Laughter spewed from my mouth, bouncing against the barrier to the freedom I no longer find any interest of. Braile, who stood a few feet from me had a satisfied smirk, relishing the madness she thought she successfully created.

"Pod men can't move. Can't feel. So what am I seeing?" I mumbled between laugh.

In truth, I didn't know how to respond. I already endured sadness and anger in the past, and now my functionality could only rendered with amusement. I sat, giggling at my pity situation until the clatter of Braile's high heels dominated the room.

She put a hand on my shoulder, a silent reminder of her power over me; of no fear to what I could do with the handcuffs off; of her belief that I had no more fight.

Leaning down a few inches from my face, she began. "We both know that's untrue... Don't we, Charmaine?"

I looked at her lazily, depleted of my perseverance. "Why are you calling me my mother's name-"

Braile's eyes bore into mine, halting my word. "Because that's your name. The name you have been using all your life is hers. That's what brings us here."

A mix of confusion and shock hit me. I glanced at Thalaa, who was blankly staring at the floor. Crimson still stained his cheek.

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Your mother begged me to quit HEROIN with a promise I could always find her. I love her" she skimmed her eyes to Thalaa for a mere second "so I agreed." Tears flood her eyes before she swivelled. Her hand gestures implied she was touching her face.

When she turned around facing me again, the eerie on her was gone, replaced with sorrow. "I didn't know she was pregnant with you when she left me. She took the chance to use your existence to change her name with the help of Amry. All those years she had deceived me, leaving the district in her own free will and even stole something of mine." A tear rolled down from her eye, resentment and sadness mould into one.

Flashes of memories then began to hit; why I had to scan my ID twice, the confusion during HEROIN interrogation and at last, the birth certificate. All the realisation put more question into my mind, but I could only look at Braile — gone the ridicule I felt just moments ago after knowing my mother had something to do with what was happening to me.

Laughing, she continued, "Oh, she did so many things with Amry without a second of thinking how I would feel about it. And look where it got her. The whole mix up of identity got you two arrested in limbo. Where I fought for her and got you free instead. How funny, don't you think? I never knew you existed until I saw you myself in Dutchess Bless."

Nevertheless, I held my head high. Forgetting none of the love, the tears shed, and reason why my mother fled the life she had before. "She did it for a good reason. She had to get away from the likes of you and HEROIN's despicable acts," I uttered without faze.

With rage, she hit the armrest on both sides of the strap chair and grabbed my throat. The strength on her hold was choking me instantly. In my defence, I clasped her fingers. But with one injured hand and the other stuck at the back, my chance was as little as none. "You should die like your father and the rest of those monstrous men!" She screeched.

Lungs begging for air, my mouth could only hang open. Nothing registered into my awareness until oxygen got entry once again. While I gathered my breathing, the shadowy sight of Thalaa holding Braile in his arms became visible. The heavy shuffling sound made known of her protest, but his embrace kept bearing her struggle.

"We need her, Braile. We need her for the exchange, remember?" He said.

Moments later, ease took constraint of Braile. She put a sly smile which didn't permit me a mutual feeling. Adjusting her spectacles, she closed in on me. I winced the second her fingers touch my head. But unlike her outburst before, gentleness replaced her demeanour. "You love your mother, don't you, my dear?"

Thalaa's gaze matched mine, narrowed eyes failing to deliver the meaning. I looked down, unwilling to give him my show of pity. "Yes," I let out.

Braile brushed my hair, kissing my cheek before he stilled next to my ear. "Good girl. Then take your mother's place on the electric chair tomorrow."

Finally understanding my reason for being there oddly spared the surprise. Or I'd served so much the whole day I didn't have any of it anymore. Or, I was tired, and I had no means to care. Betrayal wanted to be my last impression of this world. And the most significant example of the outcome was standing next to me, coaxing me for death instead of living with madness.

***

The all-white covered my clothes and my surrounding. Despair lurked on each dull wall surrounding me under the silence. I stroked my stomach, worried for my little happiness. Nevertheless, the baby was innocent, pure from the world full of deceiving. If my end turned out real, I regret only one; refusing to stay back. I baffled the thought of raising him, would my bringing make him a better person? I still believed nature wasn't the reason for what Alfie had done. But it didn't lessen the heartache one bit after countless time of convincing.

I curled on the dull bed, fighting off my tears. Sleep was unwilling to take me, fearing I wouldn't wake up again. When the door slid open, my heart hammered by the thought of dying. I didn't dare to rouse from my fetal pose, hugging my belly as if I could protect the blessing inside. But a hand settled on my shoulder, forcing me to swivel.

Thalaa put his index finger over his lips. "I'm here to save you, Charis. We don't have much time," he whispered.

I had no interest in his sham, whatever it was. "Didn't you have enough of seeing my pathetic state? What do you want now?"

He shook his head, reflecting the sadness he had on his face during our previous meeting outside HEROIN's compound. "Charis, what you've seen back there is just an act."

"Get out." I ripped away from his touch in disgust, squeezing myself next to the wall although there was no more space in between.

He grabbed me, jolting me from the abrupt pull. I sat, face spooned by him while his gaze pierced into my soul. "Look at me. I may not be the face you want to see. But Alfie is waiting for you outside. Now you just have to trust me!"

My eyes widened, shock turned out hadn't had enough to spare me yet. "You know him?" I absent-mindedly asked.

To be continued...

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