Refused to Sink in a Dark Hole

"Aurelia died by suicide." Her face contorted with pain.

The dark sky was rumbling, lightning strikes, cold wind stabbed their bones. Then the pounding rain fell, it was like the heaven opened up and poured buckets of water from above.

Xander shook her shoulder with biting hands, "Do you know why, Clara!? Do you know the reason why??!"

She looked at him with confused face, blinking her eyes from the drops of heavy rain, "I don't know Xander! They said because her father, the only family she had, died in a car crash. But she had us as her friends to lean on. Why, Xander? I don't know! I don't understand why Aurelia did it."

"Friends? You consider yourself as her friend when you were the reason she die?"

Clara frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Clara. You sent her a text right? You told her 'to die'!!"

"I never!" Clara gasped, "I would never do something like that, Xander! I care for Aurelia!"

"For a rich kid like you, the existence of the poor must be meaningless."

Clara winced at the disdain in his eyes.

"How did you know Aurelia? Who was she to you, Xander?"

Xander even went to extreme lengths—kidnapped her and threatened her—to take his revenge on Clara.

Aurelia must be an important person in his life.

"She was my sister. My step-sister to be exact. Are you going to tell me the truth now?"

"That's the truth, Xander. I will not admit deeds that I did not do. I don't know who told you that unbelievable shit, but I swear in God's name that I never sent her a text like that."

Xander saw the truth in Clara's face. Had been knowing her for all this time, she was not a good liar. If what Clara said is the truth, then it would be a waste of time to punish Clara but he need to blame someone for everything.

He pulled her hands to the house and she struggled, "Wait, Xander! No!"

The door had mini holes on it, but it still could close properly and the knob was still there. Xander dragged Clara inside the room and threw her inside the unlit house, with a terror on her face, she screamed when Xander closed the door.

"Don't do this, Xander! Please, pleaseee.. Let me out!!" Clara banged the door until her hands were red, screaming until her voice hoarse.

His hand on the knob, holding the door close and Clara couldn't match his strength. She was afraid, really afraid until she tought she will faint.

But God didn't give her such easy escape. She sat on the floor with arms circling her tucked legs, forehead to her knees and back to the door.

This was the place Aurelia died alone. Without anyone to comfort her, to hug her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Aurelia.. You must be so afraid, feeling so alone that time. I failed you as a friend, I failed you by not being sensitive enough to your suffering.." Clara said to the dark empty room.

She felt like to explain everything to Aurelia, to let her know that she did care for her, "My mind was too preoccupied with my mother's illness. I didn't even come to your funeral.. Because at the same night, my mother died too.."

"But I will come and visit you, Aurelia. I miss you so much until I buried the feelings deep inside my heart.. We would talk like the old times.. Don't forgive me, Aurelia. I didn't deserve your forgiveness." She was rambling like a mad woman.

Her body was shivering from the colds and her clothes wet from the rain. She kept repeating her words again and again. Clara didn't know how long she sat there, fell asleep for some time then suddenly she woke up with a start. Woke up to the dark reality.

Clara wondering how Aurelia felt when she die in this room alone. Then she got up from the floor and the door opened slightly with a creak.

She got out from the house and found Xander was not there anymore. All this time, she was the one who closed the door with her back to it.

Clara walked without direction, the road was empty under the night sky. Only some of the houses lightened with yellow bulbs.

'Where would I go from now on? Xander has left me.'

A car almost hit her when she turned to the main road. She'd walk for half an hour with arms hugging her body, teeth chattering, worsened by the numb feeling in both of her feet.

Several cars passed her with speed and only one slowed down beside Clara.

"Miss, are you okay?" He got out of the vehicle.

Clara turned her head, it was a police officer. He didn't smile but he had a nice warm face.

"I-I'm fine."

"What are you doing here walking alone? It's not safe around this neighborhood." He watched her up and down.

"Do you need a ride home? I can take you home." He offered kindly.

"T-thanks."

The officer opened the door of passenger side, and took out a jacket. He gave it to Clara, "Here wear this. You are shivering, miss."

"Thanks."

He held the door for her and Clara was about to enter before a black sports car she knew stopped in front of the police car.

Xander appeared and greeted the police officer. They talked for a minute but Clara didn't hear them. Her mind refused to function.

"Miss, miss! Do you know this man? Do you want to go with him?" asked the officer to make sure.

Xander gripped her upper arm, "Clara. Come, baby. Let me take you home." He said gently and took out the jacket from her shoulder, Xander gave it back to the officer.

Her mind snapped back. She had to be in a clear state of mind, she refused to sink forever in the dark hole.

"Wait, do you know him, miss?" The police officer asked again.

Clara knew that there were more to the story. She wanted to know what really happened to Aurelia. Her death was not like what the police reports said and somehow Xander connected his step-sister's death to The Four Saints.

No matter how hard, she had to try to convince Xander that she never sent a text like that to Aurelia. Someone set a trap to make Xander blame her and Clara wouldn't sit still.

She would make that person regret their existence in this world for making Aurelia suffered.

With determination on her face, Clara nodded her head to the officer.

"Yes. I know him."