Crimson Rain

chapter 1

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Manila, 8 PM

Rain tapped softly against the tall windows of the mansion, a gentle patter that contrasted sharply with the chaos unfolding on the news. Across the country, people were glued to their screens, hearts heavy with the tragedy of a plane crash.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Inside the grand living room, a nanny cradled a small five-year-old girl in her arms. Isla’s big eyes, wide with innocence, were fixed on the door, waiting for her parents’ promised return. “They’ll be home soon,” the nanny whispered, trying to coax a smile from her, her voice trembling slightly.

But the glow of the television caught Isla’s attention. The nanny’s heart sank as she caught sight of the scrolling news, the headlines flashing across the screen. She hugged Isla tighter, trying to shield her from the grim reality.

Fumbling for her phone, she dialed Mr. and Mrs. Jason, her voice a mix of fear and urgency. Isla, unaware of the tragedy, nestled into the nanny’s embrace, her small fingers clutching at the fabric of the nanny’s uniform, still expecting her parents to walk through the door any moment.

*******

I couldn’t sleep at all. A gnawing unease filled me, a feeling that something was wrong.

“Nanny… where are my parents?” I whispered, my small hands clutching her arm.

She held me tightly, patting my back in gentle circles. Her warmth comforted me, but I could still feel the odd heaviness in the room.

“They’ll be home tomorrow morning, Little miss,” she said softly, forcing a reassuring smile.

She fed me, bathed me, and dressed me carefully, all the while trying to mask her worry. Once I was tucked into bed, she carried me under the soft blankets, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead.

I held her hands, my voice trembling with innocence and hope. “Nanny… Momma and Papa… they’ll miss Isla, right?”

Her eyes softened, a flicker of sorrow hiding behind her calm. “Little Miss… don’t worry. They’ll miss you… a lot.”

I nestled closer, clinging to her hands, trusting her words even as a small, uncomfortable knot of doubt twisted in my chest.

I closed my eyes, letting the nanny’s gentle coaxing lull me toward sleep, though a small part of me still felt uneasy.

_ _ _ _ _ _

The next morning, I sprang out of bed, rushing downstairs. My heart raced with hope—there was a car outside! But… where were Momma and Papa?

Then my eyes fell on the portrait of my parents. My stomach dropped. White flowers surrounded it… so many white flowers. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I noticed the nanny standing in the shadows of the room, her silhouette heavy with sorrow. My little legs froze for a moment before I stepped closer, but then I heard the words I never wanted to hear:

“They… died in the plane crash…”

The rest of the sentence didn’t reach me. My ears couldn’t process it. My chest tightened. I turned and ran outside, into the rain.

The cold droplets soaked through my clothes, stinging my skin, but I barely noticed. I stumbled, my small body hitting the wet ground. Tears blurred my vision, mixing with the rain, as the world seemed to collapse around me.

I felt strong arms lift me off the cold, wet ground. The rain blurred everything around me, turning the world into a swirl of gray and sorrow.

“Isla… let’s head to our new home, okay?”

It was Uncle Jason’s voice, calm but gentle, carrying a warmth that felt almost foreign in the chaos of my emotions.

I couldn’t speak. My throat felt tight, my small heart pounding painfully in my chest. All I could do was cling to him, wrapping my tiny arms around his neck.

Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the rain, my body trembling with confusion and grief. My mind couldn’t make sense of what had just happened. Momma and Papa… gone. My home… gone.

Uncle Jason held me closer, rocking me slightly, letting me cry. He said nothing more, just allowed me to bury my face against his chest. In that moment, all I could do was feel the ache of loss, and the strange, heavy weight of stepping into a life I had never imagined.

I wept quietly, my tiny body exhausted from the storm of emotions. Soon, the tears and the cold wrapped around me like a heavy blanket, and I fell into a fitful sleep, still clinging to Uncle Jason.

When I stirred again, I felt myself being gently lifted. Aunt Linda was there, her hands soft and careful as she cradled me. Uncle Jason stepped back, his face a mix of sadness and relief.

“Shall we go now?” Aunty Linda asked softly, glancing down at me. “Since the baby is asleep… the nanny has packed her clothes. Let’s return to Japan.”

The words floated in the air, but I barely understood them. Japan… home? The concept felt distant and foreign, like a place I had never seen. All I knew was the warmth of Aunty Linda’s arms and the emptiness where Momma and Papa should have been.

Uncle Jason nodded silently, giving me a final squeeze before letting Aunty Linda carry me. I buried my face in her shoulder, the last remnants of sleep mingling with fresh tears, my small heart heavy with confusion and longing for a world that no longer existed.