The sun soaked the courtyard on a hot sunny afternoon. Micheal and his younger sister could be heard laughing in the garden. Michael and Mira, raced around the garden. Their footsteps on the stone pavement, giggles and laughter could be heard around the mansion and beyond. As they engaged in a heated game of tag, not even the hot sun that made them soak with sweat could stop them.
"Tag, you're it!" Mira giggled, as she tapped her brother's shoulder, trying hard not to burst into laughter. But Michael remained frozen on his spot. His body stiffened, his eyes fixed on the thick hedges that lined the outer wall. He just saw something—no, someone—move.
Panic gripped his heart. Fear overtook him. They had come.
Michael tried to breathe as the realization sunk in. He couldn't move or say a word. He just kept thinking to himself. He only tried to do the right thing. He had discovered a drug cartel operating in his school—hidden behind the doors of the chemistry lab after school hours, selling drugs and illegal things to underage students. He threatened to report them and warned them against what they were doing. Hoping they would have a rethink and desist from dealing hard drugs at their age but they found him.
And worse, Mira was in danger.
Among the rustling bushes, you could see a young boy. He was around the same age as much older than Micheal, around seventeen. He tried to look tough but his hands were trembling as he clutched pistol. He wasn't alone. He was with guy much older than him all looking tough and rough. They encouraged him to pull the trigger.
Micheal could see him clearly. They locked eyes but the weapon still pointed straight at him. Micheal could see his hesitation and he begged him silently with his eyes not to pull the trigger but he looked determined. His deadly intent was unmistakable.
Mira, oblivious of the lurking danger, tugged at Michael's sleeve. "Come on, silly! You're supposed to chase me!".
What happened next was unexpected. He had pulled the trigger and Micheal had to do something or his sister would be dead. They came for him not for his sister so his instincts kicked in.
Michael spun around, grabbed Mira by her shoulders and pushed her toward the curb with all his strength. She flew to the side, crashing into the ground. And then he felt it. The bullet had pierced through Michael's chest.
He clutched his chest tightly as he fell to his knees. His breath was starting to leave him.
"Get inside and shut the doors...look for help" He said with all the strength he had.
Mira hit her head on the curb as she felland everything went hazy. Her ears were ringing from the gunshot, her vision blurred. She tried to focus her gaze as she blinked rapidly, trying to understand what just happened.
"M-Michael?" she called, her voice barely audible.
"Micheal!" She screamed. Hoping for a response but Micheal was loosing blood fast.
"Bang!" "Bang!" Another shot rang out. And another.
Michael fell to the ground as he died.
"No!" Mira screamed, her voice broke as cried uncontrollably. She crawled to his side, ignoring the pain in her head. She didn't mind that his blood stained her dress. Her hands was filled with blood as she held him tightly. "Michael, please stay awake. Please don't leave me!"
But he was dying and there was nothing she could do. "Help" she screamed. "Somebody help" but no one answered. They were all alone in the house—or so she thought.
She looked up as she heard some sounds. Behind the bushes, the assailants fled. One of them looked back with regret, but none stopped. She could only watch as they ran for their dear lives, disappearing within a minute.
Mira held onto Michael's lifeless body, crying uncontrollably. Her hair was matted with blood, her face pale, stained with tears and blood. She screamed, but only her voice echoed back. The garden that was once filled with laughter was suddenly dark and gloomy. She wished he didn't die. She wished the bullet hit her instead. Her brother was her only friend, her best friend even. She swore to avenge his death. She was only fifteen but as she wept on her brother's lifeless body you could see then pain in her eyes—and something else. Vengeance.
---
Hours passed. Mirabel had passed out on her lifeless brother.
Sirens could be heard in the distance, and soon the scene was flooded with red and blue lights. Her parents came rushing through the gates, visibly panicked and worried.
"My goodness, Mirabel, are you alright?" her mother cried, running to her side and pulling her away from her dead brother.
Mira clung to Michael's hand. "He… he pushed me away… He took the bullet... and now—now he's not waking up…"
"Shhh, it's okay, my sweet darling," her mother whispered through tears. Crying silently she tried to comfort her daughter but nothing was working.
The medics arrived, gently lifting Michael's body away. Mira screamed, trying to hold on.
"Don't take him! Please, I want to go with him!"
"You need to go to the hospital," her father said as he scooped her into his arms. His hands trembled but he held her tightly as if he could shield her from the pain.
"Where's Michael? Is he going to be alright?" she asked again.
"Bella, don't talk. Just let us take care of you," he replied softly.
She nodded faintly, her face buried in his chest. "You're all I have now, Dad. Please don't let them take you away from me too... like they took Michael."
He held her tighter, but said nothing.
What none of them knew was that fate wasn't done yet.
---
A month later.
"Mira, we need to leave," her mother's voice was tight and urgent, as she pulled back the curtains and gently shook her daughter awake.
Mira blinked groggily. "What? Why?"
Her mother's eyes were red and swollen, she looked like she had been crying so Mirabel knew that something was wrong.
"What"s wrong Mom? Where's Dad?" Mira asked, sitting up fully awake now.
Her mother paused for a moment as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry mira"
"Mom what's wrong?" Mirabel asked again, getting worried"
"Your dad is... gone. The helicopter caught fire."
Time froze.
Mirabel thought it was funny but decided against it. "Mom!, that's not funny."
"It's not a joke, sweetheart," her mother said quietly. She turned on the TV. The screen showed black smoke in the sky. It showed the helicopter catching fire. The news anchor reported that the owner of Maxwell group of companies had just been reported dead. They discussed the explosion and fire. They concluded that it isn't natural. That the helicopter had been bombed.
Mira stared at the screen. She sat still and watched. Showing no emotions. It wasn't that she felt nothing. She just didn't know how to react.
"Mom who is doing this? Why are they doing this to us?" She said as she broke down. Her mother wrapped her arms around her, as the two sat in silence. The air was thick and their sons were muffled. The two grieved silently.
---
Two days later, Mira stood beside her father's grave, dropping white lilies over the fresh soil. Her eyes were dry, but her heart was heavy. She felt like she had lost it all. First her brother then her father. The two most important people in her life. Not that she didn't love her mother—she did. She just never imagined life without these two men there to guide her and cheer her on.
"I swear to you," she whispered to herself as if her father and brothers could hear her, "I will find whoever is behind this. I will make them pay."
---
One week passed.
Mira sat quietly at the breakfast table when her mother approached her with a suitcase.
"We're leaving today. Everything is packed."
"What? Where are we going?"
"New York. Your father left it in his will. I'm taking over the company's headquarters. It's the safest option now."
"I don't want to leave," Mira said, shaking her head. "This is my home. Dad and Michael are buried here. How can you just walk away like that? I thought you loved them."
Her mother knelt beside her, tears glistening in her eyes. "I love them more than anything. That's why we have to go. This city is not safe anymore. Whoever is behind this… they're still watching us. They've taken too much already. Your father wants you to be safe. I want that too."
Mira looked away, jaw clenched. "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"No," her mother whispered with a bitter smile. "You don't. I'm sorry, my love."
Mira stood slowly and grabbed her backpack. "It's fine, Mom. Let's do this."
She didn't cry as they drove to the airport. She didn't speak much either. The city blurred outside her window as the car sped through the streets she had once called home. Her childhood memories, her laughter, her losses, everything. She had to leave them behind.
As the plane took off, Mira stared out at the clouds. They left for a fresh start, but she wasn't done grieving. She still felt the pain. Every bit of it. And she didn't forget her promise.