Chapter 24

At the bottom of the stairs, a woman stands there looking at one thing or someone. The cousins don't notice her there but Irye does.

As soon as she opens her door, the first thing her eyes set on, is that woman. Her eyes wide, looking at the woman in a tearful surprise.

"Mom."she calls out and run past Grams and the others to the stairs.

When she reaches the middle of the stairs, she stops, checking if that really is her mother.

She walks step by step down the stairs not sure if she is hallucinating and that the woman she is seeing now is an illusion or not.

"Mom?"she asks to be sure but the woman doesn't respond.

The cousins look at each other with confused expressions on their faces.

"What is she saying?"Evie mouths to Gerrard and he shrugs, shaking his head.

The watch Irye look into nothingness, calling her Mom. They walk slowly, following her.

"Irye"Evie taps her."What's wrong with you?.Who are you talking to?" Evie asks, looking around to see if there is someone else there.

"Am I the only one seeing it?"Irye asks not looking at Evie."Is it really an illusion or maybe am I going crazy?"

"Evie.."Irye turns suddenly and holds her.

"Look that's my Mom"she says pointing. at nothing.

Grams stares at Irye pitifully as she let out a tear. Not being able to control herself from letting out a pitiful sound, she turns and walks to her room as fast as her feet can take her.

The woman stands there looking up at Irye but the cousins can't see her so they think Irye is becoming crazy as a result of her Mom's untimely death.

"Evie look... it really is her."She taps Evie on the shoulder with her eyes still on the nothingness she calls her Mom.

"Really am not telling lies"she pushes through even though Evie is saying nothing. "Look at her well" she now turns to look at Evie.

Evie takes in a sharp breath and covers Irye's eyes with her hand.

"It's an illusion Irye....let's go"She pulls Irye using her free hand, past her siblings and cousin to Irye's room.

When she feels like they are safe, she lets go of Irye quickly and secures herself a bit further from Irye.

Irye turns towards her looking at her confusedly–or so–before speaking.

"What's wrong?"she asks.

Evie stares at her for a while and walks slowly and steadily towards Irye.

"You sure you alright?"Evie asks to make sure she's not making a mistake of getting too close to the other Irye in front of her.

"Why wouldn't I be? You don't believe that I really can see her?"I asks, a bit hurt."Was I the only one who could see her? I could swear it was her. Just that... she looks a bit cold and pale but it was really her."

"Am not talking of that Irye, it's more about you....I mean the other you."Evie explains.

She can't understand why Irye is so calm now. Mostly, when she changes, she is more of furious than calm and peaceful.

Evie looks into those pitch black eyes even though she can't find any look in them and concludes on how calm Irye is that, she won't get hurt if she goes closer to Irye.

"Irye, your eye."Evie points." It's black...it's been black since we were on the stairs."

Confused, she runs to her dressing mirror and checks out. Her eyes widen as she jumps back. She sees another person who slightly looks like her with blue eyes looking at her.

"Th...th..th.."she points, not being able to speak.

Evie looks at her not sure of what Irye is implying. She runs over.

"Can you see it."she looks in the mirror and back to Irye.

Irye's face expression makes Evie confused.

"You mean you've never seen your eye color when you become really angry?"Evie asks, surprised.

Irye tries to get her head straight and shakes her head in disagreement.

"I have, but not what am seeing now."she says."Right there is another person looking at me. I know my eyes become black when I change but now, it's not the same as you are talking of now"

"What do you mean? You can't even feel that you've changed now?"Evie asks and Irye nods.

Evie looks into the mirror once again. "And who is this other person you are seeing that am not?"She asks.

Irye suddenly turns to Evie wide her eyes wide open.

"What?..You can't see it?"she points at the mirror. "What is going on with me?"she says frustratingly moving her hands through her hair.

"Irye.."Evie taps her."Do you realise you are not angry or doing something dangerous?"

Realisation hit Irye. Shes not been angry but rather calm. Her voice had not also changed and she is not talking sinisterly. She's like her normal self but her eyes are black.

"Yeah. What is happening?"She looks at Evie. "I see another person in the mirror when I look but you see me with black eyes."

Irye paces slowly, musing about the whole scenario displaying in front of her.

"Then that means what I saw wasn't an illusion either. I could see her while you guys couldn't and she happens to be dead then....." Irye turns to Evie with a surprised look.