Chapter 36:
Sunny woke up in her own worn-down room. She glanced around her pathetic room, the sky-blue paint was coming off, and there were cracks on the floor. She had not told Deborah about her living conditions, fearing of how Deborah might look at her. She wanted Deborah's respect, not her disgust. Sunny's finger went up to her lips, the kiss yesterday given by Chris was still tingling on her lips, she enjoyed the feeling. Sunny cast a disgusted look over her table. There's a beautiful photo frame, but it was tainted by Kaitlyn Swift's face.
Kaitlyn Swift might have say that she didn't mind Sunny's living conditions, but deep inside, she probably mind it. A lot. Kaitlyn Swift, she is horrible, and Sunny hates her. Sunny swiftly grabbed the photo frame and dumped it into the bin casually. This is junk, and junk belongs to the bin, Sunny thought before she headed towards the toilet to wash her face.
Sunny went down for breakfast, but all there is was a burnt toast, and the smell of the expired milk. Sunny sighed, her good-for-nothing dad had always left the chores to her and cannot even cook a simple breakfast for her family. Sunny grabbed a few eggs off the refrigerator and whip up some scrambled eggs for her mom, and an omelette for her brother. Hastily, she brought the breakfast tray up to her mom.
Sunny's mom was looking out of the window sadly, her fragile body looked as if it will break any moment. There are times when Sunny wants to end her mom's suffering and let her go, but on the inside, she knew her mom is trying very hard to fight that cancer cells that is shortening her life span. Sunny felt guilty for always spending money on clothes to tell everyone that "Hey, I am not poor!", although she herself knew that their money was limited. Her useless dad often spent those money on alcholic drinks instead of paying off the bills that are piling outside their doorstep, and instead of helping, Sunny and her brother, Jeremy, used up the remaining money.
Sunny blinked back her tears, and tap softly on the door, not wanting to frightened her mom. Her mom turned at the soft tap and immediately put on a facade.
"Sunny dearie." She smiled, although Sunny knew that she is suffering within. "Thank you for always bringing up the breakfast."
"Mommy." Sunny's voice quivered.
"My pretty daughter. It has always been a dream of mine to see my daughter married to a guy she loved, I guess that's impossible." She smiled sadly, and her breathing become slower.
"Don't say that, mommy, you'll get well. Soon." Sunny was not sure that is she assuring her mom, or herself.
"Dearie, we have to face reality. My time is limited, and you're only fifteen..."
"If only that useless dad did not spent all that money on alcohol, we can probably get you treated!" Sunny protested.
"Don't speak of your dad that way... Dearie. After I... passed on, you and Jeremy will only have your dad."
"I rather be an orphan."
"Dearie..." Sunny's mom's eyes closed.
"Mom?" There was no response. "Mom!" Sunny panicked.
Sunny placed her fingers on her mom's wrist, to realize that her mom just dozed off. Sunny placed the breakfast tray at the side, so that her mom can eat when she wake up. Rubbing the tears away from her eyes, she headed downstairs where her brother gorged on his omelette.
"Hey, my allowance!" He demand rudely.
"Didn't I just gave you your allowance last two days?"
"Twenty wasn't enough to last me even a day!" He protested.
Sunny flipped through her bag angrily, and grabbed a crumpled ten for her brother. It was her allowance for the day but well.
"A ten?" He grumbled.
"What! That IS my allowance, dude. I don't even have a one with me now! Deal or no deal?" She threatened.
"Fine." He stuffed that crumpled note into his bag. "Oh, where is Kaitlyn? It has been a while since I last saw her. I thought you usually hitched a ride from her?"
Sunny glared at him. She knew Jeremy is crushing on Kaitlyn since she first introduced them. "Don't even talk about it."
"Why? You guys had a tiff?" He laughed.
"Shut up, or I will take back that ten."
"Hmph." He puffed and walked off.
Sunny closed her eyes for a few seconds, and took a deep breath.
"Hey, sis!" Jeremy shouted from the front porch. "A guy is looking for you. I didn't know you had a guy in school!"
Sunny frowned. Who would want to look for her in an early morning? Swinging her bag over her shoulder, Sunny exit the kitchen and head out to see who that mysterious guest is.
"Erm. Good morning." Chris ruffled his hair, and mumbled nervously.
Sunny cannot believed her eyes, she rubbed them a couple of times. Christopher Kidney, a guy whom she had a crush on for years, is on her front porch and is nervous just from talking to her?
"Good... good morning. Chris." act cool, pretend that his presence doesn't get into you. Sunny told herself.
"Good... good morning." Jeremy mimicked her.
"Go to school, you annoying jerk!" She knew her cheeks are burning crimson red now. To Chris, she said, "Do not mind him."
"Yeah..." There was an awkward silence hanging in the air as they both stood there stupidly. "Can..." He blushed. HE ACTUALLY BLUSHED. Sunny is having a hard time keeping her heart from flying out of her throat. "Do you mind if we walk to school together?"
"Yeah!" She realized how enthusiastically she sounded, and calmed herself. "Sure. I don't mind."
He flashed a charming grin and Sunny felt like she cannot take it anymore. While walking to school, they chatted about trivial things but that, is enough to supply plenty of happiness to last Sunny an entire week. What sent Sunny to cloud nine was when Chris held her hand, their fingers entwined. Sunny wondered if Chris is going to do the same thing to her as he did with Kaitlyn when they first started dating. It was still vivid in her mind and the jealousy stained her mind back then. The moment they reached school, they were holding hands, and Chris 'princess-carried' Kaitlyn and officially announced to the entire school.
The moment they reached school, Sunny spotted Kaitlyn and Tiffany at a glance. Almost instantly, Chris let go of her hands. Hurt pricked into Sunny's heart, but she made no comment.
"Sorry. Sunny!" He apologizes and took off after Kaitlyn.
Right after that, Sunny's heart shattered into a thousand pieces. It was a horrible feeling. Depressed, she headed towards her classroom and saw Deborah, seated at Kaitlyn's old desk. Right beside her, was an empty Brendon's seat. Sunny took her place at Raye's old seat.
"Good morning, Deborah." She smiled in spite of herself. "Guess what happened today...!"
"Good morning, Sunny." Deborah brushed her off in a cold manner.
Sunny felt the hurt pricking into her heart, once again. No, that's what so cool about her. Sunny thought.
The chair beside Sunny made a loud screeching sound when pulled. Their heads towards the sound. Brendon coolly took his seat.
"Brendon!" Deborah's face immediately lit up.
Sunny wished that Deborah's face would lit up the exact way when she greeted Sunny. She felt like she was the only one in this friendship. The entire day passed in a blur. Sunny was distracted by her relationship with Chris and Deborah. She witnessed Chris begging with Kaitlyn just now. Sunny flared up, just from thinking about it. Why does everyone only loves Kaitlyn? Jeremy, Chris, and Raye, obviously.
"What's wrong? Problems with love relationship?" A voice frightened Sunny, she jumped.
She turned and saw the new English counselor. His blue eyes bored into hers. "Mr. Silverstein."
"How about consulting me?"
Without knowing, Sunny soon found herself in his office. Alone. She saw plenty of presents on his table.
"So... What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Is what she said, but in the end, she let out all her woes. To a teacher she barely knew.
"Do you want to destroy Kaitlyn Swift?" For a moment, she thought she saw a glint of silver in his blue eyes. "I can help you..."
"Destroy her as in...?"
He smirked. "Kill her, take her life. Destroying her."
Sunny thought this counselor was joking. She laughs. "That's a nice joke."
"That's not a joke." His smile fade off. His face serious, his eyes reflected the same thing.
"It's impossible..." She is becoming nervous and freaked out.
"It is possible, Sunny. I need your co-operation."
"You're... crazy..." Her voice is trembling, this counselor is really freaking her out. "I... I am leaving."
She mustered her courage and ran for the open door. However, before she can even made it to the door, it slammed. By itself. Sunny knocked hard into the door, her knees might give in any time. Her fingers are trembling as they struggled to force open the knob.
"It's useless. Sunny. Why don't you just co-operate?" The counselor laughed, coldly. "You can't run away. It will not open."
Sunny's back is now facing the door, she felt her blood draining from her face. This is not your normal counselor. His eyes became... Silver... He might not even be a human. Felix Silverstein threw his head back and laugh as if everything's a joke. And to prove her theory of him being inhumane, a silver flame danced in his palm.
"You should have listened, and then, I wouldn't have to resort to this." He is obviously happy, enjoying Sunny's fear of him.
He snapped his fingers, and a spark was heard. Deborah appeared out of nowhere, Sunny felt a flick of hope in her. Deborah... Deborah can save her.
"Deborah, listen! This counselor...!" Sunny's words was cut off when Deborah knelt in front of the counselor. "De... Deborah, what are you doing! He is not human. He can...!"
"My lord, what do you need of me?"
Sunny felt defeated. Deborah is the same as the counselor, she, too, is not human. Sunny felt like giving up on hope. She will die. No one will save her...
"Deborah, rise."
Deborah rose. She is his lackey, his slave.
"Sunny," His voice as beautiful, although dark. "Let's make a deal, shall we? You don't have to be so scared."
Sunny just stare, her voice stuck in her throat.
"Your mom, she contacted with cancer right?"
Her voice finally escaped her throat. "How do you know! Don't you dare involved her!" She felt her pent-up frustration escaping all at once. Chris's attitude, Deborah's betrayal.
"We make a deal. We shall exchanged Kaitlyn Swift's life for your mom's."
"How...?" She is still scared.
"I want... need Kaitlyn Swift's life. You need your mom. You will co-operate with me, summon Kaitlyn out, and I will destroy her, completely. The moment I got her life, your mom will be saved. Kaitlyn's life for your mom's. How's this?"
Sunny can't decide. Her enemy's life for her mom's.
"You love your mom, right?" Deborah flicked her hair to the back. "And you hate Kaitlyn Swift. Isn't this an easy decision to make? The Lord is making your life easier, Sunny Smith, must you take so long?"
I hate you...
Ignoring the guilt that gnawed on her insides, Sunny agreed. She made a deal with the Devil. Her mom can be saved. She will be murdering someone, indirectly, and she wouldn't even be caught. She might be guilty for her entire life, but her mom will survive.
Shivering, she did as what Felix told her to do. She wrote a note, and slipped into Kaitlyn's bag tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow her mom will be saved.