The midnight visitor [ON HOLD]

Part Six

I'm gonna dedicate this chapter to Lunoxchaos
Thanx for the support sweetheart ❤️

I hope you will like it 🌹

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*******Earlier that day*******
06:00 AM

Mariah woke up bright and early, to do her usual chores. She quickly dressed herself up in a black lace trimmed dress with a ruffled white apron, as she passed by her small wardrobe to look in the mirror. Studying her appearance, she sighed and opened the second drawer to grab a comb.

Drawing the comb through her thick blond hair, she started pointing out what she sees as her Imperfections : large nose, small lips and the  dark circles that ringed her wide set, ocean blue eyes. She loathed them.

Finally putting her hair in a ponytail, she threw the comb back to the drawer, closing it shut.
"Embrace your flaws they said!" she exclaimed, storming out of the room. She began wandering around the house to start her usual cleaning.

Mariah was a lost soul. Growing up in an orphanage, she never knew what it feels to be home, or to be appreciated. She never found the warmth that she always longed for, even after being adopted by many foster families. This lack of affection showed through her destructive personality and despicable manners that always got her back to the orphanage.

At 18 she found herself living in the streets. If it weren't for the O'neals, probably she would have been dead either from an overdose or being killed.

10:00 AM

Zach came back from his usual jogging with a messy wet hair, sweat dripping and all soaked. He entered the house, kicking off his shoes. He went straight to the kitchen to drink some juice before heading to the shower.

Entering, he found Mariah all focused on her cooking not even noticing his presence. Smirking, he walked around the table, tip toeing to not make a sound, as he wanted to jump scare her.

Coming up from behind he screamed in her ears, causing her to startle. Eyes wide she turned to him with a knife in her hand ready to kill.

"WOAAH!!" Zachariah joked, putting his hands high.

"Don't ever do that again!!" shouted Mariah through gritted teeth, putting her hand over her heart.

Zach laughed, walked to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of juice and poured some into a cup.

"your dad called earlier, he sends you his regards" said Mariah chopping the onions while squeezing her eyes in an attempt to ease the sting.

Amused by the sight, Zach smiled, responding : "Thanks".
Taking a sip from his cup, he swallowed, frowning, then asked : " why did he call though?".

"He called so we know they're coming tomorrow first thing in the morning. He said that your uncle brought Ryan yesterday to a nursing home not far from here. It was your father's decision so he can check up on him whenever he can." replied Mariah.

He frowned : "why a nursing home, why not keep him under their sight" he said almost yelling.

"His condition became too unbearable to control, they can't just keep him there".

"why? What did he do?" Zachariah replied hesitantly, almost fearing the answer.

Mariah looked up at him, questioning whether to tell him or not. Seeing him fixing her gaze, waiting for a response, she finally decided to twist the truth : "Nothing, he just became too aggressive, always picking up a fight, insulting, breaking things. So they were left with no choice but to put him where they can take care of him."

"Hopefully!" said Zach not knowing what to add, a lump formed in his throat as the sorrow came crippling him.

Pushing away his half full glass, he got up from his seat and said : "i'm gonna take a shower."

As he stepped out of the kitchen, Myriam came bumping into him. She looked up at him "Eeew, you stink"

Pushing her aside, he kept walking towards the shower.

MIDNIGHT

Silence fell upon the O'neal's house, as the nature embraced the obscurity and the stillness of the night. Not far away from the house, between the trees, someone came lurking in the shadows.

He put his shaky hand on a tree as a support, as he analyzed every aspect of the building. Picking up his head, his wandering gaze fell upon the woman on the rooftop. A devilish smirk found its way to his face, as he just spotted his first victim.

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