On reaching at Gerald's, Alex helped Hanna to get into the house. The latter looked tired and sleepy. Alex led her to the guest room where she rested herself. She fell asleep in no time. Mandy looked at her with pain. He gave her daughter a forehead kiss and got out of the room, closing the door.

He went in the living room where he heard Alex and Gerald discussing.

"How can we end this. My mother is not my mother. Can you believe that?!" Alex exclaimed.

"I know Alex. It's the truth. You gotta be strong man." Gerald was trying to help.

"I know. I have to stop her. But how. She's not gonna listen to me. If she can hurt Hanna, her own child, then why will she spare me? She did not spare me by the way." Alex blabbered.

"See. She wronged you. So you gotta fight her back." Gerald said.

"Dude! You are not helping me in any way right now." Alex said as he watched Gerald seriously.

"What?" Gerald shouted.

"However she is. She's still my mom. I mean. No, she isn't. But... But she raised me. She gave me whatever I needed to grow up." Alex said.

"And she did that to use you!" Gerald exclaimed.

"Yeah but... I still have some love for her...as a mother..." Alex said in a low voice as he sat on the couch.

"It's difficult man. I understand." Gerald said as he sat beside Alex.

"Now what?" Alex asked.

"I think I've an idea. Maybe you should try talk with her. I mean try to convince that she's wrong. But if she attacks you, then you'll have to react." Gerald said.

"But. Do you think she'll accept that she is behind this master plan. ?" Alex asked with worry.

"She won't." Mandy finally interrupted. "She won't accept so easily. I know her. We got to pressurize her, make her admit her crime."

"Okay. We'll go there. I just hope everything goes as per plan." Alex said.

"No. Not now my child. It's already dark. You will leave tomorrow. And Gerald will accompany you." Gerald's father said firmly.

"But no... No need for..." Alex started when Gerald's father cut his sentence.

"No excuses. You will stay here tonight, leave tomorrow and, Gerald will be with you. Decided." He said.

Alex smiled as Gerald punched him in the arm.

"Thank you so much." Mandy said to Gerald's father.

"I'm glad I'm able to help you. Alex is just like a son to me. So, don't thank me. Gerald's father replied.

"Gerald! Get their room ready." He shouted.

"Yes dad." Gerald answered.

In the meantime, they were all called for dinner. Mandy was going to wake up Hanna but Gerald's father denied.

"Let her rest." He said calmly.

They all sat together at the dining table and appreciated a delicious meal. Everyone was eating except Mandy. He was playing with his salad. He was tensed. Alex looked at him and nodded. Mandy smiled and started to eat. Suddenly they heard a cough. It came from the guest room.
Alex and Mandy quickly rushed in the room and they found Hanna, wide awake.

She stared at Mandy.

"Are you fine?" Mandy asked as he approached her.

However, Hanna gave no answer. She only watched him fixedly.

"Okay. I suggest to take her out and make her have dinner with us. Maybe the change in atmosphere will help." Gerald explained.

They all agreed and brought Hanna in the dining room.
She sat and Gerald's mother started to serve. Suddenly, Hanna shouted loudly and got up from her seat. She seemed to be frightened with something. But what?

Everyone was shocked and started to try calming Hanna down.
However, Hanna did not listen to any of them. She kept on shouting. She started to run but Alex grabbed her. Gerald's father noticed that she was staring at a fork on the dining table. But... Was she terrified by a simple fork?

Gerald's father told his wife to take away all the forks on the table. When she did so, Hanna stopped shouting and looked at his wife picking the forks with teary eyes. Gerald's father told his wife to walk towards Hanna with the forks in her hand and when she did so, Hanna shouted louder.

"NO FORKS!" She cried loudly and hid her face by hugging Alex.

"She's getting scared of forks." Alex said.

"Never did I experience something like this in my career." Mandy said, surprised. "Are you fine Hanna?" He asked.

Hanna gave no answer and kept on breathing hardly.

"Hide all the forks of the house." Gerald's father commanded.

"Sit down everyone. We are going to continue with the dinner. We cannot disrespect food. Come on!" Gerald's mother stated.

Everyone sat back in their respective places and Hanna also took a seat quietly next to Mandy. She was still in fear, still under shock.

Mandy was worried about Hanna's behaviour. He wondered whether she recalled something. Maybe she remembered the attacks with forks.

*****

After the dinner, Alex and Gerald sat on the stairs, outside the house.

"What do you thing of doing next?" Gerald asked as he lighted up a cigarette.

"I don't know..." Alex replied desperately.

"Well. Let's wait for the night to pass." Gerald replied as he passed on his cigarette to Alex.

The latter took the cigarette in his hands. "And one thing I know for sure. I'm not going to involve Hanna in this anymore." He said.

"One more thing that you know real well. I don't smoke buddy." Alex said as he threw down the lighted cigarette and crushed it under his foot.

"Hah.. Goodnight man." Gerald shrugged and they both entered the house.

Alex went to sleep with the hope that everything would be fine the next day. But who knows what can happen in one night.....