C2 Death

A tremendous sound was heard inside the house. Marie and Mia got back from the supermarket and spotted the fire brigade in the house trying to stop the fire. Mia and Marie stood still holding each other staring at the burnt house in front of them.

Silent tears rolled down Marie's face as Mia trembled in fear. Mia let go of Marie and ran towards one of the fire brigade personnel who analyzed the damage with Marie walking after her.

“Sir, is… is my brother okay?" Mia asked between her sobs

The fire brigade personnel could only stare at the sobbing child in front of him pitifully. He had no idea what to say to a nine years old child that would not ruin her resolve. Marie walks up to the personnel.

“Answer her question because I too want to know," She said

“Ma'am whosoever that was in there during the fire is gone. There was gas emission and fuel was spilled everywhere in the house the only thing recoverable was this" the personal said handing over two pictures

One contains Marie and her children and the other Mia and Liam with matching t-shirts. Mia snatched the picture of her and Liam, hugging it tightly. Like in a trance, she drops the picture and runs into the house.

The house was hardly recognizable. The couch was burnt, every single thing was now in ashes except the main building which had a huge hole on the roof which was caused by the explosion from the gas cylinder.

She ran up the stairs and dashed into the room, ashes filled every and it was dark with smoke everywhere. Mia coughed once in while in the building. She looked around the room.

“Liam, it's me, Mia please come out. You… you aren't d-dead please" Mia cried out and falls to the ground

On the ground was a golden chain bracelet which she bought for Liam on his birthday and Liam always wore it. The children had noticed the fire but before they could escape the fire caught up to them and they died but the bracelet was untouched and it seemed to be shining brightly.

Mia hugged the bracelet crying. Marie came in with some fire brigade personnel and took Mia out of the building.

“So my husband is dead?" Marie asked the personnel

“No, ma'am he is perfectly fine. He is just with our superior discussing insurance" the personnel said

“You mean…" Maria trails off as she does not know how to react to the news she just got

“So how much will I be given?" a voice very familiar asked

“I believe 20 million" an elderly, soft voice spoke

Marie believes that must be the superior the personnel told them about.

“Just 20 million? Can't I have more?" Louis inquired

“I doubt that. That's what the insurance company told me" the superior said

Marie and Mia turn to face the two men speaking to each other. Louis does not notice their presence until the discussion was done.

“What are you doing here?" Louis asked shocked

Marie shook her head realizing a painful truth. Her husband is formally a monster as he stooped so Los just to get rid of her and their children died. He does not feel remorseful. She never thought her husband would go to this length to get her out of the house and his life.

“You did all this right?" She blurted out

“Did what?" Louis asked with shock still all over his face

The fire brigade left immediately noticing the feeling of anger rising in the air and they did not want to get involved.

“You sly woman, how did you escape the fire? I thought you were in the bathroom ” Louis asked

“That must be one of your children as their shower got spoilt and I asked them to use mine. I and Mia stepped out to get things from the supermarket and we come back to…" Marie could not finish her statement as her tears took over her

She fell to the ground crying while Mia was beside her holding onto the picture and bracelet firmly to her chest. Mia was no longer crying but sitting on the floor and bonding with the materials in her hand trying to form a smile.

“Why? Why?" Marie screamed in pain

Louis had enough of her crying and asked “You want to know why?"

Marie raised her head to look at him in surprise. He sounded like a monster. Louis bent and took Marie by the shoulder tightly and made her stand.

“You want to know why I did all this?" Louis asked “Because I hate you"

He emphasized on every word that it sent an invisible knife right through Marie's heart in pain. She could not imagine his words.

“You opened a perfume industry after I warned you against it all because I gave you an allowance every month so I decided to beat you every day so you will shut it down but you didn't" Louis paused and laughed maniacally

“I cut down all your allowance to zero and even shut down your accounts but you still did not comply with me and worse you gave birth to that stupid child over there," Louis said pointing to Mia who is now staring at the ground with the bracelet around her wrist and the picture on her chest

“But I told you all this before we got married and for five years you kept on encouraging me until you… you began cheating with your secretary "

“Marie" Louis yelled and raised his hand

Marie stopped his hand from hitting her and stared into his eyes with her eyes teary. “You want to hit me because I know the truth. I knew all along but I just wanted to make this marriage work and that's why I tried but today I see it is and was useless so you can cheat with whosoever you want and leave I and my daughter out if it" Marie said

She walks up to Mia and takes her out of Baska's mansion in anger. She was shaking and fuming in anger. Her heart felt numb and her spirit felt dead just like her children who were now ashes.