_ He loves you the most

" So, does this mean there was no chameleon, to begin with?" Luna asked immediately Kate was out of the picture.

August answered her. " We are not sure of anything yet but there is a possibility that there wasn't a chameleon around at all and it definitely isn't that tiny girl"

" But someone did disguise as old Mrs. John and gave us those chickens either poisoned or not," Gizem spoke Rune's mind exactly!

Farris had his index finger out and was thoughtfully shaking it. " You are right. That is an unexplainable fact too but as grave as it is, it is not an important factor now. The healer has given us a week to collect a liter of the same poison that was used in poisoning Fender. He is currently keeping Fender in hibernation and will wake him up from it to suffer the pain which will make his chances of dying bigger" he paused, bit his lower lip, and exhale with gritted teeth.

It was evident that he was pained knowing that they might not be able to meet with the requirements.

However, since the poison had come from her, it should make things easier, Rune thought.

As her heart pounds harder and she wanted to start her confession, Amadio resumed Farris's speech.

" To fully save Fender, we need to find the cure of the original whose fluid had poisoned Fender. Now, we originally thought the chameleon was our target so, we only had the concern about finding her. The information from the sheriff has changed it all now. We had a lead before but now, we are back right where we began" he finished.

It was unlike Amadio to talk so much.

" How did those poisoned-soaked toilet papers get in our bin? Who is the original whose extinction fluid soaked the toilet paper? Damn– this is all fucked up!" Calliope hollered, frustration vivid on her face.

This was the part where she needed to really talk, Rune reminded herself. However, she wanted to talk but somehow, she felt so bad that her news was going to break the hearts of these people. Her family.

" I think since all clues point to the house next door and the boy next door was here that day, he is our guy. He is an original!" August gave the most ludicrous statement of all time.

What in the bloody hell was this man talking about?!

Rune was about to interject. She really didn't like it when the boy next door gets all the blame for things he knew nothing about.

Somehow, her family was hellbent on placing the Asher on the suspicious platter they had laid down for him.

" An original with crippled legs? Wake up August" Gizem came from to the rescue.

Her sister was saying more and more things she wanted to say this evening.

August had his eyes bulging at Gizem. " What?! He could be pretending!"

" We've seen the boy August. He's clean" Vidal interposed.

Seeing this as an opportunity to hurt his friend more for his betrayal, August bellowed. " Yeah, well but trust nobody!"

It was unplanned yet appeared like it was planned as they all sighed out in frustration.

" Family, let's calm down and think about this thoroughly. There is something we are missing" Luna admonished them all.

Rune finally spoke out. " Yes, Luna, you are right"

" Thank you, Rune. See? Even Rune thinks so!" Luna further hollered.

Would the darn woman shut up and allow her to speak?

" There is something you all should know" Rune finally declared.

The look on the others faces when they turned to her showed that she was the last person they were expecting such kind of statement from.

Luna's legs wobbled as she whimpered. " Oh lord, please no. Not Rune!"

" Rune?" Gizem and Calliope called her with uncertainty.

And for the first time, she saw the pained and precarious emotions dangling across her sister's eyes.

Even Farris was shocked. " What's going on Rune?" He demanded.

Rune chuckled lightly. It was the kind of sad chuckle you give when you know you are about to let down people who care about you.

" It's not something huge" she drew again the sleeve of her sweatshirt. " But then again, it is something huge. I need you all to know that I did not mean to hurt anyone" she paused to look at the reaction of the others.

" Tell me this —is not — not what I think it is Rune!" Farris's voice was breaking and pained.

Rune couldn't bring herself to look at any of them in the eye so, she glanced meticulously at the floor. " I am getting sicker. Sicker than before and I have been hiding it from all of you. My intentions were pure, I swear. I didn't want to worry anyone but I ended up creating a bigger worry. I'm sorry" she broke out now. She couldn't hold the tears, her chest was too heavy.

" Go on, go on!" Farris yelled. Obviously, he was the most pained of them all. He considered himself closer to Rune than any of the others and she knew too.

That was why this became the hardest thing she had ever done in her whole life. " I bleed green fluids from my eyes mostly at night and I have been using toilet paper in cleaning them up which I always dump in the bin. I'm sorry, I did not mean to hurt anyone." she cried loudly now.

" Oh, dear!" Luna rushed to her and enveloped her in a tight embrace.

Swiftly, Gizem's hands were on her back, and Calliope joined Luna in embracing her.

" You must have been so scared dealing with that alone. Why didn't you tell us" Calliope, who was already crying said.

" I am already a liability to everyone. I don't want any of you to treat me any more special than you have been doing before. I don't like the pity in all of your eyes when you look at me" Rune rushed, not in the least bit surprised at the speed of her words.

She suddenly felt better letting it all out now.

" Yeah well, your stupidity will kill Fender!" Farris hollered then stormed away onto the staircase, leaving them all in the living room as their surprised gaze followed him.

Rune was shattered. Farris was the one who pampered her the most and never had he raised his voice on her but now, she let him down and he was the angriest.

As if Luna could read her mind, she cupped Rune's cheek. Tearing her gaze away from Farris's receding steps. " Leave the old man alone. He's just angry to hear you are suffering so much because he loves you the most" she smiled.

Rune wanted to believe the woman but her own sorrow and guilt wouldn't allow her. " No, Farris is right. My stupidity is killing Fender" she nodded her head, falling into a trance.

" I guess the ladies got this" August chided and walked away but not without giving Rune an assuring pat on the back.

Amadio turned to all four women. " Rune, all of this is not your fault. You are nothing but strong for not wanting to hurt us with your pains but I hope you know that we are a family and we are supposed to have each other's back. So, if you ever feel the littlest pangs of pain, do let us know. It is faster when we collectively search for solutions not hide things from one another." he began to walk up the stairs too. " I will go talk to Farris" he announced and was soon out of sight.

" Rune, don't worry. Right this instant, I will begin the job of finding your cure. You will not perish but get cured no matter what it takes!" Vidal cheered before walking out of the door.

It was nice to have the real Vidal back. He was the funniest before August.

The reassuring ambiance of the embraces and the words from these men who were her brothers were all the cures she needed for her guilt to die and never return.

She would fix it all. Fender will come home hale and hearty.