With a deep breath, I saw other students marching along the hallways. Biting my lips, I looked around for a safe spot to talk about this. After locating a seat outside by the garden, I grabbed her hand and pulled het along with me.

She followed willingly but I could still see a tinge of curiosity and anxiousness in her eyes. I had to tell her the truth now and prevent Ian from misleading her. It's no wonder I saw Ian talking to her rather personally.

When I got to a bench, I let go of her hand and pointed to the bench. "No one's here. We can talk now," I exclaimed taking a seat. She glared around in hesitation making me look up. "I'm not going to bully you like others with this. Please take a seat." As she bit her lips in contemplation, she finally nodded and sat beside me

I looked up to the beautiful scenery. It was winter so the trees had gathered enough snow on their branches. Falling on the floor, the bundles of snow splashed over my feet. I moved my body from that spot and sighed. "It's no wonder no one sits here during this period."

When her hands turned fidgety, her lips tend to fold too as she took a quick glimpse at me. "I have yet to ask you a question," she added. Turning to her quickly, the snow fell from the skies.

"Why did you always defend me and try to talk to me? Do you have an agenda for it?" Scoffing, I sighed at her question. "Agenda? At this point in my life when I'm blamed for deaths I have nothing to do with, I don't have to make such agendas. It was genuine, because I was once like you when I was little."

After noticing the confusion in her eyes, I threw my back onnthr bench breathing in the cold air. "For being an indoor girl. They used to say I was a jinx. Moreover, I never attended my own graduations. Everything worsened when they found out I was without a father."

Blinking her eyes, she turned to me the more curious as to why I was talking to her about my private life. Looking into the air, I could remember the coffees and dirt my old classmates poured on me almost every day of school. Squeezing myself at a corner after every session was all I could do.

At most, I'll try to befriend them, even if I had to kneel in front of them or pay to stay in their clubs.

Sighing, I turned to her with a light smile. "You're wondering why I'm telling you all this?" She nodded and looked into my eyes for the first time ever since I started this school.

"That was before. I saw myself in you. For now, I just found out you're my sister." Saying this, her eyes widened in shock. Staring bluntly at me, I pursed my lips and adjusted my coat to keep warm. As I played with my legs, I continued talking.

"Yeah. I know Ian's your father on papers and Max's your adoptive brother too. Haven't you ever looked for your real parents?"

"Did Max tell you?" I shook my head and stopped playing with my legs. "He didn't have to. I know and it's partly because of me he took you." After taking a deep breath, I turned to her again with a light smile. "You still remember your parents' names right?"

Furrowing her eyebrows, she retorted, "Dickson. It's Dickson." With a chuckle, I tapped her palm. "That's my surname too. I have your childhood picture because I found them in my mom's things. Ian kidnapped you mistaking your energy for mine.

When he found out that you were not the one, he came searching for me. Dad died trying to save mom and I. I never met him. For mom, Ian found her while I stepped out for the first time. He killed her too."

She remained silent, processing the bitter revelation she just heard from me. "Don't you remember anything?" I said.

"Do you have these too?" I added. Pulling out a necklace from my pocket, I hanged it in the air for her to see. Just at a flash glimpse of it, she moved her head away, holding the back of her head in pain. "Catherine? Are you okay?" She shook her head and clung to the back of her head wincing.

After she dropped her hand on the bench. "Should I -"

"-I'm fine. Don't bother." While massaging her head, she slowly opened her eyes and looked around. "I remember. Only a few traces," she confessed.

Snow fell across the streets as cars passed by. When a couple stepped into their car, a little girl at the backseat screamed and clapped her hands. "Yay! We get to go to the amusement park!" Laughing, her mother turned to her in the backseat and fixed her seatbelt for her.

"What's this for mom?" Smiling, she locked it and rubbed her cheeks playfully. "For protection. I'll teach you how to fix it next time." Her dad nodded too while soaring the car engine. With a loud thud from the car, he winded the driver's wheel to start driving.

As she played with her toys at the back, her mom turned to her dad auth a sigh. "Are you sure you don't need to check the clinic today? You're almost due?" She looked out and shook her head.

"I must end Ian's case. I've gathered enough documents to prove he's the one killing the patients in our hospital. I can't stop now. It's our job to expose the truth."

Sighing, he supportively tapped her palm and smiled lightly. "Leave the rest to me. You have to be careful as you're almost due. Don't worry. I'll tell you everything." Pursing her lips, she nodded and smiled at him too.

"Champ! We're almost there. Want an ice cream?" Lifting her head, she nodded consistently while playing with those toys. "Did you bring the necklace along?" She pulled it out of her pocket and waved it in the air. "I always keep it with me. You said it's important right?"

Rubbing her hair playfully from the backseat, she giggled. But as her dad parked the car, they stepped out and walked to the park. It was bustling and brightly decorated. Seeing your way in the crowd was another issue.

"There he is. Watch over her. I'll go get your ice cream." Smiling, she stood beside mom hopping playfully. I looked around with a big smile seeing the racing cars, juggling toys and exciting game boards. But my eyes flickered falling on a hoodie man walking towards us.

My hands dropped beside me while I glared at him approaching us. "Mom?" she said turning to her. Within a split second, he pushed mom onnthr floor and grabbed my arm, dragging me away. When she tried to save me, the crowd covered my sight. "Lucas! Someone help!"

"Let me go! Who are you?!" she screamed kicking him with her legs. He covered her mouth with sleeping powder and dropped her in his backseat, driving away.

When I woke up, I found myself in a room alone, lying on a bed. The hoodie man moved in and turned away angrily. "You're not the one. What to do with you?!"

Twirling to her, she held her tears back. "It's all my fault. His target was me, not you. Do you know his whereabouts?" She shook her head, "No. We don't stay with him. I love with other puppets of his. Most of them are vampires." I hugged her while breathing heavily, "Don't worry. We'll figure out something soon".

Nodding, she hugged me back sobbing silently. "Is Max also aware?" I broke away from the hug and returned a negative glare. "Not yet. Would you want to visit their graves? Dad's body was found just recently. I can't believe Ian didn't even give us the chance to mourn him."

She stood up wiping her tears when she heard the bell tolls for start classes. Sighing, she smiled at me. It was so good to see her smile. I finally had someone to call family. This time, I was going to protect her no matter what.

"I have to go back there. He'll suspect if I don't. I can still help out outside." I nodded and started walking to class with her. "I heard there's a good fighter in your batch, Thunder?" Her eyes fell in silence. Folding her lips, she retorted, "He's Ian's right hand. I don't know his true identity. But Ian doesn't treat him like us."

"I wonder who he is. Try to find out more about him. He might be a hurdle in our plans." When we walked into class, everyone's eyes studied us as we walked. Some started murmuring and others rather whispered. "Clara. Here!" Jess called out. I waved at her before she branched to the other side.

As I sat by her, Adrian looked at me curiously. "Why? Did something happen?" I asked, staring at them. "Did you hit your head on the way here?" I shook my head sitting up properly.

"What did you talk about?" Turning to Adrian, I sighed. "It's a long story. To cut it short, I just found out she's my older sister."

They gave me a long terrifying stare, "So you mean you're not the only child? That's surprising!" Tricia commented. Adrian onnthr other hand turned to Catherine who nodded. "You need to explain this. I don't get it." I nodded when Susan walked in. "After class. Let's meet up."

She stood in front of us with a smile, "Your graduation is almost sure. With exams approaching, please due your very best." I nodded, looking down. She walked to the board and continued lecturing. After four hours of listening, she finally ended and walked out of the class. I packed my books hurriedly "Let's meet at the b-ball court," Adrian said . When I tried to get up, I heard a voice behind me. "Clara wait!" Jess yelled, rushing after me.

I closed my locker waiting for her to catch up. She stood a few meters away from me, panting only when she was this close. "You left this on your desk. Isn't this the gift from Nathan?" I took a look at what she meant.

"I don't want it. I have to go now." Dropping the last book in my locker, I started walking out of the hall. At the very end to the curve, I was utterly speechless when he stood right in front of me. After a check on the time, I looked away.

"What is it now?" I asked putting my bag behind me to get ready to leave soon.

He held my hand but I moved back and yanked his hand off mine. "What do you actually want? I already told you. I don't," I pleaded, when I saw Adrian coming towards me. "Everything set."

He stood still when he saw me standing with Nathan. "So it's because of you! What's your plan? Tell me!" Nathan demanded fiercely hitting Adrian in the cheek. Falling back on a toe, he raised his head in surprise.

"Nathan! Stop it, please!" I cried but he didn't hesitate. He punched him in the face again. Students started to gather around hearing the punches. "Why are you quiet? I was right!" Adrian dodged the rest of his attempts.

"You're confused. Calm down first and let's talk about it like sensible adults," Adrian persisted, yet Nathan wasn't willing to listen.

He attacked him violently causing Adrian to retaliate this time. I managed to pull Nathan from Adrian after several tries and pushed Nathan away from him.

Fuming, I screamed at him, "I told you to stop! I've had enough of you. I don't love you the way you want it, and it won't change no matter how much you fight. So stop insisting!"

Still insisting, he wiped the blood accumulated at the corner of his mouth. "He's using you," Nathan muttered moving closer to me but I stepped back quickly.

"Please. I've had enough!" I pleaded, putting my palms together in front of him. With that, I pulled Adrian with me and sat him down. I went for the first aid and dipped the piece of cotton into the liquid before smearing it on his wounds.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault," I cried wiping the blood which had accumulated at the corner of his mouth.

He held my hand gently with a sad face, "It's not your fault. I'm fine. It will heal in a few minutes," he explained as I saw his wounds disappear gradually. My eyes widened at the sight.

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