8| The Orphanage

Kiara's POV

Sitting on the couch, my mind drifted back to the very conversation with Mr King. Whatever he said, I couldn't reckon entirely.

How can you, when you're the sister of the sweetest being on earth? You couldn't acknowledge of her having such a hazardous murderer.

I still remembered her taking over the St. Margaret's Home Orphanage. It's a beautiful orphanage on the outskirts of the Todt Hills of New York, initially belonged to my grandfather. It was named after my grandma when she passed away due to leukaemia.

When Vio was ten and I was seven, we had been visiting it with mom and dad.

I still remember, the first day when I visited the orphanage.

Flashbacks ~~

"Mom!! Why are we visiting the orphanage?", seven years I asked mom with zeal.

" Hun, I know you will love it. You will be introduced with so many new friends. But remember to be friendly with them. They are detached from their families and loved ones unlike us ", she said with a small sardonic smile.

"Mom!! They don't have mom and dad like me?", I asked perplexedly. I have always thought, every child is blessed with mom and dad like me.

She shook her head while caressing my head.

" No, dear. They're unlucky in that chapter of their lives. Because of which, they have to spend their lives in an orphanage ", she replied with pity lacing her voice.

" Ohh!! ", I answered with disappointment for them.

We drove towards the orphanage along with V, mom and dad. The roadsides passed by in a green blur with the swift breeze blowing away my hairs. Soon, we reached the little orphanage.

Mom, intertwining her fingers with my small ones, headed towards the large gate of the white building. I hid behind mom, contemplating of meeting them or not. I peeked moving my head a little side still behind mom, from the small corner of the side of her waist.

The children were playing gleefully on the soft green grass. The environment was radiating the joyous sound of the children of my age, swinging on a swing attached to a huge olive tree.

My face lit up with a large grin seeing them and somewhat the urge to go and play with them overtook me.

I came out from behind mom and tiptoed towards the green lawn. The children on seeing me, approaching them, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi!! ", I said gently to one of the girls, with auburn hair and big brown eyes. Her lips curled up in a small smile.

" Hi!! ", she said with a lovely smile. " I'm Rosella ".

" I'm Kiara", I introduced myself with a large grin.

She soon called her other friends towards us. They one - by- one introduced themselves and soon I indulged myself with them. V also joined us after a while.

They talked and laughed heartily unlike the students of my school who bully others.

I found myself so attached with them, sharing all my stories along with my likes and dislikes and the other way round.

Mom soon came to inform about our departure. I wasn't at all eager to leave but, I knew I had to so after much convincing, I headed towards the door.

But, suddenly my foot tripped and I fell on my knees. My knees were scratched a little with some tinges of blood.

Mom came running towards me along with dad and V. They looked so concerned as they treated my wound. My eyes drifted back towards the lawn lazily as mom applied the antiseptic, and I caught sight of a small boy sobbing holding his knees which had a large scratch with blood oozing out of it.

A lady rushed towards him and pulled him in a warm hug and hushed him. She applied something on the injury and left him on a bench.

My eyes felt heavy with large drops of tears holding on them. I felt so lucky to have a sister and parents to care about me but they were so unlucky.

V, seeing me sulking, approached me and I narrated her the entire incident. She also felt compassionate towards them and standing up, she marched towards mom and made a promise to visit this orphanage every weekend.

Flashbacks (end)~~

Still today, she used to visit the very orphanage. She used to spent her free days, amongst those little children who were craving for love and care.

I stood up and headed towards the kitchen to prepare a cup of caffeine. The heavenly liquid somehow calmed my bundles of nerves. Putting the milk to boil, I rummaged the kitchen cabinets for bread.

Preparing my aromatic coffee with some toasted bread, I went to my room and scoured my shelves for a good book but suddenly a yellow crinkled paper flew away from the shelves.

I bend down and grabbed the note.

Deciphering it, my eyebrows shot high with my eyeballs bulging out. It's the same note, which I had received on the day of the charity event.

I opened it again to read it's contents. Despite reading it more than thrice, I couldn't well make out those words.

"MH or LEO or Someone close to you"

I couldn't discover these very words. Who are these two people and someone close to me?... As far as I remember, I didn't feel anyone suspicious enough to infer for her murder.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. I made up myself, by hook or by crook, to catch hold her murderer.

I shoved out my mobile and dialled Rose.

" Heya!! Kia!!, what's up? ", I was greeted by a cheerful Rose.

" Umm... Rose, I have got something to talk to you three", I said her hesitantly.

"Is everything alright Kia?", she asked with concern dripping from each word.

"Yeah... But I somewhat needed to talk to you all", I tried to speak devoid of my worrying self.

" Sure Kia, come to my apartment and I will call Bella and Liam too".

"Okay", saying so I hung down my phone.

I headed downstairs and picking a sticky note, I wrote a note for mom, since she had went shopping.

" Will be back soon. Hanging out at Rose...".

Heading out, I put my car on the ignition and rode off towards Rose's apartment.

I will tell them all about the note!!

To be continued...