Emma's POV

" You don't get it, do you ?" I said to Lucia, my younger sister who is ten. I'm five years older than her.

We were in the music room which is in the basement of the house. I was helping her practice for her next music class which was the next day.

We were practicing the piano and she still hasn't gotten the keys right.

We've been in here for years now

Just being sarcastic.

But the truth is we've been in here for hours.

"Let's go get something to eat first," I said as I get up from the chair.

"Mom will send Helen to get us something to eat soon," Lucia said. Helen was our house help.

"Yeah, that's the reason I'm this famished. Mom is probably busy and she forgot to send Helen to get us some food. Let's go get it ourselves. If you ain't coming, I can go alone" I said and she frowned.

"You can just call her instead of bothering to go yourself" she suggested but her suggestion was off.

"You do remember that this music room is soundproof right ?" I tell her

" I mean with your phone " she quickly added

"Unfortunately, my phone is not here but in the room. I'll be back soon. Just keep practicing" I said, walking towards the soundproof door.

"Let's just practice one more time. Then, we can both go after that " she said and I huffed loudly.

"You don't want me to starve to death, do you ?" I said and she raised her hand in a surrender-like manner.

I walked out of the living room and out of the basement. The living room door was open.

"Helen must be responsible for this," I said to myself.

I huffed as I closed it.

"Wait !" I heard Lucia call. She was sluggishly walking towards me and I chuckled.

"Thought you weren't coming," I said as we walked to the kitchen.

I opened the kitchen door and what I saw made me numb.

I was numb...I couldn't move an inch.

Lucia's scream brought me back to reality and I screamed too, moving towards the floor.

Helen was lying lifelessly on the floor in her pool of blood.

"Helen !!" Lucia shouted her name.

At that moment, tears were already falling from my eyes and that's Lucia.

"Mom, dad " I shouted running upstairs, not minding if I'll fall.

My heart was beating very fast and hard.

I felt goosebumps all over my body.

"Mom, dad, Helen is..." I was saying until I pushed the door open and what I saw was the scariest sight I have ever beheld in my entire life.

Mom and dad were ALS lying down lifelessly on the floor in their pool of blood.

I screamed and fell on my knees.

My whole body felt weak and I managed to crawl to their lifeless body as tears streamed down my face. Mom

"Mom, dad !!" I yelled, shaking them vigorously with all the strength I had in me.

It looked like a night mere that I really hope I'd wake up from anytime soon but it wasn't. It was real.

It was a headshot.

They were both shots in the head but mom was also shot on her stomach.

I screamed again when the realization hit me.

"Mom !" I heard Lucia scream from behind and before I could make a move to where she was, she fell to the ground.

I rushed to her and she was unconscious.

I ran out to my room to get my phone and I dialed 911

"My...my... parents...mom...dad..." I stuttered.

I couldn't put the words together.

My hands were trembling.

"Calm down, young lady," he said and I sigh loudly

"Now, tell me. What happened ?" he said

"My...my... parents have just been murdered and my sister is unconscious," I said

" What's your address ?" he asked

" 6, Bern way" I quickly said into the phone.

"Just be calm miss. We'll be in our way " he said and hung up.

*******

In few minutes, the police arrived.

My sister has been taken to the hospital by my best friend's father, Mr. Calvin.

I was sitting on a couch in the living room with my best friend, Jane, and her mother, beside me. They were both trying to console me

I kept staring into space. I was lost.

That was the worse day of my life

I watched the police move around the house.

Soon, my lifeless parents were wheeled out of the house.

I watched silently while tears streamed down my face.

I couldn't believe my parents who I had seen that morning were no longer alive.

I was hurt.

After what seemed like an hour, a policeman walked up to me.

"We'll commence investigation as soon as possible but for now, you are not allowed to live here", he said

"That wouldn't be a problem. We can accommodate her " Jane's mom cuts in and Jane intertwined our hands. After talking to me, the policeman left.

We all left the house.

We went to the hospital to see Lucia. I meant Jane, her mom, and I

When I got into the ward that Lucia was, she was awake already and was staring at the ceiling.

She didn't even notice my presence. I walked closer to her and that was when she looked at me.

I held my hand in hers as tears clouded my eyes.

I've cried so much for the past few hours. I've been through so much already.

My eyes were hurting.

They must be bulging out of their sockets.

"Emma, is mom and dad read ?" that was the only thing she could say.

She was looking at me, so eager to hear an answer. I thought she saw them dead back there before she collapsed.

I mean that was what made her unconscious.

I wouldn't blame her, she still finds it hard to believe. the same goes for me. But I have to believe the bitter truth.

"Honey, how are you feeling ?" Jane's mom asked her as she touched Lucia's face.

" I feel broken, Lucia said and she started crying again

Jane's mom shook her head sadly and said some comforting words which I'll admit didn't comfort me a bit.

There was nothing that could comfort me right now.

Seeing my sister like this hurts me even more.

"The doctor said she'll be discharged as soon as she feels better" Mr . Calvin said

"Okay dear, but they'll be living with us from now on. I told the police that we can accommodate them. As our daughter's best friend. Their parents were also a close family friend of ours, you know "Mrs . Calvin said

"What ?" Mr . Calvin exclaimed and that got our attention. It was more like a tone of disapproval.

"I'm sorry about that" he apologized

"Can I speak to you both in private ?" he asked his wife and daughter

"Sure" Mrs . Calvin replied and they walked out.

I sighed loudly as I looked at my sister who seems not to care about what just happened.

*******

A few minutes later, they came back in.

"Um... Emma dear. I have something to tell you " Mr . Calvin said

"Okay" I urged him to go on

"You know...your parents were good friends of ours. We've always loved you girls and would have loved to accommodate you but then, my life and that of my family would be at risk. There hasn't been a trace about those who murdered your parents and having you with us might risk our my family's lives. I wouldn't want my daughter to be in the same state as you and your sister are now..." He said and that hurt me to the core. I knew where this was leading to.

"You also understand that I went bankrupt. If I hadn't, I would have also given you some financial support. You and your sister coming to live with us, it's totally out of it. We cherish our lives " he said. I thought they were supposed to be consoling us at this time, why this ??

To say I was hurt by his words was an understatement.

Lucia looked at me in the eyes and another tear slipped down her face.

That broke me, I never wanted to see my sister in that state.

Never !!

" the only thing I can do for you now is to lead you to your mother's family. If you'd plead with them, they can have pity on you and your sister and take you both in " he said.

I looked at him with range.

That was what I hated, pity. I hate pity.

We weren't going to help me.

Mother told me her family disowned her when she was pregnant for me.

She told me she had begged and begged them but they never took her in and that was it. And father's family, well, I don't know about that.

Jane put her hand on my shoulder but I shoved it away.

And with one more look on my weak sister's face, I promised I was going to avenge the death of my parents.

I was going to make the murderer pay for it with his life !!