CHAPTER 1

THE feeling of the cold wind coming from the window suddenly made me shiver as it stirred me up from my deep slumber. I tried to pull my blanket to warm up my body when I suddenly realized that I fell asleep last night in a small hut with a roof full of holes in the middle of the forest.

I suddenly groaned in annoyance when I remembered the reason of me being here stuck at the middle of this enchanted forest and when I remembered what she did to my mom!.

"That bitch!" I silently mumbled inside my mind

I hurriedly get up and stretch my arms to lessen the muscle pain caused by the bed made of hard bamboo woods. The moment I got out of the hut, I slowly roamed my eyes—trying to find a trail towards the exit but all I can see was these tall bark of trees.

" Once I get out from here, I will really make you pay!" I shout in irritation when I suddenly remembered what just happened yesterday

Flashback:

I'm at the cafe yesterday when all that terrible things happened. It was fast as a blink of the eye.

"2 cups of americano and 1 cup of cappuccino please!" one of the customers requested

"Right away ma'am!" I cheerfully replied

I continued making their orders and when I finished it, I passed it to one of our servers.

" Zephaniah, serve it to table 5, please!"

"Right away ma'am!" she replied with salute

I almost burst out laughing on her actions but I tried to control my laughter. I immediately compose myself when I heard the bell above the door rang. I turned my head to look who our next customers will be. A wide smile is plastered on my lips and was about to greet them but I suddenly stilled when I recognized who they are. My hands suddenly become numb and cold as I felt the dread swarmed through my body.

I looked at them coldly as I try to control my hands from trembling. They look at me with disgust and a wide taunting smirk are plastered on their faces. Jana Eliza Fortess and Paroah Jonathan Fortess—the psychopath twins that I hate the most. They are the evil of all evil and I know that visiting my workplace will be a bad luck. Something bad will happen and when it comes to these twins, my instinct is always right.

"1 iced americano and 1 cappuccino plea—"

"Why are you here? What do you want?!" I cut her off before she could finish her sentence

" Is that how you treat your customers? Anyway, since my good mood have been gone, I'll tell you something interesting instead. Do you still remember what I said before?" she asked while a sinister smile crept on her lips

"Don't try my patience and stay away from Clifford. I warned you before right? What's mine is mine! But what did you do? You f*****g steal him away from me, you b*tch!" she angrily said while her eyes are looking at me full of hatred

"I didn't steal anyone or anything away from you. It's not my fault that he loved me more than you. " I calmly replied

" It will always be your fault and now I'll make sure that I'll take all people who are dear to you. I'll make them suffer in exchanged of what you have done!" she exclaimed in fury

After saying that, she turned her back, tugging her brother along with her as they walked out of the cafe.

I immediately calm down my self and tried to ignore what she said. I, then continued my job and served our customers jubilantly like nothing had happened.

While I was serving a customer, the warning that Jana Fortess said a while ago flashbacks in my mind.

"The people who are dear to me are my family. She can't touch my father but my mom-" I mumbled to myself silently when I remember my mom

'This can't be! Not my mom,please' I keep repeating myself as my vision started to become blurred with tears

I tried to wipe my tears and hurriedly ran to our house. I heard my co-workers' shouts as they tried to call me and get my attention but my mind is busy overthinking and worrying about my mom's safety. I keep running fast like crazy as I repeatedly mumbled the word 'mom'. I repeatedly tried to stop taxi but they just pass me. When I was about to stop another one again, a black limousine stopped in front of me and its door suddenly opened.

"Get in." A baritone voice inside said

I walked myself in and tell him our house address. After that, he immediately drove away until 10 minutes later, we safely reached the destination. I carefully buckled off my seat belt and get off of his car.

"Thank you." I sincerely said

When I turned my head and looked towards our house, my heart suddenly filled with despair and hatred as my tears keeps on flowing like river. I felt my energy being sucked away from me as my knees wobbled and weakened. When I turned my gaze again at my left side, I saw rescuers holding up a stretcher with a body covered with white cloth.

I hastily stand up and rush over them. I tried to push those who blocked my way and luckily I succeed. When I finally reached them, I cautiously and carefully picked the end of the blanket and my hand trembled while my eyes are filled with tears then I pulled the blanket to reveal who is the person underneath that piece of cloth.

My sob grew louder when I saw my mom's pale face. Half of her face as well as her body was burnt. I tried to touch her but my hands can seem to move as if it's energy has been taken away. I fell down on my knees and whimper in pain.

'It hurts.' That's the only words that I can use to describe what I felt right now.

As my tears continue to flow, I unconsciously found myself walking to the forest where my mom always pick flowers. I walked and walked until I lost my way and don't know how to get back. I found a small hut and decided to stay there. When I sat down, I felt my body being exhausted from physical and emotional pain. After hours of crying, I fall asleep while trace of tears are still visible on my cheeks.

' They burned my home and now I'm lost. I don't know how to get back. Please, somebody please help me. '

-End of flashback-