Chapter 7: Where do I Belong?

When Aeritha got home,she met her room in a mess. Her clothes were lying on the floor,her pencils were scattered all over the room. She bent down to pick the pencils,she didn't know why her room was in such a mess but she thought it could have been a burglar since the neighborhood was now facing several burgling and robbery cases. Fear rose in her heart,of a burglar had been in her room. 'What if he decides to come back?',she thought.

She folded the clothes back into place,and gathered the shattered wood pieces lying on the floor. She spread the thick cloth she used to sleep and laid down on the bed. She didn't know what will become of her? She didn't know whether she had parents,did she have a home? 'where do I belong?' she thought, inhaling deeply. She fought the urge to cry and turned to the side. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

****

The next morning,the sun was up,gently seeping through the window. Aeritha openedher eyes,her jet black hair was laying on the floor scattered. She looked like a zombie,with swollen eyes. She stood up and rubbed her hair. She opened the window, spreading her hands out.

Aeritha smiled as she bathed in sun rays,she danced as she got ready to go out. She and Anitha had made plans to visit the beach,for as long she could remember she loved the water. She brought out a faded jeans damage she had purchased at the thrift store,a green tank top. She took her shoes out and blew the dust off,she hummed as she got ready. She took her bath and hot dressed up,she packed her hair up in a ponytail. She walked out and met the nextdoor neighbor who wanted to know what happened in the neighborhood.

"Good morning Mrs Wilson" she greeted politely and was about to walk away when she was pulled back. She heaved a sigh as she knew this woman was about to go all out to tell her the strange things happening in their neighborhood.

"Ahhh,good morning Ritha. You looked so dressed up today. Any special occasion? Ah! I forgot to tell you Madam Crook was here yesterday but you haven't gotten home. She had them search your room,I wonderer whether you had stolen from her" she spoke, gesticulating with hands at intervals.

Aeritha's eyes dimmed. How despicable! Madam Crook was purely evil. She must have been searching for the black card. She touched her worn out purse and felt the rim of the black card. Her thought process was interrupted when she heard Mrs Wilson telling her about the old woman who her husband just passed away.

"Mrs Wilson, shouldn't you be making breakfast? I heard Gabby crying now, is she hungry" ,she said while gritting her teeth. She just wanted her to stop talking,so she can take her leave.

Mrs Wilson exclaimed and touched her forehead,"oh my,I almost forgot" she said and hurried away. Aeritha shook her head for the pathetic state of Mrs Wilson and went downstairs. She walked to the fastfood truck and ordered a hamburger,she paid for it and walked to the street where she told Anitha to pick her up.

****************Han's Mansion

Anitha walked downstairs, she bumped into the maids they were carrying some boxes out of the house. She wanted to stopped one of them to ask some questions but she felt it wasn't important and decided to go her way and mind her business.

She saw Luna, sitting down at the corridor. She has a forlorn look on her face,Anitha smirked as she walked over to her. A maid carrying a tray filled with fruit passed by and she grabbed an apple. She sunk her teeth into it, devouring its juice as she took a bite.

"The scenery is beautiful, isn't it?" She whispered into Luna's ears. Luna glared at her,with so much hatred radiating in her orbs. Anitha ignored the glare she was getting and stretched the apple she was eating go her

"Want a bite?",she smiled asking softly. Luna slapped her hands off and the apple fell off. Anitha let out a mischievous laugh.

"Angry that much? You should not waste food" she complained and dusted her hands. She smiled meaningfully at Luna,her thoughts were quite complicated and Luna couldn't read her mind.

Luna threw her head back, crossing her hands over her chest. She contemplated on what to say to Anitha but her attitude was throwing her off the balance.

"If I ever head a word about what you heard the other day,I will skin you alive",she growled in a low voice. Anitha chuckled and pretending to shiver

"Ohhh, I'm scared?",she said trembling bit then she started laughing loudly. She threw her hands over Luna's shoulders, dragging her close to herself. Anyone who saw the sisters in this position would think they were best of friends but the sisters hated themselves to the core.

"Luna,why are you so naive? You will skin me alive,I would love to see you try" she responded. Anitha stood up and arranged Luna's hair. She grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her close,her polite face has been stripped of. Luna's eyes skipped a beat,she swallowed hard being intimidated by the look in Anitha's eyes. There was nothing but madness in her eyeballs,Anitha smiled and straightened her hair.

"Big Sis, I'm going out now. I'll be back soon. Don't miss me too much , okay" she threw her hands up on the air and waved goodbye. Luna's widened eyes watched as Anitha got into a car and drove off,it was only after she left that Luna was able to breathe.

Anitha screamed , playing loud music as she drove. She got to the streets where Aeritha told her she would wait for her. She found her waiting already. 'What an early bird',she thought. Aeritha was fresh air in a suffocating land, standing there in faded clothes she was an ethereal sight to watch. Anitha walked towards her and tickled her,she jumped in fright and Anitha couldn't stop laughing. Aeritha touched her chest,to calm her raging heart. She glared at Anitha looking like she was having fun. Anitha swallowed her laughter when she saw Aeritha's face.

"Come on,I was only joking with you" she said and slapped Aeritha's arms. Aeritha raised her eyebrows and looking at her sternly

Anitha threw her hands up in the air and apologized,"okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that". It was only then Aeritha lowered her gaze and started to walk with her towards the car.

"Well,this neighborhood requires one to be on guard everytime. My heart almost crawled out of my mouth when you tickled me" she explained and they got into the car. Anitha started the car and drove slowly,she played a song and hummed along.

"If your neighborhood is quite dangerous,why don't your parents move to another side,?" She asked,still focusing her eyes on the road. An awkward silence filled the car,Aeritha dropped her face to hide her tears which were threatening to fall. For the first time in her life, hearing someone ask about her parents hurt so much. She felt like a thousand pins were cutting through her heart right now. Anitha glanced at her from the corner of her eyes,Aeritha slowly raised her head and her eyes were slightly red

"I don't have parents",she said in a low voice. There was a tinge of bitterness mixed with sadness in her voice. She didn't bother to mask her feelings. Anitha's eyes widened,stunned at what she heard. Just as she was about to talk,she got interrupted by Aeritha's laughter.

"I know it's somehow weird for me to say I don't have parents. I'm not some kind of alien,you know.....

She let out a heartily laughter before continuing... All I know is I found myself in a foster home and I stayed there till I was 15. No family was willing to adopt since they didn't have any idea of where I came from. I don't even have a name,it was when I left the foster home that I decided to name myself Aeritha" she replied in a trembling voice. Tears swelled in her eyes but her face was calm, even though she was young and at her age she should be pampered,she had already face so many hardships. Her hands were shaking violently as she remembered the memories of her childhood it was simply nothing to write home about. Anitha felt so much pain in her heart and hugged her,she must have gone through a lot on her own.

Even though she had her own fair share of pain,she still had the old man to rely on

"You know, you're not the only one whose childhood is filled with bad memories but mine is not as bad. I have a father that doesn't have time,a mother and sister that hated me to their bone marrows. I spent my childhood in hiding away like I was some object of shame to the family but I have my grandfather,he took me abroad and I just returned recently"

They both hugged each other and cried softly.

**************Greene's Hospital

Maria Lou woke up,she felt a blanket on her body. She wondered who had covered her with the blanket. She traced her hands on the bed and couldn't feel Adrian beside her. She jumped up to her feet, spinning around then she saw Adrian looking absentmindedly outside the window, she moved behind and saw him watching two kids play. Instantly,she knew what was on his mind.

"Hey kiddo" she called and ruffled his hair. He frowned at her looking very bitter at her for ruffling his hair.

"Will you stop doing that? You're making me look ugly" he complained. Maria Lou's heart toppled, finally her brother was back. She knew he could never get over Adrianna's death but at least he had the courage to accept it. She leaned on him and rested her head on his shoulders

"You're really ugly, kiddo" she sighed hopelessly

"I know right,I took after you. You look like a monster when you sleep"he attacked her outright and walked away. Maria Lou was taken aback and she retorted,"hey kiddo I sleep like a beautiful log of wood"

"I wish you really were a log of wood,you were all over me touching me and squeezing the life out of me" he explained

"yaaahh,that wasn't me. I must have been possessed"

"Well I agree you are indeed possessed. Tell me ,do you have a crush now or perhaps a boyfriend? Who is Jason? You kept calling his name."

Maria Lou grabbed the blanket and threw it on her brother,she mentally scolded her mind for falling asleep.Now Adrian is going to torment her all the time.

"Well ,I don't have a boyfriend. Did you cover me with this?",she asked pointing to the blanket.

"Me,no. I think your imaginary prince charming did,from your dreams. Jason must have covered his lover with a blanket" he whispered. Maria Lou's cheeks flushed bright red and her hands froze in place as Jason walked in

Wrong timing,

Speak of the devil,here comes the devil.