That night, the house was quiet.
Henry was resting. Roshan and Johan were talking with each other. Cathy was sleeping in her room, while Silane was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Suddenly, everything changed.
Everyone in the house stopped what they were doing. Those who were sleeping woke up in shock. A loud and terrified scream echoed through the house.
It was Maria.
"Jenifer! What happened to you? … Somebody please come… help!"
Her voice was filled with fear and panic.
Hearing her scream, all the members of the house immediately rushed toward the garden to see what had happened.
When they reached there and saw the scene before them, everyone stood frozen in shock.
Maria was holding Jenifer tightly in her arms, crying uncontrollably. Her hands were trembling as she tried to wake her.
"Jenifer… please wake up… please…" Maria cried helplessly.
But Jenifer was not breathing.
Johan, Jenifer's brother, stood frozen for a moment. He could not believe what he was seeing. His mind refused to accept the terrifying sight in front of him. Slowly, tears filled his eyes as fear and shock took over his heart.
"Jenifer… Jenifer… wake up…" he cried, moving closer to her.
Silane quickly knelt beside them and began tapping Jenifer's cheeks repeatedly, trying to bring her back to consciousness. She kept calling her name again and again, her voice filled with panic.
Henry rushed forward and immediately started pressing Jenifer's chest, hoping to restore her breathing. At the same time, the others desperately rubbed her legs and palms, trying to bring warmth back into her body.
Johan could not control his emotions anymore. He fell beside his sister, crying loudly and shaking her gently.
"Jenifer… please open your eyes… please… don't do this…" he begged through his tears.
But Jenifer did not respond.
Her body remained completely still. She looked motionless, almost like someone paralyzed… like a lifeless corpse lying in Maria's arms.
Fear spread among everyone standing there.
Realizing that every second was important, Henry quickly stood up.
"Bring her to the car!" he shouted urgently.
Without wasting another moment, they carefully lifted Jenifer and rushed toward the car. Henry quickly started the engine while Maria and Roshan sat in the back seat, holding Jenifer and trying desperately to keep her awake.
The car sped through the silent night as Henry drove as fast as he could toward the nearest hospital, while the others prayed silently for Jenifer's life.
About half an hour passed after they had rushed Jenifer to the hospital. The once lively house now felt painfully silent. The hall lights were dim, and the air itself seemed heavy with fear and uncertainty.
Cathy sat beside Johan on the sofa. Johan's hands were shaking, and his eyes were red from crying. He kept staring at the floor, unable to calm the storm inside his heart.
Cathy gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Johan… please try to stay strong," she said softly, though her own voice trembled with worry. "Jenifer is a strong girl. She has always been brave… remember how she never gave up even in the hardest moments?"
Johan shook his head slowly, tears sliding down his cheeks.
"She was just laughing with us this evening… how can something like this happen so suddenly?" he whispered painfully.
Cathy moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.
"Nothing will happen to her… we have to believe that," she said, trying to comfort him even though fear was quietly growing inside her heart.
Across the hall, Silane stood near the small prayer table. Her hands were folded tightly, and her lips moved continuously in prayer.
"Please… please save that child," she whispered again and again, her eyes closed with deep desperation. "Don't take her away from us… not like this."
The ticking sound of the wall clock echoed loudly in the silent hall. Every second felt unbearably long.
Suddenly, Cathy's phone rang.
All three of them turned toward the sound immediately.
Cathy quickly picked up the phone and looked at the screen.
"It's Maria," she said nervously before answering.
"Maria… what happened?" Cathy asked quickly.
On the other side of the call, Maria's voice could be heard, weak and trembling.
As Cathy listened, Johan and Silane anxiously moved closer to her.
"What is Maria saying?" Johan asked desperately.
Silane leaned forward with fear in her eyes.
"Is Jenifer alright?" she asked quickly.
But Cathy did not answer.
Her expression slowly began to change.
Her lips started trembling… and tears suddenly filled her eyes.
Within seconds, she broke down and began to cry.
Seeing this, fear gripped Silane's heart.
Without waiting another moment, she quickly grabbed the phone from Cathy's hand.
"Maria! What happened? Tell me! What happened to Jenifer?" Silane asked urgently into the phone.
For a moment, there was silence on the other side.
Then Maria's broken voice slowly spoke.
"…Jenifer… will not come back to our home… ever again."
The words were soft… but they carried a terrifying finality.
Silane's face went pale.
Her hand slowly lowered the phone as tears poured from her eyes.
Johan looked at her face carefully.
He didn't need to hear the words.
The pain written in Silane's expression told him everything.
His legs weakened.
"Jenifer…" he whispered, before collapsing to his knees.
A loud cry escaped from his chest as grief consumed him.
Silane also burst into uncontrollable sobs, covering her mouth as the painful truth shattered her heart.
Cathy, though crying heavily herself, immediately moved toward them. She wrapped her arms around Johan and Silane, trying to hold them together as they all drowned in the same unbearable sorrow.
The hall that had once been filled with laughter was now filled only with the sound of grief and heartbreak.
But far away from that house… in a dark and lonely place near the garden fence, someone was watching.
The mysterious lady with the deep blue eyes stood silently in the shadows.
The moonlight briefly reflected in her cold, glowing eyes.
She slowly lifted her phone and spoke calmly to someone on the other end of the line.
"I killed Jenifer," she said in a chilling voice.
There was no emotion in her tone… only a cold satisfaction.
"Maria's cousins were getting too close… they were going to help her uncover the truth behind Nick's death."
A faint, disturbing smile appeared on her face.
"They needed a warning."
For a moment, the wind blew through the trees around her, making the branches creak like whispers in the darkness.
Her blue eyes glowed eerily in the night.
"This is only the beginning," she whispered quietly.
Then she ended the call.
The mysterious woman slowly stepped back into the shadows… and disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but the cold silence of the night.
Days slowly passed after Jenifer's death.
The house that once echoed with laughter had become quiet and heavy with memories. The following days were filled with painful responsibilities — hospital visits, official procedures, prayers, and the final rituals for Jenifer. Every formality felt like another painful reminder that she was truly gone.
For the first few days, grief hung over the family like a dark cloud. Tears came easily, and even the smallest memory of Jenifer would break someone's heart.
But slowly… very slowly… the family began to heal.
The pain was still there, deep inside their hearts, but they were learning to live with it. They spoke about Jenifer more often now — not only with tears, but also with soft smiles when remembering the happy moments they once shared with her.
That afternoon, several family members were sitting together in the hall.
Johan sat quietly on the sofa, his eyes tired and distant. Beside him sat his mother, Isabella — Henry's sister. Her face still carried the deep sorrow of losing her daughter, but she tried to remain strong for her son.
For a few moments, the hall remained silent.
Then Isabella slowly began speaking, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
"Jenifer used to wake up earlier than everyone else," she said gently, looking down at her hands. "Even when she was a little girl… she would run around the house and wake me up just to show me the flowers she picked from the garden."
A faint smile appeared on her face through the sadness.
"She always loved the garden," Isabella continued quietly. "Every flower she saw… she treated it like a friend."
Johan listened silently, tears slowly forming in his eyes.
"She used to fight with me for silly things," he said softly. "But after five minutes… she would come back and say sorry first."
His voice broke.
"She never stayed angry for long…"
The people sitting around them tried to comfort them with gentle words.
"Jenifer was a beautiful soul," one of them said kindly.
"She brought happiness wherever she went," another added.
Henry placed a hand on Johan's shoulder.
"You and your mother are not alone," he said warmly. "This house will always be your home."
While everyone was gathered in the hall, one person was missing.
Maria.
She was sitting alone in her room.
The curtains were slightly open, letting a soft light enter the quiet room. Maria sat on the edge of her bed, lost in deep thought.
Her mind kept returning to the same terrifying memory.
That mysterious woman with the blue eyes.
Maria remembered clearly how that woman had been walking behind Jenifer that night in the garden. Something about her presence had felt strange… unnatural… almost threatening.
And soon after that…
Jenifer was gone.
Maria clenched her hands tightly.
Who was she…?
Why did she kill Jenifer?
What is she hiding about Nick's death?
These questions kept circling inside her mind.
Suddenly, a gentle hand touched her shoulder from behind.
Maria quickly turned around in surprise.
It was Cathy.
Cathy looked at her with concern.
"What are you thinking about, Maria?" she asked softly.
Maria paused for a moment, hiding the thoughts that had been running through her mind.
"I was just… remembering the good memories I had with Jenifer," Maria replied quietly.
Cathy's eyes softened with sadness.
Without saying anything, she pulled Maria into a tight hug.
"It's okay to miss her," Cathy said gently, stroking her hair. "We all do."
For a few moments, Maria rested in Cathy's embrace, feeling a small sense of comfort in the middle of the pain.
Then Cathy slowly pulled back and smiled softly.
"Come," she said kindly. "Johan and his mother are leaving for their home today. We should go and see them before they go."
Maria nodded slowly.
"Yes… let's go."
The two of them walked together out of the room and toward the hall, where Johan and Isabella were preparing to say their goodbyes.
A little later, the sound of a car stopping outside the house broke the quiet atmosphere.
The front door opened, and Melvin, Johan's father, walked inside. His face looked tired from the long and painful days that had passed.
He looked around the hall and spoke gently.
"The car is ready… we should leave now."
Everyone in the hall slowly stood up. The moment had arrived for Johan and his mother, Isabella, to return to their home.
Isabella wiped the corner of her eyes and stood beside her son. Even though she tried to remain strong, the sadness of losing Jenifer was still clearly visible in her face.
Maria and Cathy walked closer to them.
Cathy held Isabella's hands warmly.
"Please take care of yourself," she said softly.
Maria nodded with a small, respectful smile.
"Call us whenever you need anything," she added gently.
Isabella hugged both of them one by one before moving toward the door with Melvin.
But just as they were about to step outside, Johan suddenly spoke.
"Mom… you go with dad. I will come after a few days."
Everyone in the hall turned toward him in surprise.
Isabella looked confused.
"Why, dear?" she asked softly.
Johan hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I… I need to do some work here with Maria."
His voice sounded calm, but inside his mind, a storm of thoughts continued to grow.
The doctors had said that Jenifer died because of cardiac arrest. That explanation had been written clearly in her death report.
But Johan could not accept it.
Something about that night did not feel right.
Why had Silane suddenly tried to attack Roshan that day as if she had lost control of herself?
Who had really killed Nick?
And why had everything started to happen around Maria?
Too many strange events… too many unanswered questions.
Deep inside his heart, Johan felt that Jenifer's death was not just a simple accident.
There was something hidden behind it.
And he wanted to uncover the truth.
That was why he needed to stay.
But Isabella did not look convinced.
"No, Johan," she said worriedly. "You should come with us. You need rest. We have already been through too much."
Johan gently held his mother's hands.
"Mom… please trust me," he said softly. "I just need a few days. I promise I will come home soon."
Isabella still looked uncertain.
Melvin then stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Let him stay," he said calmly. "Maybe being here for a few days will help him clear his mind."
Johan nodded, trying to reassure his mother.
"I'll be fine, Mom. I'm not alone here."
Isabella looked at her son for a few long seconds before finally sighing.
"Alright… but promise me you will take care of yourself."
"I promise," Johan replied.
She hugged him tightly before walking toward the door with Melvin.
Maria and Cathy followed them outside to say goodbye.
"Take care," Cathy said softly.
"We will call you," Maria added.
Melvin nodded politely, and Isabella gave them a small, emotional smile before getting into the car.
The car slowly drove away from the house, disappearing down the quiet road.
Johan stood at the gate for a moment, watching until the car was completely gone.
Then he slowly turned back toward the house.
His eyes now carried something different.
Not just grief.
Determination.
Because somewhere behind Jenifer's death… a dark truth was hiding.
And Johan had decided that he would find it.
Night slowly settled over the house.
After a long and emotionally exhausting day, everyone had finished their dinner and quietly returned to their rooms. The house was calm again, but the silence still carried the weight of recent sorrow.
Inside Maria's room, Cathy was helping her clean and arrange a few things. She folded some clothes neatly while Maria placed a few books back on the shelf.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Maria suddenly looked at Cathy with a small, curious smile.
"Cathy… can I ask you something?"
Cathy turned toward her. "Of course."
Maria hesitated slightly before asking,
"Do you like Johan?"
Cathy blinked in surprise.
"Why are you asking me that?" she asked, a little embarrassed.
Maria smiled gently.
"I noticed something," she said softly. "You stayed close to him these past few days… supporting him when he lost his sister. The way you comfort him… it feels more than just friendship."
Cathy lowered her eyes for a moment, shyly playing with the edge of a cloth in her hand.
Then she gave a quiet smile.
"Yes… it's true," she admitted softly. "At first, it was just a small crush. I didn't even take it seriously."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"But now… after everything that happened… it's different. I think… it has become real love."
Maria's face brightened with happiness.
"I'm really glad to hear that," she said warmly.
She gently held Cathy's hand.
"You are exactly the kind of person Johan needs right now. He's going through the hardest time of his life."
Maria smiled encouragingly.
"Go to his room. Talk with him. Give him hope… remind him that he's not alone."
Cathy nodded slowly.
"Okay… I'll go."
She took a deep breath and quietly left Maria's room.
The hallway was dimly lit as Cathy walked toward Johan's room. She gently knocked on the door before opening it slightly.
Johan was sitting near the window.
But he didn't seem to notice her.
He was staring into the darkness outside, completely lost in deep thought.
"Johan?" Cathy called softly.
There was no response.
He was still staring outside, his mind far away from the room.
Cathy slowly walked closer.
"Johan…"
Still no reaction.
She gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
Johan suddenly startled and turned around quickly.
"Oh—Cathy," he said, surprised.
He immediately adjusted himself and gestured for her to sit beside him.
"Sorry… I didn't notice you."
Cathy sat next to him.
"I could see that," she said with a soft smile. "You were thinking very deeply."
Johan sighed quietly.
Cathy spoke gently, her voice filled with kindness.
"You shouldn't keep everything inside your heart, Johan. Losing Jenifer was painful for all of us… but she wouldn't want to see you drowning in sadness."
Johan looked down for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
"You're right," he said softly. "Thank you… for being there."
They spoke for a few more minutes about small things — memories, feelings, and the slow healing everyone was going through.
But suddenly Johan's expression became serious again.
He turned toward Cathy.
"Cathy… can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she replied.
Johan hesitated slightly before speaking.
"How did Maria's boyfriend die?"
Cathy looked confused.
"Why are you asking that?"
Johan leaned forward slightly, his voice quiet but serious.
"Because something about all of this doesn't feel right."
He slowly explained everything that had been troubling his mind.
The strange behavior of Silane that day.
The mysterious events surrounding Nick's death.
The sudden and unexplained death of Jenifer.
"And the doctors said it was cardiac arrest," Johan said quietly. "But my heart refuses to believe it."
Cathy listened carefully.
"I feel like these things are connected somehow," he continued. "Like there's something hidden behind all of this… something we're not seeing yet."
Cathy slowly began to understand what he meant.
For a moment, she remained silent.
Then she looked at him seriously.
"You deserve to know the truth," she said quietly.
Johan looked at her with curiosity.
Cathy took a deep breath.
"Nick and Maria's story… it didn't end the way people think it did."
Johan leaned slightly forward.
"What do you mean?"
Cathy's voice became softer… almost cautious.
"There are things about Nick's death… that very few people know."
The room suddenly felt heavier.
Outside the window, the wind moved through the trees, creating a faint whispering sound in the darkness.
Cathy slowly began to speak.
"It all started on a night… very similar to this one…"
Johan's eyes widened slightly.
And as Cathy prepared to reveal the hidden story behind Nick and Maria…
the dark truth of the past slowly began to rise again.
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