NUMBI sat on the washing machine as I gently ran my sharp lead pencil on the last page of my sketch book.“I can’t believe that Mr. Volt is really dead” my mother said out of the blue. “First it was Jack’s brother then it was that hag’s troublesome son then little Aki tried to kill himself now it’s Mr. Volt.I felt my body go tense as I tried to ignore her.“The worse part of this is that he was ambushed inside his apartment, imagine if the children were around or Mrs. Shem what could have happened to them?” she said giving me a glance.“Aren’t there any baskets to deliver today?” I asked in effort to change the subject.“Oh no daughter not today” she replied while handing a thin man his basket. Suddenly the door clicked open as my heart pounded faster.“Apple my child” my mother said out loud in joy. “A

THE TAPEI blow the dust off the old computer which was before me.“It’s a little dirty around here I hope you don’t mind” Marcus said with a little laughter.If unwashed dishes with cockroaches on the floor and table, old bicycles parts on the floor, spider webs around the table and corners, thousand mattresses, blankets on the floor and over ten teenagers smoking cocaine, cigarettes and playing dices on the floor was little dirt.“It’s cool” I replied as I took a seat on the old leather chair.“Is it comfortable? I picked it for you” he said with a smile on his face.“Yeah it is” I quickly said in effort to dismiss him.“Well I’ll be going, if you need anything just shout I’ll be outside” he said.I nodded dumbly. He let out a smile then went out.“It’s now or never Siren” I said softly as I swit

AWAKING MY DEMONSThe warm breeze blew my face as I turned to Eight beside me. His tiny hands held on mine tightly. “You scared?” I asked.“A little” he replied.“You don’t have to be, everyone in creche will like you” I assured him.A smile appeared on his face. “Plus, you’ll be playing swings, ball and a lot of toys”“Mr. Frog loves balls”“Well there are lot of balls in the creche”“That sound fun, right Mr. Frog?”We crossed the quiet Jilo Street, heading to the building before us painted in numerous colors and children outside the playground. “We are here”I noticed his baby blue eyes had widen. We walked toward the gate. A young woman with curly red hair was already standing near the gate taking children from their parents.“Sister Nina!” Eight exclaimed running into the red-haired woman’s arms.  “Eigh...” I tried to yell but he was already in her arms. “OH, my you’ve grown up! “she s

HAUNTING PASTI slowly pulled my sweater from the floor and wore it. Carefully I reached my feet on the floor making sure I don’t wake the bald man who was fast asleep.I carefully walked over the unwashed clothes scattered on the floor. I stooped picking up the old leather jacket, which belonged to Junior. I ran my hands inside each pocket, luckily I found a few bank notes inside. I slid each out and slid them at the back of my Jean’s pocket.He slowly turned his face toward me still with his eyes closed, and snoring at the top of the game. I felt the my whole body turn numb. Luckily, he didn’t get up. I slowly placed his jacket back on the floor then picked up my sandals which were a few distance from me, heading for the open door before me.I walked inside the tiny sitting room which felt hollow. Even Hendrik’s apartment was way better than what I was seeing. There were only two couches at the center and a woode

LIVING THROUGH PAINLight switched on revealing Jin's face, behind him stood Ten with a sharp knife on my little brother’s delicate neck.“Siren, save me,” he cried.“Please don’t!” I yelled running toward him.“Too late,” Ten spoke in Toll's voice.Blood gushed onto the air setting me back to the real world.My wide-open eyes raced around every corner of the familiar room I was in. Tiny footsteps echoed in the passage before Eight appeared from the door.“Rin!” he yelled climbing the old bed I was on. His small hands clung around my waist which was aching. “umm,” a groan slipped from my lips, while I brushed the little boy’s neat hair.“We had pizza at Sister Rosie’s house!” he barged.So that was where they had been. With Rosie, the red-haired woman who I had met in the Shinny crèche.“Why didn’t you come with us?” moving his hand away from my chest.His face had fell and the positive energy he had