Sixty Shades Of The Devil

Scarlett:

I hate myself for actually falling in love with someone I never should have. A murderer of my loved ones.

As hate and love tangled in my heart, I realised that the whole thing still wasn't as simple as I thought it was.

My whole world went grey the day my family begin to fall apart.

*****

How does it feel when one loses someone so dear to them? Someone they love with every single life in them. How does it feel when the one you love just slips out of your life with just a twinkle of an eye? That painful feeling is what we are experiencing right now.

I feel my entire world crumbling right in front of me and I am unable to do anything. How many more does my family have to suffer and for how long? This is too painful to handle.

My eyes narrow down to the frame that I hold tightly. Noise surrounds the atmosphere and I feel my tears pricking down my face. Loveable memories about Dora begin to play in my head and I couldn't help but wail harder. My sister was just a little innocent girl. Why does she have to die especially in a cruel way and especially at the hands of an unknown? We don't even know the culprit behind her death and why she was murdered by the person. No one knows.

" My condolences,"

I heard someone say from the living room. I am staying at the dining area because it is quite a distance from the additional trauma back there. I sniff in and bring the frame that contains my sister's picture close to my chest hugging it tight. Oh! Why now?

The pain of losing someone you love is something I never imagined. If only there was a way to go back in time, then I wouldn't hesitate to take her place.

Her death is a mystery. A shocking one. No one until now knows who did it. But could it be the person I think it is? But could it be the mysterious killer that everyone knows about? Could it be him? Mr. Strange!.

I've heard a lot of people talk about Mr. Strange and according to what I heard, he's a mysterious killer, probably out there waiting to ambush. When he kills, he leaves a mark 'S' on the victim with their blood and no one knows why. It's just absurd. Even the corps are yet to find out who he is.

I think he's responsible for my sister's death, but then there was no sign of any mark when she died. If it wasn't Mr. Strange, then who could it be?

I sniff in as I wipe my tears and keep the frame on the table. Tears still refuse to stop, they keep flooding out of my eyes, and I couldn't help but cry out.

" Scarlett,"

I heard someone call but I didn't respond or even turn to see who it was. Seconds later I hear the person walking up to me and pulling the chair next to me before sitting on it.

" Are you okay?"

No! I'm not... I am forced to yell at him but try to keep cool.

It's Sam, a co-worker.

" I'm sorry about your loss,"

I remain silent, not in the mood to speak to anyone.

" Here," He stretches a brown envelope to me. I simply stare blankly at it as I have no clue what it contains or maybe money.

" This is from boss Martinez, he said I should give it to you on behalf of the enterprise, the shooting has been postponed till further notice. You'll receive an email when we decide the day of the shooting, okay?"

I nod. At least I have some time to mourn my sister's death.

" Thank you,"

I mutter and he simply nods, staring at me with so much concern and pity in his eyes.

" I do appreciate…"

My voice cracks and I break down instantly. It is just too hard to bear.

" Hey, it's okay," He then leaves his seat and comes over to me and pulls me into his embrace. I settle down in his arms, a hug, that's something I desperately need.

" Everything is going to be fine. It's okay," he whispers to my ears as he gently smoothens my hair with his hands.

" Thank you,"

I close my eyes. I feel more relaxed than ever all thanks to Sam.

***

It's evening time and all the guests we had had already left. I am relieved of that. My mom is still in the living room while my brother, Max, had gone out of the house saying he needed some space while I sat lonely in my room just looking out the window. Oh! How devastating.

I sigh and decide to find something to do that can help with my thoughts about my sister. Apparently, I think reading a novel will do, at least something to take my mind out of its world.

I stand up and walk to pick one of my favorite novels, Fences. It's a novel I adore so much, always enjoying every bit of the pages, I can't get enough of it.

As I read through my book, I hear a car driving in. I take a look out the window and I see a red Mercedes Benz pulling over into the compound. I'm quite sure I haven't seen that kind of car in the neighborhood. Could they possibly be the new neighbors mom spoke about before the tragic news of my sister?

Woah!

New neighbors. I look out again and I see a man, quite old, pulling out of his car and going to the boot. He opens it and begins to offload it. I can tell how heavy the luggage is with the way he struggles to put it down.

" Ralph, Jessica, come down here and give me a hand."

He yells and I hear the annoyance that reflects in his voice. The door to the car swings open and simultaneously I see my brother walking in, a frown on his face and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. As he walks in two teenagers get out of the car, a teenage boy and a girl.

I couldn't see their faces, they weren't facing my direction.

My brother simply walked past them without saying a word. I shake my head as I watch him make his way into the house.

" Scarlett? Can I come in?"

That is my mom. Her voice is so pathetic that it makes me a little sad. It makes me want to cry. That woman has gone through a lot.

My dad and her had divorced some months ago. She found him cheating on her and instead of apologizing he filed for a divorce, My mom was so disheartened and broken by the news that she refused to do anything other than cry. She loved that man with every single life in her, she didn't deserve to be treated that way.

" Scarlett?" she calls again with a swing of the door.

" So you decided not to open the door? Is that it?"

She walks in with a frown.

" Sorry,"

I apologize frantically and I hear her sigh.

" Whatever. Anyways, Max is back and right now, I'm starving."

" Oh really, I can make dinner, your favorite if you want,"

I say jumping off the stool. My mom chuckles.

" Well... I do prefer your cooking,"

She says jokingly and I could not help but laugh silently knowing what she means by that. It's about Max cooking.

It's horrible!

He once made breakfast that gave everyone in the house a running stomach, it was horrible that we had to trash out the remaining. Oh! That day was pathetic.

" Come on then."

She says and glances out of the window.

" New neighbors,"

I mumble as I take in a sharp breath and walk out of the room leaving my mom behind.

***

Dinner is ready and served. Mom and Max sit beside each other while I sit across them playing with my fork and my spoon. I have no appetite to eat. Soon enough, an email popped on my phone and I didn't hesitate to check, I'm quite sure it's a message from my workplace.

I open it to see a short email and I immediately drain out after reading it. I am to resume work on Wednesday which turns out to be next tomorrow. I sigh as I run my hand through my hair with a long face. He hates me.

" You alright sweetie?"

My mom asks. I guess my sour mood is quite obvious.

" Boss Martinez wants me to resume work on Wednesday. I don't know what I ever did to him that he hates me so much. Am I that bad?"

I say in frustration practically pulling down my hair. My mom simply glanced at me as she chewed her food. As usual, I continued playing uninterested with my cutlery.

" He's your boss Scarlett and he alone owns the rules,"

I glance up at my mom like she's insane. Does he own the rules? What the hell is she trying to insulate?