Miranda went about her activities that morning as she normally would, cleaning, arranging, and making breakfast for the family.
She was happy and a little sad at the same time, for different reasons. Happy because she will get to see Patrick later in the day, sad because Connie would be returning to school that morning also.
Once Connie leaves, the house will become extra quiet and almost unbearable. He was the one that usually puts a smile on her face, and talked to her like a normal human, apart from Loretta and Patrick.
But the other two, she only gets to see occasionally, while Connie was always around her each night to cheer her up and make her laugh.
While she was still deep in thought, Connie walked into the kitchen and moved to stand behind her. Seeing how she didn't notice his presence, a small frown formed on his face.
"What are you thinking about?" Connie's voice echoed from behind Miranda, startling her.
"Don't scare me like that. I am dealing with something hot here." Miranda scolded him, turning away from what she was working on to look at him.
Her eyes narrowed and brows pulled together when she saw that he still had a singlet and shorts on.
"Why aren't you ready yet?"
"I'm in the process. I just came to remind you—"
"To package some meatballs you can snack on while on the road. I know that already." Miranda completed the words for him and his lips stretched into a boyish grin.
"How did you know that? You must be a prophet." Connie uttered, still smiling and eyeing the meatballs on the plate in front of her.
"I'm no prophet. You make the request every time you are returning to school. I'm already used to it." Miranda rolled her eyes, then stabbed one meatball with a toothpick and offered it to him, seeing how his eyes were greedily eyeing the bowl.
"See? This is why I said you are the best." Connie praised. "I'll go finish my preparation now." He turned around toward the exit but paused when he saw his mother standing by the kitchen door.
Her brows were knitted and her eyes fixed on Miranda. When she noticed that Connie had seen her and is still looking at her, she sent him a glance before walking away from there.
Confused at what his mother was doing now, Connie walked back to Miranda's side.
"I'm not giving you another one, Connie. Go get ready. You'll still have some for breakfast." Miranda informed him with a stern voice.
"That's not why I'm here. I just need a favor."
"What favor?" Miranda queried.
"Leave this house before my next holiday." Miranda blinked multiple times when she heard what he said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Same thing I've been saying for a while now. Mum is not going to take it easy with you. You should leave before they kill you. When you are settled somewhere else, call me and I'll come to visit."
"And you think if I tell them I'm leaving, they will just let me go?"
"Nobody said anything about telling them." Connie backed off after saying that, and finally exited the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Alfred moved to their bedroom and plopped down on the sofa while having a thoughtful expression on her face.
Her husband, who was working on his tie, glanced at her before looking back at his image reflecting in the mirror.
"It's too early to wear such a long face, Anna. What's wrong this time?"
"I think it's time we invite the priest again for Miranda. Something is wrong with her." Mrs. Alfred spoke, puzzling her husband.
"Why? I thought she is busy making breakfast. What's wrong with her?" He asked, and she stood up, then started pacing about the room, still calculating something in her head. After a while, she stopped and turned to face her husband.
"I went into her room last night and found out she fell asleep while reading a devilish book."
"A devilish book?" Mr. Alfred questioned, lifting his brows.
"Yes. Something that has to do with rescuing the devil. I took the book from her and burnt it. But this morning, she had not asked of the missing book or acted like someone who lost something."
"It could be that the book was not interesting enough for her to care if it was missing or not." Mr. Alfred pointed out, but his wife shook her head.
"I don't think so. I have a feeling she had completed it and had somehow invited the devil into our home. We need to get a priest for prayers. A different and stronger priest that can cast out the devil. I heard her telling Connie to go prepare to leave. What if another accident occurs? I don't want anything to happen to you or our son because of her." She stated her concerns.
"Nothing will happen to us. And no accident will occur. We will go find the priest when I return."
"How can you be so sure nothing will happen?" She asked, her tone, irritated.
"Breakfast is served." Miranda's voice echoed around the house, stopping Mr. Alfred from uttering what he previously had in mind.
"It will be fine, Anna. We have obeyed all the rules the first priest gave us and we've not had any problems so far. Since you want us to get another priest, we will do that when I return. Alright?"
"Fine." Mrs. Alfred agreed, then walked out of the room, closely followed by her husband.