Chapter 23

While stars twinkle in the night sky, the moon reflect it's light on the houses and brightens up the neighbourhood.

In the McVenus house, in the living room sits Irye and Gerrard. Irye's face is blank whilst her cousin's is full of worry.

"She's gone Irye."Keeps sounding in Irye's head that she's going crazy.

"What do I care?"she finally speaks."She was already gone to me". Her face expressionless.

Gerrard sighs, knowing what she's getting at. He gets down, crouching beside her.

"Irye, you know that's not true. I know it hurts....."he gets interrupted.

"It doesn't... It doesn't hurt one bit"she says, gritting her teeth to show how serious she is.

"She has a baby... your baby brother is all alone Irye"Gerrard continues anyways.

"It turns out she went on a family trip but things got ugly and she passed away together with her.... husband"he explains.

He waits checking Irye's mood that moment. She is quiet and trying hard to keep her usual demeanour.

"The cops are trying to find the baby but there's no news yet."he says.

Irye stands up abruptly making Gerrard follow.

"I don't care about her anymore, neither do I care about that baby."She clenches her jaw.

After taking in enough breath,she begins walking to the stairs. Gerrard looks on,knowing it's be better if she is alone for sometime. She tries to stay strong in front of them but is so weak on the inside.

Irye shuts the door behind her and crouches. A cold feeling washing over her. She keeps telling herself not to cry because her mom already left her and doesn't deserve her tears.

But those tears can't keep themselves from coming. They fall rapidly. She is destroyed inside. She forces herself to be fine even if it is killing her. But at that moment, being fine has got nothing to do with her anymore.

"Please..."she moans. "Please come back" she cries.

And now not being able to control her tears, she falls to the floor cuddling herself.

"Please... "she shouts as her tears fall uncontrollably. She wails recalling all the memories of her mom,even the bad ones.

Irye is awaken by the chirping birds and sun ray on her face. She had cry herself to sleep the night before. Her body aches from sleeping on the hard floor.

She tries sitting up,weak all over from nothing.

Her eyes are puffy and red from all that tears she cried. She forces to stand and go to the bathroom. Seeing herself in the mirror, she is reminded of the news of her mother's death.

She can't help but let out her tears waiting to force themselves out. She holds the sink tight so she doesn't lose balance.

At last,she falls to the floor crying her heart out.

Blake waits in class. During the first lesson through the next and the next and more but Irye doesn't show up. He tries calling her but she offs her phone.

Blake becomes worried so calls Evie.

"Hey."he says. "Urm...how are you?"

"Am fine"Evie responds"I know you wanna ask about her. That's the only reason you will call me"

Seeing he's caught,he admits"Yeah, I was kinda worried because she won't answer and she offs it when I kept calling."

"You'll have to lay low for now..."Evie says with a sad voice causing Blake to wonder what really has happened.

"Things are not really good here. She needs some time."she continues.

"Can I know what happened?"Blake asks, curious.

"I can't tell you now. Maybe when things settle a bit"Evie tells him and hangs up knowing Blake. He will prolong things to make her say something to him.

"Irye" Grams knocks the door and tries to open but it's locked. "Irye please open the door"

Irye is inside, cowering near her bed. Her eyes are black but they don't give out rage. It's true she really shares her emotions with that thing in her.

She hears Grams calling her and telling her to open up but is stubborn to oblige.

She doesn't know what will happen if he dares open the door. Grams may be a victim of her horrendous act when she can't control herself anymore.

"Irye open up...You haven't eaten the whole day. Why don't we open up and eat something?."Grams persuades and waits a bit.

"I promise no one's going to bother you. You just need to put something in your tummy okay?"she continues after waiting for Irye's response but nothing comes out.

The cousins climb upstairs and help persuade Irye but she doesn't budge.

Inside her room, she shivers, trying to shake off that dark thing in her. She is scared to open the door and let the whole family see her dark secret.

Irye stands up after feeling a bit okay.

After a moment of not sensing it, she walks to the door and opens it.

As soon as she opens it, she senses something cold wash over her and looks straight down the stairs with eyes wide open.