Brenda was furious to say the least.
Her husband had been gone for 5 months. Not even leaving her a note, saying goodbye to her and the children, or tell her where he's going. But Brenda didn't need to know where he went, she already knew exactly where he was.
He was with Icelyn Newton.
Minho was hanging out with that sick, twisted, creature of the devil. He was pressing sweet kisses to her lips and running his hands through her long, greasy hair. Minho had betrayed their vows they had made on the altar, loved and held another woman and left Brenda to deal with their three children all by herself. He completely abandoned her.
And that's why Brenda was in Glade Grove on Christmas eve. She left the children in the care of Minho's parents and caught the next train to the small town where the Newton's lived.
The town was quaint, unlike anything in Crank Village. Dozens of houses were filled with a warm candle light in the windows, snow resting on the window sill. People walked the streets, singing Christmas carols, and exchanging gifts as they wished each other a happy Christmas. Brenda spotted couples kissing each other under the mistletoe, gazing lovingly into the eyes of their significant other. She yearned for her and Minho to act like that, to love one another with such passion; but sadly someone else had taken her place.
Brenda trudged along the snow covered paths of the city, feeling slightly lonely and forlorn on such a joyous occasion. It was Christmas Eve and here she was in a foreign place without her friends and family, looking for her husband who betrayed her. She wanted to be like the people that she passed in the streets of Glade Grove. Have someone who loves and cares for her, that will stay with her until her dying breath. Not run off to another city and have an affair with a younger girl.
The twenty five-year-old came upon the Newton's Mansion at exactly 10:30pm, having travelled all the way there on foot through the snow.
A candle was lit in every single window, making the mansion a great source of light. A large wreath was hanging on the evergreen door, sparkling in the moonlight as a red bow adorned the sweet smelling ferns. People could be heard chattering away inside, a string quartet playing familiar Christmas tunes as everyone was bidding their farewells. The Newton's always held a large extravaganza this time of year, welcoming the family members and friends that were left or were able to come.
Every single year Minho and Brenda were invited to celebrate the chipper occasion, but every year they declined. Well, Brenda declined without telling Minho that they had even gotten the letter.
From what the auburn-haired girl heard by way of Minho's parents, Icelyn made a two appearances during the whole party. One at the beginning of the evening to welcome all the guests, and the second when the party ended; saying goodbye to everyone who attended. It was said that she went up to her room, Newt keeping her up there in fear of everyone seeing her have an episode that was caused by the Flare.
Brenda knocked on the front door three times, hoping that someone would answer before her fingers fell off. She probably looked like a complete mess. The bottom of her skirt all damp from the snow, hair covered in snowflakes and cheeks rosy and cold.
But she was only conscious of that when she saw the person who opened the door.
A young girl was standing in the doorway, no older than 18. Her beautiful golden curls traveled down to her waist, held together with a red ribbon. She wore an innocent white dress, the skirt fluttering all the way down to the floor as it swished at her feet. The iris' of her eyes were a vibrant amber, making them almost glow. Freckles were sprinkled over her face, contrasting slightly with her pearly white skin. She was about seven inches shorter than Brenda, the heels on her feet making it seem as if she was a mere inch taller than her actual height.
"Hello," The girl said, her voice a warm mixture of soft and gentleness. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Brenda needed to come up with an answer to this girl's question without sounding like she was just trying to find this Icelyn Newton girl. "I was on my way to my family's house but I seem to have lost my way. I've been travelling practically all day and just needed to warm up for a few moments, you wouldn't mind letting me just sit by the fire for a minute or two? Then I promise I'll be on my way."
"Oh! You poor thing!" The girl exclaimed, grabbing Brenda's hand. "You must come inside! Surely there is some tea left over, come on now!"
The blonde girl pulled Brenda into the gigantic threshold, closing the door behind her. Warmness enveloped the older girl, her cold shivers vanishing. The air smelled of cookies and other holiday treats, a welcoming aroma making this place truly feel like home.
She was led into some sort of living room. A fire was crackling in the fireplace, making the room slightly warmer than the others. Two red velvet sofas sat across from each other, ottomans to match resting in front of the fireplace. A tall Christmas tree stood in the corner, dozens of presents lingering on the floor around it. Tea was set out on a table a few feet away, a small amount of sugar cubes and a half a cup of cream left over from the party.
This young girl sat her down on the ottoman by the fire, stealing a blanket from a nearby chair and putting it over Brenda's shoulders. She walked over to the table and poured some tea into a cup, adding two sugar cubes into the hot mixture. Brenda watched intensely as the girl put the cream into the tea, she swore she could see the girl's hands shake as she placed the cup on the saucer.
"Would you mind telling me your name?" The blonde asked, bringing the somewhat hot tea over to Brenda and handing it to her.
Brenda let her algid fingers wrap around the heated porcelain cup, the warmth spreading to her fingertips. "My name is Brenda, Brenda Park."
"Oh that's such a peculiar coincidence!" The blonde laughed lightly, taking a seat on the ottoman next to Brenda. "My boyfriend's last name is Park. Do you know him by any chance?"
My god, Brenda was talking to Icelyn Newton. She didn't even tell Brenda her name yet and she knew who it was. Surely it must be some family relative that was in a relationship with a man that had the same last name of her and her husband.
"What's his name?" Brenda inquired, "I might know him."
A loving look came upon the girl's face, her gaze romantic and dreaming. "His name is Minho." It was Lynn. "He is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me in my eighteen years of life. Do you recognize the name?"
"No, I don't believe so." Brenda lied straight through her teeth. "How long have you two been together?"
"Oh, six months maybe?" Lynn guessed, fiddling with the edge of the bodice of her dress. "We met in June and then he disappeared for the month of July, but returned in August. I'm really not sure though. Time slips from your hands when you're in love, just the way things work when a heart is full of such passion and love."
Brenda tried her hardest not to choke on her tea and slap this girl across the face right then and there. A younger girl was in a relationship with her husband and didn't even realise she was talking to her lover's wife. "You know, I think I actually do recall knowing a man by-"
A loud creak stopped Brenda in the middle of her sentence, not letting her start to make this teenagers heart crumble.
"Lynn? Mr. and Mrs. Smith wanted to say goodbye to you." An accented voice came from the doorway, a tall, lanky boy by the name of Issac entering the room. Both girls turned to see who it was, but Newt was staring directly at the well-known stranger sitting next to his sister. With a clear of his throat, he gestured to her. "Um-who's this?"
Lynn rose from her place on the ottoman, running over to her brother. "Oh I hope you don't mind!" She reached down and grabbed hold of Newt's hand, "It's just that this poor thing has been travelling all day in the snow to reach her family and just needed to warm her hands for a moment by the fire. And I thought it would a kind thing to do to invite her inside, it is Christmas Eve afterall."
Newt raised a hand to halt his sister's speaking, "I understand, Lynn." He said, "Why don't you say goodbye to everyone and I'll take care of her. Minho is waiting for you in the parlor."
Lynn nodded, Newt pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. She scurried out of the room, the tails of her dress trailing behind her. The door closed with a quiet click, a crackling fire being the only sound in the room. He kept his eyes on Brenda, burning a hole into her back. Of course he knew who she was and why she was here, the day that this event took place was bound to happen. And of all dates it just had to be Christmas Eve.
"Why are you here Brenda?"
The question hung in the air, the girl on the ottoman refusing to answer. Air was thick and thin, as if glass was about to be shattered with everyone knowing it. Why was she here? Of all days, why did she choose now to ruin Lynn's happiness.
"I came to get my husband back," Her teeth were gritted as she spoke, wrapping the blanket tight around her shoulders and she remained facing the fire. "He's mine and only mine, he deserves better than anything your sister has to give him."
"Lynn's probably better from him than you'll ever be!" Newt stormed over to the fireplace, standing only a foot away from Brenda. "Minho was forced to marry you, to love and care for you! It wasn't even his choice! He loves my sister with all his heart! And I'm just glad that she has found someone to love her all her life without letting the Flare get in the way!"
Brenda let out an aggravated sigh, the blanket falling from her shoulders as she stood up abruptly. Fist clenched at her sides, she hissed, "Icelyn's days are numbered, Issac! Can't you see that?" She took a step towards him, her height almost matching his as they came face to face. "The Flare takes over the mind, body, and soul. Icelyn is losing all sense of humanity with every step she takes. Her brain is degrading and her whole body is shutting down, time is almost up for your precious little sister."
"How can you say things like that?!" Newt took a step away, facing the other direction as he paced the space from the end of the couch to the table. "How can you say such horrid things about a girl you don't even know? Why must you ruin every single life you step into? Why Brenda? What has happened to you in your life before Minho that all this anger and vileness comes from?" He spun around once more, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he narrowed his hazel eyes at the nasty woman in front of him.
"Because no one truly loves me!" Brenda shouted, throwing her arms over her head and slapping them down on the sides of her thighs. "Minho doesn't have a passion or love for me like he does for Icelyn, and I feel threatened by that!"
Silence came over the two, both left to the sound of the crackling fire. Tiny white snowflakes began to fall from the stars, gathering on the glass of the window. It was supposed to be a cheerful night of gift giving and Christmas carols, not a quarrel between two people.
Newt pinched the bridge of his nose, drawing in a deep, hollow breath as he did his best to keep calm. "You know, as well as I do, that that's a load of untruthfulness." He murmured, "You don't feel threatened that Minho fell in love with a girl who isn't you. It's just since things aren't going your way, the world seems to be put off balance and has to revolve around just you and your problems. Well guess what Brenda, not everything is all about you."
Brenda through her hands above her head in frustration, clearly not even trying to remain cool."I came here for one thing and one thing only Issac! And that was my husband! Now you listen to me and listen to me carefully, I'm taking Minho home. Tonight. He's going to come back with me to Crank Village and forget that all of this happened. Him and I are going to continue our lives with our children and I can finally get my happily ever after. You hear me?!"
Newt remained quiet, eyes distant.
"If I find out that that little blonde creature has been with my husband in any way, shape, or form after he departs tonight, there will be hell to pay." Brenda gathered her skirts in her hands, gaze hardening as she continued to look on at Newt. She headed out of the room, pausing at Newt's side to whisper the last few words of her speech into his ear. "You will never speak to anyone of this, Issac. Not Sonya, not Minho, and certainly not Icelyn. No one can know where Minho went and why he left, it is all between us. One wrong move, and I can send your entire family into the hand of the newspapers, telling them of every single thing that happened between my husband and your sister."
She left his side, briskly making her way towards the exit of the living room. With a turn of the knob the door was open, her head held high. Brenda turned to Newt one more time, giving him a once over as he still stared into the fire. "Goodnight Issac, remember what I said." And with that, the door slammed shut.
Later that night, Brenda and Minho were on the late night train returning to Crank Village and his suitcase in hand. They would be at the train station in the morning, just in time to see their children open the Christmas gifts they had received from Saint Nicholas.
But Lynn remained in her bed that evening her loved one departed, sound asleep as dozens of dreams and hopes pranced around in her head. She awaited the space beside her to be filled with the warm body of her lover. It remained empty when the morning came, Minho leaving without a trace.
And Newt knew why he woke up to the loud sobs of his sister Christmas morning. Minho wasn't there.
Throwing his covers off, Newt raced out of his room and into the hallway; why did he let Brenda have her way? When the door to his sister's room was immediately thrown open, what he saw almost brought him to tears.
Lynn was curled up in her sheets, burying her head into the pillows. Blonde hair was askew and slightly tangled from her tossing and turning, fragile porcelain hands clutched a piece of paper. Her delicate face had tears running down her cheeks and nonstop cries bubbled from her lips. He raced over to Lynn's bed side, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Lynn," He demanded, "Lynn, what's wrong?" Newt tried to pretend he didn't have a clue as to what was happening, when he clearly knew what had gone on.
"He left!" She sobbed, tossing the blankets and letter off her body; swinging her feet over the edge of the mattress and hurrying to the other side of the bed where her brother was. "He left in the middle of the night and left me with a bloody note! I can't believe he did that!" Her fingers clenched at her scalp, dragging her hair between her white knuckles.
Newt rose from his place on the bed, pulling his sister into his arms. Lynn screamed/cried into his chest, banging her tiny fists lightly in frustration. "Shhh," he hushed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Everything's going to be fine."
"No it's not!" She shouted, sobbing heavier. "Newt, where did he go?! Why did he leave?!"
"I...I'm not sure, Lynn. I'm not sure."
"This isn't fair!" The younger blonde slammed a fist into her brother's chest, tears soakings is night shirt. "It just isn't fair…"
Lynn slumped in her brother's embrace, her feet giving out from under her. Newt caught her before she fell to the ground, picking Lynn up and holding her like a small child. Sitting down on the bed with his sister still in his arms.
"Why, Newt?" She questioned, holding on tight to Newt's shoulders as she continued to lightly cry. "Why? Out of all people, why do I have to go through all this pain. Just...why?"
Her head fell on his shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Minho left without saying goodbye, Newt." Lynn spoke in a voice just above a whisper. "He left without even saying goodbye.
xxx
Reviews are love!