CHAPTER THREE

HEAVEN

I've never felt so much malevolence from anyone around me, like I felt from Killian, every time he was around me since I returned from coma.

It'd been over a month and nothing about his cold attitude towards me had dropped. It worsened after I reported him to Papa, for not allowing me to join him and his friends.

He vowed to destroy me.

It made my skin crawl with fear, whenever I remember what he said to me that night.

He said to enjoy my victory now because I won't have any left when he finally destroyed me.

I couldn't talk to Papa or anyone about his threat.

It was the fear that he was going to hurt me and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it, nor was anyone going to save me from him.

Not even Papa.

Killian didn't possess the typical childish innocence, gleaming in his eyes like the rest of us.

Every time we made eye contact, I was terrified. Like, he knew where to hurt me and how he could ruin me without even trying.

Strangely, I was his only target.

He didn't extend his hatred to any other person, except me.

To every one of his other friends, he seemed nice. He allowed them into his room and I heard them playing and laughing loudly with each other. They played chess together, swam together, and did almost other things together. I was never allowed to join them.

I only have to watch them from the sideline.

He was closer and nicer to them, most especially Sophie.

I've never seen him being cold towards her as he was towards me. She was allowed to join them for chess and she has joined us for dinner more times than Dylan and Levi.

Although she acted nicely around me, just like Dylan and Levi, I didn't like her.

I was jealous of her.

How could he be friends with her, and not with me?"

Papa said Sophie had been our family friend since she and Killian were in nappies, although he was about two years older. Her papa and ours had been best friends from their school days.

How ironical, they expected us to be friends, when she was just two years my senior, but acted like she was ten years older?

Once, she rang the bell and I answered the door. I lied to her that Killian wasn't home, even though he was in his bedroom.

Dylan and Levi weren't with him, and I didn't want just the two of them in his bedroom. She stayed downstairs with me and we played with my Barbie dolls and my cat, Snowy.

Luckily, Killian didn't come out of his bedroom until she left, just like I hoped.

The next time she came, she didn't ask if he were at home. Rather, she went upstairs to his bedroom to see for herself and didn't come back downstairs, until her driver came to take her home.

The nicest of Killian's friends was Dylan and the funniest, Levi.

I liked Levi the most, because of how he easily he got on Killian's nerves with his mischief.

"Levi, don't you dare, or else..." I heard Killian threatened Levi and I lifted my attention from Snowy, who was scratching her stuffed toy with her claws.

We were outside and they were by the pool, while I was seated farther away, although, eavesdropping on their conversation.

Luckily, Sophie wasn't joining us today.

Earlier, Papa had informed us that she was going to stay with her mother, in some place called Florida and we wouldn't be seeing for her a while.

Killian wasn't at all bothered by the information. He shrugged and left Papa and me at the dining table, excusing himself.

While I, on the other hand, was elated. At least, she wouldn't be clinging unto Killian anymore.

"What do you mean, I don't dare?" Levi queried back, getting up from the chaise lounge, glaring at Killian,

"I mean, if she's willing, why can't she join us?"

Before Killian could say anything, Levi averted his gaze to me and asked,

"Heaven, would you want to join us later today?"

In stupefaction, I stole a glance at Killian. Our sight collided and I felt a sudden frisson of fear shoot inside my system. It was one of those cold glares that could paralyze a soul.

I was panic-stricken unable to look away until Levi called my attention again.

"My parent's are throwing me a party and I'm allowed to invite anyone I want. I talked to uncle earlier and he gave his permission." He explained to me,

"Can I bring Snowy along with me?" I asked innocently, even though I could still feel my brother's penetrative glares, digging holes in my body.

"Yes, you can bring her along. I have a cat too, not mine though, but she's friendly. Snowy will have someone to play with." He offered and delight replaced the fear inside me.

Since I returned home, I haven't left our mansion, except when Papa took me to the playground near our house.

He said our mama used to take us there a lot when she was alive.

Too bad, I didn't remember anything from then. I was shown pictures of our mama and I felt really bad. Papa missed her and so does Killian, except he doesn't admit that to anyone.

Once or twice, I caught him staring at her pictures with longing glistendin his eyes.

Papa brought in a tutor to have me homeschooled since the semester was almost over. He promised I would return to school with Killian after summer and I couldn't wait already.

I was tired of staying home all day and not being able to join the other kids. I was tired of Papa always worrying about my health and calling the doctor whenever I complained of any slight pain.

"So, you coming?" Levi asked again and ignoring my brother's threatening glare, I nodded, feigning a delighted smile.

"Great." He smirked at me, before returning his attention to my brother,

"Deja de ser un gilipollas sobreprotector, amigo."

I couldn't understand what he'd said to Killian or what foreign language that was, but I could tell my brother was boiling with rage.

I've never seen Killian that mad before.

Killian did not speak to me until Levi left with Dylan. He got up from the lounge, and spared me a sinister glare, before brushing past me and sauntering towards the house.

Even Snowy was scared too, she jumped off his path, like he was carrying something she was allergic to. She came to me and nested on my thighs and I began to stroke her first slowly, watching him go inside the house.

Scared he might jump on me if I went inside, I decided to stay back outside and continue to sunbathe under the summer sun, waiting for Papa's return from work.

It wasn't until the sun began to set, I woke up from my sleep. I'd dozed off while sunbathing.

Snowy was nowhere around the pool when I looked around, so I got up to go find her. She must've gone inside the house.

Twilight was almost descending and sooner, Papa would be home.

Halfway towards the house, I remembered Levi had invited me to a party at his house and he'd offered I bring Snowy with me.

I was excited, I hurried inside to go find Snowy, then go upstairs and pick a dress for the party.

However, I searched around the house and there was no Snowy. Neither Georgie, Melinda nor anyone saw her anywhere inside the house.

I went up to my bedroom to check if she'd gone upstairs somehow, but she wasn't in there too.

I became worried and perplexed, searching everywhere for Snowy, including my drawers and over the bookshelf.

"Snowy!" I called out loudly, as I stepped out of my bedroom.

"Snowy, where are you?"

There was no response or any sign of her.

I sauntered to Killian's bedroom door and reached my hand to knock against it when I heard Papa's voice downstairs.

Aborting my mission of asking Killian if he'd Snowy with him, I turned and hurried downstairs to go alert Papa that I couldn't find Snowy anywhere.

That night, we searched every nook and cranny of the house for Snowy, but couldn't find her.

By we, I meant Papa, me, Georgie, and Melinda. Killian was nonchalant about the search, he stayed in his bedroom the entire time, only coming out to get himself snacks from the refrigerator since dinner wasn't set.

With Snowy's mystifying disappearance, we couldn't honor Levi's invitation to his party. I was sullen all evening, refusing dinner, even though Papa promised to get me another Snowy the next day.

I ended up sobbing myself to sleep, wishing upon the stars we find her the next day.

I regained consciousness from my slumber as my nostrils detected the odd smell in my room. The odd stench invaded my nostrils causing me to scrunch my face, forcing my eyes open.

Dawn had invaded my bedroom, illuminating everywhere.

I looked around my bedroom and my eyes landed on the disposable bag lying carelessly against my bed.

The bad smell must be coming from there.

Befuddled and curious about what was inside it, I climbed down the bed, slipped my feet into my flip-flops and I sauntered to where it was positioned.

I was right. The stench was emanating from the bag and it became stronger when I got closer.

I carefully reached for the opening edge and I widened it, only to be faced with the most gruesome massacre I've ever seen.

Blood smeared over white furs.

"Papa!" I shrilled, paralyzed with fear as I stumbled away from the bag,

"Papa!"