Chapter 3 SEPARATED

I woke up after the worst nightmare. I looked around and found myself inside my room. I rushed outside immediately to see my mum but everywhere was quiet.

"Mum!, Mum!!" There was no response. I walked up to her room and knocked but no one answered the door.

Touching the doorknob it opened reviewing an empty room. Fear creeped into me, I ran upstairs to find Michael but his room was empty too.

Everyone was gone, I was alone.

"Mum!, Dad!, Michael!!" I was already in tears when I heard a footsteps approaching me.

I turned and found the lady in red standing right in front of me laughing like a psycho. She was laughing so loud that I couldn't hear anything but her laugh.

Lilly voice woke me up from my sleep. She was turning and wiping in her sleep. I think she is having a nightmare.

"Lilly, Lilly wake up"

When I finally managed to wake her up she was trembling in fear. I hugged her trying to calm her down.

"It okay, is just a dream so stay with me" I waited until her sobbing died out.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" I asked her waiting for a reply.

"In my dreams I couldn't find mum, I couldn't find dad nor you. I was all alone and scared" she said before she started crying again.

"It's okay, am not planning on leaving you. You are stuck with me forever"

I hugged him refusing to let him go. We both left and started looking for our way out of the city. Michael stopped at a convenient store and stocked up our bag with snacks, soft drinks and water.

Grabbing his hands very tightly so I wouldn't lose him too. We walked for a while before taking a taxi.

Tragedy as family house of Mr Anthony was set ablaze. According to the investigation by the police the fire wasn't an accident.

So far two corpses has been found by the police, they weren't easily recognised giving that the.......

I took my headphone and Covered Lilly's ear. I didn't want her to hear what the news has to say.

She looked at me in questioning eyes but I just smiled down at her. She was still wearing her dress, I need to change her out of that so we won't draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.

When we got to the store I couldn't pick anything. Michael helped me pick a few clothes. After changing my clothes I couldn't leave the dress behind.

But Michael insisted we leave it behind and come back for it later. I felt like I was leaving a part of mum behind.

Wiping the tears off my face I followed Michael as we exit the store.

Walking down the street I made sure I was holding his hand very tightly. Even after dressing casual we were still getting stared at by people.

Mostly men in black suit. That didn't sit right with me but I knew immediately that something was up.

Michael also sensed it because he dragged me as we started running. I didn't really quite get the reason why we were running until I saw those men after us.

Why didn't I noticed them on time. They are probably after us because everything inside that backpack I gave Lilly contained everything our parents wanted us to keep safe.

Knowing fully well that they will catch up to us in no time since we were out numbered, I had to hide Lilly and then draw them away from her.

Looking to my left I saw a school bus packed with children. Lilly can hide in there without being spotted.

"Lilly, I need you to listen to me. I will be needing you to go into that school bus over there and blend in with students.

Don't come out of that car no matter what until you I come for you, okay?"

"Michael, what are you talking about? We are supposed to stick together, remember"

"Am sorry Lilly, but you have to go"

"I don't want to, am not going to leave you behind like we did to mum and dad" she was crying and shaking her head continuously.

As much as I can't stand seeing her in tears, I had no option at the moment. Staying together means the both of us being caught.

But keeping her safe is my number one priority. I pushed her into the bus and watched as she sat between the students with tears in her eyes.

I looked at her the very last time before I ran off to distract the men away from her.

I don't mind getting hurt or killed, but I can't stand any harm coming to her.

I watched as Michael ran away and those men went after him. I was scared and shaking at the spot.

After a while of sitting and waiting for the school bus to move I decided that I wasn't going to lose my brother like I did with my parents.

I got up immediately and walked towards the exit but the door was locked as the driver informed us to all sit down.

I stood there wishing and hoping that Michael will come for me. I walked back to my seat as I wiped the tears off my face.

I looked out the window as I wished that my life will be little better. I was still considering what my next step will be if Michael didn't come for me when I saw a black car obviously following the school bus.

"Who is that idiot and why is he following my bus?" The driver lamented before he packed at the other side of the road.

I knew immediately I was in trouble. I hide under the sit as I was thinking of an escape plan.

"Am sorry but we are looking for a child that is not supposed to be on this bus" I heard them say to the driver.

"Am only doing my job and that is getting the children to school so kindly come to the school and lay your compliant if you have one" the driver replied.

"Is either you let us search the bus or we do it the hard way"

"If I were you guys I will be on my way since I already called the police. Do you really think you can come here and take any of these kids away?"

Peeped my head out to know what was happening only to see them backing away. I took a deep breath before I relaxed.

When the bus drove into the school compound all the students exited as they all ran into the school.

I was confused and scared. I did know what to do, I know Michael told me wait for him but what if those scary men come again.

I walked around for a while looking around the school patiently waiting for Michael until I saw the same black car again.

It was driving towards me, I panicked and ran out of the school compound. I couldn't lose or out run a car with my little legs.

I knew I was going to get caught if I continued running along the road, so I decided to ran into the woods.

I ran as fast as my leg could go. I was getting tired in every minute and second. I didn't know where I was heading to until I ended up on top of a cliff.

Down the cliff lies an ocean. It was a dead end, I was breathing so fast, I could hear the beating of my heart ringing in my ears.

I turned around to run back until the woods but those men in black suit where stand just right there in front of me.

"Hey little girl, we don't want to hurt you. We are here to help. Your brother told us to come get you, so please step away from the cliff"

The one that looked scary than the rest said. I knew he was lying, tears run down my face at the thought of what they have done to Michael.

Looking down the cliff, I felt dizzy at the height but I will rather jump into the ocean than in the hands of this strangers.

Making sure my backpack was tightly locked around me, I jumped. I didn't think of the fact that I hate heights, nor the fact that I don't swim.

I just thought of my mum's voice when she told me that she loved me. I thought of the things they wanted me to keep safe and made it all that matters.

I just hoped that some how I will survive this. All I needed was a second chance.