The woman's voice was weak but unmistakable, "Shawn, is that you?" Shawn's response was hesitant, "Mom?" The trio's shock was palpable.
As Shawn broke the lock and the cupboard door swung open, his mother's frail form tumbled out. Shawn's eyes welled up with tears as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry, Mom," Shawn whispered, his voice shaking with emotion. "What have they done to you?" he asked, holding her fragile body close.
The reunion was a mix of joy and anguish, as Shawn struggled to comprehend the years of separation and the condition his mother was in.
"My love" Amber said as she caressed her son's cheek with tears trickling down her bonny cheeks, she looked at Jaden and Mia who were towering over her with worried eyes, Mia's eye then darted to a string which came out of Ambers chest and led to the cupboard, she touched the string making the boys notice it too,
"Mom what's this"
"This? it's nothing to worry about dear, lean closer to me I want to tell you something"
Shawn leaned in close to his mom, and she whispered, "I want you to promise me that no matter what happens, you'll stay with Mia. I can see just how much she loves you." Shawn and Jaden exchanged glances with Mia, who looked puzzled.
Jaden's curiosity was piqued, "What do you mean by that, Mom? And how do you know her name?" Amber's expression turned serious, "That's not important. Just do as I asked, okay?" Shawn nodded, "Yes, Mom."
Amber's gaze shifted to Mia, "Mia dear, I want you to do something for me now." Mia's eyes met Amber's, "Okay?" Amber continued, "You've noticed the string, right?" Mia nodded.
"Now, follow the string into the cupboard." Mia hesitated, a sense of foreboding settling in. She followed the string, her heart racing with anticipation. The string led to a tiny button, and Mia's instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong.
Mia's eyes widened as she stared at the button, her heart racing with trepidation. Amber's voice was firm, "You see the button, right? Push it."
Mia and Shawn's reactions were immediate, "What!" they exclaimed in unison. Shawn's voice was panicked, "Don't do it, Mia!"
Amber's tone turned stern, "Listen to your elder, Mia, and push the button." Mia's hesitation was evident, torn between obeying Amber and heeding Shawn's warning.
In the chaos, Shawn tried to stop Mia, but she accidentally pushed the button as she fell to the ground. The consequences were devastating.
Amber's body exploded, covering the room in blood. Jaden's face and body were splattered with crimson. Mia trembled, her eyes fixed on the horrific scene.
Shawn's anguished cry filled the air, a mix of grief and despair. The room fell silent, except for Mia's trembling and Shawn's heart-wrenching sobs.
Shawn's anger boiled over, "I asked you not to push the button, Mia! Why did you do it?" Mia's voice trembled, "I wouldn't have done it if you didn't push me."
The argument escalated, with Shawn's grief and rage taking center stage. Jaden intervened, trying to calm him down, "Shawn, this is what Andrew wants. He wants to tear us apart."
But Shawn was beyond reason, his pain and anger consuming him. "Get out of my house right now!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the blood-soaked room.
Mia's eyes welled up with tears as she stumbled backward, Jaden's attempts to mediate futile against Shawn's overwhelming emotions.
The tension escalated as Shawn's anger turned on Jaden, "Shut the fuck up, Jaden! We both saw her push the button!" Jaden's response was calm, "All I saw was your mom dying, even if she pushed the button or not."
Shawn's rage intensified, "So you two planned this, right?" Mia fled the attic, tears streaming down her face. Shawn's anger turned on Jaden,
"Not anymore, Jade. I don't care if Andrew gets you two. That's what you deserve for killing my mom. You have your own house, so get the fuck out of my house!"
The air was thick with emotion, the bond between the friends fraying under the weight of grief and blame.
Jaden's concern for Mia propelled him into action. He rushed out of the house, determined to find her. His eyes scanned the surroundings, and his heart sank as he spotted Mia near a chaotic scene. A truck accident had occurred. Mia nearly got hit by a truck. Shawn's sister, Stella, pushed Mia out of the way, but she wasn't so lucky.
The truck slammed into Stella, and the driver slumped over the wheel. Sirens pierced the air as the police and ambulance arrived.
At the hospital, the doctor's words cut through the air, "Stella didn't make it." Mia's world crumbled, her body wracked with sobs. Jaden's face was etched with sorrow as he tried to comfort her.
Mia's guilt consumed her, "Two people lost their lives today because of me." Her mind replayed the events, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility.
When Shawn arrived, Mia's eyes dropped, unable to meet his gaze. The weight of her guilt and grief threatened to overwhelm her.
Shawn's words cut deep, "You're a curse! I hate you! Why did you come into my life?" Tiana's slap was a shock, but Shawn's anger didn't subside.
Tiana stood firm, "You're very stupid, Shawn. Those two would have died either way. Andrew set a timer for the bomb, so even if Mia didn't push the button, she would have died."
Shawn's eyes narrowed, "What are you even saying? How do you know about Mom?" Tiana's words hung in the air, "And as for Stella, she chose to give up her life. She was ill anyway."
Shawn's face twisted in anguish and rage, his mind reeling with the implications. The truth began to unravel, and Shawn's anger turned to shock and confusion.
Tiana's words spilled out in a sorrowful torrent. "Ever since Mom disappeared, Andrew had been threatening me and Stella. There was an incident that happened between Mom and his children. I and Stella wanted to teach his children a lesson for disrespecting Mom, but it went wrong. So, they lost their lives when they ran away from us and into the street. They didn't check the road before running into the street, so they got crushed by a truck."
She paused, the pain evident on her face. "He decided to kidnap Mom to punish us. He threatened to kill her, but we pleaded with him. He said he'll come for you and Dad as well. So, I and Stella left home with an agreement with Andrew that if we left the house without telling you and Dad, you two would be safe. But I guess that was a lie."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He would torture Mom and send us videos of how bad he's treating her...."
Shawn's face contorted in anguish. "Hold on, Tiana, this is too much for me to take in."
Tiana's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Shawn."
Shawn's response was laced with anger and self-blame. "Save your apologies. I'm going home." He turned and walked out of the ward, his anger now directed at himself rather than Mia. Tiana called out to him, but he didn't listen, consumed by his emotions and the weight of the truth.