IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS - EPISODE 40

Zachary’s viewpoint

Something isn’t right.

Those words reverberated in my head over and over again, for days now. I had no idea why but I felt like something wasn’t. Every time I looked at my siblings, I thought of that. For example, Sera coughing violently into her handkerchief, nose stuffy and hands trembling and sweaty. She said she was okay but I felt like she wasn’t. Maybe it was because Sera has only ever been severely ill six times. She was that strong. And even then, the illness wasn’t strong enough to weaken her. Especially to make her quiet and lock her quip remark.

That isn’t my Serafina.

Maybe her being this ill was hard for me to get use to, just maybe. At the moment, I stood watching her smile politely and listen to a teacher scolding her about the mistake she made in the opening speech, her eyes showing the extreme fatigue eating away at her strength. Sera would never sit down and listen to anyone yell at her, or ever make such easy mistake in front of everyone else. It was like she forgot the speech she wrote herself and knew like the back of her hand.

Sera never forgets.

Is the drugs even working?

“I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” Even her respond shocked the daylight out of the teacher. He stared at her with lips parted for a second before pinning his lips with worry, eyebrows pulling together.

“Sera, are you okay?” She only smiled more and nodded. Out of character. Serenity walked up to her, a lollipop in her mouth. She was getting ready to sing as part of the talent. She joined the school talent competition, as part of the students representing her class. I had high hopes for her, hoping she would lead her class to victory. She bent forward, as if examining Serafina.

“Big sis, you okay?” Sera nodded. “You are not. Maybe you should have stayed home to rest.”

“And be buddy buddy with your cat and that bird, no.” Stupid, she forgot to add stupid or any other curse. That’s not my Sera. I need to tell mom. I turned and headed out, going to find my mother who I hope would listen. I went out to join them in the crowd. They were sitting at front, mom cringing with a frightful face, staring at the woman sitting beside her. The woman was sweating and had a drooling baby on her laps. Mom being the cleanliness obsess woman was trying to climb onto dad’s laps to be away from the germs.

“Laverne, you are going to crush me if you don’t stop pushing yourself across your chair to mine. Your hands… My poor dinger…” Dad groaned in pain. Instead of moving away, mom flew into dad’s seat when the baby spat some whitish liquid. Mom held on to his neck with her dear life, body trembling with fear and horror. “Laverne,” dad groaned.

“I’m staying here, thank you very much,”

“Women like you would end up marrying and throwing your child away because of dirt,” the woman scoffed. Mom bent her head backwards, causing her hair to stream down closer to her waist.

“Sorry to burst your bubble but I have five kids and they didn’t make me pass out. I’m not worried about the baby, I’m more disgusted by the germs called you…”

“Lavender!” Dad gasped. I didn’t want mom to end up quarreling because she is capable of doing so.

“Mom, Serafina isn’t okay,” I blunted out, “I don’t think the drugs is working.” I complained, swinging myself recklessly on my feet, hands in my pockets. It was the only way to stop myself from crying because I really wanted to worry for her.

“And how would you know that?”

“She’s being nice, very nice. She did not insult Perry, did not snap when a teacher was yelling at her and she forgot her speech. Now that is a situation and a very big problem,”

“Yes, indeed.”

“How is that a problem?” Dad asked. Mom and I gave him a look of disbelief. How is it not a problem? Sera being nice to someone other than us is a problem. Mom rolled her eyes.

“I already thought about it and I’m working on it,” mom said with a assuring smile. I trust her. If she say she would do it, then she would. Sighing in relief, I walked over to my seat and sat down. Serafina would be okay, she just has to be.

~~~

Back to the house. Serenity was still raving with excitement, bouncing with so much energy. Serenity helped her class come in second place, but that wasn’t the real reason she was happy. A talent agent was there as invited by her older sister whose children attended the school. She offered Serenity an opportunity, a huge one that would begin her career. I was happy for her, but I couldn’t think or show it when I was worrying over my other sister.

Serafina, I didn’t want to lose her, I couldn’t. I felt like I was going to lose her, along with Zayne. They were both showing signs but Serafina’s was stronger. I couldn’t lose my siblings or it would kill me.

“Hey, Zach,” someone whispered. I pushed myself away from the banister, turning my head to look at who called me. Perry. Perry flapped his wings, looking at me from the ceiling where he was flying close to. “Come,” he whispered, “follow.” Arching a brow at him, I climbed up the stairs slowly, my hands in the pockets of my pyjamas. I followed him to the third floor, straight to mine and dad’s lab.

“Shut the door,” obeying, I shut the door quietly. “I know what is wrong with Serafina and Zayne,” my heart skipped, as if an ominous feeling dropped on my head.

“Are you going to make you pay you for the information? Or is this a prank?”

“This cannot be a prank and I don’t want a bribe because this concerns the people who love and care for me. Sera might be a jerk but she would never let me starve or get hurt. When I was sick, she always came to see me at the vet’s. Even though she said mean words, I knew it was because she cared and that’s why she was there. I don’t want any of you to die, I don’t want to lose you all…”

“Perry, what happened!” I screamed.

“Poison.”

Serafina’s viewpoint

Hot, boiling heat scorched me from the inside and out. It was like the surface of my skin was sizzling and the inside getting roasted. The frantic beating of my heart was painful. It skipped every ten minutes and every time it did, it shot pang of pain across my chest and made me dizzy. I hoped the drugs I was taking would work, but it felt like it was increasing, not decreasing.

Should I worry mother more?

I needed to tell her, but Serenity was more important at the moment. When she is alone, just when. My head hurt so much it was getting too hard to listen to things. What is wrong with me?

“Sera, sis, let’s get you to bed,” I raised my head from my palm, looking up at Zach who was smiling at me. His eyes showed something else, his smile revealed something more dark. Zach has been crying. I instantly stood up, taking his stretched out hands. He helped pulled me to my feet, wrap his hand around my waist and help me forward. “Mom, I’m taking Sera to her room. Zyaire, help me carry Zayne, would you help me?”

“Sure,” Zyaire chirped.

“Serene, please follow your siblings and get ready for bed, I need to wash my body clean of germs. I smell like baby vomit. Beau, you are responsible for the… Just follow me.” I didn’t pay attention to whatever else she said, I was more worried about Zachary. I kept looking at him, observing his red and puffy eyes. It wasn’t noticeable unless you look at her deeply. Zach helped me up the stairs to his room, helping me to his bed where Perry sat. It was like my brain was malfunctioning because I was forgetting things and being awfully nice.

I smiled at the bird.

“Here,” Zach said after placing me on the bed. He helped stretched my legs, crossed it and then picked up a pillow. He plumped up the pillow and place it on the headboard so I could rest my back. “Comfortable?”

“Yes, thank you. Now why did you cry? Is it because of me?” Zach nodded. Zyaire walked in with Zayne on his back, Serene helping him to keep heavy Zayne up. There was something important he wanted to talk about, Zach. He walked towards the door and looked into the hallway, as if to make sure no one was there.

“Zachary, what’s up with you?” Zyaire asked, he noticed it too. Zachary quietly shut the door and placed his finger on his lips. “Okay…?” Zyaire whispered puzzledly.

“Roxy has been poisoning us…”

“W….”

“Shhhh…” Perry shushed before we could scream. “Don’t yell.”

“H… That’s not possible, Roxy is very nice and…”

“This isn’t about nice and sweet, Serenity, this is about us dying. Just look at Sera and Zayne, they are not okay, can’t you sense it?” Zach snapped. Serene opened her mouth and shut it back in shock.

“How?” I asked calmly, though still confuse.

“Zyaire forgot to drop some food for us, we were starving and the door was locked,” Perry glared at Zyaire who grinned, “so I flew out through the window with hope of flying into the kitchen through the window. Fortunately, when I got closer, I heard ‘the eldest one is reacting to the poison too fast, it would ruin the plan. The guy giving me the poison said there must be an ingredient in it that she is reacting to and since the poison is made to intensify when in contact with other drugs, it is speeding the process. The more she takes her drugs, the faster the poison works and that is not part of the plan. And to make it worse, the other three aren’t reacting yet, just the youngest but not as much’.”

My lips parted in horror. Perry nodded. “It was suspicious, very suspicious. Eldest, is reacting too fast and youngest? Then the remaining three, I knew instantly it was all of you. Sera was sick and Zayne was starting to get sick, but the three of you were still fine. Well, except Serene who is constantly tired. I perched there and listened and from what I got, she has been feeding you all slow poison through food. My guess is…”

“The muffins she gives to you all,” Zyaire gasped, his eyes widening. “After the first day she gave it to me, I stopped eating it and always threw mine away because I don’t like the taste but didn’t want to hurt her feelings. And Zachary…”

“Never even bothered to taste it,” I cut in. Since Roxy returned, she formed the habit of baking us muffins, donuts, bagels and scones. The muffins were my favorite because it tasted quite nice, but Zachary refuse to even try it because he never eats anything not prepared by mom, Chef Russo and grandma. I didn’t want him to hurt Roxy’s feelings so I made sure he got rid of his quietly, while I ate his muffins and scones. Zayne ate his share of bagels all the time. Zyaire on the other hand said her pastry taste like sower rat, so he always threw his away or gave it to Zayne. Same thing went with Serenity, though she only ate the donuts and threw the rest away.

“The donuts are not poisoned, but the rest are. That would explain why Serenity is perfectly fine. The tiredness is due to her recent illness recovery and the extra music lessons. My guess is that because Sera and Zayne has eaten most of the poison, they are reacting faster to the poison and Sera’s allergy and the fever drugs makes it worse,” Zachary said thoughtfully, his eyes glazing over. “I can’t believe we were so foolish to forgive her easily, just like that. But who would have thought that Roxy would do such an evil thing.”

“We have to tell mom…”

“We can’t just tell her, she might not believe us. You know how mommy is, she is too kind for her own good. We need evidence.” Serene murmured sadly.

“Dad don’t need one, he would believe…”

“No, we have to handle this carefully,” I interjected, putting my finger in my mouth. “For now, I’ll stop taking the drugs and Serene, use your recent achievement to make a wish that mom handles our meals for a month. Zach, do you think you can call Doctor George… No, the other doctor we met at the hospital, what’s his name again?”

“Blue,”

“Yes, him, call him and book an appointment. I’m sure you can convince him without our parents finding out. I would also need you to convince our driver and bodyguards to take us to the hospital without informing our parents, or at least, come up with a good lie,” he smirked and nodded. “Good. Zyaire, you are in charge of making sure Zayne doesn’t eat anymore of the poison without him knowing. Tell him when he wakes up but keep an eye on him because he cannot be trusted with food.”

“Roxy is going to give us muffins tomorrow,” Zach said, his eyes glazing over in thoughts again, “we can carry a sample to Doctor Blue for analyst, and I can also use dad’s advance chemical retractor or any of his gadgets to get evidence. We have to hurry up so Sera can get treatment as soon as possible.”

“So, it’s a plan then?” Zyaire asked, looking at each and everyone of us.

“It’s a plan.” We fell into silence, each one of us to our own thoughts. I always wonder how a human’s heart can be so cruel, how darkness can easily eat away at the souls of good people. Maybe they were never good, maybe the darkness has always been there, waiting for the right moment to strike. How humans can live with such heartlessness was beyond my understanding.

Someone as sweet and harmless as Roxy changed overnight, just because of one incident. Can only one mistake really change a person so much? Even if that mistake is from the person itself? Is the heart that flexible? Is the mind that easily manipulated? Where is their conscience? Where is the goodness in their hearts? Where do all the good memories of their victims disappear to?

With no heart, no second thought, she poisoned us, children. Maybe she did have second thoughts but her bitterness and envy was strong enough to overpower her kindness, just for a man that would never be hers. I knew it would be because of dad, what other reason why? The question was why target us instead of the real reason for her hate? Did she think that killing us would destroy them?… Well, it would. Maybe that was what she was aiming for. Break mom apart and a broken mother is a sad and depress father, meaning a chance for her to come into his life as his ray of sunshine?

She was a fool.

If mother was to ever get sad and distress, locking herself away and mourning, father would pour all of his attention towards making sure she returns to the woman he once knew, the woman he loved. He would never be vulnerable but stand by her until he gets her back from the hole she would bury herself in. Unlike when they first got together, mother no longer hung on to us for her sanity, no. If anything, she has poured her love and affection on dad, giving him a equal percent of care. She did care about us, just as much as she cared about him. My siblings and I were one of the two pillars holding her up, dad being the second. So if anything happened to us, she would lean towards her second pillar instead of crumbling.

So yes, she would be sad, depress, grieving, but would never shut dad out. But Roxy did not understand that, and I’m sure neither did her accomplice. They were wasting their time and planning to waste our lives along.

“Now what are you quins up to now?” Mom’s voice cut through our ponderation. She stood at the door carrying a small box, clothed in a cute Winx club feetsy. She kicked the door close with her leg and walked in, humming and swinging the box. “All of you, come to me one after the other,” she singsonged. Mom sat on the bed close to me, folded on leg and placed the box in front of her.

“What’s in the box?” Zachary asked curiously. As a reply, mom opened the box and brought out a syringe, filled and ready to go.

“Calm down, you’ll all have to take the shots everyday, for seven nights. The side effects includes vomiting, irritated nostrils, extreme drowsiness and lost of taste buds, but you’ll be fine after seven days. It would also make you react to every food except spicy soups. I’ll be preparing that for you all myself every morning and evening. For the seven days, you will not attend school but spend your days in Mrs. Dave’s, she would take good care of you all and when you return, please don’t let anybody know you didn’t go to school, okay?” Mom instructed as she cleaned my arm with methylated spirit dipped cotton wool.

“Why?” I asked suspiciously, beating Zachary to it.

“Because, going to school would worsen your health but your father won’t understand. I’ll explain to him later. I still have to go to work, that’s why Mrs. Dave would take care of you…”

“Mom, what are the shots for?” I winced as she pierced me with the needle. I grind my teeth to stop me from screaming.

“Let’s just say, it’s my own secret antidote for every illness. Now stop asking me questions, I’m the mom, not you.” I looked at Zachary who was already thinking what I was thinking.

Mom knows.

“Mom, is the shots for the poison we are being fed?” Zyaire blunted out. A smile played on mom’s lips, meaning she was hoping Zachary and me already figured it out and warned us. Or maybe just Zachary because I would never have.

“I’m guessing you just found out?”

“I found out,” Perry announced proudly, “and told Zachie.”

“Don’t call me that,” Zach warned absent mindedly, “where did you get that from, Mom? And how did you find out?” Mom smirked as she wiped the blood out of my puncture hole.

“I’m kind, not blind. I might not have figured it out on time, but it took one person to confirm. I admit I was careless. If this was a fast poison, most of you would be dead, but I’m grateful it’s slow. And Sera, you and Zayne are not reacting to the poison, you are reacting to the antidote in the drugs fighting the poison…”

“Wait, the drugs isn’t…”

“For fever? No, it isn’t. Like I said, I’m kind, not blind and my mind can never make me a fool allover again. You all just promise me that you will take care of yourself and keep away from her but not too obvious. Keep an eye on your little brother as well,” she said wearily as she cleaned Zayne’s arm, “he’s not as smart as the four of you. If anything should happen to you five, I don’t know what I’d do. Promise?”

I smiled and nodded. “Promise.”

“What are you planning to do, Mom?” Zach asked curiously. Mom sighed and pierce the needle into Zayne’s arm.

“After the end of the seven days, I’m putting an end to this my way, and you will all assist.” I shifted in my position, looking at her inquisitively.

“How?”