Running from one city to another, I had to keep changing hospitals so as to hide from him. It was difficult to keep up with Clara and her studies. I know how important it was for her to settle at one spot and get to know her friends better. But I couldn't give that to her.

Living was better than being exposed to that maniac. Even though I didn't know whether Catherine was alive, I tried to get detectives to search for her. As a result, I had to move when Clara turned six. I still remember the miserable look in her eyes as I dragged her away.

After meeting the detective a week later, I moved to the city he mentioned to look for her. But het trace totally disappeared when I got there. It's been sixteen years trying to keep Clara safe. I didn't allow her to go to any functions for fear she might bump into him. But one night when she left for a party, I felt restless. She returned panting as if she was being chased by someone.

I could feel Ian's presence as he was tracking her. Unable to watch him trace our house, I locked her up and went out to confuse his detective skill. If I don't return, please. Clara, stay safe," Max read out before closing the book at the end.

"He killed my grandma and dad?" I debated getting up angrily. Remembering a few years back, I always asked for my grandparents but all she told me was excuses. "Calm down," Max accentuated holding my hand.

I shook my head staring at him in agony. "No! He took everything away from me. He killed my mom, dad, Amy Sparks, Kate, and aunt Janessa. He also killed your parents. I can't calm down!"

Hearing my latter sentence, his fingers loosened their grip on my hand. Dropping my hand after raising his head, I blinked my eyes and folded my lips. He wasn't supposed to find out about this now, but my big mouth revealed everything.

He raised his eyes sitting properly awestruck. Stammering in between his words, I pursed my lips and sighed. "I wasn't supposed to say that now-"

"-W-what did you just say?" he stammered. I covered my mouth with my hand which was bent down to my neck, looking around aimlessly. "I didn't want you to find out like this," I muttered running my hand through my hair.

I noticed he didn't want to let this slide. Sighing again, I moved back to my bag and pulled out a newspaper from it. "Here. This was about seventeen years ago," I explained handing it to him. He stared at me for a moment swallowing a lump in his throat.

"You need to read it yourself," I added. Smiling lightly, I took a seat beside him. He stared at me cluelessly hesitating to open the newspaper. When the doctor walked in, we both turned around surprised by his presence. "What? He's awake?!"

Biting my lips, I watched him as he walked up to him and passed his hand over his face. "How many fingers do you see?" Responding with complete silence, he picked up a torch light from his pocket and glared inti his eyes, one at a time.

"Everything's alright. I still have to run some tests to make sure you're alright to discharge." I nodded and walked him out with a forced smile. Another doctor came in with a transfer stretcher and helped him to lie on it. They dragged him to the testing room right away while I followed up from behind.

"Are any of your family members here?" Folding his lips, he shook his head. With this, he closed his record file and ordered for him to stand by the x-ray machine. After taking several samples, he stepped back. "Woah! It's like he never got hurt. You're quite a lucky gentleman."

Tapping his shoulder, he flinched holding his chest. "Oh sorry. I'll get your discharge papers by the end of Thursday-"

"-can I leave tomorrow? I'm feeling alright. There's an emergency I have to see to." He took his file and jotted down some points. After looking at the x-ray for the third time, he nodded.

"Alright. But you have to come for check up after a week." After taking a seat in a wheelchair, I moved closer to him and started pulling back to one if the hospital rooms.

When we got to his respective bed, he got up slowly from the wheelchair and lied on his bed. I stepped out for a moment to have a talk with the doctor. He got comfortable on the bed and silently turned to the newsletter on his table.

"Everything's settled. You'll be discharged tomorrow-"

I couldn't continue when I saw him looking through the newspaper. Biting my lips, I dashed to his side, sitting on a chair by him. "Your parents were killed by him. H-he kidnapped you after and raised you. I'm sure you know why he raised you up. But I'm sure he killed them to get full custody over you."

He went silent after reading it. His silence made me more worried as he always keeps things to himself and doesn't talk when he's affected the most. "I understand why you did all that. But you have to tell me if you're okay. Max?" I held his hand but he didn't flinch, not even for a second.

He suddenly looked down folding the papers. Before I knew it, he started crushing the newspaper with his hands. Thrashing it onnthr floor, he looked out angrily.

"Max," I alluded. He lowered his eyes in silence folding his lips in thoughts. Everything made sense to him now. He always wondered why and how he survived that massive somersault alone without a seatbelt. Even though his parents had theirs on, they died but he didn't. He planned their deaths and took him in his custody, making him do ugly things for him.

"He took everything from me. He made me become a vampire, a puppet of his after taking the lives of my parents!" He screamed. Holding himself from damaging the hospital property to vent out his anger, I held his hand sadly.

"Max. Look at me," I pleaded hugging him from behind. He closed his eyes to hold back his tears, but I knew he wanted to, so much at that moment. He was just like me, lost his parents to him.

I could see the pain in his eyes after I broke away from the hug. He craved to cry and to relieve himself of the burden on his shoulders. But he couldn't, in front of me.

"I know how you feel. But please don't hurt yourself anymore. This is not the end. I'm with you, no matter what happens. I trust you'll choose the right path," I explained touching his face with my palms.

After a moment of contemplation, he looked into my eyes forcing to keep his tears back.

Nodding, I hugged him again with a little smile. "He'll pay for what he did to us. We will not let him have the pleasure of seeing us defeated and create more victims. You have to be strong for that to happen."

He broke away from the hug this time and tried to get up. "Where are you going?" After rolling the bedsheets back, he dropped his feet on the floor. "I have to go back to the cottage." Max

"What? No. You're not completely alright. Moreover, the doctor won't let you leave like that. It's just for a night. I'll stay with you." Hesitantly, he lowered his eyes and rolled back on the bed. "Alright. I left the toxic substance back there. I hope he doesn't find it."

I sighed and walked back to roll the curtains down. "I'll go with you." Sitting by him, I ended up sleeping by the edge of his bed the whole night. I didn't even notice it was morning until the doctor stepped into the room.

"How are you feeling now?" He turned to the doctor with a light smile. "I feel less pain compared to before-"

"Breaking news! During a large scale mining in Miami, the researchers found the corpse of a man buried in the forest. After careful search, they found out he's been buried there without notice for eighteen years. A badge was found together with it. We found his identity to be Lucas Dickson, a doctor of the town hospital. We currently have no contact of his family.

His remains were taken to the nearest City Mall police station for burial. An autopsy can't be properly taken in this range. So his remains were taken to the burial service plot."

Without waiting for the newscaster to end her narration, I grabbed my bag and rushed out. Max quickly took the drip off of him and dashed after me. "Wait! Your discharge papers!"

I stopped a bus and rode to the burial grounds. I stopped by the end of the curve, staring at my dad's frame. "Dad," I cried running my fingers over the glass. Max stood behind me and patted my shoulder. I stepped back glaring into the sky. "This isn't over yet. I'll drag you down!"

Hugging me, I sobbed, crying my eyes out. I had been inquiring about my dad since I was a little girl. Because of Ian, he couldn't even rest in peace. I was deprived of growing up with my dad and mourning for him. Why did he kill him too? Crying, I closed my eyes hugging him back.

"It hurts so much!" I retorted looking back at the smile on my dad's face in the picture. He sighed while the police officer from before marched towards me with a bow.

"You're the deceased's daughter?" I nodded and turned to the frame with melancholy in my eyes. "Due to the intensity of decaying over the years, I can't be sure of the autopsy results. But we also found this on the body." Turning to a torn part of hospital attire, I met his gaze. "We are still searching for the owner of that cycle that killed your mother's friend. I'll take my leave now. My condolences." I nodded and let out a sigh seeing the time on my phone.

"Are you sure you can handle school today? I have to meet someone at school today," I said expecting him to refuse but he nodded.

"I'm fine. I can't risk letting you go alone, especially now," he assured. With a positive look at my dad's frame for the last, I walked to the school with him.

Just as we grabbed out seat, I heard whispers behind me. "Did you hear? Clara's dad's corpse just appeared. It must me horrible to find out something like that," a girl behind me exclaimed.

Mrs. Plum walked in the minute after, cooling down the murmurs. Nathan stared at me as I say by Adrian. "Tomorrow's the deadline for the presentation of your project," Mrs Plum reminded while modeling to her seat.

I turned to Adrian from my side, "So what are we gonna do about that?" He smiled, "Let's meet after school." I nodded. Mrs Plum clapped and grabbed her things from the table with a smile. "That will be all."

As I packed my books into my bag, I saw Catherine standing in front of me when I raised my head. "We need to talk." Turning to the curious students, I pushed the table back and excused myself walking with her out.

When we got to the locker room, she turned to me. "Now can you tell me why you had my picture?" She was right.

No sane person wouldn't remember to ask something this important. I guess it's necessary to tell her now. Ian can't manipulate her anymore since I know who she is. I sighed, "My.. no our mom had it." She stared at me confused.

"I just found out that Ian kidnapped you from my parents. He thought you were the one to defeat him and," I tried to explain but she didn't let me finish, "Defeat? What are you talking about?"

I looked around and pulled her to the dressing room. "Do you sometimes see visions which come to pass?" I asked. She nodded quickly after I asked.

She became silent thinking of what to say. "Yeah.. but how do you know that?" Smiling, I retorted, "Because we're sisters, daughters of a witch."

Comment 🌺 Vote 🌺Share