2 Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Rey trudged back home. It wasn't a place where she could spend time with her family. Like she even had a family. It was so messed up, they might as well be different people living in different universes. As she walked in to screaming parents, shattered glass, an obnoxious older sister that was dancing to TikTok videos, and an older brother who just cared about his games, she sighed, knowing that her family wasn't really a family anymore. They were just strangers living in the same house.

She locked herself in her room and started sorting through her books--those that could be given away because they were too childish were in a pile, and those that she would like to keep in another. After, she arranged her books neatly on her bookshelf according to the author, library-style, while she packed the books she didn't want into a huge cardboard box, again, in library-style.

Finishing the last of her homework, she went over to a small cupboard she had in her room and took out a pair of chopsticks and a pack of instant noodles. The kettle she had in her room was given to her by her cousin, Chris, and since then she made good use of the kettle. Once the water boiled, she poured it into the cup and waited for it to cook. Meanwhile, she was busy on WhatsApp, chatting with her classmates.

Most of them thought that she had the perfect life--her family was in the upper-middle class. But only her closest friends knew what she faced at home. Still, she appreciated her friends being online almost 24/7, even during exam periods, and they kept each other company.

It wasn't always like this. Her family wasn't always broken. It was only when Rey's younger sister, Jeanette, died in a car accident a few years back. It was then her mother fell into depression and her father became an alcoholic. It was then when her brother and sister coped with their own misery by immersing themselves in the online world. It was then when Rey was suicidal.

Now, as Rey went to check on her noodles, she couldn't help but think of Jeanette. She had been everything that had kept the family together. She had been the reason why their family could still be called a family. Everything they did was for her. But now, without a reason, maybe her 'family' was better off living as strangers.

Rey would always remember the day Jeanette died. Rey was twelve, then, and Jeanette was ten. The two sisters--closer than ever--were on their way to the nearby supermarket with their parents. Even then, their parents were always at loggerheads with each other, but they kept it under control, because of Jeanette. Rey and Jeanette were in the back seats, while their father was riding shotgun. Rey's mother was busy swearing at the driver in front of her. "Calm down," her father said. "Calm down? You expect me to calm down when you want a damn divorce and this idiot is driving in front of me?" her mother yelled. Rey instinctively covered Jeanette's ears. "Well, you gave me no choice! You keep hanging out with that bunch of weird psychopaths, flirting with them day and night. You don't care that we have three kids to take care of!" her father shot back. "Yeah? What about that mistress that you had last month? And don't think I don't know about that slut! You've made very little attempt to cover that up!" her mother fired back. In her fury, she stepped on the accelerator. However, she didn't see the green light turn red and a black car was turning. "Mum!" Rey screamed, pulling Jeanette closer together. She was used to her parents' fights, but they were very rarely in front of Jeanette. Her mother still didn't see the car and yelled for Rey to shut up. As their car neared the black car, Jeanette's eyes widened and Rey attempted yelling for her mother to stop again. But there was a bang, and darkness consumed her. But what Rey would never forget was the look on Jeanette's face, blood dripping from the sides of her head, her brown eyes wide open. It was a look of innocence, a look of something entirely guileless.

Rey didn't remember the ambulance; she was unconscious. But she did remember waking up in the hospital and demanding for her sister. Not her parents, not her older siblings, but her younger sister. Then when the doctors told her that Jeanette didn't survive, Rey screamed. She thrashed about in her hospital bed, but no tears came out. And while her parents were still alive, her sister was dead.

***

"Rey," someone said. Rey turned around to see a boy about her age. She was on her way to school, early in the morning. It was sort of an excuse for her to be out of her house so that she wouldn't have to stand any more drunk parents and swearing. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the boy. "How'd you know my name?" she asked. Her school uniform didn't have a name tag. "I...saw you before. Somewhere. Your friend called you 'Rey'," he replied. She raised an eyebrow and asked again, "What are you doing here?"

The boy didn't say anything; he just fished a piece of paper out from his pocket and handed it to Rey. Rey took it hesitantly and looked at it. There was a number written, along with a name. Evan. She nodded and opened her mouth to answer, but the boy was already gone.

***

Back in class, Rey looked around. Most people were minding their own business, not paying attention to the teacher. Then a girl came in, her wavy hair bouncing as she stepped into the class to greet the teacher. "Mikaela, is there anything you need?" the teacher, Mrs Wong, asked. Mikaela smiled and said, "Yes. Can I see Rey?" Mrs Wong nodded and turned to Rey. Rey, still puzzled as to why Mikaela, the Head Prefect, would search for her. Rey went to Mikaela, bewildered. "Look, Rey, I know about your family," Mikaela began as Rey flinched, "But I won't tell anyone. I'm just saying that if you need help, you can always come to me," Mikaela said, handing Rey her phone number. Rey forced a smile and said her thanks. Mikaela was one of the best Head Prefects over the years, but the fact that she knew things about Rey's family made her uncomfortable. Still, it was a nice gesture, though she couldn't figure out how on earth Mikaela knew.

Just as Rey stepped into the class, she felt a pull, and she was plunged into darkness and stillness.

***

Dyana didn't wish for four kids. All she wanted was a husband. But then, her damned husband--Eric--just had to make her pregnant. Four times. Actually, three, because Jeanette wasn't Eric's. Which was also one reason why Eric didn't hate her. And it wasn't because Eric wanted those kids, or even liked them, but rather he wanted the freedom of the nine months of confinement for Dyana that came with it so that he could go out and get laid.

Dyana never had a problem with those bitches. She cheated on Eric, too. The problem was that he didn't want to take care of the kids. It was better when Jeanette was around, because--by some warped logic of his--she wasn't his, but when Jeanette died, he got worse. He brought home a different girl every week, all of them younger than him. Most of them needed money, so essentially they were prostitutes. Eric paid them well--higher than Dyana's pay. Dyana tried warning them before about Eric, but none of them listened to her and still went into bed with him. In fact, one of those girls beat her up, calling her a 'jealous bitch', and telling her to back off. After that, Dyana didn't bother anymore.

She never really cared for the kids, either. She tried to act like she did, but it was hard when you weren't born with motherly instincts. Truth to be told, if one day one of her three remaining kids(she couldn't remember their names) left the house and never came back, she couldn't care less. It would be one less mouth to feed, one less person's school fees to pay.

Dyana wished she never met Eric.

She wished she met the father of Jeanette, who called himself Shadow, instead.