Chapter 7

In a dark room stands Irye.Her hair uncharacteristically tied into a bun.

"Where are you?"an angry voice speaks. Pitch black eyes looking around for something. The voice repeats"where are you?".This time,louder.

Suddenly,the room brightens showing a brunette girl with her fingers on the switch.She is looking at something or someone. Her eyes spells fear. Anne's breath is fast and one could hear her heart pounding.

"Irye?" her voice hitches. "Am scared".

"Oh here you are little angel"Irye says in a witchy voice. Her blue aquarium eyes now pitch black with a hint of hatred in them.

Apparently, Anne comes to have a chat with Irye in her room but meets her doom.Anne takes a step back,then another, following course deeper into Irye's room. Irye follows and is now standing where Anne had been,locking the door and turning to face the little girl who's shaking out of her wits. An evil smirk draws on her face. She takes a step forward making Anne walk backwards till she hit Irye's bed. Irye stop in front is Anne,her face showing the rage she's in.

"You guys are the bane of my happiness."she sinisterly speaks."You come to destroy everything in my life"she continues allowing a drop of salty water run down her face.She wipes and suddenly passes her hand around Anne's neck. The girl squeaks still quivering. She grabs Irye's hand as she chokes. Her step sister does not budge rather, tightening her grip. Anne tears up struggling to escape Irye tight grip. Irye changes from loosening and tightening her hold. She seems to be having an internal battle. She can see what she is doing but can't control herself. She wavers at every hurting sound Anne makes. But that feeling, the feeling of rage,hatred and need to take some people out of her life becomes stronger anytime she tries to stop. Anne's face is now decorated with tears and is on the verge of death. Irye is heaving profusely when a soft voice calls.

"Irye,hey wake up" But all that comes from the sleepyhead's mouth is "ooh, let me be." then she turns to face the opposite side.

"Irye, darling wake up. What's wrong?"the voice calls again,this time not hiding the complete care in it. The person shakes her till she almost jumps from her bed. Her eyes trails to the mirror at her far right. Her face is wet and beads of sweat hang around her forehead. She must have been crying in her sleep.

"Irye darling...."The person is cut off by a a tight hug from Irye who's still crying.

"I thought I would kill her Grandma. I almost killed her." Even though she is awake from that horrifying dream,she still feels as if she's stuck at the moment,the moment she is pressing Anne's neck.

Time has passed. It's been almost three months since Irye changed her school and it's been a week since her Grandma comes into the house. Her father is out on a trip with his wife and her children. Mirabel is scared of living under the same roof with her in-law and other McVenus relatives so she asks Richard,her husband,to go on a trip with her and the girls. They will be back after two weeks and it's been a week long already. Irye's life with her Grandma and other relatives she bring along has been a lot fun even with her cold attitude until that faithful night. The night when fear creeps into her. For the first time ever, she fears herself and whom she will become after years of not caring.

Her Grandma rubs her back,returning the hug.

"It's okay darling,"she comforts her."Am here. Nothing will happen".She pulls from the hug and asks"Can you tell me what happened?".

Her Grandma's face showing worry an d Irye could clearly see her trying to hide that fact. She puts that aside and tries to gather courage to talk about it. Taking a deep long breath, she closes her eyes and tries to stop her shaky hands but to no avail. Her eyes fling open and lands on the sheets. Her shaky hands touches the crumpled sheets. It is not caused by her sleeping movements,she notices. She had held the sheets very tight while dreaming that if they could speak,they will shout and tell her she is killing them.Somehow,that particular part moment when she presses Anne's neck invaded her thoughts. she can see and feel it all again.Her hands around the chubby cheeked girl's neck just like it holds the sheets. Her body throws itself to her Grandma who is keen on finding out what's wrong.

"Did I kill her?"she asks almost as a whisper"I did right?"She starts crying again. And like a crazed human,she jumps out of bed and heads towards the door. Two–not so fat–hands grab her from behind and hold her firmly.

"Who are you talking about?"Grandma asks now showing every inch of anxious wrinkles on her face.

Irye is traumatized judging from her muttering of unknown words over and over again.

"Anne,where is she?"she turns and grabs her Grandma's arm tight. After a series of traumatic craziness,she finally speaks and all she can is ask about her step sis.

"Darling, they are on a trip.All of them"Her Grandma answers.

Relief wash over Irye as she calms down and when she tries to stand well,her world spins and all she could see is a blare picture of her Grandma trying to catch her. She collapses and her Grandma calls for help as her cousins rush into the room.