EVE’S FORBIDDEN

Chapter-4

The world stopped as I looked at my mother.

"Where is your family?!" I heard an unfamiliar male voice.

"Where are they?!" Another voice yelled, and then another gunshot was fired.

I flinched. So did my mum.

I let out a breath, feeling a tight nut in my belly.

"Da...dad," I made steps ahead, but I was moved back by my mother towards the island.

"Find them!" A man yelled and I heard some movements.

"Dad.....mum, dad. I think they shot him." I shuddered.

"Shh, Evelyn." She whispered, her hands trembling.

"What are we going to do, ma'am?" Nana asked worriedly.

"Take her and go through the back door." Mum said, pushing us slightly.

"What? No....mum...."

"Don't stop running till you get to a safe place." She said, ignoring me.

"No, mum... I am not...."

"Shut up, Evelyn! Go with her, right now!" She whispered a bit loudly.

My heart clenched. "What about you?"

"Go, Evelyn. Annamarie, my daughter's life is in your hands. Nothing should happen to her." She said.

"Yes, ma'am."

I shook my head, holding my mum's hand before she could walk away.

"Mum, please. Don't go out there," I trembled.

"Come along, Child," Nana said, grabbing my shoulder.

"Do as I say, Evelyn. Go with her." Mum said, struggling to get her hand off my hold.

"Mum, no," I cried, holding her tightly, but she took her hand off my hold, making me feel void and terrified as she walked towards the entrance door of the kitchen.

"Mum..."

"Let's go, child." Nana said, grabbing me away.

"Nana, my mum." I said as she moved me in front of her.

"You have to listen to your mother, okay? Let's go," She said, urging me to walk faster.

I sniffled as we ran out the back door. We continued running, heading for the woods. My tears were getting dried by the wind as we ran. My heart felt heavy as I thought of my parents.

My dad was shot twice. I can't believe he....

BOOM!

A loud bomb blast stopped us on our tracks, making me turn around.

Our house was on fire.

My heart sank into my belly.

"Mum!" I screamed, taking fast and weak steps towards the house, but nana caught me.

"Child, no."

"Mum!" I cried, falling on my knees.

Nana held me as I cried bitterly.

"We have to keep going, child."

I shook my head. "No. My parents. My dad! Mum!" I cried, looking at my home.

It is in flames!

Who would do this for us?

Who are those men?!

Why did they do this to us?!

"Let's go. This place is dangerous. We have to get you to safety. Your mother wants you to be safe. We have to respect her last wishes."

My heart tightened as I sobbed.

"Come on, child." Nana said, helping me up, and we headed into the woods.

We walked deep into the woods for what felt like an hour without her letting go of my hand.

Not long later, we got to a strange cabin. She let go of my hand and took out a key from her pocket, making me furrow my brows.

She unlocked the cabin and turned to me. She extended her hand to me. I placed my hand on hers regardless and followed her into the cabin.

The place was dark and creepy. It smells of wood and dust. Nana put on some candles that ignited the entire room, giving me a view of a typical old and abandoned place.

I saw an old couch, a little table, old white curtains on the windows and a bull's head on the wall.

The place looks like someone hasn't been here in a while. Nana walked towards me with one of the candlesticks, getting my attention.

"Come on, child. Let's take you to the room." she said, placing her hand on my shoulder and leading the way to an inner room.

Getting to the room, I saw a well-dressed bunk bed with a white sheet on it. My eyes roamed the rest of the room. There is a chair next to the bed, a nightstand, another bull's head on the wall, which I find very creepy, and a white worn out curtain on the window.

"Take a seat, dear." Nana said, making me sit on the bed. The bed made a weak sound after I sat on it, as I looked at the bed and rubbed my palms on it. I placed my hand on my bare thighs as a tear rolled down and dropped on my hand. My heart ached severely, making more tears flow.

"Here's something for the cold." Nana said, handing me a black blanket.

"Thank you," I barely whispered, taking the blanket from her. The cold wind hit my skin, making me look at the window.

The wind was blowing the curtain through the window.

"The window is broken. But the blanket will prevent you from catching a cold," Nana said.

I nodded, dropping my gaze.

"Oh, dear," she said, sitting next to me. She placed her hand on my shoulder.

"My parents are dead, nana." I sobbed. My heart broke continuously.

She moved me closer, and I placed my head on her shoulder.

"I am sorry, sweetie." She said, caressing my hair softly.

I let out sob after sob as I thought of my parents.

My dad. He got shot twice.

My mum had to go after him and got burnt in the house. I can't believe all this is happening to me.

"Who were those heartless people, nana? What did we do to them?" I sobbed.

"I am as confused as you are, child. I don't know who they are. You know, wealthy people have enemies." She said, making me withdraw my head from her shoulder and look at her.

She is looking at me with worry.

"What do you mean? Does dad have enemies?"

She shrugged. "That's the only explanation for this, child." She said, moving the strand of my hair behind my ear.

"But, dad is a sweet person. He...he is a good man. We are good people. Why would someone want to hurt us?"

"Child," she called, placing her hand on mine. "No matter how good a person is, people can still hate him. Didn't it occur to you that there would be jealous people out there, who are envious of how wealthy and sophisticated your family are?"

"That's unfair. My parents worked so hard to get to where they are now. Why would anyone kill them because of their achievements? I don't understand." my heart clenched as I spoke.