The following day.
Alexa was carefully peeking at the living room from upstairs, checking if her mother was around.
Seeing that her mother was not around, and there was only her father sitting on the couch and her siblings busy with their own life, a faint victorious smile curled upon her lips.
She placed a hand on her stomach, enough for someone to know that she's in pain and slowly walked toward the couch. Her face bore an expression of a person suffering from excruciating pain.
She settled next to her father; body curled like a fetus in pain. Her hand stretched to reach her father's arm and slowly shook it to get his attention.
Evan turned to his daughter, with just one glance, he could say that she's in a lot of pain. Remembering that Louisa had helped his wife to prepare the dinner last night, he worried that Alexa must be suffering from stomach pain.
He swiftly placed a hand on his daughter's chin and slightly lifted it to have a good look on her face. Alexa's pale face, irises were black like a coil and sweat forming on her forehead has made him realized that she's not faking it.
Evan hastily grabbed the phone on the table and was about to dial his wife number when suddenly, his daughter stopped him by grabbing the phone from his hand.
"Dad, I am fine," Alexa spoke, her crushed voice has made him worry even more.
'What is it? If you're in pain, you have to tell me,' he urged.
Alexa bit her lower lips. Guilt rushed over her body as she thought of her lies. She doesn't want to lie to her father but, the customer yesterday has made it clear that he will come back today and she doesn't want to spend the rest of her life counting his money.
So, she despicably swallowed her guilt and looked straight in her father's eyes.
Stuttering, she spoke, 'I am on my period and I can't feel my legs. Can you assign someone to be a cashier today?' with the guilt eating her heart out, Alexa lowered her eyes and stared at her hands- gripping her stomach. She was never good at lying, especially to her father. This issue might be small for her to lie but, imagining herself at the cashier with her fingers numbing by counting the coins has made her feel bitter. She would prefer to spend an hour in her room, reading novels than to waste the one hour of her life counting the coins.
And seems like her father understands her situation. Without blinking he said 'yes'.
Evan turned to Leo and Ethan- sitting on the floor. Their fingers were busy tapping on the game controller as they compete with each other, while Louisa, was busy dusting the finger figurines on the shelves.
He carefully thought on how he will split the works to his kids. Based on what he had observed from yesterday work, Ethan and Leo were efficient in taking and serving orders. With that, he has decided to assign the cashier work to Louisa.
Most of the yesterday's orders were dine-in, it's rare to have take-outs. With that thought in mind, Evan swiveled his head to look at Louisa, the girl was even humming a whimsical tune as she vibrantly wipes the feather dusting on the figurines.
'Louisa, your sister is sick. Can you handle her work today?" he sweetly asked.
Louisa nodded and her eyes past him going toward Alexa. He was skeptical when Louisa furiously glared at Alexa, her blue irises have turned into black, as she savagely gives Alexa a murderous look.
(Oh! Are they going to fight?) Evan started panicking in his mind. His wife is not around, if his kids suddenly fight, he will not know what to do. Even though he will order them to stop, he doubts Alexa and Louisa will listen to him.
He sighed and prepared himself for the worse. When he looked at Alexa, he became more worried afraid that his daughter might be feeling more pain than a normal person could handle.
He gently placed a hand on Alexa's shoulder to get her attention and said, 'Hey, do you want to go to the hospital?'
Based on his previous experience with his wife. There were days in a month where Daniella would lock herself in a room for days and does not let anyone disturb her. This, he understands. With Daniella's feelings being heightened, emotionally and physically, a small scratch could be very painful
He had tried everything to get this cured. He had hired lots of scientists to look into it and had tried all the poison to create anesthesia that can work on his wife but, after years of researching, he still could not find anything. After Louisa was born, he and his wife had decided to give up and focus on their family.
'No hospital daddy,' his mind was pulled back by his daughter's voice.
'Can I go back to my room,' Alexa continued.
"Absolutely, do you need help?"
Alexa nodded without hesitation. Excited to be carried by her father again, Alexa spreads her arms and patiently waits for her father to carry her.
"ok, Leo, Ethan, carry your sister back to her room. I will go and make that ginger tea your mother always asked whenever she has a stomach ache."
Hearing those words, Alexa's heart pounded.
Her eyes swelled in terror when she saw her brothers coming with a grin on their lips but, what scared her the most was the tea her father has mentioned.
She suddenly regretted her decision. She could have had used a different lie but, instead, she used this.
As she regretted her decision, her brothers excitedly took her hands and feet and carried her like a pig.
With Ethan holding her wrists and Leo holding her feet, Alexa finds it hard to escape.
While her brothers carried her toward the stairs, her sister Louisa rushed to them with a bible and a crossed in her hands.
"Hey Isa, I am not possessed. Take that book away." She shouted with anger, but her sister just ignored her. With Leo and Ethan on Louisa's side, they stopped and waited for their little sister and when she had finally reached them, Louisa placed the cross on Alexa's stomach and started mumbling words no one could understand while in the background, Leo and Ethan started laughing like a devil.
They brought Alexa upstairs - still carrying like a pig. And as they strode along the tight hallway Louisa continuously exorcist her sister. Alexa couldn't do anything but to laugh, cry and shout for help. When they finally dropped her body on the carpet in her room, Alexa got up and was about to take revenge when the three started running away.
"Just wait for it! I will get my revenge soon," she shouted and slammed the door closed.