“Zippy.....” I called for my family dog on top of my voice, but the only thing I got as a reply was..... Fire.

Yes. I can smell fire… I can hear fire. It's moving toward me, burning the dried leaves, branches. I knew James mentioned a few days back about heatwaves, bush fire… Forest fire in the wood… Our woods. He never shared this with me, but I heard him talking to unknown humans about artificial rain, but it never happened. And, currently, I am here walking in our wood, looking for my family dog.

“I need you.” Crying out, I run into an unknown direction. I have no idea where I am going, all I know is that I need to get Zippy before something happens to him. He is our Saviour. The partner in crime of my children.

It's getting dark, and now I see the fire… It's like a string of little scattered beads. Not too far from me… I didn't realize that I almost touched the fire.

It's burning my forests.

My heart ached, seeing the fire killing trees. The possibility of trees less land is high, and it is completely out of my imagination. What this land will look like..... The only word I could think of is… Naked. This place will be naked.

I cried. I am a useless creature, I can't save my family, dog, my forest.

“Zippy… At least, find me.” I am desperate now. If I lose Zippy, then everything will be finished left for my family. He saved me… Jamie, when I needed someone. He made me happy.

Running back to the trail that will lead me to the graves of my deceased family members, I prayed to see Zippy. He's here with me multi times time. The trail is easy to locate, it's filled with the flowers of Periwinkle, symbolizing faith, trust and everlasting love. As if, this trail will lead us to the same fate.

As I reached the place, I find it clean. Someone is cleaning this place. I did notice this but today, it's notable.

“Who are you?” The voice asked. I knew the owner of the voice. The strength in me to face her is null. Because I never thought of seeing her again after our last meeting. She was weird. She dares to ask the reason for my presence. But all of a sudden, I realized I found Emmeline Carter…. Near my house.

Emmeline Carter was here… All this time while we were planning to look for her. She was just under our nose. And, if she was here, then the old lady in the woods is her… There is a high probability; because I don't think anyone else can be here. She is my daughter's bestie.

It was more concerning was that Zippy was with her. He doesn't see her as a threat. With a wagging tail, he is following her like a lost puppy, like she is family.

Technically, she's a family. But we don't feel emotionally connected to her.

“Zippy….” I called. I planned to keep a safe distance from Emmeline Carter to save my dog as well as me because she intended to witness my last breath. She hired goons to get my son, I was once attacked on the road and James saved me. Not just one, but on various fatal occasions, I feel the involvement of my mother-in-law. She wants me to vanish from her life. And, I am on the same page with her. Even I want to vanish from her life. But her son is behaving like a stubborn kid. In 7 years, he will be 50. And he will be a 50-year-old, stubborn being.

“You know her?” She asked Zippy and his alertness was obvious. He started to wag his furry tail, once he sees me. He looked happy, despite the forest fire approaching us.

“He's my baby,” I yelled with an authoritative voice. Even I was shocked when it came out of my mouth. I tried to intimidate a dangerous lady, who is responsible for several deaths in the Carter family.

“Then Annie must be your daughter.” Smiling politely, when raised the shovel in the air. Zippy is just there, next to her, looking at me, happy… She is going to kill him.

“Noooo......” I ran as fast as I can and pushed her to the ground.

As she fell to the ground, she groaned. For a while, I was proud of myself. I can defeat her if I want. Nothing is impossible. I can do this.

“Don't ever think about it,” I warned the lady.

“I am trying to so save the gravestone.” She acted innocent. “From forest fire.” Adding, she tried to get up. “I need help.” She pointed at the shovel. “I am removing the dry leaves. So that the fire doesn't reach here. I have my sister and her boyfriend to save. Even Irina… And, those….” Pointing at my children's gravestone, “I assume they are family too.” She finished.

Her behaviour was unsettling. Nothing is the same about her. She doesn't feel the wicked, vicious lady, that I know. Her vibes feel comforting.

“I will never harm Zippy. He is Annie's guard dog.” She added.

“How did you meet her?” I didn't help her and watched the getting up. I am ready to hurt her if she turns into danger.

“I have been living here… Since…” Pausing, she composed herself. “I had to leave my family. I was doing something bad to them. So, I thought leaving is better.” With twinkling eyes, “I have two kids.” She added. “I did it for them… And, Annie… I remember I was walking from her house… I work in the hospital now. She looked at me and called me to her backyard gate. She talks a lot. She offered me food, and since then, she always keeps a lunch box at the gate for me. She invited me to her property several times but, without the permission of the owner, was not right. So I denied.”

“You like her.” Every word of her feels real. Even her voices changed when she mentioned Annie. Does she know that she is her granddaughter?

“Of course, she's sweetest.” She chirped and I scoffed. Annie and sweetness; well, ask this from her siblings.

Taking the shovel, she started to removed dry leaves. She is really moving the leaves, creating a vacuum, so the fire doesn't get any contact. This is her effort of saving Carter.

I couldn't answer her. I craved for this moment; a time with my mother-in-law. I always wanted her to love me like her daughter.

“You are like my daughter.” Mrs Carter said, while Zippy tried was following her. “I have a daughter..... Even though she's not my biological daughter, she loves me like her own. I have a son as well…” Stopping, she gave a full look, analyzing me. “Are you married?" She looked at my hand, which is missing a wedding ring. I couldn't wear that ring, which fooled me for 16 years. “My son is a good man. He has 2 children. He is not married. Maybe we… Could…”

Wait.

Did she tell her son is not married?

She's not aware of my identity.

“Mrs Carter… I think….” Taking her attention, I took steps towards her. I have to save zippy, who is next to her…. Chilling. She's weird. And, I see her expression changing from sweet to rage.

“You, bitch….” She attacked me with a shovel. “You took my James from me… He promised me he would protect me, but you took him. He was against me. You are not even a family to us.”

“I am his wife,” I argued, and was ready to defend me.

“I want him to focus on me… They will come for me.” Now, she's red…. In anger.

“I can help you.” I blurt out. “Technically, you are my mom too.”

My words stopped her and her posture changed into soft, harmless. This sudden shift gave birth to suspicion in my mind. What if the assumption of Mark Rogers is right?

Taking my chances, “Mrs Carter….” I called her.

That's when she went back to that raging mad lady. Her vibe changed, and I saw the presence of a wicked, vicious woman who didn't hesitate for a while and used the shovel in her hand to hit me.

The sudden blow on my head was strong enough to bring me back to my sense.

This woman has multiple personality disorder. And, we as her family are failed to help her. Despite what happened to me, I feel bad for her. I never thought of what she went through. Her journey is not my journey and yes, I did have my share of struggle, but it could have been solved if we were determined enough to help her.

“I feel bad, I couldn't kill Malcolm and Willa. But I get to kill you….” Mrs Carter hovered above me. “And, I'll send your twins to you. I don't need them. I want James to be happy and protect me. Now, I am safe.” She let out a psychotic laugh.

“The…they… are gone,” I told her. With the hope that she remembered that her criminals are gone. Thanks to the biological father of my husband.

“No, they will be back… Daddy said. I need James. He is the one who can protect me, like last time.” Mumbling, she was about to hit me again, when Zippy barked and approached her. She turned to attack my dog, and, That's when I heard…

Boom.

Falling on the ground, I see James flying toward me and zippy blocked me from Mrs Carter, who is on the ground, not moving.

“Anastasia….” He reached me. “She's no more.” His words hurt me. She needed help.

Crying, I pointed at his mother. The woman who loved James like his own, despite knowing he is not her son. “Help her.” I see, Thomas, leaning toward the non-moving body. And, the new scary man walking towards us is looking disappointed. “Mark, call for your team…” James ordered. So, this new man is Mark Rogers.

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