Prologue

"Mommy? Mommy!! Help! Help!!" Kara screamed, her arms flailing on the water, reaching something on the pool. Her eyes fixed on the toddler who had fallen on the water. Her eyes were already blinded by tears. She feels so helpless seeing her younger brother drown.

Kendra came in to see the commotion.

"You pushed him!?!" she blatantly shouted at her. "You are bad, Kara! Very bad!! Mommy!! Kendra, her stepsister screamed, her face flushed.

"What's wrong? What's happening??" Klarisse exclaimed and then she saw the tiny splashes on the pool. She stood there for a moment, too horrified to think. And when her senses finally came, she immediately jumped into the swimming pool and swan towards her drowning son. The water was warm on her skin, it feels good but she had no time for that. Her care lies to none other than to save her son. The woman retrieved the boy, unfortunately, he was not moving. He looks tiny in her arm as she dragged him to the side, her tears blinding her. She resuscitated him, repeated a few times, but no response. She repeats it again a few more times hoping for a miracle but nothing. The boy was dead. The woman wailed as she felt her world crumble on her.

***

"Mommy, please let me out! It's dark here. I don't want to be here! Please Mommy…" Kara cried. Her step mother, Klarisse shuts her again in the dark basement. This is her constant punishment. Sometimes, she's there for a day or two. Lucky if her father is around, she gets treated nicely but when he is not, everyday is a torture.

Her stepmom terrifies her, ever since that accident, their relationship has turned sour. She would be scolded, at times will receive a lashing, or at worst be imprisoned in the basement. She hates it there, the darkness, dampness and silence terrifies her. She lumped near the door and cried herself to sleep.

A soft kick wakes her, the door opens, a hard grip on her arm.

"You won't say a word to your father about this or else you'll get something worse!" Klarisse lashed out at her.

"Now go to your room and make yourself presentable. Your father is coming." She left her there. She stood up and slowly walked to her room.

"It serves you right, freak!" Kendra jeered at her as she passed by her. She pulled her hair hard enough, she grimaced. But she just let her be. It is better not to fight in her case because she will just give her more. Kendra knowing that Kara is not gonna fight back or do anything else just left after that. She went directly to the bathtub and sat there as the water from the faucet flowed and cooled her body. She listened to the water and tried to calm herself. She must look well, her father will be home after two months of being away due to a business trip. Finally, something lifts her spirits up.

She gingerly walked to the dining room, the table is set. The delectable smell of foods wafting in the air. Everytime her father comes home, there must be a feast. Her father is a certified foodie himself and her stepmother make sure to cook all her father's favorites. Somehow, his father's homecoming is a good thing for her. At the span of his stay, she will be spared from her stepmom's wrath. But that would be it. As soon as he's out the door, her hell begins.

"Do I look nice, hon?" Klarisse gave a little twirl as Kendra looks at her. She had her hair done for today, made sure to wear the right amount of perfume and make up to accentuate her already beautiful face. She wears that LV dress she bought the other day, feeling the need to a dress up for her husband's homecoming. He has been away for two months now for a business trip in Hongkong. And she terribly missed him, she will make sure that he won't let her go after tonight's dinner.

"You look amazing, Mom! So beautiful!" Kendra exclaimed as she ogled at her mother's lovely dress.

"I want that dress too, Mom... " she added, pleading with her puppy eyes. Her mother immediately went to her and gave her kiss on the cheek.

"Of course, hon. I will buy something nicer for you. Don't you worry. Or maybe Dad has already bought you something pretty.... " she said to her daughter, now the girl is giddy with excitement. Kendra hugged her mother happily. While, Kara watch them in her seat.

The telephone rings.

"Hello, Mrs. Klarisse Dawson?" a man's voice is on the other end of the line. Kara and Kendra perked up, hoping to hear the conversation.

"Yes, speaking… "

"This is Officer Thorne from the San Juan City Police Station. Mr. Martin Dawson, your husband met an accident. His car crashes with another. He was rushed to the hospital but he didn't make it. I am sorry but he's dead."

Klarisse heard the voice clearly but there is a buzz in her head and her knees felt like jellies under the sun. The telephone slid from her grip, her hands starts to tremble and she suddenly she needs support. She held on the table end but her strenght seemed to escape from her. Kendra immediately went to her mother's side, wondering what is it about. Klarisse is aghast, her mind fails to process the bad news.

"If you could just go to San Juan Medical Center... hello Ma'am? hello?" the voice echoed in the hall.

This time Klarisse felt her world crumble again into pieces, she felt overwhelmed and trapped in the debris of her grief. She shook herself as her tears rain.