The dimly lit room has gotten one notch darker as the embers in the fireplace extinguishes. Both Ciana and Iris frown seeing a shocked Shelley who is fidgeting with the hem of her off-white old fur coat.

"I came here to wake you up. But when I entered I... I heard run... running water's sound. So I went inside to clo... close it." She lowers her head like a kid ready to get a punishment.

But her answer does not satisfy Ciana. She frowns and asks in a suspicious tone, "Then what took you so long to come out?"

Hearing this, Shelley's whole body stiffens. Even the crawling darkness of the room is not able to hide it. Shelley keeps on looking down and her finger gets stuck in a hole of her coat. Thus, to hide a lie, she lies again.

"My coat got stuck to something." She clutches her coat in such a way that the hole is now visible to Ciana and Iris. "That's why I got late." Though she lied without fumbling this time, she keeps on looking down waiting for her punishment.

"Hahaha!" Shelley shots a confused look at them hearing the burst of laughter. The curtain is now open and the dazzling sun rays are removing the darkness away.

Ciana continues laughing loudly while Iris says in between her laughs, "Why are you so tensed? Haha... we were just joking. You... haha... you know Cia, right? She leaves no situation where she can act like Mister oops! Miss. Holmes. Hehehe... and moreover," Iris stops laughing and her eyes glow with warmth and love. "Don't be afraid Shelley. You are a member of this family now. So, you can go anywhere you want." Turning to Ciana, Iris speaks in a motherly yet an authoritative tone, "Say sorry to Shelley."

Ciana looks at Shelley and holds her two little ears, "Sorry."

Shelley nods her head murmuring, "It's okay."

"Okay. Now go to your room with Shelley and get ready for breakfast." Iris ruffles Ciana's hair while Ciana kisses her cheeks and jumps off the bed. Shelley takes the cue and leaves with Ciana. But before leaving the room, she looks at the washroom door as a tear trickles down on her tear-stained face. Taking a deep breath, she leaves the room, holding Ciana's hand.

In the room, Iris gets off the bed with a bright smile on her face. Switching on the light of the washroom, she opens the door. She wears the slipper and enters the washroom. As soon as she puts her first step, "Ah!".

Her legs slip on something and her body bends backwards. She is about to fall but quickly grabs the sink beside her. Holding the bump with her other hand she pulls herself straight and holds the sink with both hands. Hanging her head, she closes her eyes and takes heavy breath.  Her one hand caresses her little baby as relief gets reflected in her now open eyes. She looks up and in the mirror reflects her frowning face. From the corner of her eyes, she saw water glistening in the white light.

Her frown increases as she murmurs, "Water? But the floor is usually dry and Elroy woke up long back. Then how come the water is still on the floor?" She looks at the trail of the water flowing from the tap and then her frowns disappear. She recollects what Shelley told just a few minutes back about the running tap. She nods her head and mumbles, "Maybe she forgot to wipe the water." Thinking it to be a mistake of Shelley, she brushes her teeth and goes inside to take a warm shower.

☆☆☆

In a white-painted and furnished room, Ciana is standing in front of a long mirror. The mirror has an antique touch and is hanging on the wall. She is wearing a white top and light blue short skirt and brushing her long black hair. Shelley is trying to tidy up Ciana's bed but is constantly looking at the door and wiping her sweats forming on her face.

Beep!

Shelley's phone vibrates with a beep sound. Bringing out the phone from her pocket with trembling hands, she fixes her eyes on the message which says,

WHY ARE THEY STILL NOT OUT?

She doesn't know what to answer. She keeps on staring at the screen until her phone rings. She startles and looks at Ciana who is now eyeing Shelley from the mirror. Turning around, Ciana looks at a pale Shelley for a few seconds and says, "Why are you not picking up the call?"

Like a thief who got caught red-handed, Shelley looks at Ciana and fumbles, "No... nothing. It's just my... my son." The phone gets cut.

"Maybe it's urgent. I think you should call him back." Ciana turns back and brushes her hair.

"Ye... yes." As soon as Shelley leaves the room her phone rings again. Fear is lurking in her eyes as she picks up the call. Before she can say anything, a female voice, engulfed in anger, booms through the speaker.

Why were you not picking up the fucking call?

"No... I... I was,"

Just cut the crap! Why are they still not out?

"I... I did exactly like you told."

Then just check what went wrong?

"Ye... yes." Cutting the call, Shelley quickly walks towards the couple's room. The door of the room is little ajar. She slightly opens the door and peeks inside. Her eyes see the silhouette of Iris walking into the closet. Heaving a sigh of relief, she closes the door. At that moment her phone vibrates again. She quickly picks up the call.

Where's she?

Shelley is afraid to say what she saw.

Answer me you, idiot! Where's she?

"She...," Gulping down her fear she whispers, "She is sa... safe and in the closet."

Damn fuck! I know nothing. Send them to the hospital. NOW.

"But... how will I... I mean... how can I do that?" Shelley's voice trembles in fear.

That's none of my business. It's now 8:15. I want them in the hospital within 10 minutes. And remember, this is your last chance. If you mess up; you know the consequences well.

With that the woman cut the call. Shelley stands rooted to the spot as tears form in her eyes. She looks up with a sigh and mumbles, "O Lord! Please help me. How will I do this? Please help me. Please." A tear trickles down from the corner of her eyes.

"Boo!" Hearing a shrill scream from behind, Shelley turns back and her hands hit something.

Splash!

The bottle of water falls on the floor which Ciana was holding. The whole water is now running on the floor. Shelley frowns seeing Ciana's mischief.

"Oops. Sorry Shelley." Ciana shows her innocent green eyes melting the rising anger of Shelley.

"It's okay. Go to your room. I'll clean this." Nodding, Ciana enters her room and Shelley walks towards the stairs. She has walked only four steps when a creaking sound hit her ears. Turning back, she shoves her hand in the air and parts her lips. But without saying a word, she quickly turns back. From the corner of her eyes, she saw the bump of Iris. Clenching her fists, she walks away. She is on the last step of the stair when a piercing cry made her turn back.

"Aaaaaa!" Iris has fallen with her back on the floor. She is trying hard to get up but all tries are in vain.

"Aaaa El!" Holding the bump, Iris wriggles on the floor.

Shelley stands still on the steps.

"Ri!" Elroy shouts and hurries towards upstairs. Hearing Elroy's shout, Shelley's trance gets broken. She quickly goes where Iris is now screaming in pain. Tears are coming out of Iris' eyes while Ciana comes there.

"Mommy!" Ciana's eyes fall on the water on which Iris slipped. Seeing this, Ciana steps back.

Elroy tries to make Iris stand, but the pain increases.

"Shit! Shelley, quickly take the car's key and call the driver. Hurry!"

"Ye... yes." Shelley dashes down and grabs the keys lying on the table. Elroy takes Iris in his arms and goes downstairs.

"Aaaa El! I... I can't. the pain is... aaaaa!" Iris' breath gets heavy as she keeps caressing the baby.

"Shh! Everything is fine. Don't panic. We are going to the doctor. Please hold a little longer, honey." Though Elroy is trying to give courage to Iris, he himself is breaking down from within. Coming out of the house, Elroy makes Iris lie on the backseat keeping her head on his lap. Closing the car's door, he says, "Drive. Fast." Elroy caresses Iris' forehead as she goes on screaming and the car leaves with a whoosh!

Wiping her tears, Shelley enters the house. She slugs her shoulders down as she closes the door.

Beep!

Seeing the message sender's number, tears well up again in Shelley's eyes. She opens the message with a disgusted look on her face.

Good job! I'm impressed. You'll get him back as soon as you leave this house. And yes, leave this town. Today.

Thud!

"This is... this is all my fault."

Thud!

Hearing sounds of things falling and heart wrenching cries of Ciana, Shelley hurries to Ciana's room. Entering the room, she gets shocked seeing all the pillows and soft toys lying on the floor. Ciana is sitting in a corner of the room and weeping. She curls her legs closer to her chest as her head rests upon her knees. Her whole body is trembling as she clasps her little palms tightly. Shelley runs towards her, taking little Ciana in her embrace. She hears Ciana fumbling in a tearful voice, "Ciana is not a good girl. Ciana has hurt mommy."

"Shh! No baby. You are a good girl. This is not your fault. Stop crying. Shh." Shelley rocks Ciana and closes her eyes. The dam of Shelley's eyes has broken. Water flows from her closed eyes as she remembers the tied up, unconscious body of Shawn, her son.

"Please forgive me Lord. Please forgive me." She whispers while Ciana keeps on sobbing in her embrace.

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