Down System

Chapter 19

With my eyes still teary, I entered the door of our house. It had been an hour of staying at Ferno's graveyard— an hour of grievous encounter.

I stopped walking when I saw Mommy Morrigan standing in the way while arms crossed. My heart hit with heavy blows for I know what would happen next.

"Where have you been?" she asked, frowning at me.

"Mommy," I smiled, "when did you go home? Where is Daddy? I missed you, the two of you!" I was about to run towards her when she halted me.

"Stay there," my mother said, affirmed. "I'm asking you, where have you been?"

"A-ah..." I stuttered.

"You don't wanna answer?" She turned her gaze at the old woman. "Okay, I think it's time to ask you the same question, Namika. Where the two of you have been?"

"We've been to London to see the new queen?" the old woman said with her face that couldn't be painted, making me choke with my saliva.

"Ain't time for jokes, Namika," Mommy scowled even nastier. "It's weekend, you know Aleera has a class to attend, but why are you here with her? A simple answer will do."

"Uhm, maybe I'll just call it a school cancellation?" Namika answered.

"And, they cancelled classes for what reason?" Mommy raised her brows.

"Because there happened a crime inside the campus, and it's still under investigation."

I gaped at the old woman for the alibi she had. I would like to strike her slightly for lying, but she had the point though. I had no update regarding the school's class this day, and it would be possible that they had cancelled it because of what had occurred.

But, was it true that the incident was caused by a felon?

Mommy covered her mouth and walked towards me. "I'm sorry, baby girl," she hugged me. "I didn't know there was a crime yesterday! I was calling you, but you weren't answering. I'm just worried about you."

"It's okay, Mommy," I said, still stuck in her arms. "My fault, I didn't answer your calls."

My mother let go of me. "Why didn't you respond? I was also reaching out to Namika, but she's not answering as well."

"I had brought her to bed already at that time, Ma'am Morrigan," the old woman said. "The kid was shocked with what she had seen in the academy, so I did my best to erase the memories inside her mind."

"Oh, is that so?" Mommy looked at me with her pouted face. "Pardon me for being not there."

"I understand, Mommy. You don't have to worry. I'm fine. I wasn't affected by the scandal, as you can see," I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Where's Daddy, by the way?"

"He's sleeping, my dear. He's been worn out of work. The business transactions we had were no joke."

"I know, Mommy."

"Anyway, I prepared foods for you. Would you come with me to the dining area?"

I nodded and smiled before following my mother to the dining room, with Namika.

As Mommy Morrigan served me dishes, I couldn't help but beam at her. She was exhausted, too, but she still cooked for me. Her eyes looked sleepy, but she still managed to act lively in front of me. Because of her, the pain of losing Mom Priscilla was slowly healing.

My mother Priscilla was kind-hearted, too. She would do everything for me despite the heavy bags she was carrying at her back. She took good care of me and didn't forsake me. Even though she wasn't by my side anymore, I could still feel her inside my heart.

I would like to believe Mom Priscilla's soul was already at peace, but because justice wasn't yet being obtained, the suffering might still be there. And the only way for me to fight for her was to forget Ferno.

After eating, I went to my room with the old woman. It was only a day of not visiting my place, but I had missed this a lot. Nothing had changed there— the cold air breeze was still passing through the window, yet they embrace it was giving was as warm as Mommy Morrigan's heart.

The two of us headed to the underground with Namika, checking again the 1578 photo album.

"Do you know who made this?" I asked Namika as I took my seat.

The old woman shook her head. "I don't know who made that album, nor this whole library under your bed."

"But, how did you know about this? You've already told me about my purpose, but you haven't told me yet about yours. Do you have any connection with this underground?"

"Nothing, I've just found it."

"Then, you've entered without me knowing?" I raised my brow.

Namika nodded.

"Is that so?" I expressed hesitations.

Sometimes, Namika would answer me strangely. There were things she had unveiled, but it seemed like there were some she was still hiding from me. Her statements were contradicting at some point, and that was why I still had doubts about her.

When I had caught her stolen the photo album from my secret place, she told me she knew about the bound. I had listened to her claims that I would be the key to fixing the pictures attached to it, and that I would be the savior of the Hadessian women's future. I believed her behind uncertainties.

After some time of staying in the place, the old woman spoke to me her temporary goodbye and told me she still had something to do.

I headed to the telephone area and contacted Ferelith to ask about today's class; if she answered, there had happened a cancellation probably, but if she didn't answer, there was school.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" Ferelith said on the other line.

"It's me, Ferelith. Do we have classes for today?" I asked.

"Oh, Aleera! Haven't you heard about the announcement?"

"No. What's it?"

"The class is cancelled today due to the happenings yesterday. Why?" Confusion was in her voice. "Don't tell me you go to school?"

"Fortunately, no. I had no plans of going anyway, and Mommy scolded me for that. She also didn't know about the cancellation. I need to prove it to her. Can you wait a minute?"

"No problem."

I called my mother and steered her to the telephone area afterwards. When she knew it, she smiled at me. "I know you're not gonna lie," she said before saying goodbye to Ferelith. "So, tell me," she looked at me, "where have you been with Namika?"

"W-we... w-we just played outside."

"Why is there a tremble in your voice, my baby girl? I'm not gonna hurt you when you tell me the truth."

"U-uhm... Mommy, I went to F-ferno's graveyard," I uttered.

My mother's eyes widened. "What do you mean Ferno's graveyard?"

"The incident that had happened in the academy, h-he was involved."

Her jaw dropped. "That kid i-is already dead?" she asked, shaking.

"Yes, Mommy... but he will rise from the dead."