CHAPTER 009

NINA.

“Noooooooo”, I screamed, this can't be happening.

My eyes were still fixed on the television and the videotape of my stepmother, Carla , showcased she was facing a conference-full audience of reporters. Impressive and determined, unlike the appalling disgust I felt at that moment.

"It's no longer a secret," came her voice, ringing clear and strong. "Sean and I have been in this relationship, and we are proud of it."

The frenzy of questioning and camera-clicking was interrupted by Carla, for her voice broke through the sound.

"The love we feel for each other can never make us feel ashamed," she said, eyes fixed on Uncle Sean next to her, holding her hand. "We are, in fact, taking it to the next level.” We're getting married soon."

With gasps of air here and shouts there, the crowd erupted. It punched me in the gut and made it impossible for me to believe I was seeing my stepmom marry my uncle. What a nightmare I realized.

Once the video was completed, the voice-over of the news anchor continued, and now says, "This news is a shocker in the whole community, as many of the family members and friends have registered their dismay."

I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if I didn't marry that Bryan of a human being.

In numbing silence, I sat, my mind in chaos. Sean, the brother of my father, now wants to be the spouse to Carla, my stepmother?

“Pure sick joke, " I urged. Where did the love happen?”.

“I have a strong feeling these guys know about the death of my father” I said to myself , All these questions swirled in my head and refused to relent on a feeling of being duped.

"These people are fakes," I fumed. "The moment they heard I was dead, they changed."

What was most disturbing was the frankness of Carla and Uncle Sean. Were they really that heartless and calculating? Did they really have no shame or conscience?

The longer I thought about it the more it struck me that I didn't know Carla and Uncle Sean at all- strangers posing as family.

I was feeling a lot of loss and betrayal, not just for them being together, but because of all the lies and conniving tricks that must have gone into all of this. How could they do this to my family, to my father's memory?

I watched the camera throw Audrey across the podium giving her last speech to me. The girl looked weak and fragile, red-rimmed eyes from crying.

"Audrey, my love!" I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks. That twinge in my heart made me want to go back and hug my sister; she was the only one who truly cared. I was burdened completely by loss and longing.

With a broken voice full of emotion, Audrey spoke, "I have nothing to say, but I know my sister is not dead," and every cry she made would tear my heart apart. "Nina, come back; I miss you so much."

Her voice screamed, and somehow I knew that I was there with her, with as much pain and grief. I lay crying because my heart was breaking for my little sister, who was suffering an awful lot.

"I will come back, Audrey, please I just have to find out the truth," I said, replying to Audrey as if I was talking to her physically .

Still tear-dried, I was hungry for sorcery. I would be depending on Laurel's influence and contacts to learn what actually was with my family. I would learn who is responsible for my father's death, and I swore they would pay.

"I will find the truth," I said softly, barely audible. "I will uncover the lies and deceptions. And I will make them pay."

The most impetus fuel for my motivation was Carla's and Uncle Sean's sultry affair and probable involvement in my father's death. Justice had to be done with that.

Upright in the bed, brewing intention, I looked dryly on the ceiling. Today was about action with every resource available to me and unearthing truth, bringing forth justice.

The game is on.

Then Drew entered the room just in time to watch me shedding tears with a handkerchief steaming my tears. Without arguing, he dropped the tray beside himself and rushed to me.

"'What happened?'" Drew asked, concern etched all over his face.

I shook my head furiously instead of answering. I continued to sniffle and cry into my handkerchief. He is just going to have to deal with it; he will never get me to open up about it.

"'What's wrong?'" Drew asked quietly, holding out a tissue.

I blew my nose and then took a breath, "My friend Nina...," I spoke, trying to recenter myself. "'Her family is upside down now.'"

"'I'm sorry to hear that. But you're safe now. I've got your back,'" Drew told me as he engulfed me in his arms.

For a brief moment, he combed his fingers through my hair to pacify my fidgety mind.

"'You're shivering'" he said softly, concerned creeping into his tenor. "'Let me calm you now, okay?'"

I nodded and felt somewhat comforted as Drew tenderly assisted me into lying on the bed while he sat beside me, holding my hand.

While lying down, my mind was plagued with thoughts of my family.

Drew's gentle grip on my hand brought me back to the present. "'Hey, you're safe. I'm here for you,'" he said softly.

I looked up at him, feeling gratitude towards him. "Thanks, Drew," I whispered.

He smiled at me as he brushed my hair back behind my ear. "'Anytime,' he replied. 'Now do you want to talk about what happened?'"

I hesitated, wondering whether revealing anything about my family drama would cross my limits. Yet Drew's kind eyes seemed to say I could trust him with anything...

Drew was on the verge of hearing all of my thoughts when suddenly, from my nightstand, another buzz interrupted all trains of thought. I saw a slight flash of incoming text from some unknown source as I flung myself at the phone.

"Don't worry, I know what you are going through. If you need the truth, meet me at the old oak tree in the park...Midnight.”

My eyes bulged, staring at the message, questions racing through my mind. Who would send such a strange message? What truth do they say they know?

Drew's worried voice interrupted my thoughts, "What's wrong?" He looked at my face.

I did not know whether to tell him or not. But before my mouth could frame words, Drew got a call and stood up to answer it.

It sent a shiver down my spine as he walked away. Who could have sent the mysterious message, and what could the person have been willing to reveal? I was beginning to feel that my life had moved into a dramatic phase…