With a quivering voice Ciana speaks, "I... I want to talk... talk with Mo... Mommy."

Brenna fists her palm as her disappointment slowly turns into a rage. Ciana flinches seeing her anger in her eyes. She stutters, "Plea... please."

"But why?" Brenna's rage bursts out seeing Ciana still talking about Iris.

"You saw that video. You saw that how... how she stole you." Brenna moves towards Ciana and make her look into her eyes cupping Ciana's cheeks. "Why don't you understand? She... she separated us."

Ciana sobs within herself as she says, "Plea... please I want to talk. I... want to know why... why she sto... stole me. She never hu... hurt me. She to... took care of me, love... loved me for... the past seven years. Maybe someone force... forced her to do that. Please... let me talk with..."

Before Ciana can continue, Brenna pulls her hair back in a fist which leaves a wince from Ciana's mouth.

Controlled by blazing anger, Brenna shouts as Ciana wriggles in pain. "So you don't believe your own mother! You still want to talk with that bitch! How many times have I told you, You are My. Daughter! I know what and who is good for you! You'll always listen to my word! I sacrificed everyone, all my relations so that I can give birth to you! Do you have any idea how painful it was to kill someone with my own hands so that you can come to this world, alive! No, you don't. You fucking don't!"

Brenna leaves her hair which makes Ciana's head hit the wooden wall. But it gets unnoticed by Brenna as she shouts, "All you talk about is that bloody thief! Don't you feel happy seeing your own mother? Answer me, you idiot!"

Ciana shrinks back as Brenna's words, kill someone with my own hands haunt her messed up brain. She stares at her not understanding what to say, how to react. She is wearing a blank expression which enrages Brenna. She pounces towards Ciana and is about to thrash her but she gets saved by Brenna's phone.

ring! ring!

Ciana leaves the breath which she was holding back. She clutches her head which is throbbing in pain.

"What's it?"

...

"What? You fuckers! What the hell were you doing when all those happened?"

...

"No fucking excuses! Stop that officer from asking help and also stop the other two. I don't want any kind of interference." She cuts the call and throws the phone on the floor.

"Fuck! What will I do now? But... no matter what happens, I'll not let that bitch go." She growls like an injured lion and paces up and down.

"I'll not let you stay in peace. Never! But what can I do? What if those asshole pets of mine gets unsuccessful? What will I do then? I was thinking of keeping them here until that bitch gives birth. It would have been so fun to run away with Ciana and her child." A vitriolic smile shrouds her face as she utters the words. But soon the malice within her turns into a stormy rage as she continues pacing.

"But, if I can't take my revenge, I... I'll kill them. Yes. Everyone will die. And I'll run away with my Ciana. Then mother and daughter will stay together forever." Engrossed in her evil thoughts, Brenna forgets about Ciana and blurts out everything aloud.

Hearing her devious plan, Ciana shivers from the core. She looks at Brenna who is still walking back and forth and talking on her own. Ciana closes her eyes and calms herself. She looks around frowning and suddenly stops. Her eyes glisten as she sees the unlocked door. She peeps at Brenna who is busy mumbling to herself. Finding the situation appropriate, she dashes for the door. She has made it to the door and is about to step her feet out but someone pulls her back by her wrist. Brenna turns her around and slaps her hard.

Slap!

The sound roams in the room for a second as slowly Ciana's cheeks turn red. Tears prick her eyes but she keeps a straight face. She looks at her wrist which is bruising because of Brenna's rough grip. She winces but her eyes show a sudden determination. Next she does something which increases Brenna's anger like a volcano. Ciana bites Brenna's skin between the thumb and forefinger which forces Brenna to break the grasp. Ciana moves back instantly as Brenna screams, "You pest! How dare you?"

Ciana sprints out of the door and shouts, "I'll not let you harm my family. Never!" With that she runs bolting the door from outside. She dashes to downstairs which leads her to the living room.

☆☆☆

Iris and Elroy are leaning against the wall. The blend of pain and exhaustion have cast a shadow on their bruised faces. Their eyes are closed as they sit accompanied by silence. They are like one broken heart which is waiting for a string to weave them together.

Both of them shot their eyes open as someone's huffing and creaking of wooden stairs scream in the living room. Within a few moments, Ciana's small silhouette falls on the wooden floor. The open main door is letting the afternoon sun kissing the wooden floor as dust particles dance in the rays. Ciana comes into the light. Her dishevelled black hair is still shining in that light. Her puffy eyes and bruised face brighten up seeing two known faces.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Ciana rushes towards them. But as she nears them, tears threaten to fall from her eyes.

"Ciana! Are you okay?" Elroy shouts as his eyes fix on the marks printed on Ciana's cheeks.

"Yes. I'm okay daddy. But we have to leave this place. She... she is crazy." Looking at Iris, Ciana sobs and says, "Mommy, please take me... a-away from her, just like you took me away... years back."

Shocked, Elroy and Iris looks at each other and then at Ciana. She moves behind Iris and tries to free Iris' hands as she says, "I know Mommy. I don't know why you sto... stole me. But..."

"No, Cia! I... I didn't steal you. Yes, I picked you up. But I didn't steal you princess. It was your father who told me to take you away from... from your mother."

Ciana stops and looks at Iris in questioning eyes, "My... my Father?"

"Yes. Your father. Your. Dead. Father. Wanna know how he died?" Brenna's cold voice booms in the living room as Ciana hides behind Iris.

Brenna comes closer and says calmly, "I killed him. Just like the way I'll kill them and then," She looks at Iris and Elroy and moves back as she shouts, "I will live with my Ciana. Happily Ever After."

"No... No! No! No! I don't want to live with you." Ciana screams like a stubborn kid.

"You!" Brenna runs towards her and moves her hand to slap Ciana. But before that, someone stops her. She looks at the person with rage who is holding her wrist. A fleet of emotions play on her face as she utters shockingly, "You... you are alive?"

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