Chapter 1

"This is it!", taking a closer look at the presentation saved in the Amander's folder, a hooded man smiled to himself wickedly. He shot the lifeless body in the right temple and placed the gun in the corpse's right palm. With that he walked out grabbing the hard disk of the computer. He dialed a certain someone's phone number and whispered, "it's all cleared, tell me the place and I'll give you the hard disk."

The man heard a creaking noise, he grinned viciously and turned to the table behind him and tipped it upside down hitting the small boy's head, who was hiding under it all these whiles. The boy screamed with agony and slowly fell unconscious. 

........................…...

"Where is Rilsue?", asked Arman, the archeological officer who was working with Mr. Rilsue Amander on a very confidential project. He sent Mr. Brethworm, Mr. Amander's assistant to check on him as Mr. Amander was a very punctual man. He didn't show up at his work place on time which was unlikely of him since he had previously agreed to submit the files of the project he has been working on, he was a man of his words. 

Mr. Brethworm arrived at the Amanders' residents in a cab, he paid the cab driver and turned to the 2 storied pale blue house. He pushed open the tall black gate and walked towards the door, the silence felt eerie because Mr. Amander had a full-throated son who was loud enough that the next neighborhood heard his rants. The door was locked and Mr. Brethworm kept knocking. Nobody attended the door, the eeriest part of all was that the slippers of Mr. Amander and his son were there. He sensed a foul smell coming from the insides of the house, that's when he realized something was off. he immediately dialed the emergency number.

When the paramedics and the FBI broke in, they found a dead man, an officer spotted a hand sticking out underneath a table that seemed to look toppled, he pushed the table aside and realized it was a boy in his 10s, he was breathing! they rushed him to the hospital, leaving the other officers to investigate the crime scene.

The boy woke after a month, but the last hope to find the criminal was shattered when the doctor said that the boy had no memory of his past and had entered a stage pf coma, his return to consciousness would be unpredictable.

…. After 30 years….

The alarm rang echoing around the room waking up Clair who was dreaming peacefully, she rubbed her eyes open and cupped the alarm clock with her palms turning it off. she peeped outside and felt something odd, she checked the time again. She furiously grabbed the clock and dashed out of the room heading towards her annoying cousin, Eric's room. She pushed the door open and threw the clock on the boy who was sleeping with his back facing her. 

A fat round bellied boy with brown hair sat up growling like an alligator caught in a trap, Clair gasped covering her mouth with her palms, she didn't know that her other boy cousin Simpson was home. Was she blind? Couldn't she see 2 boys on the bed! the boy with black hair and brown eyes woke up next to Simpson swearing and rubbing his eyes, but when he saw Clair fuming up, he fell laughing, he set the alarm for 2.30 a.m. just to annoy his cousin.

"you're so done mate!", Clair hissed as she got on top of the bed chasing him around the room throwing pillows at him. Leena, the oldest cousin heard her brother Eric laughing and cracking lame insults, she immediately knew what was going on, before their fight awaken her mum and the others she rushed to the next room, fastening her robes around her waist. 

When she entered the room, she found the three running around the room with pillow fluff flying around. Leena went for the rescue, she tapped on the door a little loud getting the trio startled and whisper yelled to be quiet, Clair glared at Eric who was still giggling and left the room, Leena sighed frantically. She frowned at Eric giving him a warning look to clean the room and sleep silently and shut his door close.

Clair awoke the next morning with sore eyes, it was 6.30 a.m. Realizing that it's time for school she groaned getting out of her bed pushing the blankets away, all thanks to her cousin who ruined the night's sleep. She really loved school but these days it had been quite a mess. She shrugged her shoulders when she heard her aunt call her down for breakfast, she shouted back, "coming...". dragging herself to the washroom she looked at herself in the mirror, holy blueberries! she thought.

 She looked so tired, her bright blue eyes looked extremely dull, there were 2 scars beside her right eyebrow and one under her earlobe, she got it when she was 12. She was asleep and somehow, she fell off her bed scraping her right brow in the corner of the bed and it scarred. Her lips were drained of color and dark circles rounded her big eyes. 

she washed herself and did her morning routine, wore her rosy red t-shirt, a beige ripped shorts and tied her thick wavy hair into a pony tail. Wearing her watch, she headed downstairs for breakfast jumping 2 stairs at a time.

             The dining room was noisy as her cousins were already there. Tingo, erics younger brother of 6 years old, banged on the table demanding for breakfast. Clair looked around for her irritating cousin Eric, he was not there. Leena and her aunt, Stella carried the trays that were filled with bowls of marshmallows and cookies. The hot chocolate filled the hallway with its aroma. Her seat was untouched, she grinned as she sat there helping herself for some warm hot chocolate, she looked through the trays and there were no eclairs.

Clair went to the kitchen to get herself some, when she returned to the dining room, she saw Eric sitting at her place, she frowned putting the plate on the table and called out to him, "from when did you learn to hop into other's seats?". He looked confused, "what?", "that's my seat".

 Then began an argument which made the whole table uncomfortable, Tingo rushed to take his toy camera taking the role of a news reporter, "today at the Wilson's' Villa we have two soldiers fighting as to who fairly earns the honor to be seaten in the chair of pride, well yeah! There the coffee is splashes on one another and now they're gonna bing their weapons out. Yaaay, yeah that's how fighs get intevesting, go on, yes yes, westle, yes Clair kicks him... Ooh ya Clair wins the final betl as momma pulls Evic and forced him to sit next to her, hey wait, gimme my camva. Givvy!", Leena pulled the camera from Tingo and laughed, 

"You can't even pronounce camera and then you portray yourself a reporter? You little worm on a bucket get yourself seated now!", She demanded. Scowling and stamping the foot harder on the floor, Tingo went to his place. Eric kept sulking throughout the breakfast meal, when Clair smirked at him proudly.

After having the breakfast Stella waved goodbye to the children. "Balloon, don't tell your mum about that mess in morning, she may not send you here again", she winked at Simpson making him giggle. Leena didn't open about the previous mess, so Eric sighed looking at Leena. When the bus arrived the cousins, all of them except eric, got into it and waved back to Stella disappearing in the distance. Eric kissed his mother's cheek and bid her good bye turning the keys to start the bike. 

He wore his helmet and raced after the school bus, " I wish Clair and Eric got on with each other better. At least Eric should have some sense knocked into his noggin to know that Clair is younger than him", she sighed closing the door.

But the fight was not something new. Since the day Stella took Clair home when she was 4 to stay with them as her parents had to fly to Australia, this began. When Stella brought Clair home, everyone shook hands and welcomed her in, Eric was on the couch playing games. But he threw the play station getting startled when he was asked to take his things away from his room and move into the small room next to Leena's.

Because Clair would be in there. Eric argued saying that it was unfair and pushed Clair on the floor, she got a cut on her elbow and blood seeped through the freshly cut wound. "You broke my arm!", She wailed, he glared at her, "you snipped my room! you little wart on my foot!", He rampaged out of the living room furious saying that she was too dramatic. Clair was confused but she hated her cousin since then. Later that day when Clair had fallen asleep, eric sneaked in and had dressed her arm since the push wasn't intentional and he didn't want to apologize to her and break his ego.

But the cousins had a bond that was invisible, it came into light only when one of them was in trouble. Trouble that they laid for each other was different from the trouble they had with others. Eric had always looked out for his little cousin Clair, once when a guy tried to bully Clair in her freshman year, he secretly beat him to a pulp. Little did he know that Clair had not borne with bully either, she kicked him hard and broke his nose when he tried to misbehave. Leena was a tomboy too, but for the past few years she had become a bookworm, yet she works her way in if she needed to.

 The bus reached the school, the students got down waving at their friends who were waiting for them. The huge 5 storied pale grey building looked magnificent with a huge clock tower in the middle. The words ESWALD HIGH was engraved into the white brick wall under the clock. Clair looked out for Grace. She and Grace were buddies since primary school, "Hey there babe, missin me I guess", came a voice from behind her. 

She turned and hugged the girl, " ha-ha, in your dreams grey. Let's go to the library". The both chatted happily towards the library, expecting to spend another busy day at school.

The library was crowded as usual. The exams were close round the corner and all the students flooded over to study and look for books to borrow for the weekends.                                                                                                          Clair raised her left brow and twitched her lips in hatred when she saw a brunette twirling her hair, flirting with her cousin. She hated her since the first day of school.

Clair joined the school with her cousins when she was 12. She was happy because her best friend grey(grace) joined the school along with her. On their first day of school, she was quite nervous. The building looked so tall even though it just had 5 floors. There were 3 blocks. Each block had a head. The primary, middle school and high. The clock tower stood in the middle adding beauty, that's where the library was.  She was excited to go rounds around the school because the school was a dream palace for all the students. 

                                                       Each block had a separate ground and swimming pool, badminton court, basketball court too. Basketball was the most loved sport there, no wonder they are tall like giraffes, she thought. The canteen cafe was so big that it could hold room for all the students there, so it was made the common place for all 3 blocks, there were fine teak tables, round in shape, the canteen was similar to a 5-star restaurant. She squeaked in delight when she sniffed the canteen,

oh boy this is so good, that smells like freshly baked buns! She gleamed. They went to the office room to be taken to their respective classes by a teacher. A tall cheery mistress entered and smiled at the duo and a few other newbies who stood next to them. "I guess the newbies, is it?", she asked a lady in her 30s with glasses pondering over a file walking towards them. "Yes mam, and yes…Clair, Roberta, Selvy and grace can follow miss Gilbert, she's your homeroom mistress." She gave a tight smile pressing her lips together nodding at miss Gilbert.

On the way to the class, a man came to miss Gilbert and said that she was wanted, she guided the girls and asked them to take right after the passing the library and enter class D. she rushed behind the man and the girls were left alone. Clair smiled walking passed classes, she saw the library door and wanted to peep through. She stuck her head inside a little and let her eyes wander across the book shelves in the library, it was enormous and it looked like the fairy tale libraries where the red velvet curtains fell neatly on the corners of the huge window. With wooden bookshelves piled with books. 

She had also heard that the school bought the most valued books spending millions to make the library a better place.

Clair's stomach filled with the happy gulps. Her intestines rolled uncomfortably making her excited and uneasy. Her fear and discomfort faded away when she heard someone sing, it sounded like her cousin, but that voice?? I never knew he could sing so well and now wait, is that a band??? She wondered. It was from class A on the right side of the stairway close to the bathroom.

She pulled Grey who was unwilling to go and rushed to the classroom which was crowded cheering for the guy who was singing. Suddenly Clair glared, the lyrics? Yes, that's what made her pissed.

🎶

"The girls are a dramatic horse's mane,

They are all just insane,

Look at us the best of creations

Boys never fall for those imitations"

🎶

Clair couldn't hold it in anymore, she knew that he was singing that for her coz he smirked at her the whole time he sang those awful words.

She fumed turning red, Grey glanced at Clair and then at Eric. She knew there was a fight that's on it way. Not on the first day again!? She groaned. She was furious at Eric too for pissing her friend off. Clair grabbed a bottle on the nearby desk and hit Eric's head hard, earning gasps and squeaks across the classroom, he blocked the other blow with his bag and ran out being chased by the furious Clair. Grey ran behind her to make sure they were out of trouble because their fight was never over, they sometimes bled because of their powerful blows.

"Clair! Stop!", No use Clair was out of the sight. Grey ran across the blocks, games courts and the grounds, and was exhausted, she knelt panting and clutching her knees that ached after running so fast. She saw some distant figure approaching and it seemed like Eric. Oh yeah him baby, I'mma kill him for all this mess! She thought steaming up like a boiling kettle.

She searched for something hard, she luckily found a broomstick next to her. She grabbed it and blocked Eric; he didn't stop instead he ran past her flipping over the broom. Clair came running too, but Grey was quick, she spotted the Princi going on rounds, she dragged her behind a pillar. It was a cuboid in shape, the principal shouted over when he saw Eric running, who knew balloon (remember Simpson? Balloon is his nickname) too ran behind. 

The principal was furious at the boys for running around instead of being in class. He steamed up turning red like a cherry plum. He spotted the broom and went close to the pillar and grabbed the broom that Grey held, she didn't know it was visible, and got startled when he pulled it. He was not interested in checking who hid there instead ran behind the boys.

"Hey boys, having a marathon eh? I'm joining your marathon right now, now you wait rascals!"

His voice faded in the distance, the duo laughed so hard gasping that they were nearly caught. They went to the canteen to have something to drink as they were parched out after so much of running and chasing, "Princi took the mission on behalf of us girly", giggled Grey. Clair nodded smiling exhausted. They ordered tea and a sandwich, Clair clutched her knees panting, she saw a cup at the counter, she grabbed the cup and sipped a huge gulp and almost puked. She let out a fiery yelp, squeaking that it was ginger water. The canteen staff returned with some aromatic tea and handed her but looked astonished,

"oh my that was the principal's ginger tea, he left it behind I see", reaching for the cup which Clair held, she handed it over, she let out another gaping yelp and held her throat immediately sipping her tea that was given and didn't ponder that it was burning hot too, she screamed again and ran towards the tap. The staff giggled; Grey ran behind her with her tea after paying for it.

"You ok babe?", She whispered worried. Clair choked, "I guess". They left the canteen with their pocket sandwiches and tea, after throwing the cups in the bin Clair shoved her sandwich inside her pocket and they headed towards the girls Toilet to wash their sweaty face and greasy hands to eat their sandwiches, they spotted Eric and balloon cleaning the boys' toilet, Clair regained her strength, she laughed so loudly making Eric scowl at her. She put her tongue out and teased him.

But on the way she was knocked down by a brunette with narrow grey eyes and pale skin, "you think you're smart because you made the pop kid clean the toilet, eh? Watch out for your steps lady, I'm his girlfriend and I'm to kick your ass. You'll regret doing this to my baby!", She hissed and the two other girls beside the hissing snake were acting posh and, gross! She thought. She didn't want another fight on her first day so she kept quiet. But since that day school hasn't been easy on Clair, she and that girl got into numerous fights where Eric was unaware.

Sometimes Clair teased her cousin telling him he chose a grumpy girl like Michelle because he had no taste. He had no idea and ignored it. Because the reality was Michelle crushed on Eric but he just didn't bother talking to that miss highness

The flashback faded away when the bell rang for the classes to begin.

She scowled at that witch, and walked briskly.

Clair loved swimming, she soon undressed and got into her swimsuit. She felt lively and cool. Usually everyone admired her mighty strength when she swam like a fish, creating clean strokes trailing behind her and the way she did the somersaults made everyone freak out.

      The only girls who hated her thick-skinned attitude was Michelle, and her tag along Taylor and Risa. Anyways Clair cared less for their insults and this is what annoyed them the most.

"You know what, this morning Eric asked me to eat with him during the break. Ain't he a sweetheart? There were few who were glaring at me this morning with jealousy", she waved her hands in the air. This was too much for Clair. No one actually knew she, Leena, Eric, Tingo, and Simpson were cousins.

She stretched her arms walking towards the pool with a red face, Grey asked her to calm down," I'm calm and cool, don't worry girl".

She walked backwards and then ran towards pool doing a somersault in the air and fell with a huge force when Michelle was giggling and bragging about how she'd dress when she goes on a date with Eric and how he'll fall for her immediately.

"Yeah, and I'll wear this long Beige top with stripes on my shoulder and... aaaaaaaaaahhhh! what the…! You! Look what you did, you filthy rag... I'm to..." she squeaked after getting drenched in water, but Clair cut her in the middle, " ya miss airs and graces, this is the swimming class so Ain't my fault to jump into the pool. Either swim or get your bloody self outta here. Probably out of school and then marry him, that guy you spoke of and do housework. Don't disturb successful ladies like us". The whole class broke into peals of laughter. Some fell to the ground hitting the floor.

Clair stretched again and raised her brow smirking. This is why everyone loved Clair. She always got back in the best ways. Grey pats her friend's shoulder, "you know how to do it don't ya babe", laughing.  What they didn't notice was a boy was looking at Clair, eye filled with jealousy, obsession and lust.

---------------------------------------------

During the lunch break Clair walked to her usual spot close to the corner. She saw Tingo running towards her, she smiled and waved at him.

" Hey big boy, what's up?", She messed his hair.

"Misses you Clair, so I come". He gleamed.

They waited for Leena, Eric's and Tingo's older sister. She came late but looked enthusiastic about something. Clair smiled knowing why, it was Tuesday and they served beef, it was Leena's favorite. They giggled about how Michelle squeaked and Clair did the right thing putting her in place, on the other side Eric asked her to move to a different table, if possible, coz he and his friends needed some privacy. Michelle cried internally, she smiled and got up to leave, she walked out of the cafeteria cursing Clair who was laughing in the corner, 

"I'm to get back at you", she thought.