The Risen HODWII

Chapter 16 : TV

**Venice Claire's POV**

The moment I opened the door, someone immediately pulled me into a hug. I hugged her back.

"I missed you so much, sweetie..." Mom whispered.

"Miss you too, Mom." I softly stated, which made her pull out.

"Did I hear that right?" she asked, looking at me in shock.

"I think you heard it right, Mom, because I heard it too," Carlo murmured behind her back.

"You found your soft voice, sweetie. I'm so glad!" She hugged me once again.

"Oh, me too!" Carlo joined the hug.

I got out from their hugs. "You two should grow up. You're annoying," I plainly stated, then walked toward the living room and sat on the couch.

I saw Zoey on one of the couches near mine, eating popcorn while watching the TV.

She looked at me and blatantly rolled her eyes before going back to watching the TV. I knew she was upset.

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. "Spill it."

She wouldn't be that upset if nothing happened to her. But I didn't hear anything except the volume of the TV getting louder. "Don't make me say it again, Zoey," I said, still not moving from my spot but rather listening to the TV turn up to its fullest.

Out of annoyance, in just a second, I picked up the gun hiding on the couch and shot the TV. The screen broke and shut itself off.

Now, I was in front of her, pointing the gun at her head.

"What happened here— Oh my gosh!" Mom exclaimed the moment she saw the broken TV.

I felt Carlo take a seat in the place I was sitting earlier and watched us with a cup of popcorn in his hands. I ignored them.

"Spill it." My voice was deadly with authority.

"Fine!" Her eyes started to water. Tch. "You went out for an adventure with the other girls but... without me!? You ungrateful cousin! You even left me in that mansion, alone!! And worst of all, with those filthy bastards! Agh! I hate you! I've been searching for you, but you were nowhere to be found! How could you do that to me!?!?" she cried.

"What did you do to those bastards?" I asked plainly.

She smirked as she wiped her tears. "You wouldn't want to know." From the look on her face, I really wouldn't want to know. I felt sorry for those men for leaving them to her. They should have not dare went inside that mansion.

I hid the gun in my pocket.

"Is that all? No fighting, fighting?" Carlo asked in disappointment, but I ignored it as I took a seat beside him. "Oh, so boring," he said and plopped down on the sofa with his head on my lap.

"Oh, my lovely TV!" Mom cried in front of the TV while rubbing it. "You've done so much. I'm so sorry this is the end of your journey."

"Take your head off me," I ordered Carlo, holding my gun once again. He suddenly sat up, groaning.

"What should I do now? You destroyed our one and only TV." He pouted like a child. Tch. He loves watching TV to distract him from reality.

"I'm still mad at you! I didn't even hear you say sorry!" Zoey yelled while glaring at me.

"Why do I have this kind of family...?" I murmured more to myself.

"Hey! We heard that!" they all yelled in chorus.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up. "You are all... crazy," I stated and ran faster toward my room, hearing their screams of frustration.

Strangest family ever.

Suddenly, I remembered taking the bug out of my cellphone and leaving it at Xenon's house. He must be freaking mad right now.

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**Xenon's POV**

I've been pacing back and forth in my room. I'm freaking mad right now! How can she do this!?

She freaking left the tracking device in her room! What if something happened to her while she was away? What if... shi*! I got out of my room, banging the door in anger, and furiously went toward the dining room.

When she gets back, she would surely pay for it.

"What happened to you?" Lucas asked, looking at me.

"Shut up; I'm not in the mood," I angrily stated.

"Claire isn't here. She might have headed home; that's why he looks furious," Adrian said, taking a seat beside me.

"Oh, I see," Lucas grinned. Tch.

"Claire went home?" Drena asked as the other girls came closer, waiting for the answer. I nodded.

"But you have your mission tomorrow, right?" Cassy asked, worried.

I immediately looked at her. "What does that have to do with Claire?" I asked, confused.

She immediately looked away, not knowing what to say, and Drena went back to her work, preparing the food while Stella faced Lucas, talking with him. What's wrong with them?

Why did they suddenly avoid my question?

I stood up. "Are you hiding something from me?" My voice was hard.

"N-nothing," Cassy stuttered.

"Claire is your motivation. It would be better if she's here during your mission," Drena explained.

"Yeah! I'll be cheering for Coby, so Claire should be here to cheer you up." She smiled, but it seemed like... forced?

Oh well, I nodded and went back to sitting. I heard them breathe deeply. What are they hiding from me?

Cheer up... hearing her voice is enough. I hope.

"Can I join your mission tomorrow?" I heard Stella ask Lucas sweetly. She was sitting next to him.

I hope Lucas can handle her bipolar attitude. He will have a great time dealing with her sudden behavioral changes.

"No, Stella, you can't. It is dangerous," Lucas said.

"Please... I can handle it." She gave him her puppy eyes.

Lucas seemed hesitant, but he lifted her and made her sit on his lap. "Stella... even if you are Uno, you are still my girl, and I can't handle seeing you there, or I'll lose my concentration. I can't work properly just thinking of your safety. Please understand," he explained in a very soothing voice. He is afraid that Uno might come out.

Stella nodded in understanding. "Take care, okay?"

"I will; we still have to get married." He held her hand.

I couldn't handle looking at them anymore, so I focused myself on the table. Just enough, the food was already well prepared.

Good. I can't handle watching these lovebirds around me without Claire.

Claire... how are you? I hope you're safe and fine.