Chapter 23 Flaming

[Rosalyn wakes up. She looks around and finds breakfast left for her on the table.

Sain isn't at home.

She sits and chomps on the food.

That man from before didn't come again. I once heard some noises on the door but he didn't come. The family next door moved out too.

She lies on the floor.

Should I jump from the window?

She trudges and looks down the window.

There are safety rods. The only one without a safety rod is in the bathroom. I won't fit through that.

She twists the door knob.

There are three locks now.

She scratches her face.

Why?! Why?! Why?! Me! A fucking pathetic murderer!

She starts to scream.

No one is there to listen. Even Sain isn't here. I wonder how much I've hit him before. He still hasn't left me despite all that.

She slaps herself multiple times.

Why?! Why?! Why is he still here with me?!

She walks closer to the stove and turns its keys. She dashes to fetch her clothes and puts it on fire. Soon, fire spread out in the whole house.

She giggles and rolls on the floor.

This is the best!]

"Mom!" I finally arrive at the hospital where they admitted her. The doctor is checking her vitals so I can't go in.

"Is she alright?!" I ask the doctor.

"She inhaled too much carbon monoxide. We've given her a nebuliser and expect her to wake up in a few hours. Don't panic." He softly smiles and then leaves.

I walk at the back of the room where she's lying behind the curtains.

Eclise, who followed me to the hospital, is baffled.

I sit next to mom as he stands next to me.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness she wasn't hurt."

Eclise says nothing. The landlord comes and updates me with what happened.

"The fire wasn't too huge and it has been put out. But the house you rented isn't in any condition to live in."

"I'm so sorry. I'll compensate you. Please give me some time."

"You worry about compensation.." says Eclise. ".. where are you going to live?"

I clench my fist. "I.. don't know."

Eclise covers his lips as he delves into thoughts.

I didn't know her condition was so bad!

"That reminds me. This is the same hospital Ms Yana is admitted in." I shift my glances at the landlord. "Who brought my mother here?"

"Uhh. An inspector came along with the fire service."

An inspector?! "What does he look like?"

"Well. He seems to be in his early 40s. Has long curled hair. He said he was an inspector but he wore no uniform."

Mr Xeno? Does he have no work? "Is he still here?"

"I haven't seen him around."

Eclise asks me. "Is it the same inspector, Sain?"

"I guess so."

"Why is he after you?"

"I don't know." I rest my head near mom's hand. "I don't know what I should do anymore? Where are we going to live? All our belongings that I earned so hard are now all ashes! I also need to compensate the landlord. What are we going to do?"

Eclise winces his brows. "Can't you forgive him the compensation?"

"But its a huge damage to my asset!"

"Please. Just look at their condition! Do they look like in any condition to compensate?!"

Upon Eclise's plea, he changes his opinion. "Alright. Sain don't need to compensate me. You can fix that house with the rents you'd give me and live in it again. I don't care how much time you need. In the meantime I'll ask Mr Mins if you can live in his house. He left me with his keys."

I raise my head with snot all over my face. "I'm indebted to you!"

"Thank you landlord for considering him." Says Eclise.

"Fine. I'll be leaving now."