LOST

Chapter Five: Redemption and doom

Marvin sat on the football pitch reflecting on his choices lately. He couldn't believe how easy it was Fred to have played him like a pawn in this game of chess.

A lot had changed over the weeks - he had lost focus, Ayla was barely talking to her and Mirabel seemed like a total stranger.

And just like Fred wanted and maybe more he watched in the shadows as everything he counted precious crack before his eyes.

Yes, he alongside her bestie sister Mirabel had asked their Dad about the article subtly and without denial he told them how it all went - that still didn't do much to save Marvin from the imaginary world he lived in.

A test was shared by the class captain and Ayla chose to give Marvin his.

She walked up to the sleeping figure and was feeling rather weird around him. Why would she let Marvin make her uncomfortable? That was not normal.

So without further hesitation, she nudged him from his beauty sleep.

And then woke up and turned his gaze towards her - his eyes were rather hostile while she maintained some level of calmness.

That further irritated him. He then tore the test script from her firm grip.

Still holding onto the other half of the paper"I was going to give it to you anyways. "

He didn't respond to that.

In reaction to his cold reception she slammed the half- paper she was holding on his desk and strode out.

Then he took a look at his test script and a sudden wave of frustration then bang...

He crumpled the test script and threw it into the dustbin.

Looking back he realized he was slowly loosing grip or worse.

"Who am I ?" he murmured in despair.

When later Ayla strode into the class armed with a bag of some crunchy snack he felt that burning desire to reach out to her. He wished to apologize but that was it.

She had this "I will be cool" kind of vibe and that made extending the olive branch to end the "cold war" difficult for him.

In the meantime Mirabel didn't go to school today after complaint of being feverish and so she stayed at home.

She was sleeping on the couch when her phone rang.

She woke up to see two missed calls - it was their elder sister, Crystal.

She picked the call and in the course of her exchange of pleasantries, Crystal noted something was odd.

"Are you okay?"

"Am fine. Am not feeling well though," Mira lied.

"Oh.. no wonder you didn't go to school today."

"Yes, indeed."

"How is Mum and Dad? And Marv?"

"Fine. Just tired though."

Laughs softly"Are you missing me already, sweetheart? Well, you got your brother anyways."

Mirabel then said softly"The house is not the same without you"

"Dramatic Mira - that's more like you," she paused and then added,"…talk to you later_"

There was an awkward silence at the other end.

Then she said gently,"I want to take a cat nap - am preparing for night class. Bye-bye, my love," blows kisses.

Rather reluctantly, "Bye-bye, my dear sis"

Then the call ended. Then she scrolled through her phone music playlist and resumed playing a sad music and slowly drifted to sleep.

Moments later she was woken up by a tap on the door.

"It's me," the caller said.

She responded to the caller and opened the door and sat down on the couch.

"So how are you doing?," he asked as he extended his hand to touch her neck but she caught his hand and instead hugged him. He didn't push her way.

Still in that warm embrace, she said softly,"Am just tired." Then she disengaged herself now staring into his eyes"How was school today?"

"School's fine, Mira."

"I spoke with Crystal."

"She visited?"

"Nope. We spoke on phone_"

"Let me freshen up. We will talk later."

She exhaled sharply and left for the kitchen to warm soup.

Some minutes later, he came into the living room and his eyes caught Mira's smartphone on the dining table.

"Torn ribbons, my fav - beautiful lyrics too."He hit the play and let the music serenade him.

One day Marvin after doing some shopping and he was about to leave the mall premises when he ran into Fred.

Fred subtly asked him how he was faring with his daddy and his AI assistant, Mirror Fairy but Marvin caught him in his game and...

Fred arrived at his mother's house. Thoughts were flickering in his mind - how possible was it that his dad didn't know of him at all? What was happening?

He played Torn Ribbons on his phone with his air pod plugged letting the music flow.

"So it was Mum that wrote this song?"

In the midst of this, a cry of a raven was heard in the distance.