Immaculate

Marie

Part 112

Sang's POV

I don't know if the others had given Kota any presents, but I rather think they must have done. I expect that because they knew I hadn't had time to get Kota anything that they gave them to him before I was there. We had gone to his favourite restaurant, eaten a huge meal and then made our way back to Mr Blackbourne's to watch a movie. Kota had chosen a spy movie and I curled up on his lap, I had slept through the whole thing.

The removers were coming tomorrow, so the plan was for Nathan and Gabriel to stay with me overnight and then everyone else to turn up when the removers did. Dr Green was the only one who wasn't able to come as he had shift at the hospital.

I had wished Kota a happy birthday, feeling bad about not getting him something. It struck me that it was going to be awkward not working at the Diner. I had Victor's birthday coming up at the end of the month as well. I wanted to be able to buy them something, but I had no funds and I would not ask any of the others.

Kota had taken us home and it was with relief that I saw that Marie was in her room, but I didn't knock or go in. I settled in with Nathan and Gabriel and curled between them I slipped back into sleep easily.

-----g-hghg-----

I woke with a start. I lay in the dark, holding my breath, something had woken me. Nathan and Gabriel were still fast asleep and I didn't want to disturb them so I stayed very quiet and listened. I could hear nothing, but now I was awake I needed the toilet. I made my way carefully from the bed and taking my phone I moved to the door and unlocked it. I opened it and listened carefully again, hearing nothing I went into the bathroom.

I was washing my hands when I heard a bang from downstairs. I frowned, it sounded like something had dropped. I knew that no one could have broken in because Nathan had set the alarm. It couldn't be my father, unless Marie had given him the new code. I went back out, debating whether to wake up the boys, but I wondered if it was Marie as I could see a light underneath her door. I went down the stairs silently and stopped at the bottom listening carefully.

The light was on in the hallway, but it was always kept on. I stepped off the bottom step and went forwards. The light in my step-mother's room was on and I knew that it had been switched off. I stepped forward seeing a crowbar that North had left propped against the wall. I picked it up and stepped forwards into the doorway, holding it up.

"Oh! It's you," I said, letting the crowbar down, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Thinking of killing me?"

Marie was stood in the middle of the room, still dressed.

"Are you ok?" I asked her, but she kept her back to me as she stood there.

"What are they doing in here?" she asked and I could hear none of the usual sneer in her voice, she just sounded tired.

"Moving the door, taking out the closets to open up the room," I murmured and stepped forwards, leaning the crowbar against the wall.

"Why?" she asked and I shrugged.

"It's to help me. I can't come in here normally," I told her. "I keep thinking she's still here."

"I wish she was," she said, but the total lack of acid in her voice kept me quiet. "Is what dad said right? Is she really dying?"

I closed my eyes briefly and moved forwards again to stand beside her.

"She has cancer and from what I can understand it's too far advanced for them to do anything. She wants to come home, to be with you," I said and she snorted then and the laugh was bitter and stung my heart.