are a disgrace to my family!” His father sneered, looking right into Elijahs oddly colored eyes. They were a mix of green and blue to which he never knew who he got them from. His father's deep blue eyes were filled with rage, while his mother's dark brown eyes with something else...

Deep down he knew his father would never approve of him. Going back into his tent, he couldn’t wait to prove everyone wrong. No one knew he had applied to an Art Institute and was awaiting acceptance. After so many years of being afraid of rejection he took a leap of faith. His only problem was tuition. His father refused to pay for college unless it was in a study he approved.

Sitting down on his mat, he felt something hard beneath him and realized it was the little black book. Taking a deep breath, he opened it and picked up where he left off. At least this man cared enough of his son to write letters to him.

“Your mother has been acting different lately. I think it is because of James. Life is so crazy son you never know how certain things will come. I just pray I'm there to see you enter this world so I can be there for you... D.E.J.” Elijah read aloud.

Chills suddenly shot through Elijahs body...James....HE looked at the date on the page.

“August 12,1997. A few months before my day.” Elijah rubbed his temple and felt a headache coming on. All of this was too confusing. It was signed D.E.J at the end of the letter. He was too intrigued to stop reading. HE read through pages reading about this unknown love this man had for his unborn son. By the time he made it to the end of the book the sun was high in the sky.

“Dear Elijah, I fear my life is in danger. James is hell bent on getting your mother back, the only problem is she hasn’t told him she is pregnant. I know her family will likely throw her into the streets if this got out. I love you and her with every fiber of my being that is why I have decided to take my inheritance money and run off with Annie. It is at least 20,000 dollars and I'm sure that is enough to make sure you have a good start to life. I will meet her at out meeting place and hopefully when you are old enough and I give you this book, you will know that a man will always go above and beyond for his family. I love you son...Daniel Elijah Jones”

A single tear fell on the paper causing it to smear a little. Elijah didn’t even know he was crying until he wiped his face. Was this real? Where was Daniel today? Elijah had so many questions and little answers. He knew he couldn’t confront his mother and father without proof. His mind was racing so fast he didn't know where to start! Then it hit him. HE would know if this was real if he went to his grandmother's house and found the meeting tree Daniel wrote about in the

book.

The tree was supposed to have both their names etched into it, but until the last page of the book he had never known the names would be Annie and Daniel. He quickly put on his jacket and headed for his grandmother's house. She had passed away a few years ago and her home had been rented out over the years. He would be careful not to cause alarm. His mind was in such a daze that when he finally made it the house he was stuck in place. There were so many trees he didn’t know where to start. It seemed as if the woods had not been touched for years!

Walking blindly through the woods he searched high and low for an etching. With the sun high in the sky, time seemed to go so quickly. He was about to give up all hope until a gleam from a tree caught his eye. The sun was reflecting off of some object in the trees hollow. Elijah circled the tree and his heart sank when he spotted a small heart carved in the tree.

“Annie and Daniel Forever.” He read aloud as tears pooled down his face.

He leaned against the tree and let his emotions take over. He was going to find out what happened to Daniel Elijah Jones even if his life depended on it. Stepping back from the tree he reached up into the hollow to get whatever the sun had hit. Pulling out a small leather bag with metal engraving that read D.E. J made him fall to his knees. Taking his time, he unzipped the bag and saw bundles of one-hundred-dollar bills stacked neatly in place. The same money Daniel had for his family. The same money intended for HIM....