Chapter Six

Ken pulled over in front of a gray shack. The roof looked like it was about falling off after that dreadful storm hit it and the front porch had so much dirt. Giving Ken directions to this embarrassment of a house should’ve been a crime, especially considering the kind of place he was used to.

I got out of the car and the bewildered look he was giving the house made my cheeks flush. I maneuvered my way passed the pieces of destroyed plants and broken tree branches before getting to the front door. I used the house keys I brought with me to open the front door and that lingering jasmine scent in the air splashed on me. It was as if she was still in there somewhere. Probably reading a book in the lounge or preparing dinner for the both of us. My eyes stung with unshed tears and my chest tightened. She was gone so soon. And she said her goodbye, but how was I supposed to know that that would be the last time I would see my mother? She knew I would never let her leave if I knew she would never come back.

I couldn’t move, I just couldn’t do it. I was so broken and still blamed myself for not knowing what to do. This was a big mistake. I shouldn’t have come.

“I can’t.” I let out, breathlessly.

Ken quickly wrapped his arms around me comfortingly and I broke down like the weak girly girl I was. He did not seem to mind though. He was saying something about pulling myself together and that mom wouldn’t like seeing me like this. That voice in my dreams kept taunting my mind and repeating all those hurtful things. The absence of my mother never felt more real. I still hoped and prayed it was all a dream.

“Maya.” Ken called. I was a lot calmer now, however, I wouldn’t let go of him. I was afraid he would disappear as well if I let go just the same way he disappeared many years ago. I don’t understand why I had to lose one person in order to see and be with another. Can’t I just have them both?

“You ok?” Ken asked.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” I sighed and turned around to see the open front door.

I had to do this. I needed answers and I knew there was something in there I had to see. I took my first step into the house and the memories tumbled in. Sad memories that left my mother crying in the middle of the night with her bedroom door locked. Happy memories which brought her beautiful bright smile that warms my heart instantly all the time. Her melodious laugh that demolished all evidence of worry and pain in her eyes. I noticed she would keep her hair down to hide her red cheeks and swollen eyes from me, but I always knew.

I walked through the corridor. My fingers ritualistically traced the claw marks on the wall like it always did. Those broken flashbacks did not miss the opportunity to remind me of the crime that should’ve thrown me in jail a long time ago.

I walked into what used to be my bedroom and looked around. I needed some of the things in there and also needed to remove the bedsheet since I would not be staying here anymore. I looked around then sighed. The stuff in here were just too old, worn out and destroyed. All of a sudden I did not feel so proud of owning some of the things in my room. The clothes in particular. But I was definitely taking my two dresses. Mother bought me a white knee-length, puff sleeve floral dress for my 17^th birthday and a pale blue sleeveless knee-length dress when I came out first in my class. She collected her two months’ salary just for these two dresses. I treasure them so much that I cannot see myself leaving them behind.

I pulled out the old travel bag in my wardrobe and packed the dresses, all my novels, some of my shoes and my diary. The rest of the clothes were hand me downs from mom and donations that I did not need.

Ken helped me take the travel bag to the lounge while I stood in front of my mother’s closed bedroom door. It’s been a while since I entered in there. She was never comfortable with me entering without her inside. She had something to hide, that was for sure. And I had to find out what it was.

“Ken, could you break open this door?” I asked him, when he came and stood next to me while I studied the door.

Ken looked at the door and shrugged. “Stand back.” He said.

He used his shoulders to slam the door. His weight collided with it and there was a budge. The second trial successfully burst open the door. I walked into the room and the jasmine scent was more prominent in here. I couldn’t get enough of it. Her bed was made, and her books were neatly placed on her mini shelf. I opened her first bedside drawer and gasped. There was half a loaf of expired bread. The same loaf that I thought had finished that day. She hid it in her room on purpose.

So this changes a lot of things! She planned to leave the house that day, which is why she made buying a loaf of bread her excuse to walk out of the house. But why?

I opened the second Drawer and found her phone and an old velvet jewelry box I had never seen before.

“What’s in there?” Ken asked. He was opening mom’s wardrobe and going through some of her note books when he saw the jewelry box in my hand.

“I don’t know.” I said. I opened it and was instantly captivated. It was a black pendant that had an oval shape to it. I picked it up and faced it to the light piercing through the window. It looked so beautiful. I never knew mother owned something like this. I have never seen her wear it.

The inside looked like it had a tiny amount of powder or something.

“It’s beautiful.” Ken commented and I smiled. “You should wear it.”

I looked at him in shock and he nodded. I really wanted to. Mother would freak out if she was around to see me touch her stuff.

“Come.” Ken said. He took the pendant from me and helped me put it on. “See, it looks like it was meant for you.”

The black stone was cold on against my pale skin yet I didn’t mind. I liked the jewel.

I searched around for more stuff and found a photo of mom and I under her pillow. I was about 15 and we were both wearing matching pink outfits and standing by the new collection of shoes at ‘Christy’s Shoes’ where she used to work. It was her birthday and her manager gave her the day off to celebrate.

She was happy, stress free, vibrant and always making dry jokes. Georgia Anderson. She was an amazing woman.

Ken and I were done picking everything we needed and so we cleaned up, locked up and took the stuff to his car.

The drive back home was quiet, although I was a little content. Not fully, but I knew I was getting somewhere. It was around sunset when we left and we reached aunt Courtney’s mansion in the evening. Ken told me he messaged his mother about coming back home late so we were fine… or so I thought.

Before we could enter the lounge the lady with the wild ginger curls was on our necks, shouting and scolding us for being careless. I did not see what the big deal was until she reminded us that mom was to be buried tonight.

I swallowed my whimper and hurriedly ran upstairs. I have shown my vulnerable side way too many times already so I did not want to be labeled a big baby. I jumped into the shower and sobbed for a good 20 minutes before deciding to get out of the shower. A black dress was laid out for me on the bed. this was way too painful to accept. Whoever did this to mom will not go scot free!

After dressing up, I walked downstairs. Aunt Courtney, uncle Michael and Ken were all waiting. My palms were sweaty and I felt goosebumps all over my back. We entered a navy blue Jeep that was driven by Ken’s father. The atmosphere was more than just gloomy. There was this growing silence with unspoken words hovering in the air. Somebody wanted to say something however the mood in the car did not allow them.

We got to the cemetery and I let out a shaky exhale. I was glad I brought a coat to warm me up because it wasn’t just the cold breeze that was making me shiver this way. There was a priest, and three other men I assumed were the ones who came with the hearse car. We gathered around the dug up grave as the priest said a prayer. All I could think about was that my mother was in that casket. Gone. Thirty minutes went by and the priest was done with the prayer. I looked over at aunt Courtney when I heard my name.

“Would you like to say your final goodbye?” She asked.

Hesitantly, I stepped forward. I did not plan anything for her, I did not see the point when I thought she would be by my side for a long time.

The casket was open and her ashy gray skin still had its youth. Her ginger hair was dull, but whomever dressed her up and did her make-up did it very well. She looked very beautiful. The white silk dress she wore was amazing, and I’m sure she would’ve loved it.

My mind was blank. I couldn’t say a thing, I just stared at her. I had nothing to say except ‘I love you, Mother’ then took a step back. All the words ive been thinking of asking her for days now had vanished from my mind leaving me mute.

The priest continued talking, but I was still not concentrating on what he was saying. I had lost the ability to cry. Aunt Courtney on the other hand was bawling her eyes out on Mr. O’ Brian’s shoulders. That was the first time I’ve seen her cry since she heard the news. Ken was trying his best not to shed any tears, however, he was failing and he knew it. Mother and Ken were very close back when he used to visit us so he shouldn’t hold back those tears to look strong.

From my peripheral vision I could see a black car with tinted windows by the entrance of the cemetery. It did not look like it was supposed to be there and I guess I was the only one that noticed it. I moved towards it out of curiosity and the driver started the car and drove away in a haste. That was odd, but I did not think too much of it. The three men lowered the casket and started to cover my mother with dirt. That was the last time I was going to ever see her again.

We got back home and uncle Michael offered to make some coffee.

“Hermione. What’s that on your neck?” Aunt Courtney questioned. I had completely forgotten about the necklace around my neck.

“It was at home. It was mom’s.” I said, looking down at the inky black pendant. My fingers rubbed on the main piece of it.

Aunt Courtney looked at the item a little more closely and something in her eyes changed. It was like she saw a ghost or something because the next minute she shrieked and yelled that I should take it off and get rid of it.

Hell no!

The last piece of item I managed to get of my mother’s will not leave my neck! I refused and that was how we had a big argument on the night of my mother’s burial.

“Do you even know what the hell that is, Hermione?” Aunt Courtney bellowed.

“No! But I highly doubt you will say what it is since you take pride in keeping things a big secret!” I yelled back.

“The less you know the better for you and everyone else. Don’t you know your recklessness could bring about a catastrophe if you are not careful?”

“The less I know the more I want to research and find the truth. Your silence is making me do all of this. You don’t even care about what I want. You just want me to follow your rules and stay in the dark.”

“You are under my damn roof, of course you should follow my rules.”

“And remain a puppet here? I’d rather leave instead” I mentioned.

“Stop being so difficult, Hermione. Gosh! I don’t understand how your mother managed with you!”

“Don’t you dare bring my mother into this!”

“Why not? When she brought all of this upon herself in the first place. I warned her, but she wouldn’t listen to me. Now you are proving to be as stubborn as she was.” Aunt Courtney revealed and I kept quiet for a minute as what she said slowly sunk in.

“What are you talking about?” I asked Aunt Courtney, but like the other times, her mouth was zipped. She was holding back and that was getting me so frustrated.

“AAG!” I screamed at the top of my voice. Ken and uncle Michael were standing not too far from us watching everything with wide-eyed. I don’t think they were willing to get into the middle of this argument because two gingers looked like they were ready to eat each other up. “YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? Aunt Courtney, you do not want to say anything but expect me to trust that you are making the right decisions for me!”

“What am I supposed to say to you, Hermione!?” Aunt Courtney shouted back. Her voice reverberated against everything that could take it in the large corridor.

“The truth! Nothing but the damn truth about what the hell is going on!” I was on fire, and not ready to lower my voice because everything I was keeping in for two days was finally pouring out. My anger, hurt, frustration, pain, sadness, anxiety. All at once, and aunt Courtney was at the receiving end.

“It is not that bloody easy!” Ken’s mother said and I threw my hands in the air, feeling defeated. “All you have to know is from now henceforth none of us are safe. Things will get very tough from here. You mother knew way too much.”

“Who is coming after us mother?” Ken asked his mother yet again, the silence was back.

“Get rid of that thing.” She said when I had nothing else to say to her. I gave her a mean look although she did not stick around too long to entertain it. She walked upstairs to her bedroom and I just slumped on the stairs feeling worn out. All this screaming, shouting and crying got me feeling so damn hungry.

I stayed alone for a while and concentrated on my thoughts until the smell of delicious roasted chicken with pasta caught my nose.

I got up and headed for the kitchen only to find Ken there dishing two plates with food.

“You cooked?” I asked him and he shook his head no.

“Mom did, I just warmed it up.” He said.

Ken handed me my plate and a glass of fruit juice then we both sat at the dining table and ate.

“You did not tell me how was your first day of school.” He decided to ask.

I rolled my eyes and huffed. “What school? Oh wait the same place girls keep asking me for your number and whether you walk around without a shirt?”

Ken chuckled and shook his head. “Is that all that happened?”

My mind flashed back to that guy. Hector. His eyes, his aura, his words…

“Nothing much.” I said, twisting some pasta on my fork. “Just that… What do you know about Hector?”

“Hector? Which Hector?” He stopped eating to look up at me.

“How many Hectors are there in school?”

“I only know one. The school’s weirdo. His one heck of a smart ass though. Winning first place academics awards back to back year after year since he stepped in. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to know. Actually, forget I asked?”

The last thing I wanted was Ken fighting somebody in school because they threatened me. It was best he stayed doing the stuff he loved and left me to do the dirty work. But this Hector guy…