1: Prologue

SERENA

"Mom, do you think Lionel will be returning tonight?" I asked my mom as she slid the spatula under one of the chicken laps and turned it. My mouth watered at both the sight of the meals and the sweet smell that filled the whole kitchen. We were making buttermilk fried chicken, garlic mashed potatoes with creamy coleslaw as the main dish and gingerbread cookies as dessert. We were almost done, except for the last batch of chicken laps still frying in the skillet.

It was the night of Christmas Eve, and of course my mom made sure to keep the house as festive as the season. We had several light garlands on the walls of almost every room, a huge and glowing Christmas tree in the living room, some pairs of stockings hung by the fireplace, pine scented candles on the dining table, some Christmas carols on the radio...I could go on and on with the list. It was just sad that my dad was no longer alive too celebrate with his family. He passed away three years ago.

"Yeah, he will," she turned off the heat, removing the pan from the burner. Dinner was ready and I just couldn't wait to have mine, whether my brother was coming home or not.

"But he hasn't returned any of my calls or replied my texts." I was about to steal a piece of chicken wing when my mom slapped my hand away.

"You worry too much about that boy, Serena. Lionel is an adult now." She said, while giving me a side eye.

"Someone that had just turned eighteen a month ago" I mumbled with a sigh. And ever since he turned eighteen, he has been coming home late... doesn't let anyone know of his whereabouts.

"Doesn't make any difference, Serena." My mom had my hand in hers, and literally dragged me out of the kitchen. As a huge foodie, my mom knew that I might finish half of what she had prepared before Lionel got back.

"Alright, mom, I agree with you. Can I...oh sorry, can we have dinner now?" My stomach was rumbling like crazy as we sat down on the sofa in the living room.

"No, let's wait for your brother to..." She was cut off her ringing phone. "Ohh, that must be him."

And it was.

My mom slid the call through, with a smile on her face. "Honey,"

I was about calling him name out loudly when the smile on my mom's face disappeared in seconds.

"What...what do you mean?" She was up from the sofa, her voice shaking.

"Mom, what's going on?" I stood up from the sofa as well, trying so hard to listen to what Lionel was saying.

"Hospital? Which..."

Unable to hold myself any longer, I took the phone from her hands, putting it on loud speaker. "Lionel?"

He wasn't the one who responded, the sound of a woman's voice was what I heard.

"He was hit by a bike...which left him bleeding seriously" These words punched me to the gut... I forgot to breathe for a second. My eyes got wet instantly, but I held the tears back. I'd have to be strong one here.

"No, no!" My mom cried out, almost falling to the ground. I had to hold her and we both sat down on the sofa.

"You should come to Scripps Memorial Hospital before he..."

"Nothing will happen to my brother," I said firmly. "We're coming." I said, ending the call.

Thank goodness Scripps Memorial wasn't far. We were at the hospital in ten minutes, assuring both myself and my mom that Lionel would be fine. I could not afford to lose my only sibling and another family member after my dad's death.

But then, it was already too late. My brother died five minutes ago...the doctor's words. My mom was on the floor, shaking and crying like the world had come to an end. The tears I had perfectly held back flowed down both of my cheeks as I crouched down to the floor to console my mom. She's the only family I got now.

God, this was never how I planned to spend my Christmas.

As I stood beside the hospital bed, staring at my brother's lifeless face, I swore silently in my heart, 'I will find whoever did this...and make them pay.'