Chapter 5

In this chapter, we would take a look into Red's life during those 9 years.

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Sirens were wailing, people were screaming, crying, running, and collapsing one by one. I sat there with my eyes widened, numbing, and I could see my sister and mother burning in ashes, my father with his burning body pushing me towards the window, he was saying something but all I can hear was this high-pitched sound, everything was going in slow motion, he was smiling for the last time and waved goodbye as burning debris fell on him.

I was caught by a pile of debris, I saw people in uniform running towards me, losing my consciousness and now I'm here sitting with my eyes widened. I was numbed, it was as if no amount of emotions were able to express on what I was feeling. My family was gone everything was in ashes. What am I going to do? The authorities told me that I had some living relatives nearby, and among them only one was willing to adopt me for the meantime until I'm able to figure things out.

I would be transferred into their home after a few days, since they have to check for any injuries. Luckily, no injuries were found in my body, except there was a mark at the center of my back, the doctors were curious yet they only gave me some ointment to remove the scar. "Luckily, you didn't seem to have any minor nor major injuries, except for a scar, it looks like its been there for a long time, perhaps you've got it as a wound when you were young, most children tend to have wounds due to excessive playing, so I'll just recommend you with this ointment, if you want to remove it" he said in a kind voice.

Good thing he was kind, I was out of the hospital after 2 days and I was off to live with my aunt along with her son, who looked a bit older than me. "Hello, you must be Red" she greeted me with delight and grabbed both of my hands and shook it gently, she looked around in her 60s, I looked at her home and it was gloomy. Someone suddenly shouted from upstairs, "Old lady! Where is my food?! I'm starving here!" he screamed as he walked downstairs and saw us, "I see another mouth to be fed" he scoffed and went back to upstairs.

"I'm sorry, he's my son and he's gotten a bit problematic after he lost his job and has been in his room ever since" she said with a sad voice, "Anyway, come on in and I'll show you your room" she added and offered to carry my things but I shook gently and carried them. The authorities left and we went upstairs, she showed me her room and told me that my room was beside her, she didn't want me to be near her son, since I might get distracted from him and doesn't want me to be affected by his rude behavior. She was a kind old lady, who was making a living through selling fruits and vegetables in the market. I accompany her time to time, while trying to look for a job.

I avoided her son, who was always in his room – while we were selling in the market, she suddenly opened up with her frustrations 'Oh dear, I'm so glad you're here to help me, it reminds me with my son back when he was still your age, he used to dream big and balanced his studies while trying to make ends meet, he soon got the job he loved and worked for years until he became the manager of that store. Everything was going well until he was accused of stealing and corrupting his employees' money, which is something he would never do. After that incident, he seemed to change, every time he tried to apply for another job, they would immediately reject him due to his record, until he eventually gave up, locking himself inside all day" tears started streaming down her face and I immediately wiped it off, "Oh dear, I'm sorry for venting my emotions in front of you dear, how about you dear, how about you go back to school and finish your studies, I'll do my very best to support you along the way" she added, while gently touching my cheeks with a soft smile around her face.

She was such an angel, but I replied "You don't have to auntie, I'll do my best to help you, this is the only thing I can do to help you" assuring her that someone still has her back, "Thank you dear" she said with a gentle voice. We continued to sell everything until we ran out of stocks, it was such a glorious day.

As we were walking back home, we saw a group of thugs beating someone from the corner – Auntie immediately screamed and ran towards them, begging them to stop, I was shocked to see her son beaten to the pulp, his face full of blood. Auntie was begging and kneeling towards them to stop hurting her son, and gave them all the money we had earned the whole day, I stood there in silence, as they left smirking. I was clenching my fists, I was about to attack them but Auntie held me tight, "Please, Red, I don't want you to get hurt" she said in a desperate voice her tears flowing down her cheeks, she immediately fell down and cried her heart out. Her son, lying there bleeding to death, people were only looking at us, gossiping and whispering harsh words towards us. I immediately called an ambulance and carried Auntie.

Her son has fallen into a deep coma, and the doctors told us he has lost a lot of blood, but they are doing the best that they can to help him. With her son in the hospital, the bills were piling up, Auntie despite her age, tried to loan some money in order to pay for the bill. I was feeling sorry for her, and I didn't want to be a burden, I couldn't get the money my parent's had left me since I was still a minor, this stupid law! I landed a job as a night-shift cashier at a local convenience store, the pay was okay, but it couldn't cover for all the bills that we needed to survive, half of our earnings were immediately covered to the hospital.

What can I even do during these times, I was in desperate need of money and Auntie is piling up with bills that we can't even afford to pay, I had no choice but to sell some of my belongings. I was so happy that the money I earned was enough to pay for Auntie's loans and the hospital.

I was running through the heavy rain, when I saw a crowd with police on the scene, it was a crime scene. Everything was mess, blood was flowing towards the canals due to the heavy rainfall, as I squirmed my way towards to the crime scene, I saw Auntie – she was naked, her clothes thrown in the dumpster, her faced frozen from shock, she looked like an animal, I felt my blood turning cold from shocked. I ran towards her despite the police holding me down, I cried my heart out and screamed "WHO DID THIS?! WHO THE F*CK DID THIS?! SHOW YOURSELF YOU F*CKING COWARD!" I kneeling and hugging her dead body tightly, tears were streaming down my face.

Everyone on the scene was shocked and the police consoled me, "Are you one of her relatives? Please come with us to the police station" he said in a sympathetic voice, he gently pulled me up and the others covered her body, carrying her to the ambulance. As he gently guided me towards the police car, I looked at her covered body with tears flowing through my cheeks. We arrived at the police station, entering a plain room and two men were in front of me interrogating me.

-Script POV-

Police 1: I'm sorry for your loss, I was one of the officers who helped you during the great fire incident a few years back, I'm at lost for words, you are too young to witness any of these.

Police 2: This may sound devastating and shocking to you, young lady, but your aunt was killed by one of her loan sharks, they mark in her body that says "I'm a prostitute, payment received".

I felt my blood boil on what they said, how can they treat me Aunt as a pig!

Police 1: According to the medical records, she had experienced a traumatic shock, so I won't spare any details, she was first raped by multiple men as it was discovered there were multiple sperms found in her feminine part, furthermore, her rectum was deeply injured, it seemed something large was inserted, and lastly, she was acquired multiple stab wounds in her chest, back, and stomach. Some scratches from her palms, it would seem she fought back but was too vulnerable to defend herself due to her age.

Police 2: Do you have any idea, as to why she has tried to loan some money off these shady groups?

Red: She was trying to pay off her son's medical bills. I have the money to pay for everything, since I sold my belongings to help her.

I said in a cold voice, I couldn't seem to believe the investigation they had told me, on how she died, the police re-affirmed me that the money I got will be covered for her son's full-treatment, her funeral, and lastly something that would get me by.

Weeks passed after the incident, I attended her funeral, her son was getting better day by day, I'm glad that guy has fully-recovered, I couldn't hold any grudge towards him, but I felt nothing but an immense amount of sadness, after her death.

It's been 9 years during that incident and now I am living off the streets, barely having anything for myself.