Mission 3. Falling apart

Cassandra calmly stared over at her classmate, who is frantically looking around her desk and the little compartment under it. A small smirk tugged on her lips and then slowly placed her chin on her hand. "What are you finding for?"

Her classmate paused, eyebrows furrowed. "My new set of coloring pencils– they're gone. Mom's gonna kill me they're expensive," She bit her lip as she stared back at Cassandra, there was a suspicious glint in her eye but she did not dare to say anything. She gave a small murmur of excuse before getting up from her seat to find it somewhere else.

Cassandra's eyes followed her figure before taking out a box of coloring pencils from under her skirt, suspiciously looking like the missing ones from her classmate.

'What a dumb girl,' She thought, the look of victory present on her face. Cassandra bent down to put it in her bag. It's not like she needs it, and it's also not like she'll use it anyways. Maybe it's the thrill, getting all she can and not getting caught. And that very thrill is addicting, her palms almost felt like they're itching; to get something and never return it back.

The bell rang in a dull manner, sounding like it forced itself to do its job even if its voice went croaky. Cassandra grabbed her bag, slinging it on her shoulder and passed by a gossiping group, suspecting other classmates who has the potential to steal things inside the classroom. These past few weeks, the stealing become more frequent and Cassandra easily comes out as innocent, having no evidence against her.

Will she stop? No. Where's the fun in that? The place is full of issues anyways, and it's not like her stealing would be one of worst problem the faculty has to take care of.

She walked out the gate with the other students, air breezing out her hair. With a smile, she dropped her skateboard on the ground before standing on it and taking off.

____________________


"Mom's late again," Caleb looks up the old clock up in their living room, his leg bouncing up and down.

"Work," Cassandra shrugged her shoulders not feeling any ounce of worry. She's gotten used to their mother working overtime recently, and with their food upgrading from old leftover vegetables to real food, real meat– Cassandra was more than greatful.

Caleb runs a hand through his hair, biting his lip as his gaze shifted to the door. "Do assistants in boutique work overtime? Designer shops don't really close late, do they?"

Cassandra threw a piece of popcorn in her mouth. "They don't?"

"That's my question, don't throw it back to me,"

Cassandra rolled her eyes, Caleb is an overthinker. He really fits to substitute their father. Strict and all, even to their mother. "And her. . . clothing doesn't look very decent to me," Caleb murmured. "I have a feeling she works somewhere—"

The door suddenly open and they both turned around, their mother walking in, again with the skimpy outfits and heavy makeup, but there was a genuine smile on her face. "Not even a week into my job and I've got a raise," She smiled, pausing and standing there with her hands on her hips. "What do you say? Dinner out?"

A set of quick footfalls was heard and Carl peeped his head out, his face a bit more innocent looking now that he hass his 'emo' makeup wiped out. "Count in," He said.

Their mother shook her head but she was still smiling. "All right, kids. Let's go,"

____________________


Cassandra was a bit surprised to see that their mother brought them to a fine dine in restaurant. At this, she was a bit suspicious about her mother's salary, what was she working in that she almost immediately got a raise? She mentally shrugged, that's not important for now, atleast they'll be eating good food. . . real food, and not stolen leftovers from the market.

They all sat behind a round table and Cassandra quietly looked around, feeling uncomfortable in her best clothes (their mother bought it just recently). She looked over the goldenware untensils placed on the table, and picked up a knife. Giggling to herself, she nudged Carl and gestured to it. "How kind of them, they brought knives for swordfight,". Carl snickered, but decided to say anything else as Caleb was glaring at them from across the table.

Their mother fidgeted with her keypaded phone and she stood up and looked around. "Please excuse me," She walked away, her heels clacking.

There was a moment of silence between the 3 siblings but everyone had a smile on their face, it has been a while since they went out together as a family. It was until then when Cassandra noticed a vacant seat beside her mother and at this her a smile dropped just a bit, their father would have been sitting right there if he wasn't imprisoned.

Cassandra must have spaced out because Carl nudged her. She frowned when he nudged too hard and glared at him. Carl ignored her, his face wearing an unpleasant impression and nodded his head to a certain direction. Cassandra turned her head and almost had to look twice at the scene.

Their mother was talking to a man in a suit– probably in his late 50s. He already had streaks of gray hair and looks very rich. Their mother was smiling and all, playing with shyly with her purse. Cassandra cringed then turned to Caleb, but he was already narrowing his eyes at their mother and the man.

The pair then walked over to the table and watched as the man pulled. Silence awkwardly hung in the air and mother turned to the three of them.

"Kids. . . this is uh—" Their mother paused, biting her lip as she looked over to the man. "This is my boss, Benedict,"

Cassandra sighed, Carl stayed quiet and Caleb clenched his jaw. They all knew better than that. It was all pieced together, how their mother got money and extravagant clothes.

The man smiled at the siblings. "Good evening, how are you all doing?". Nobody answered and Benedict backed a bit, feeling a bit of embarrassed.

Their mother laughed with no humor, talking to Benedict to excuse her children of being shy. Caleb scoffed, playing with gold knife on the table, and Cassandra knows he's holding back to throw it at Benedict.

It'll be a long night...

____________________


"You have no right to tell me whatsoever!" Their mother was furiously jabbing at Caleb's chest. "I'm your mother and all I did is to work hard for the three of you!"

Caleb huffed, his face red. "We didn't say anything about selling your body to a walking coffin, did we?"

Cassandra flinched as she heard a sharp smack when their mother slapped him across his face. Caleb remained still as he sat on the armchair with his arms cross, his face dark.

"Speak to me like that again, and I won't consider you as my son anymore," Their mother's voice shook from anger. She stormed out of the house and closed the door harshly, banging loudly from the impact.

They watched as their eldest brother pull his hair frustratedly before kicking the coffee table nearby. He dropped himself on another armchair, breathing heavily.

Cassandra pulled a sad smile.

"First it's dad, now we're loosing our mom too,"