Chapter 4

Zeno and Seth were worried sick. They've been panicking internally. Alex's condition does not show any sign of getting better.

They knew something was really going on because they keep feeling that Alex was off during the past few days.

And their instincts were right.

"mama D, why is auntie not back yet? It's been almost a month!" Zeno asked, very concern with Alex's condition.

"If she's here then maybe it can help Alex. What about you contact her?" Zeno suggested.

"This child…" mama D couldn't help but burst in tears.

"mama D, what's wrong? Why are you crying ah?" Zeno panicked immediately seeing the old woman cries.

'Did I say something wrong?' He couldn't help but asked himself.

"Come here kids…" Mama D and the twins left the room, afraid that Alex might hear their conversation.

"What's going on mama D?" Zeno asked as he furrowed his brows.

The old woman let out a sigh as she said. "I haven't been able to contact Delilah in the past few weeks. Her phone stayed out of coverage for some reason. I don't know what's happening out there. I'm afraid she won't be here for Alex." Mama D said, her eyes were red from crying.

Zeno looked really surprised as he gasped lightly. He never expected that the situation was like this.

'no wonder…' He thought.

"No wonder you wouldn't let Alex contact auntie during work days, like you always do." He replied, still in shock, while Seth was emotionless from the beginning, not a tinge of surprise can be seen in his face at all.

"Auntie… Nothing bad happened to her right?" Zeno's eyes were filled with concern.

'If something bad happens to auntie, I'm afraid Alex…' He couldn't finish his thought. He looked at his brother, seeing his emotionless face.

"Bro, you don't look surprise." He suspiciously said.

"Guessed it from the start." He explained simply.

'Look whose back…' Zeno thought as he stares at his brother.

'Behold! The emotionless Seth.'

"What should we do then?" Mama D asked while crying. The old woman has a weak heart, she couldn't stand the fact that Alex even if it's not her own child, is laying there in massive pain.

"For now, we wait for Alex to calm down. I think this is happening because she… she hasn't seen auntie for a while now… it's… it's affecting her, psychologically." Zeno said unsure of his answer.

"You're right kid!" The village doctor suddenly interrupted the conversation.

Zeno: "…"

This old man, he's been eavesdropping our conversation!

"okay…" mama D calmed down a little as she heard their remarks.

They went back inside the room and take care Alex.

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"Her temperature's rising. But her sweat is cold."

Seth wipes Alex's forehead with a cloth, gently. Both the twins were restless. It's been hours and the sun is beginning to rise but Alex's condition is still not showing sign of healing.

"What should we do now?!" mama D asked worriedly. This old woman was sleepless. She couldn't get herself to rest while thinking about Alex whose been with her ever since she's a baby.

"I'm afraid she needs to be treated by real doctors." The village doctor said in a serious manner.

'you… you're not a doctor ah?' Zeno thought blankly.

"I meant real doctors, with medical equipment. This old man is just a humble doctor who only knows how to treat simple illnesses. This young girl… I'm afraid her condition is a bit serious and complex for this humble doctor to understand." He said in a defeated manner.

'This girl's condition is quite unique. I've been treating her for hours now…' He thought.

'Humble doctor my ass…' Zeno thought as he rolled his eyes.

"Real doctor… how can we…" mama D who calmed down a while ago, panicked again. Her eyes on the verge of tears.

"It means she needs to go to the city…" Seth said in a serious tone.

A glint flashed in Zeno's eyes, his thoughts were unreadable. The first time his face darkened.

"Yes…" The village doctor replied.

"It'll take at least 6 hours to travel there. Not to mention, the road is rocky and not cemented. It'll be a bumpy ride but at least, it's the most effective and obviously the only choice you can choose from. But the money… I'm afraid you'll be needing a huge amount…" He added.

Mama D's face paled. "The bills… I'll work on it…" She said softly.

"Are you going to loan to the bald man, mama D?" Zeno asked in a worried manner.

"It's the only choice I have dear." She answered softly.

"But… people say he's dangerous mama D. He's doing illegal business." He commented, the two last words come out like a whisper.

"This…" The old woman hesitated. A lot of people in the neighborhood are saying that he has an illegal connection in the city. They say that he sells illegal drugs. He does, indeed, loan money but the interest is high and unreasonable. He's a shark. He'll eat you whole.

"No debt remains unpaid."

That's he's rule, his law. If the debt can't be paid with money, then life will be taken. Doing business with him, clearly, it's not a good idea.

"It's the only choice…" mama D said firmly.

Life is hard, indeed.

"What's this…"

Seth, whose been quiet the whole time, suddenly interrupted the discussion.

"What?" Zeno asked. Seth point Alex's head.

Her face was really pale and a weird looking black veins can be seen originating from her scalp, it travels down to her forehead. It was not really visible but it was there and it's not normal.

"this..." The village doctor was speechless. He hasn't seen anything like this before—heck he only treats cold and flu, okay? He's not an expert in this field.

"What is this doctor?" Mama D asked, her face is as white as a sheet.

Village doctor: "…" no idea.

"This… maybe she's been cursed… by the Heaven…?" He hesitantly answered.

Heaven! Heaven is the answer to all unknown questions!

'this quack…' Zeno thought, feeling annoyed.

'hurts… head… hurts…" Alex sobbed.

Seth worriedly observed Alex, still twisting and turning from the immense pain.

He wants to bear the pain for her. He couldn't stand seeing her like this…. It makes him… weak.

He sighed, 'This is getting serious.'

Without a warning, mama D passed out, crushing the village doctor beside her.