Grounded
CHAPTER 12

The sun was blazing hot, yet the skies looked like they were threatening to pour down rain. The city was quiet as usual; the traffic jam was unusual, as the streets were filled with sorrowful people peacefully protesting the continuous deaths of young women in every corner of the city. Various banners and placards were raised in respect of the protestation; some of the banners displayed the pictures of some of the young women who were victims of the homicide. The people were angry, they needed the killer to be brought to book. Some women and teenagers were weeping as they carried on the peaceful protest; animals were not left out as a number of people came along with their pets. "What's going on out there?" Gina asked as she entered into the house, prominent bags under her eyes.

"The people are protesting." Her mother answered absent mindedly focusing on the television.

Gina looked at the television, all the headlines were based on missing women, deaths and the challenge of replaceing the homicidal killer. She looked on as she saw Monte in an interview promising to bring the reign of the killer to an end. She hissed softly and walked towards her room.

"Hey Gina, you are back late today." Galena said carrying a jug containing milk to the dining table.

"You don't even know my work schedule. You are married, stop acting like you live here and go back to your husband." She replied.

"Well, I'm here because I want us to talk as a family." Galena said as she poured some milk into a glass cup and handed the cup to Andrew who was sitting at the far end of the dining table.

"About what?" Gina asked rolling her eyes tiredly.

"Andrew; Galena stated, "do take a seat. Do you care for a cup of milk?" Galena asked nicely filling another cup.

"No, thank you." Gina replied and then sneezed loudly.

"Here you go." Galena said handing her the cup full of milk.

"I said I wasn't going to have milk." Gina replied getting irritated.

Galena set the glass of milk gently on the table before Gina and then took a seat. She looked over to see their mother's eyes still glued to the television, then she turned her attention to Andrew and Gina. "You wanted to talk about Andrew." Gina said in a dire desire to stand up and leave.

"Do we keep him at home or take him to the asylum." Galena asked.

"Do whatever you want, I don't really care." She said finally taking up the glass of milk to her lips for a sip and then giving Andrew a cold stare.

"Is this about your car?" Galena asked with a smirk.

"It is about everyone; I just came home for Christ sakes; I've been up all night working at the bar and then you keep me here to ask me where I would prefer to keep Andrew. I can't believe you all; no one even said anything about my car, but you call a meeting because you're worried about where he should stay. What is wrong with all of you?" she asked angrily.

"Do we keep him at home or take him to the mental asylum?" Galena asked again ignoring Gina's outpour.

"We're keeping him." Gina said trying to be calm.

"I don't think that is a good idea." Galena added.

"Then do what you want to do; I'm tired and not even ready for all this talk." She replied in disgust.

"If you had kept your banking job, you would have had a normal day job like everyone else and you wouldn't have to be so tired." Galena blurted raising her voice.

Gina banged the table with both hands and rose to her feet in anger, she could feel her blood boil on the inside, she loathed every moment she had to spend in the house with her mother. It was a bigger problem whenever Galena came by. "I am the eldest and you will speak to me in a manner that befits that position henceforth. Andrew stays in this house; he remains here until he replaces my car. You all can bury him alive if you want too afterwards." She said firmly to everyone's chagrin and left for her room.

As her body hit the hard bed, she tried to sleep but a lot of thoughts kept swimming in her mind. She listened as the people wails filtered through her window and into her ear drums. She felt a deep emptiness within her, no one knew that she loved her family and was working hard to keep them happy and alive. She thought of Craig and how easy it was for her to move on; she missed him, no doubts but she could not go back to him. He was too much negativity, she needed to draw strength and he lacked it. This was no longer her problem, there were bigger things like a man who was monstrous enough at heart to continuously kill young, innocent women. It beat her imagination that things like that should happen. She took a deep breath and turned to check her beeping phone. It was a text from Cassidy, he wanted to know if she was free to hang out with him. She smiled at the thought of it and replied in the affirmative. In a few seconds, another message came in; "Then come on out." It read. She laughed and jumped off her bed, rearranging her hair with her hand and spraying her perfume all over her body. She coughed lightly as some of the perfume got into her nose. She grabbed her phone and dashed out ignoring the questioning look on everyone's faces as she breezed past the sitting room.

"Hey." She said softly to him as she entered into the car.

He smiled at her without saying a word and began to drive down the road.

"At least tell me where we are going to." She said again enjoying the tease. "Patience is a virtue." He told her as he stepped harder on the accelerator.

She stared at him intently as he focused on the road, his well chiseled jaw was the most prominent thing about his face. She liked his thin lips and muscular body; she was attracted to the mystery that surrounded him. He was expressionless and speechless most of the times, she believed he was a gentleman too; at least he behaved more gentlemanly in comparison to Craig.

"Stop staring; he said softly, his eyes still affixed on the road; "you are distracting me." He stated without looking in her direction.

She grinned broadly and looked out the window unto the small city whose roads where still filled with people protesting, angered, seeking vengeance. She remembered her home, her mother whom she disliked, her brother whom she felt pity for and her sister whom she envied. She let her mind remember that Lydia was still missing and that she had a son who was going to become an orphan if she was never found. She thought of her life, her previous relationship with Craig and all the bad decisions she made in her life and for the first time, she didn't feel hurt, vengeful and broken. She felt refreshed beside Cassidy; he made her feel whole, complete, and untouchable. Even with the distance between their bodies, he could touch her soul, soothe her ever troubled heart and like a baby at its mother's breast, she fell asleep leaving behind her troubles for a moment and wearing a happy face.