Flip Chart : Chapter Ten

Strangely the trip seems to be too fast then Ezekiel could ever imagine. Eva's car drove straight into the front compound of the school and park her vehicle at one of the empty parking lot there. Ezekiel was silence throughout their journey....as he had his attention mainly focus towards Oasis, while he held on to it's bowl, as close towards his chest as possible. Eva step out from her vehicle without even uttering any words towards Ezekiel....and from her stern look on her face...the sign was clear cut...don't mention any word of protest or unpleased about this whole matter. And sadly, from Ezekiel perspective, it seems that his mum just, can't wait to pack him off to this grey, grim and stony looking school.

"Hey, come on out. And stop staring at that thing!" retort Eva, as she place her shades over her eyes.

Ezekiel, carefully held on to Oasis's bowl while he carried his bag pack over his shoulder as he stepped out from the car. "Where's Riley?" asked Ezekiel as that sudden thought of his new friend came into his mind.

"Just don't bother about him." snapped his mum without looking into his eyes. Ezekiel could sense, there's trouble between them again. Ezekiel shuts his eyes as he bit his lower lips....he was upset with his mum and adding to his displeasure almost about everything. In the very beginning of it all, she was the one who was so keen on taking him away from his grandma's care, but now it seems to be the otherwise.

After few discussion has been made between his mum and the school administrator....Ezekiel was taken to his dormitory. Still with his bag pack over his shoulder and Oasis's bowl in his hands, he followed the gentlemen who was the chief administrator towards the stairways that had lead him to the third floor....and his dome was situated right at the corner of the another stairway. "Just like being in a movie of beautiful mind, except my mind is not that pretty at all." thought Ezekiel to himself with a sigh.

"All right sir, this is your room. I believe your room mate was having his extra classes now..but he will be back in an hour or two. Shall I leave both of you here?" he asked as he stared at both Ezekiel and Eva, but his eyes seems to be more fixed on his mum's assets.

"We will be just fine. Thank you so much sir, we really appreciate your warm welcome." said Eva with a distinctive smile of some sort of pure seduction....thought Ezekiel to himself, or maybe he was just being too sensitive and emotional about this whole thing.

"Ezekiel, I hope you do understand, why I'm doing this....it is for your future. Even though English Literature is not my thing.....cause I had preferred you to be a doctor or a accountant...but seems this subject is the only thing that had interest you, so I guess....I have no other choice but to accept your request. " cried Eva.

"You are not sincere with your words mum.....and I believe the reason for you to be putting me off in this place...is more than meets the eye." exclaimed Ezekiel.

"I have no time to have this silly little arguments with you. I've got to go. Come back only during your semester holidays cause I ....can't afford to waste a single cent on you....if you decides to play hide and seek with me." snapped Eva....before she took her handbag and leave.

Ezekiel frowns, as he watches his mum step out from his room and left, without even a simple embrace, a kiss or just a wave of goodbye. Placing his bag on the untouched bed where the white bed sheet was neatly iron and starched...and then he place Oasis's bowl by the side table, which was place right beside his bed. "Here we go again Oasis, a new place for us to get by. I hope this will work out fine for the both of us." said Ezekiel, as he gently pet Oasis's soft wrinkle head. And then he walk towards the window and withdraw the blinders to catch the outside scenery of his new temp lair. From Ezekiel's point of view, surprisingly...he found it as breathtaking....cause it faces the wide open field...and it seems endless, without any path or any...define road that link to the other part of the school....but there were wooden fences enclosing the field. "Isn't it such an irony, to be able to run freely and wildly upon this open field....but in the end, we are still trap within it's fences?" said Ezekiel sadly. Ezekiel roll back the blinder and then he sat on his bed and took the documents which has been given to him.....as he check for his class which will begins in an hours time. Suddenly, the thought of Yasmeen came into his mind. "I wonder, how is she doing right now?" thought Ezekiel to himself with a smile. Ezekiel place back his documents by the bedside as he stood up and phase around the room....checking on the other portion of the room which seems to belong to his room mate. He saw few photographs which has been neatly thumb tack against the wooden board. Mostly family pictures....during Eid, birthday parties....happy bunch of people. Ezekiel tries to figure out which head belongs to his room mate....! From the picture and the sites which was taken, Ezekiel could sense this new room mate of his was not a local boy....he must be from a foreign land, somewhere in Afghan or Pakistan.

"Salam, Ezekiel right?" cried a voice.

"Wa'alaikum salam." replies Ezekiel as he unconsciously took few steps away from his room mate area. "I'm sorry...for intruding your turf." continue Ezekiel again with a smile.

"It's okay. My name is Saif Abdullah...but you can call me Saif." utters Saif as he held out his hand....with Ezekiel welcoming that hand shake warmly.

"Nice family pics you have got there." commented Ezekiel.

"Thanks....! Only, all of them were gone." said Saif as he sat on his bed and pull out his socks.

"Gone?" asked Ezekiel in wonder.                     

"Terrorist attack...Lahore, just few months ago." replied Saif in monotone voice. Ezekiel was shocked and stunned by that remarks as he had his eyes and mouth wide open....not being able to utter any words or make any gesture and movement....he felt numb and stupid. Saif place his hands on Ezekiel's shoulder before he took his towel and headed towards the shower room which was few rooms away from theirs.

"Lahore...he's from Pakistan." thought Ezekiel to himself as he came closer towards Saif photos collection and stood...staring hard on every single one of them. From their beautiful faces, they were clearly stated, this family was filled with so much love and laughter.....happiness and unimaginable bond....but all was dashed in just one single day.....one horrific single act....an act of terrorism...that had crushes their hopes, dreams and future. "Saif is far worst off than me....I still got my mum, Riley and Oasis." Ezekiel words begins lingering in his thoughts again as he shrugged his shoulder.

"Can't get yourself away from there?" called out Saif as he dries his dark urban brown hair with his towel. He had only his singlet with his cream khaki pants on. Ezekiel get his eyes away from those photos as he had his attention on Saif instead. Saif was tall and lanky and was blessed with a tan complexion ...his dark brown eyes seems to match with the colour of his hair and brows. Ezekiel was simply amazed by his intense matured look, despite of his age...probably just seventeen just like himself.

"That's my kid sister Sharifah....she's barely four and here is my younger brother Sameer, almost ten...but they both had met the Lord." utters Saif as he came closer towards the photos and stood by Ezekiel with his arms cross against his chest. Ezekiel catch some darkness and intensity from his eyes.....well he can't blame him to feel that way.

"You came from the States?" asked Saif as he walks towards his closet and took a dark navy blue t-shirt and put it on.

"No...not really, I'm from Indonesia." replied Ezekiel shortly.

"I see....but you don't look like an Asian at all. You look more like an Arab or a Caucasian." express Saif with interest.

"Got this skin from my mum...but inherit the look from my dad." response Ezekiel with a smile.

"Your dad must be one good looking dude man." said Saif with a grin.

"Yeah, he was." utters Ezekiel. "Oh! Damn it." those words continue in his thoughts.

"He was? You mean...his gone, dead?" asked Saif curiously.

"Yup, two years ago....car accident." lies Ezekiel, and how he hated himself.

"I'm sorry." said Saif grimly.

"Hey, it's okay." utters Ezekiel. "I guess, it time for my class now. Nice meeting you Saif...see you again later then." trails Ezekiel as he took few of his books which he needed for his lessons before he leaves the room. Still with the document in his hands...as he looks at the current location he was situated right now. Pushing his new Clark Kent glasses further up towards the upper bridge of his nose....he took one deep breath as he turns to the stairways and walk down towards the other side of the dormitory which will link him to some other part of the department and the class rooms. Turning back on the first page, it seems his first lesson will be held at the lecture hall. Upon entering the hall, it seems he was the one of the few bunch of students who really taking this reading lessons seriously...a contrast from the attendance list which he was reading through right now. Bracing his spirit up, he went ahead towards the far end corner of a seat and decides to dominate his presence there. No one seems to be paying attention to him..and he feels glad about it. And soon came in his lecturer...a small petite size middle age man...with his shiny grayish hair was neatly back comb. He was wearing a nice smart looking dark brown suit complete with a bow and cuff lings been neatly attached at the end of his coat sleeves. From his corner spot, Ezekiel had his eyes focus on his new lecturer with interest.

"Is this all that we've got for today?" asked the lecturer as he look up towards the hall which consists of just a handfull of students....head count seven in total, and from Ezekiel's list, there were suppose to be twenty. "Well, it's their lost!" exclaimed the lecturer with a grinned. " We have a new friend here...so let us welcome him..Ezekiel Bukhari." continue the lecturer with a small clapped follow by the rest of the class. "My name is Shahib Ismael...but you can call be Shahib. Being here in my class, I promised you, it's going to be fun learning with lots of sharing and gaining. God's Willing." said the lecturer as he look straight into Ezekiel's eyes with a smile.

Ezekiel stood up from his seat and decides to introduce himself to the rest of the class. "Good morning, my name is Ezekiel Bukhari...please call me Eze. I have always been facinated with writting and reading classical novels and books." begins Ezekiel as he tries to sound compose despite he knew his knees were shaking....when the rest seven pairs of eyes including Mr Shahib were staring anticipating at him. "Well, I'm sure this going to be a fun class with lots of gaining and sharing." continues Ezekiel and he knew he sounds stupid.

"Thank you Eze. Okay let's get started with our lessons shall we." begins Mr Shahib as he turns on the first few page of a classic book of the Seal Landers.


"Why was love could only be taste, after you've gone. This heart ache....yearning for that potent.....to vanquish this hollow gap of uncomplete puzzle. Still trap in a maze of doubt...when you signify your pure love to me.....but at last this heart was too blind to see the real colours of your devotion.Only to regain back it sight...as you close the chapters of your life. Wow, powerful words here Eze. Your assignment?" asked Saif as he read few of Ezekiel's notes which was flung all over his bed.

"Yeah, cranking my head now..to cough out more poetic words." exclaimed Ezekiel as he flip through few of his other notes which has been given to him by Mr Shahib.

"Well, this is good enough..I'm sure that Shahib dude will fall for this." cried Saif as he shakes Ezekiel's notes right infront of his face.

"Thanks brother...but I've decide to keep that for my own keep sake." replied Ezekiel with a grin as he gently took his notes away from Saif's fingers.

"Huh?" response Saif as he felt lost but in the end he continues. "All right, my friend..I shall respect your desicion then."

"Thank you." replied Ezekiel and soon he realised been here is not too bad after all.

"Quenching this thirst....to the pitcher I've called. Yearning for your sweetness, on my knees I fall. Awaken by the taste....the lightness of your love. Taken by grace....awaiting for more. Entwine by hopes.....with dreams to form. Diminished my fray...to thee...I sought." whispered Sephira as she gently glides her hand upon the fresh water lake which seems to dwell from river by the side of the mountain. "Does it kills to feel like this Luth?" thought Sephira to herself with tears in her eyes. Looking upon the rays of clouds above the sky....with heart leaping with sorrow...cause it dwells nothing but emptiness. Holding Luth's sword close upon her chest..with a thought of fleeing....but where....where can she ran to? Is there any final destination that had been laid upon her? Been kept as a captive by The Beast...in a meants of protecting her, as what that lady had claimed.....but at what cause her freedom. Sephira stood up and brush off the dried sand that had stick on the back of her garment. As she turn, she saw The Beast was there looking straight into her sorrowful eyes. Sephira walk pass him....and The Beast could feel the pain and anger been deeply contain in her heart. The Beast makes a gentle growl as he sat on the stone..hoping that Sephira won't walk away. Sephira had her eyes on The Beast pathetic looking eyes and feeling the guilt now..she sat by his side with Luth's sword still in her hands.

"He had taken my eyes, when the first time I saw him. And the irony of our love, he was my captive....my prisoner...on whom I was in charged by Dhaleya to slain." begins Sephira as she clench her fists tighter towards the sword. "He was one of the rebels soldiers that we trapped within the depth of the other side of this forest. Never notice him at first, but thanks to that pitcher of water...." trails Sephira as her eyes lightened up with a wondrous stare.


"Hey, lady...look, there's a hole." cried Luth in the midst of the other prisoners...his comrades which has been caught and restrained by Sephira and her very own band of soldiers.

"Who had spoken?" asked Sephira as, she tried to retreat that voice cranking her neck...with her dark eyes stared harshly towards the bunch of her preys waiting to be slayed.

"Your heart must be made of stone..how come the wetness of that liquid drenching the side of your pants and you simply can't feel it?" said that voice again and like a swift eye of a hawk, Sephira caught his bright looking eyes adding to that alluring charmness was his amusing smile.

Sephira held the pitcher of water which she had securely tied around her waist...and true enough, there was a hole..and her drink was almost empty. "You think I can't survive without this..you mortal!" retort Sephira with an intense glare.

"I know....but you will perish...with the lightness of love in your heart." utters her prey again. Sephira unconsciously took few steps back....away from him...as though her heart..her soul has been pierce by the sword of his words. Her prisoner, with his beautiful bright eyes still looking at her, with his captivating smile.

"Don't you dare, speak to me that way again." snapped Sephira.


"That's how it all begins...." trails Sephira as she set her mind and heart back into her present world...the world that was left with nothing but total despair and darkness. The Beast hung his head low...as he was immersing with Sephira's lost and the burning hollowness that she must have felt.

"He had warned me eventually..about my ill fate..about the envy and jealousy of my own kind, but I was to arrogant..to accept his colourless statement." utters Sephira looking remorsefully regret with her past mistakes. "The route which we took around the corner of the cliff by the edge of the waterfall....it was a sheer stupidity which had overcome me. I was given another route by Dhaleya, but it seems the rest of my other sisters, think the otherwise and they were very persistent on taking that dangerous route."

"Please, you have got to listen to me...they are here to hurt you..and not forgetting my life..and the rest of my comrades souls...as they all depends on my throat!" whispered Luth towards Sephira..as she tries to ignore his pleas while..securing his chains around his hands. "

"All right, all done!" exclaimed Sephira as she hoist her sword above her head as a sign of moving ahead towards the edge of the cliff. Sephira carefully took her steps along the slippery stone, followed by Luth who was behind her and so are the rest of her captives. However her inner voice seems to be speaking in her mind right now. "What if he's right? My weakness is water...I'm powerless by it." cried her unspoken instinct.

Still cautiously, taking their steps by the rocks..as the water fall begins to gush it's powerful element of the pulling gravity...down below, where lies the deep dark lake. Sephira begins to feel fretful about this whole situation...cause her captives lives were in her hands....despite she knew, they will be executed but an execution without a trial, that will be injustice. Sephira, being Dhaleya's favourite companion...will always seems to abide by her request and her judgement. No rebellions or any of her captives will be deal or punish, without been given a fair trial...due to Sephira's humble request. Luth caught that anguish and restless look in her eyes. Few feet away from the other side of the cliff, Sephira realised her other sisters were not following her from behind...as she and her captives were stranded by the wet, slippery cliff..followed by the harsh..gushing flow of the water fall. Being powerless and in a moment of fear, suddenly....she saw a massive fireball been thrown directly towards them. Feeling helpless...she knew, she will be powerless if she feel into that dark cold water way down below. In a split second the murky rocks above them begins to give way..breaking into pieces...hitting and hurting them. Luth struggles in the midst of the whole chaotic situation, however he managed to grasp a protruding vine roots that was sticking out on one side of the rock with his left arm....while his right hand, he held on to Sephira's water pitcher which was still securely tied around her waist. It seems her life was dangling by a tread....for on her part, she used her telekinetic powers to hold on to the rest of her seven other captives as they were screaming in fear and terror. Looking intensely towards her other sisters who were on the other side of the ground....her heart was filled with so much rage, betrayed and sadness. "How could they do this to me?" thought Sephira to herself in remorsefully. And from their eyes..she have seen it all....jealousy, anger and hatred. Without any sense of mercy or sympathy...they laughed at her mockingly before one of them threw another blow of fire ball and left. The cliff begins to treamor further..causing Luth to almost lost both his grips onto the vine and Sephira's water pitcher. Sephira brokes into cold sweat as she begins to feel the preasurre in her veins...as the gravity was pulling her along too. Sephira begins to lose her focus as tow of her captives falls tragically down below towards the cold pit...hitting few of the rocks...killing them in an instant. Sephira'e eyes tears up as she fought hard within her own self...as she attempt to hold on to the other five men. Watching their terror eyes is simply killing her soul.....she force her power with all her might as she tries to transport them back towards the ground safely...but the gushing flow of the strong water fall...had dampened her effort...her veins seems to be crying out loud in pain....until her nose bleed.

"No!" she whispered to herself as each and everyone of them begins to slip away from her power. "No!" at last she screamed....losing seven men...seven souls due to her weakness...her incapability..her ego for not listening to Luth...it is all her fault.

Luth felt helpless..seeing all his companions...his soldiers fell and perish....almost losing his own grip by the protruding root when suddenly he realised he still had another life in his hands. It was Sephira's. Sephira begins to feel some kind of spinning sensation in her head....her breathing becomes heavy...and she knew, she's falling too. With all his might, Luth grab her water pitcher as he brings her closer towards him. "Lady, hold on to me." cried Luth as he look straight into her blurring sight. Sephira, bring her arms and held them around his waist as Luth place a foot upon the gap of the clif and carefully, begins climbing balancing himself with Sephira on his back." Yasmeen place a book mark onto her last reading page. Looking out of her window, she could felt the morning rays will soon be replace by the afternnon light. It has been almost a week now, however she has not received Ezekiel's phonecalls or any messages from her inbox. She miss him, can't deny the fact that she still in love with him. It just kills her each time when she immersed herself with that novel...but at the same time it was like a magical portion that seems to bring some sense of closeness towards him. Pushing her hair behind her ears, Yasmeen hopped off from her bed and headed towards the door...as she decides to prepare for lunch...fish and chips...that goes along well with a diet coke...Ezekiel's favourite.

Owl City - Vanilla Twilight

Perfect - Hedley (lyrics!)

Flip Chart : Chapter Nine

Riley had make his way towards the front porch, followed by Ezekiel behind his back. However, Riley was caught in surprised for the car that had approached and makes itself comfy by the front porch of Riley’s property, was not Eva’s. Riley tries to get a closer look at the driver…but what stunned him more was that lady by his side…..she was Eva. Riley stared hard towards them however he carefully makes himself out of seen from both of them. Ezekiel keeps himself few feet away from Riley…as he could perceive another brawl is brewing up. Riley decides to let it go at first, as he realized there was nothing unusual between them…however, things was not on his fair side….when that man had eventually plant a kiss on Eva’s left cheek. Riley looks away, in disbelief and from the side of his intense look, Ezekiel knew….he was fuming with jealousy and rage

Right after Eva had stepped out from that vehicle, Riley remains numb with his fist clenched tightly by his side. Soon, the car had left their front porch and that’s where Riley begins to interrogate his wife….making Ezekiel feel uneasy and quiver about this whole incident.

“What happen to your car?” question Riley.

“It stall halfway though my journey. Thankfully Lance was around to drive me home.” replied Eva casually.

“A perk on your face….is that necessary ?” asked Riley cynically.

“Oh! Come on Riley……stopped being a child. That perk is harmless.” exclaimed Eva with annoyance in her tone.

“No matter what…..I’m still your husband! Let me remind you in case you have forgotten.” snapped Riley.

“For goodness sake Riley…then act like one! Don’t make a fuss over nothing.” cried Eva as she pushed herself away from Riley’s grip. Riley almost looses his composure, when suddenly his eyes caught Ezekiel’s fearful stare. Riley released Eva's arm and let her enter into their home...while Ezekiel still standing just by the palm potted plant, looking stunned with teary eyes seeing all this happening right in front of his eyes.

"Eze, come on in....it's getting cold out there." utters Riley soothingly, as he tries not to make Ezekiel feels uneasy about the little argument which he had with Ezekiel's mum.

Been back in his room, Ezekiel knew...it just doesn't end there, the argument still carries on.....until he heard a loud slammed of a door and a car engine starting up. Ezekiel, ran over towards his window..as he peeps behind the thick Victorian curtain to catch a glimpse of the runaway car...and he had guess it right...Riley has left...not knowing to which bends of road he might be heading next. Oh! How he hated his mum! Slamming back onto his bed, with sore in his eyes due to the crying which he had force himself not to...Ezekiel struggles to shut his eyes to sleep. “Have I make the right choice of coming here…or was it a mistake that might drop me off the cliff?” thought Ezekiel to himself….before finally he managed to doze off till the quarter rest of the night.


The loud endless knocking of the door had almost makes Ezekiel jump out from his skin, as he woke up in a startle manner. With annoyance in his guts, he was left with no other choice, as he put on his t-shirt and run his fingers into his scuffle mass of hair….with his eyes hardly open. He stretch himself before he got off from his bed. With a final yawn, he managed to walk towards the door…to welcome the culprit who had intrude the rhythm of his sleeping pattern.

“Riley?!” cried Ezekiel astonished when the first thought that he had in his mind…..banging onto his room door like that is his mum.

“Surprised? Goodness me….it’s almost eleven…and you are still in your slumber land?” asked Riley wryly with a grin.

“Thanks to you guys….I had hardly any sleep.” retort Ezekiel, as he went back inside his room to grab his towel and his new pair of fresh clothes. Riley follow behind him and as usual, he will stood by the side table where Oasis’s bowl was place and with his dreamy eyes, he will stare at Oasis with interest.

“How old is your turtle?” asked Riley curiously as he dug his fingers into the bowl and gently begins petting Oasis smooth lime green shell. Oasis was not used of being touch or cuddle by strangers, therefore his natural reaction was to stow inside his shell.

“Twenty eight!” replied Ezekiel with a grinned.

“My age?” asked Riley as he had his sight glued on towards Oasis with amazement.

“No silly….he’s forty. My grandpa had him even before I was born. I guess when my dad was only two years of age.” said Ezekiel with a genuine smile.

“Wow! He must have meant so much to you.” utters Riley as he continue to pet Oasis on his tiny head…as Oasis begins to get used to Riley’s friendly gesture.

“A precious keepsake of my late grandma which has been pass down to her by my late grandpa of course…therefore now I feel that Oasis is my new responsibility….a duty which I had set myself not to forsake. “ said Ezekiel as he shrugged his shoulder.

“Good luck!” cried Riley amusingly.

“Yeah! Thanks buddy…..I really need that!” chuckles Ezekiel.

“Oh! I’m saying good luck to your turtle.” said Riley with a grinned.

“Ho! Ho! That hurts!” utters Ezekiel with a frown. However deep inside his mind, Ezekiel knew….he had found his new source of delightfulness and enlightenment….from Riley’s warm and outgoing attitude.

“Look, Beast or whatever thing you are, I know you do meant well of saving me from that witch but I had almost got her throat.” snapped Sapphire as she struggles to stand in the midst of the thick dried leaves where the Beast had thrown her onto. The Beast makes a tiny growling sound that seems to come out in between his tongue and throat as he nods his head several times. “I wished, I could figure out what you had meant to say….but I don’t speak monster language.” retort Sephira with annoyance.” snapped Sephira as she struggles to stand in the midst of the dried leaves. Suddenly she felt a sharp agonizing pain from the lower left side of her chest. Sephira held out her hand to hold on to her wound which she was not aware of until then. The warmness of her blood begins oozing out from her wound, had begins to weaken her spirit of moving ahead with her obstinate mind of pursuing with her mission. A mission to slay Dhaleya once and for all. Shephira struggles to stand on her feet, with her hand still holding on to her battered skin. It seems a tiny stone, had managed to pierce through her armored shield and immerse itself right through her delicate flesh. The Beast notice the agony of the stinging pain which Sephira was enduring at that moment and he begin to become fully concerned about this. Sephira been a natural hard headed person, force herself to make few step ahead away from the Beast, when suddenly she fell on her knees as the piercing pain is killing her soul. Her vision becomes bleak and her mind gets blurry as she fell unconscious within the Beast’s arm.

The tentacles of the hideous looking creatures had wrap itself all over Sephira as she fought hard to catch her breath…deep within the cold dark ocean. She was alone and she knew that death had overcome her. Suddenly, she heard her name was called upon several times and then she realized she has been transit out from the merciless ocean but was brought into a hot barren cell instead. Sephira woke up in a startle motion as she begins to feel frantic and anxious about the recurrent nightmare which had been haunting her ever since Luth’s death. This horrifying nightmare, is just like a message or an omen for her to be aware of. Unconsciously, she held on to her injured flesh and then she realized that, she has been place inside a home of some sort of an aristocrat being. The massive bed which she was laid upon, was beautifully covered by the most magnificent embroidery bed covered that she could ever imagined. And the night gown which she was wearing was make from the finest silk. And her wound has been carefully bind with bandages with some smell of herbs been place onto, hoping to heal her injury. “Don’t tell me, the Beast was daring enough to undress me?” thought Sephira to herself. “Ney! A Beast like that would only fit to live in that dark and dense forest…it is just impossible for a creature like that to be living in such a lavish state.” cried her inner voice of several assumptions. Sephira carefully hopped off from her bed and put on a pair of woolly sandals, which has been place right beneath under the side of her bed. After putting on the warm sandals, she decides to phase around the humongous room that’s seems to be fit for a King’s living. “Am I in dead or what?” thought Sephira to herself in a wonder. Suddenly, she saw a huge portrait which was beautifully hang right above the fireplace. What amaze her….it was a significant portrait of a young beautiful couple….embrace within each other’s arm with such a pure genuine innocent love. Sephira came closer towards the fireplace, to get a clearer picture of that portrait. The young lad was definitely one of a charming man with an aura of a distinctive majestic poise in him, that Sephira had never came across before…..however, she simply could not figure out the portrait of his precious Queen, it seems the features of her face was faded….but Sephira knew….she must be a Beauty. Sephira stood on her hind feet as she gently glide her fingers onto the portrait of the King…when suddenly she stood froze as her heart race hard within her chest. “Could it be the tal,e which Luth has been telling me about.... is real?” thought Sephira to herself as she stared hard towards the picture. “Is it possible that Beast is King Ashlan himself?” wonders Sephira again.

“You are awake?” cried a voice that had cause Sephira almost losses her balance….however she was lucky enough, to caught hold onto the side of the fireplace to maintain her position. Sephira turn to face that voice and she was surprised when she saw it was an old lady with a warm smile on her face, that had actually startle her. “Thank God, that night gown really fits you beautifully.” said that old lady again as she place a tray of food onto the side table. Sephira remains speechless….not knowing what to say or do. “I’m sure you are famish…so I bring in some food for your supper.” utters the lady kindly. Yeah, Sephira stomach was burning hole of hunger…but she tries not to gobble up all of her meal and makes herself looks silly….especially not in front of this nice gentle lady. Creeping slowly towards the side table, where her meal has been place, she took her seat by the stool and held on to the spoon to scoop up the warm tantalizing soup. However, some thoughts came into her mind and she place back her spoon on the table by the side of the bowl.

"May I know....where am I?" asked Sephira, as she had her eyes fixed intently towards the lady.

"You are safe from harm." she replied shortly and Sephira knew that lady was in a hurry to leave, a sign of not wanting to tell her the real truth.

"That portrait.....he's King Ashlan...am I right?" asked Sephira, as she stood by the table.

"Missy, your soup is getting cold now...so please do have it now!" exclaimed the lady, as she hurriedly left the room and to Sephira's horror, she heard the door has been locked from outside.

"Hey! You can't locked me in! Hey...let me out!" yelled Sephira frantically as she bangs the door, as hard as she could with her fist. Sephira stopped abruptly, when the pain on her wound begins to react due to her aggressive behaviour. Sephira sank by the door, with tears of anger forming in her eyes. "Luth!" she cried, as she slowly stood on her feet, and phase around the room while she anxiously search for Luth's armour and his sword. To her relief, she realised all her treasured belongings has been neatly place by the long couch. Sephira came closer towards it and held on to the armour close to her heart as she begins to wept gently. Suddenly, she heard a terrifying howl from the distant wood lands. Sephira pace nearer towards the window, as she took a peep from the window, to catch a glimpse of that poor creature, which seems to be in so much distress and pain. And true enough, her notion was telling her the truth, it was the Beast indeed, as he ran amok right in the middle of the shrubs in such a piety manner. Sephira could sense, he was in so much pain and dismay. "Ashlan!" she whispered his name. The Beast continue to howl and hit his fist hard on the ground....and Sephira knew, she can't had her sight on him at that point of time....cause it's killing her soul. Suddenly, a tiny glass bottle with the pink rose bud, which has been carefully seal in it, fell from one of the side pockets of the armour. Sephira gently picks it up and look closely towards the beauty of the rose bud itself....! This glass bottle which she had managed to steal from Dhaleya, it seems to be telling her a thousand hidden tales. "Why was this harmless rose bud meant so much to Dhaleya, does it got to do with you Beast?" thought Sephira to herself. Sephira soon saw, another petal had loosen itself from it's stalk and fell to the bottom of the glass bottle. Sephira hid the bottle inside her armour as she walk closer towards the portrait of King Ashlan and his beloved Lady. 'I simply can't just sit around here and do nothing." thought Sephira to herself. Looking hard towards the glass window, that stood brilliantly with it's magnificent lace curtain been hang around it, Sephira begins to think hard....and without thinking twice....she took one of the huge flower vase, which was made of thick oak wood....and with all her might she threw it against the window, causing the glass to shattered into thousand million pieces. Sephira could feel her a tinge of pain from her wound, but she would not care less...cause she was not ready to be kept as a prisoner, by anyone. The howling stopped and she knew, she had definitely grab his attention, cause that was part of her plan. Suddenly, she heard a sound of a strong stride of leaping feet, hovering above the roof....and she knew it was him. Sephira almost lost her breath when the Beast had jump right in the middle of her room from the broken window. With his bulging fiery eyes....he had his intense glare on her, as he came closer nearer towards her. Sephira took few steps backward until she came upon Luth's sword and drew it out from it's sheath. She trembles, as she held it right in front of the Beast. Just one strike, she knew....that's the end of the Beast, but she just do not have the heart to do so...! Suddenly, the Beast bring the sharp blade of her sword closers towards his head...a sign of contemplating suicide it seems. He wanted her to slay him...! Fear sets in her eyes as tears begins to well and stream on her cheeks. "No, it can't end this way, I belief...there's a way out from this curse...I belief." cried Sephira as she threw her sword away and held out her trembling hands and gently caresses the Beast rough scaly skin of his face. The Beast closes his eyes...as he was simply mesmerizing by her tenderness...a touch which he had once felt. "Luth is right....you are indeed King Ashlan...! A tale of a century ago.....! You are hurting Beast..and I know how that feels....to lost the love of your life....that precious someone who has been cruelly taken away from us." utters Sephira remorsefully. " Yasmeen almost wanted to continue with her reading, when suddenly her mobile phone rang.

Upon seeing the caller her heart sank....as she was expecting Ezekiel to call her. "Yeah!" she retort as she answered her phone. "Iman, what's the news?" snapped Yasmeen.

"How have you been?" asked Iman, Yasmeen's sister, a year younger than her.

"Got nothing to do with your life." replied Yasmeen as she walk down the stairs and headed towards the living room.

"Yas, dad is asking about both of you." utters Iman remorsefully.

"After what he did to mum." snapped Yasmeen again. "Just tell him to get on with his life and don't bother about us again."

"Yas, you have been unfair towards our father!" cried Iman on a brink of tears.

"How about him? Does he cares?" asked Yasmeen furiously.

"Dad, had did all he could to save our mum from her terrible debts due to her drinking and gambling acts." cried Iman as she tries to remain calm with her emotion.

"She had learnt her lesson well....but you and dad left when she was striving hard, as she tries to pick up the broken pieces." utters Yasmeen with tears in her eyes. "You left....both of you, leaving her cripple by her past mistakes and emotion..and it was me, who had to see to this all. You know, how hard it was? You will never understand....and so is dad!" cried Yasmeen. "All the promises which dad had made to her...telling her, that things will be just fine...is just a bunch of lies."

"Yasmeen, dad loves you....and so am I. No matter what, you are still my sister." utters Iman tearfully.

"Thinking that a star was just within my reach....and as I try to embrace the significant beauty of it...at last it was just a reflection from a mirror." cried Yasmeen. "Do get that picture right!" continue Yasmeen, as she shut off her phone and threw it onto the coffee table. Yasmeen covered her face as she begins to wept silently. She could remember...it was just like yesterday....all the crying and wailing of her mum begging her dad to stay....but he left, taking away half of her mum's spirit, taking away Iman....and never even once turn to look at her again. Her mum had make a terrible mistakes in her life....Yasmeen knew, it was an addiction....that's obviously needs help. Her mother's debts, which has been kept unknown from her dad was exposed cause one day.....their home was attacked by the debt collectors. Her dad was left with no other choice but to work extra hard, as a labourer in a machinery company....just to pay off her mum's debt. But he does not do it out of love or with sincerity....he does it to protect his daughters..and Yasmeen knew...all the sacrifices which her dad has to endure. Her mum become depressed about this whole deal....and her soul was fighting hard...for the terrible addition...it was painful. However, her dad was not helping or supporting her mum emotionally...all he does was to spite her with sinister words and remarks...that had definitely kills her spirit. When finally, all the debts has been cleared, he pack his, Iman's and Yasmeen's belongings, ignoring his wife pleading for mercy and forgiveness. Without a single word spoken, he drags his two daughters out from their home, however Yasmeen just simply refused to barge into the cab, which her dad had called upon. She remained numb and confused...her heart was tearing apart...not knowing which path to choose..or which bends of live she should be heading too...! It seems her inner voice was telling her to stay..stay by her mum's side. Yasmeen let her hand off from her dad, as she rang back into her home and went straight into her mother's arm. She had chosen her path....her destiny, is to be by her mother's side.

"Yasmeen, it's almost dinner." called out her mum gently.
Yasmeen didn't realised that she had been taken way back towards her past until she heard her mum calling out to her as it was about time for dinner. She wipe her fallen tears off from her face as she had ber back straight agaisnt her seat.
"Yasmeen, I've cook your favourite dish...macaroni with cheese melt." said her mum. "Have you done your prayers Yasmeen?" asked her mum with a smile. Yasmeen look at her with full of love...but her eyes was tearing up again. "Yasmeen, what's wrong?" asked her mum Sharinah with alarm. Yasmeen shakes her head as she tries to bring out a smile on her face.

"I feel thankful and blessed to have a mother like you." utters Yasmeen, as she came closer towards her mum and embrace her.

Sharinah held on to her daughter with so much love in her heart...."You are my little indeed, my little princess. "

Flip Chart : Chapter Eight

“Eze, I can’t afford to blame you, for being dismayed by my wrong doings against you. Please don’t turn yourself away from me.” cried Yasmeen as she fought back her tears.

"I’m not giving up…..I’m just letting go…..adjusting my present state of mind to accept things, things that are beyond my control…my grasps.” utters Ezekiel as he place back Oasis into his new gigantic crystal bowl.

“I don’t understand…” trails Yasmeen.

“It’s funny though……throughout our friendship, not once have you ever mentioned those words to me…!” utters Ezekiel, as he bit his lower lips while shutting his eyes. The anger which he had once felt for Yasmeen, came back to haunt him.

“Ezekiel, if your attention of calling me to argue and fight…..I guess, we might as well call it for a day.” exclaimed Yasmeen. There was another silent moment between both of them…..however Yasmeen was still awaiting for Ezekiel’s response to her comment. Yasmeen give a huge sigh as she wipe her tears off from her cheeks. “Ezekiel….are you letting me go?” asked Yasmeen at last tearfully.

“I’m letting go of myself….but I’m not giving up on you…our friendship still stands Yasmeen.” utters Ezekiel breaking his silent.

“No Eze….you can’t let yourself go. Come back to reality Ezekiel….don’t fall and be trap with your own sentiment.” cried Yasmeen as she knew Ezekiel’s soul is breaking up.

“My soul is tired of pretending….pretending to be someone whom I’m not supposed to be…” utters Ezekiel.

“Ezekiel…I’m still in love with you.” whispered Yasmeen…as she felt crestfallen upon hearing those spoken words of Ezekiel….she knew she’s losing him as her knight….her prince. Ezekiel, clenched his fist by his side….as he closed his teary eyes.

“Yasmeen, I do not have the heart to disappoint you…it’s better for us to end our relationship now, rather then in the future when things might not work out for both of us…things will just get worst.” utters Ezekiel. Yasmeen, held on to her pillow much tighter to her chest….his words is killing her spirit. “Yasmeen, I still do treasure our friendship….I still care about you. You are still my best gal friend.” continues Ezekiel as his voice quiver. A state of guilt begins to filtrate right through his mind…he had definitely breaks her heart..due to his blindness upon his own anger and ego for the muddles of her words…his secrets which Yasmeen had deliberately been revealing to Bashir.

“Thank you Eze….you still care.” utters Yasmeen…as she fight hard to infuse some delightful essence inside her soul….however deep inside her thoughts….she swear, she will never give up on him…cause there’s always a color of hope in her dictionary for Ezekiel’s interrupted flipping life. Can’t solely blame him for his misleading inner flipping side of his mind…losing his beloved grandma…losing his home due to the excessive loan which he can’t possibly recovers, and her betrayal with his trust…and this sucks.

“Eze, actually I’ve bought something for you….I wanted to give you on our last meeting….but things turns out unexpectedly unright for both of us, therefore, my attention of passing that gift to you just slip of from my mind.” said Yasmeen, as she place her tiny pillow by her side and took the paper back novel of Beauty and The Beast…in her hand while looking at the classic illustration of the cover page itself.

Ezekiel smile to himself, as he took out his notebook and look at a photo which he had taken with Yasmeen before their platonic relationship headway into something much deeper. “That gift which you had thought of giving it to me on that last meeting which we had, might actually could appease my anger though..” express Ezekiel with a grinned….as he was enjoying his moment of teasing Yasmeen.

Yasmeen giggles and she knew Ezekiel is accepting her back as a friend…her amazing and wondrous platonic relationship with the guy that she had fallen in love was finally saved…..but to be hopeful for something much more deeper to evolve…Yasmeen knew, she needs a miracle for that one fine day to happen.

"So how’s life out there?” asked Yasmeen.

“I feel like a loner at first…my mind kind of going berserk, but things are not so bad being here after all.” said Ezekiel as he focus his sight towards Yasmeen’s picture….it feels so close like home. “And another funny thing is, me and Riley…we could be good friends. Things just work out fine for both of us.” continues Ezekiel as he sat on his couch bringing the photograph along with him.

“Oh…I see,” utters Yasmeen feeling unpleased…she did not know why but she felt kind of intimidated by Riley’s good intention towards Ezekiel. “Or am I jealous?” thought Yasmeen to herself. “ Damn it, come on Yasmeen, Riley is a guy….what was I thinking anyway?” her mind begins to linger playing with words of uncertain notion of her own doubtful inquisition.

“Yah, he bring me around this place, showing me where my new school are located, the nearest malls and other cool hang out places within this area….I’m quite surprised myself, Riley he was chirpy and humorous…he’s filthy rich, but there were no airs about him. Such a cool guy!” utters Ezekiel.

“Ah! Huh!” state Yasmeen…and Ezekiel could sense that annoyance in her voice.

“Ah! Huh? Huh?” said Ezekiel with a grin.

“Is that suppose to be a question or some kind of a remark?" asked Yasmeen frowning as she cross her right arm over her tummy.

"Well....you sound jealous!" utters Ezekiel with a smile.

"No, I'm not! What makes you think that way?" asked Yasmeen as she tries to deny the real fact. Cause it seems Riley was Ezekiel's, new found branch of hope and strength....a perfect replacement over her.

"Yasmeen, no matter what, you are still my number one...!" utters Ezekiel as he reassured Yasmeen doubtful on him.

"By the way, how's your mum?" asked Yasmeen again.

'"Not talking much with her though. I don't know..it seems hard for me to relate certain things with her. This worries me, and it keeps me wondering if I will be able to adapt to all this. My doubt about my cold relationship with my mum has been circulating in my mind..and that hurts."

"Eze, I'm sure things will work out well for you, just be yourself." said Yasmeen.

"Thanks Yasmeen." utters Ezekiel. "I've got to go now...I guess my mum is back." continues Ezekiel as he could hear her mum's car approaching towards the front yard of his new home.

"All right Eze, you too...do take care. Please do keep in torch okay." said Yasmeen with tears in her eyes...it seems so hard for her to let go.

Ezekiel knew, Yasmeen was in a verge of tears. "Yasmeen, I will beyond doubt..come back to our homeland....once, I've graduated from my college. I reassure you that." utters Ezekiel hoping his statement might bring in some delightfulness for Yasmeen to content. Yasmeen smile and hung up her phone after saying goodbye.

Ezekiel step out from his room, as he reaches out for the stairways to meet up with his mum and Riley at the dining area. And true enough, there he saw both his mum and Riley were deeply engrossed in a conversation...but somehow or rather, they seems to be in some sort in a middle of an argument. Ezekiel begins to fall in dilemma, should he be hanging around with them or just walk out towards the back door which lead him to a pool and a mini garden. Ezekiel stood by the stairway for a few moment until finally he decides, it will be the best for him just to ignore them and leave by the back door.

The pool was pretty deep to Ezekiel's perspective...however, he took off his sandals and sat by it as he place his feet into the cool water of the pool. His mind begins to wonder what was his mum and Riley was arguing about...was it something to do with him? Thought Ezikiel to himself with a sigh.

"Ezekiel, there you are. I was looking for you in your room." said his mum as she came closer towards him with a frown on her face. She seems to look upset or simply annoyed with something. Ezekiel looks up towards his mum and then he decides to had his sight looking at the tiny waves of the pool instead. "I'm sure you know where I've been from. Regrading your school....I managed to get you into this private boarding school...therefore, it will a much better accomodation for your well-being, as you do not need to travel to and fro...for your classes." said Eva again with her arms by her side.

"A boarding school?" asked Ezekiel as he could not believe, his mum had actually decides things for him and not even bother to consult for his personal opinion in the first place.

"Yes, this is for your own good." continue his mum firmly...making a point....there's no need to argue about this matter.

"Mum, you might as well, place me in an orphanage home...or just place an advert, foster home needed for a son name Ezekiel." snapped Ezekiel sarcastically.

"Eze, I have fork out lots of dollars to get you into that school...so please try to be complacent about this." replied his mum with intensity of anger in her voice. Ezekiel shuts his eyes,  as he tries to contain his own feeling of frustration in his mind. His mum was not even bother to display, or noun some words of comfort towards him....she ignores him and left as she enters back into her home. A sudden notion of loneliness and guilt begins to filtrate inside his soul as he knew....coming with his mum to States was a bad idea.


For the first time..they were having dinner together as a family, it was another disastrous occasion. It seems his mother, was the one who was taking charge of everything in that home...and this was suffocating for Ezekiel's thoughts. Eva had set the time for dinner, was to be at eight in the evening and she had expected, both Ezekiel and Riley to be at the dining table five minutes before hand. Ezekiel...came out from his room...ten minutes after eight, whereas Riley was even later..somewhere around half past eight..and this had simply blown his mum's displeasure right at the tip of her boiling point status.

"Eze, you are excuse for not complying with the time given, but don't let me warn you again." cried Eva with a sharp tone in her voice. "Riley, for goodness sake...what is wrong with you?" hurled Eva as she looks intensely straight into his eyes.

"Eva, please don't start again..all right! I was caught up due to the last minute conference, which I was need to attend....so please, don't argue about this." cried Riley wryly. Eva remains silent, but on the way how, she had place her mash potato on her plate with a loud slam onto it....it tells them all..she was simply unpleased with all this. Riley shakes his head and then he turns his attention towards Ezekiel instead..who seems to look lost and confused by all this commotion....which is actually nothing at all, but his wife seems wanted to make it as a big issue.

"Eze, please help yourself with the dinner." utters Riley, as he brings the salad bowl and place a scoop of salad with the mash potato onto his plate.

"Thanks Riley." said Ezekiel with a smile of relief....despite the small confrontation which Riley had with his mum....Riley seems to care and understand the uncertain emotion of fear and confusion which Ezekiel was facing right now.

"I hope, you will prepare yourself, for your admission to that boarding school by next week." snapped Eva..as she tries to inject some tension.

"Eva, maybe this discussion should not be brought into our dining area."  warned Riley sternly.

"Riley, this is between me and my son...so for you, just stay out of this." replied Eva, not wanting to give in to herself ego.

"Ezekiel, is my family...so he is part of me now." exclaimed Riley, ignoring the intense stare which Eva is giving to him right now.

"Riley, you don't have children of your own...so you wouldn't understand...the concerned which I had always felt for my son." retorts Eva, as she threw her dinner spoon roughly onto her plate. Riley clenched his fist by his side, as he stood up and walks away from the dining area .....as he headed towards the back door .....slamming the door shut behind him after he left. Ezekiel looks grimace about this whole thing as he too, stood up from his seat and decides to leave.

"Eze, you have not even touch your dinner." cried Eva feeling concern for her son's reaction.

"I'm not hungry anymore mum." said Ezekiel, as he headed towards the stairways and went into his room....with hunger and dejected emotion lingering in his thoughts. Pacing towards the side table where Oasis bowl has been place, he put his fingers into the bowl, and bring Oasis out and place it on his palm....as he slowly sat onto the couch, while he gently pets Oasis soft head and hard shell. "Have I done the right thing to be here Oasis?" asked Ezekiel to himself. Suddenly. there was a knock on his door. Ezekiel stood up and came nearer towards the door as he opens it...and what a surprised cause it was Riley. In his arms, he was holding two plates of dinner....the untouched food left by the both of them.

"Care to join me...or can I come in....so we could have dinner together." requested Riley with a grin. Ezekiel, took his left-over untouched dinner with his hand while the other hand he still had Oasis in his palm. Oasis seems to be sticking and stretching his neck longer with interest.....Ezekiel belief due to the nice aroma of the food.

"Yeah, I'm famish." utters Ezekiel with a smile, as he welcome Riley into his room. And soon both of them sat on the floor by the side of the couch, placing their dinner onto the table...and begins feasting on their meals.

They chatted for a moment as they both enjoy their dinner together….it feels like spending a leisure moment with a long time buddy. After clearing their meals away, Riley soon realized Eva had left again…probably to attend to some community works, which she had been currently involved recently.


“It seems your mum had left again….maybe she might be back home somewhere midnight.” said Riley, while he wipe the clean dishes and neatly stake them into the kitchen cabinet.

Ezekiel picks an apple and took a bite. “Are you happy being with my mum?” asked Ezekiel curiously as he chew onto his fruit.

Riley was stunned upon been shot with that question. “May I know, why are you asking me this?” he asked with a wryly smile.

“I’m just curious….that’s all.” replied Ezekiel while taking few more bites of his apple right to its core.

“We are doing fine….just like normal married couple I guess.” response Riley with a tinge of defensive memento in his tone.

"Yeah...I can see that." utters Ezekiel as he threw his apple core into the rubbish bin.

"The night is still early, let's go bowling....who knows, how many strikes we might get." cried Riley excitedly.

However, Ezekiel could easily simply figure out, Riley was trying to run away from that subject…cause the sign of rejection and dejected motion was clearly stated in his eyes.

“Riley, seems you have regard me as part of your family….please don’t hide certain things about my mum.” utters Ezekiel again. After all the dishes has been stake and clear, both Riley and Ezekiel decides to spend the rest of the evening by the pool, instead of going to the bowling alley which Riley had first suggested. Ezekiel heart was thumping hard against his chest, cause this curiosity is simply eating him up…there are so many questions and doubts running in his thoughts. “Was it only love that had actually binds Riley and his mum together?” thought Ezekiel to himself …a recurrence notion of uncertainty doubt.

The night was amazingly soothe with the entrance of the blessed wind….gushing it’s significant glory of it’s breeze. Riley sat by the long wooden bench, which has been place few feet away from the pool, while Ezekiel seems to be enjoying his moment of immersing his feet into the cold water of the pool.

“Don’t you have any family, or relatives other then my mum and yourself?” asked Ezekiel as he swipe his long fringe off from his brow.

Riley remains silent for a few moment, with his head hung low by his side. Ezekiel realized Riley was in a verge of tears…much to his dismay. “I’m sorry Riley…I did not meant to make you upset.” utters Ezekiel remorsefully, as he felt regret for been too nosy about Riley’s past life.

“Family? I wouldn’t even know if that word ever exist in my dictionary.” utters Riley.

“Care to share with me?” said Ezekiel with heartfelt of a genuine friendship lending it’s listening ears.

“I was outcast…a black sheep in the family….and the reason, I was an unwed-lock child. Got to know the battered truth, after almost seventeen years of my life. My mum, well she bore me..with another man….a man whom, she had claimed to be so deeply in love with. Load of rubbish! After her husband, figures out I’m not his real flesh and blood, things begins to get bitter and sore…each and everyday of my life. My mum she wouldn’t care less how I feel…her reaction to all this…it seems, this is all my fault…..I was a mistake ….I’m like a sore in her eyes an ulcer in her mouth. The funny thing was her husband forgiven her for her misdeeds but….he simply refused to accept me to be part of his family..” said Riley as he begins to unveil his previous chapter of his childhood life.

“I’m sorry, your life seems to be more complex then I could ever imagine.” response Ezekiel, upon hearing part of Riley’s heartbreaking life. “But how did you managed to get this far…I mean to have all this?” asked Ezekiel..cause it seems it doesn’t make any sense, for Riley to gain all this wealth since he was a pariah, the bad egg as that what he had claimed about himself.

Riley beam in amusement ….with a sign of content and pleasure written in his eyes..” Well, things just didn’t get better and there’s seems to be no sign, that my life will be at peace for being a part of that family, therefore….I have to come to a conclusion that will change my life a round…..I ran.” replied Riley.

Ezekiel frown, as his doubts and curiosity begins to work on his mind again. “You ran?” jumped Ezekiel with an inquisitor tone in his voice.

“All I had with me, few of my clothing and a fifty dollar note….with a lost mind, of not knowing where my next path will lead me to and I'm only sixteen of age during that time.” response Riley. Ezekiel widen his eyes with his mouth slightly gaping...as he was astonished with Riley's courage of moving ahead with his life, at such a young age. For Ezekiel. it seems impossible that he would have the guts to lead his own life...a perfect example...being back under his mother's care right after his poor grandma is dead.

"I knew, the very first thing which I've got to do is, get myself a job in order to get by with my daily expenses. I went from door to door, asking the town area people if they need any gardener or a cleaner, but I seems to be so lack of luck. I almost give up and just wanted to go back home....with a dejected soul. However, I pushed myself again, to try my next luck at this local restaurant....and true enough, I was hired as a housekeeper there. For my accommodation, the chef, had actually allows me to stay at the kitchen area, but I was to make sure not to let anyone knows about it. I was given free food and lodging, but with a mere salary. It was a struggle, emotionally and physically....but I managed to pull through. I save as much as I could, so that I could buy some new cheap clothes, from the second hand shop nearby, however...I begin to think more about my future....am I going to be a cleaner boy, for the rest of my life?" utters Riley and then he stop for a while as he begins to set his mind deeper beyond his past. "Until one day, while I was on my way to the market area....where I was told by the chef to buy few packs of flour and eggs, I met someone who will eventually turn the table round back to me." said Riley with a smile of enlightenment.

Suddenly, they heard a car was drove in, at the front porch of their home....Eva is back!

Flip Chart : Chapter Seven

Phasing around his new room, with Oasis still in his palm...he becomes speechless and awestruck by these massive wealth which Riley seems to be blessed with. The size of his new room now...it seems triple the size, from his old bedroom back in his grandma's apartment.

"So this is where, we going to build our new lives together." cried Ezekiel towards Oasis...who seems to be in his own daze of amusement....probably...he was aware of his new living habitat surrounding....a new palace of his new Kingdom. Ezekiel, gently place back Oasis inside his new glass bowl which stood on the side table of his room. With his hands still on his hips, Ezekiel scanned around his new lair...with interest..there's a two-seater couch that came along with the coffee table by it's side, his very own high definition television set, which has been hung onto the console....and adding to that..all kinds of entertainment gadgets such as the play-station three player set, a mini laptop and an i-pad...what a luxurious place for an exquisite life. His room was design to be sort of classic Victorian style....classy, thought Ezekiel to himself with a smile.

"I hope this room...suits to your taste." exclaimed Riley, without Ezekiel realising that Riley had actually sneak inside his room, as he was too engrossed with his new empty but classy bookcase, where he can stake all his favourite books and novels.

Ezekiel was stunned by Riley's gesture and he was unpleased. "Have you ever heard this phase, 'Please knock before entering' ? exclaimed Ezekiel with a frown. Riley smile sheepishly, as he had his hands in his pockets, a sign of an authorisation.

"Look, that day, we were not actually been introduce in a proper manner." exclaimed Riley, as he came closer towards Ezekiel and held out his hand. "Hie, my name is Riley...you must be Ezekiel right? Nice meeting you!"

"You are wasting my time." snapped Ezekiel, as he backs away from Riley, with his back turn against him. Riley was not surprised of Ezekiel, showing the repelling side of not wanting to be open with him..or even just to be nice with him.

"It's that your pet..tortoise?" asked Riley, as he pace towards the side table where Oasis bowl was place onto.

"Can't you tell the difference? He's a turtle." retort Ezekiel, feeling annoyed with Riley's dumbness. And to Ezekiel's point of view...to call Riley his new daddy..is definitely out of question. Riley seems to be more like an elder brother to him, Ezekiel peer from the corner of his eyes, as he begins to had his sight on Riley…the new man of his mother’s life…! Riley was a suave young gentlemen and the way how he poise himself, in such a way, it really defies his age. Riley was a suave young gentlemen and the way how he poise himself, in such a way, it really defies his age. With dark grayish blue eyes, and urban brown hair…such a well-define young man. Thought Ezekiel to himself, with an admiration…a shameful feeling which he seal it to himself. Ezekiel decides to look away from Riley’s intense stare. It was such an unexplainable emotion, which he himself was unable to figure out himself…! A stupid feeling of infatuation disease, which he still be searching for the cure. It scares him!

“Please forgive me for that silly mistake…seriously, I’m bad in telling the difference between a turtle and a tortoise, a frog and a toad.” grinned Riley, a childlike behavior which he rarely portray. Ezekiel smile upon hearing those remarks…as he finds, that is rather comical and innocent. “I know you love reading and collecting novels and books, therefore, I asked my personal home designer to build this massive bookcase just for you.” continue Riley as he place his hands in his pockets.

“You can’t buy me over, by doing all this.” utters Ezekiel…with his arms across his chest.

“Who was buying you over?” asked Riley, as he came closer towards the bookcase and linger his fingers onto one of the shelf . “I just do this with a normal intention…to make you feel welcome into my home. Ezekiel, we are family now.” utters Riley, as he pace towards the side of the mantle place and take a closer look towards Oasis in the bowl.

“Family?” asked Ezekiel mockingly. “So you find an infinite pleasure for ruining mine, just to fulfill yours….your family..huh!” exclaimed Ezekiel with a smirk on his face.

“Eze…it wasn’t easy on my part either.” utters Riley, as he had his sight towards the light cream carpeted floor. “I love your mum….more than words could tell.” exclaimed Riley earnestly.

“My mum? She could be your mum too, for goodness sake!” snapped Ezekiel unpleased.

“I was about your age…only seventeen, when I first met your mum. I knew, she was somewhere ten years my senior…but, she had took my heart.” explained Riley, with a slight tinge of illumination in his voice.

“Oh! How delightful? She took your heart, but you had killed my father’s soul!” retort Ezekiel. “And not forgetting mine.” continue Ezekiel, with those words in his thoughts.

“Please forgive me.” exclaimed Riley remorsefully. “But, your father is killing her spirit, and mind.” utters Riley again.

“That’s none of your business to judge.” cried Ezekiel.

“Look Ezekiel, maybe we should be more civilized here. All I know is, I have done the right thing, saving your mum’s pride.” snapped Riley, as he begins to lost his composure.

Ezekiel thought to himself, so Riley think he’s Ashlan…saving his mum from his own father…the tyrant of the novel? “Eze..I know..it won’t be easy for me to be accepted to be part, of your family tree. But, I’m ready for all that.” exclaimed Riley

“Why do you have to make it sound, as though I’m the villain here?” asked Ezekiel, with tears in his eyes.

“My God, Ezekiel. I never meant to make you feel this way.” utters Riley emphatically. Riley hung his head low in disbelief…he felt guilty for no apparent reason…..for breaking a young boy’s heart.

“Tell me Riley…honestly, am I like him? My father? Will I commit a grievous sin, for hating the man that had his flesh and blood in me?” cried Ezekiel, emotionally. Riley had his doe eyes fix on Ezekiel’s. “My mum, she left because, I look like him….a cursed which had fall upon me.” utters Ezekiel as he held his palm on his face.

“But she still came back for you. Ezekiel.” replied Riley, as he place his hand onto Ezekiel right shoulder. “Frankly speaking, for the first few years of our marriage, she was devastated, when your father had actually took full whole custody over you….and the reason is, for your mum disloyalty against him…by having an affair with me. We have fought hard to win you back…but it was all in vain. And furthermore, your grandma….she’s not helping us in these either.” continue Riley. “You are still very young to understand back then….therefore, you were not aware of all this..of all the sacrifices which your mum had been going through.”

Ezekiel shuts his eyes as he struggle with his own dilemma….his own misguided feeling of uncertainty about his past…! All along, during his toddler, pre-school and elementary stages, not once had his father ever lay his hands on him.

 When he came to his young adulthood stage, this questions has always been playing around his mind. "There's must be a reason, that triggers his father's sudden changes of behaviour...just like a spilt personality."

"I belief...something or some causes that had change my father's behaviour.....and who knows..it might be you..you are the one...who had take everything away from me." snapped Ezekiel furiously. Riley knew, it was simply out of question to argue with someone who was in quite unexplainable emotional state.

"One day, you will realised, the things which your mum did was all about you." exclaimed Riley, as he walk towards the door and step out from Ezekiel's room.

Ezekiel, clenched his fist by his sides with tears in his eyes. Deep in his thoughts...he swear, he doesn't meant to hurt Riley with his callous words. Walking ahead towards the front door, as he wipe the fallen tears off from his face....he prime his courage before he decides to step out from his room. By looking at his watch, he knew his mum will only be back home right after lunch, as she needs to settle some of the documents and paper works regarding his transfer to his new high school. Keeping his pace as quietly as possible, he climb down the stairways..which was link straight into the dining area...and there he saw Riley was sitting by the fire place....engrossing himself with his mini note-book.

"Riley." he called out his name, but he was not giving any initial of an eye contact..as he struggles to avoid Riley's eyes.

Riley looks away from his notebook, with a smile and then he place his mini note-book onto the mantle place and stood up from his arm-chair. He came nearer towards Ezekiel...awaiting for Ezekiel's next speech. Ezekiel seems to be dumbstruck...by Riley's reaction. It seems that Riley, was quick enough to dissolve his anger...or maybe he was not angry after all.

"We can be friends...if you allow me to be part of your life now." utters Riley, as he shrugged his shoulder.

"I guess, you are harmless." replied Ezekiel with a grinned. Riley giggles after hearing those words from Ezekiel.

"It seems still early afternoon...if you like, I could drive you around this place...and then we could have some take out lunch...cause I know Eva..she will only be back after three." exclaimed Riley, as he walk towards the display cupboard to bring out his car keys.

"All right, that's sounds fun." replies Ezekiel with a smile. A smile of acceptance....welcoming Riley to be part of his life.


"Finally the beast left Sephira by herself, when she discover the path back towards her hut. Sephira turns to her side to convey her thankfulness for the Beast guidance, however...mysteriously he vanished from her side...not knowing where he might leap too and disappeared.

"Thank you...whoever you are." thought Sephira to herself with a smile. Sephira continue back with her journey towards her home...however, she was in deeply shocked and outrage when she find her hut has been burnt down to ashes. Without hesitation she stride towards her ruined home with tears of anger and devastation in her eyes. Sephira struggles in the midst of her destroyed home...as she rumbles through the thick ashes with her bare hands....searching for her keepsake memento...Luth..her beloved husband's armour shield. She scrabble through the ruins ignoring the splint submerging into her fingers. Sephira was determined to find that shield even if her fingers bleed to it's core.

"Come on Luth..please don't give up on me." thought Sephira to herself, as she fought back her tears. She almost losses hope, as she hung her head low and sank down onto the ruined ground. Suddenly, she saw Luth's sword among the crumbling wooden planks. Without hesitation, she darts towards that area and drew it out from the burn ash ground, together with the armour which has been found by it's side. She put on the armour, as she glides her finger onto the side of the gleaming sword and with a single stride, she stabLuth..please don't give up on me." thought Sephira to herself, as she fought back her tears. She almost losses hope, as she hung her head low and sank down onto the ruined ground. Suddenly, she saw Luth's sword among the crumbling wooden planks. Without hesitation, she darts towards that area and drew it out from the burn ash ground, together with the armour which has been found by it's side. She put on the armour, as she glides her finger onto the side of the gleaming sword and with a single stride, she stab it onto the burned ground, with tears of darkness in her eyes. "Dhaleya, will pay for what she did." cried her inner voice of vengeance.

Sephira was left with no other hope, but to forsake her ruined home to relocate herself some place else where. Still with Luth's armour on her, together with his sword in her arms, she decides to head back towards the woodland. It was almost dawn, however tiredness has long time been erased in her thoughts....after Luth and the rest of her comrades perished in a hard battle with the dark witch...Dhaleya. Sephira was the only survivor and she was list as wanted....a convict..a rebel..an offender against the distraught Kingdom of Kherash. Placing the sword back in it's sheath and carried it on her back...she continue with her plans of back tracking towards the woodlands....where she had first met the Beast. There was something mysterious about that being..and he seems to be drawing her towards him. Stepping her foot back into the thick forested woodlands...suddenly she felt a shudder notion in her mind. "Why am I doing back here than? Silly me...but I could not risk myself being seen or worst caught in the town area either. That witch has almost got me by sending her wolves to maul me." sigh Sephira to herself..as she begins to feel lost with her own thoughts and action. The sun is coming up soon...and that was a good thing, as the visibility of that light will guide her throughout her journey among the woods. Suddenly, her view was mystically veil by a thin and airy smoke. Sephira stand in guard for any unexpected intruder, blocking her path..for her up coming journey. And then, she heard a sinister laughter and she knew it was her.

"Dhaleya, come out here and show yourself....you coward.!" yelled Sephira while pulling out her sword from it's sheath. The airy thick smoke, seems to get into her eyes..making it sore with redness. That horrifying laughter...begins to intimidate her mind...as she fought hard to stay focus. "You have taken everything away from me..so just leave me alone." cried Sephira as she turn to her side back and again....just to catch a glimpse of Dhaleya.

"You have took something from me Sephira....and I want it back!" snarled Dhaleya's. Sephira had her sight alert among the misty smoke...cause, Dhaleya was not showing her physical form at all.

"It's a fair play, you have taken my Luth...so this belongs to me now!" cried Sephira, as she held on close to the crystal rose bud which had been place inside the tiny glass bottle. Sephira hid the glass bottle with the crystal rose inside her thick iron armour which she had been wearing.

"You fool." cried that voice...and suddenly, Sephira felt her body been hit hard by a single bolt of hard stone. And to her horror, few more stones and pebbles were seen strewn around her...Sephira knew, Dhaleya was not giving up. Sephira jump and dart away from the in coming stones, that has been sent to hit her. And this time round, Sephira knew....to save her soul, she needs to use her own charms to free herself from this battle....despite how much she hated it. Drawing out her hands across her face...and with a single swift of her fingers, the stone was crushed into tiny little pieces.

"Wake up Sephira...you are a witch yourself. Join me....and the world will be ours." exclaimed Dhaleya's voice again.

"Not with you by my side..!" yelled Sephira as she clasped her fingers and shut her eyes...fighting the evil spirit, which Dhaleya has sent them towards her to ruin her. In her mind, all she could see was darkness and evil. Sweat begins to form on her face...as she trembles in the midst of her battle with those blackened spirit. Sephira knew...she's losing it...Dhaleya was just too powerful to overcome. Sephira fell on her knees...but she used her sword and dunged it deep into the ground ....just to support herself from losing her conscious state of mind. Her nose begins to bleed....with her vision begins to bleak.

"No..no! I'm not losing this to you this time." cried Sephira...her pulse on her temple were throbbing hard on her head. Suddenly, she heard that familiar ferocious roar...and she knew...it was him the Beast. However, she felt some lightness of her feet..it seems, she has been carried away from her battle...in such a full speed.

"No, don't take me away from her...!" cried Sephira but the Beast simply ignore her pleas and continue with his task of carrying her away from that smoky mist...leaping from one path to the other. The visibility of the greenery makes it's way back towards Sephira's sight. "Now, put me down!" yelled Sephira...as she struggle in between the Beast's arms. The Beast comply and threw her onto the bundle of dried leaves.

"Thank you.....and that hurts!" exclaimed Sephira as she rubbed her sore bottom with her palms. The Beast stare at her with interest....but without acknowledging anyt emotions towards her." Yasmeen place a bookmark onto her last page of her reading, as she begins to stare at the cover of the novel, which she was supposed to present it to Ezekiel as a gift. But, it seems Ezekiel was still too upset to even speak, or return her calls. It's been almost a week now and without Ezekiel by her side, she felt just like a loner a bottle without it's lid.

"This is all my fault!" exclaimed Yasmeen to herself with tears in her eyes. Suddenly her cell phone rang...and she drags..hoping that it's not Bashir's who has been calling her, to seek forgiveness from her...for the day, when he had almost ruined her life.

"Hello." replied Yasmeen without even looking at the caller's number.

"Oasis, misses you." utters a voice.

"Eze...it's that you. Please tell me..it is you?" squealed Yasmeen in excitement.

"No..it's me Oasis." cried Ezekiel as he pretends to be Oasis, and of cause with Oasis in his palm.

"Oasis, where's Eze?" asked Yasmeen...as she held her pillow close to her body.

"Eze, he's somewhere around here." replied Ezekiel with a grin.

"Is he still mad at me?" asked Yasmeen...as she played along with Ezekiel child like behaviour.

"I don't know...why don't you asked him?" cried Ezekiel while he gently stroke Oasis's lime green shell.

"Please, can I talk to him?" requested Yasmeen meekly. Suddenly, there was a remote silent on Ezekiel's line..and Yasmeen knew, this time Ezekiel is no longer pretending to be his turtle.

Flip Chart : Chapter Six

Yasmeen, stay together along with Ezekiel until late evening at his, grandma's apartment, as she helps to clean his wound and relief the bruise on his face with a warm towel pad. No words were spoken between them and Yasmeen could feel those, unspoken statement of anger and intensity, was clearly written on his dark urban brown eyes. He refused to give her any eye contact and Yasmeen knew, her relationship with him were at stake...thanks to her own stupid mistake.

"It's getting late now, I think you should leave." utters Ezekiel, as he took the warm towel pad from Yasmeen's finger and place that on his left chin.

"Look, Eze....I'm sorry okay! I know...I should not have been telling your precious thoughts to Bashir...or anyone else...!" trails Yasmeen...with full of regrets and remorseful in her voice, as she still treasure Ezekiel's love and friendship.

"Please, just leave. I want to be alone." said Ezekiel as he tries to conceal his heartbreaking and disappointment heart away from Yasmeen. "Words has been spoken, damaged has been done....so there's no point for you to be entwining your guilt with me...!" utters Ezekiel coldly.

Yasmeen, heart sank upon hearing those words from Ezekiel...! As she wipe her tears off from her eyes, she pack her bag and leave....while Ezekiel...pretends to get himself engrossing his moment with Oasis. As Yasmeen close the door, after she left....Ezekiel had his sight focusing towards the front door...as he shuts his eyes and wept in silent.


"Hello mum...it's me Ezekiel." utters Ezekiel as he gently pets Oasis's smooth shell while he lies on his bed.

"Ezekiel....how have you been? It has been almost a week, I've not heard from you." exclaimed Eva...rejoicing her moment upon hearing her son's voice.

"Mum about the plan...I have come to my decision.." exclaimed Ezekiel, as he place his unfinished reading of his favourite classic folk tale novel, Beauty And The Beast, inside his bag pack.

The next Sunday morning, Ezekiel went to the local library to return the novel, as he decides not to follow up on the story line and those characters again. "It's just a tale of a misfortune soul... Ashlan's fate is to become the beast...and unknown curse which has been cruelly set upon him to end his majestic reign." thought Ezekiel to himself as he place the novel back into the returned books section container.


"The wet and darkened woodlands, with no exact tracks or path, indicates this thick forested maze, has not been touch by any human forms...but it was sure to be a great source for those ferocious creatures, colonizing that area. The visibility of light was barely there, however, Sephira struggles with all her courage and hope as she brace through the thorny branches and the rough rocky path grounds....to save her soul. Sephira knew, the more she penetrate herself through the woods, the deeper...trouble she will set herself into....as this particular forest seems to be no route of ending or the beginning at all.....it's just like a concrete maze but without clues. The barking and howling of the wolves, seems to be getting on her heels...as she continue to run with all her might. Suddenly, as Sephira was running ahead to the un define path....which seems to led her towards the lake, she did not realised an uprooted branch had stick itself out from the ground... entwine her foot and cause her to fall forward towards the cold murky ground.

"Oh! God" she cried frantically and to her horror, the pack of wolves were enclosing on her right now....growling and snarling making her nerve run cold in between her spine. She tried to reach for her dagger, which she had securely tied, around her right calf....but every movement that she makes. cause the wolves to be encircling closer towards her. Sephira feels trap...either she needs to fight to defend herself...or become the feast of celebration for those starving wolves. Her breathing gets heavier....with her eyes widen in fear. Suddenly, she heard a terrifying and thundering loud roar, that seems to come from the top of the cliff by the side of the lake. Sephira instinct, seems to led her sight towards that ferocious roar....and to her horror, there stood....another horrendous looking creature that she had never set her eyes before....with it's dark dirty green mouldy scales...covering almost all parts of it's body....with rough looking fur which seems to have outgrown itself....at the back of the beast. In just a spilt second, the beast jump off the cliff, together with it's deafening roar...as he stood fearsomely, in front of Sephira.

"I'm doom." thought Sephira to herself...as she saw those sharp razor, fang like teeth protruding it's way out from it's gums. "Please don't tell me, you are the leader of this pack?" exclaimed Sephira...as her breathing begins to get heavier....with cold sweat forming on her trembling body. However, to her surprised, the majestic beast...turn his attention towards the ferocious bunch of wolves instead...and with a single pounce, he swing his dagger sharp claws towards them....but not to hurt those wolves.....it seems to be a warning threat towards them instead. The significant...majestic being...was a sheer threat to those hungry wolves....left with no other choice, they have to keep those pang of hunger to themselves, as they fled...howling in fear, away from Sephira and the beast itself.

"Great..now what?" thought Sephira to herself, as she quickly grab her dagger out from it's sheath....and slowly stood up from the ground...to defend herself from this monster like creature. The beast was not threatened by that mere dagger, as he sprang forward towards her....making her freak out from her soul. Her dagger slip off from her fingers in the process, as the beast held on to her wrist and pinned her down onto the murky ground. "Hungry?" asked Sephira...as she recite some prayers to meet her doom. The beast had his monstery face..came closer towards Sephira with interest, as he begins to sniff...and snarl at her.

"Need some additional seasoning?" stammered Sephira..but with a meek grin. Sephira, look straight into it's dark bluish eyes....surprisingly...those eyes seems to be giving her a message...there's some humanity in that beast. The beast...growl with intensity and finally ...he released his grip and stood up, backing away from her. Sephira gets up from the wet ground...but she still had her sight towards that significant beast. "Thanks for changing your mind...of having me for your dinner." cried Sephira as she wipe some of the coarse sand which had stick itself onto her clothing. The beast still looks at her with a wondering look and Sephira find this quite amusing. Sephira smile, cause she realised this beast is harmless....his looks had betray his gentle soul. The beast then turn his back against her as he decides to leave. "Wait..whatever thing you are! You seems to know.....the direction around this thick woods...and I'm kind of lost....thanks to that witch and her wolves...so now I need you to help me, find the way out." exclaimed Sephira. "But on the other hand, do you....understand the words that came out from my mouth?" asked Sephira with a sigh."Great....I will still end up dead....but at least I'm not alone." thought Sephira to herself as she twitch her lips. The beast decides to walk away, much to Sephira's despair...however, the beast stop again and nods his head several times. "You want to guide me out from this forest?" asked Sephira curiously. The beast acknowledge her question as he nods his head. "Woah! You do understand my words!" exclaimed Sephira with a giggle.

At last, due to the beast guidance,Sephira managed to find her way back home." Yasmeen, closed the novel which she had just bought from the book store few weeks ago, before she had this misunderstanding with Ezekiel. Next, Yasmeen tied a dark blue ribbon across it, as she had planned to present it to Ezekiel as a gift. Yasmeen looks at her watch and it was only half past ten in the morning. She took her cell phone from her side table....and look for any miss call, however...it seems to be the other way round.....none of her calls and messages were returned by Ezekiel. Yasmeen give a huge sigh as she shakes her head in disbelief ...it's upsetting. Suddenly, her front door bell rang...cause her to startle away from her daze. She hopped off from her bed and walk towards the front door.

"Eze..!" exclaimed Yasmeen with a surprised...cause, this is certainly not Ezekiel's way of visiting her home, without calling her in the first hand. "Come on in." offered Yasmeen.

"It's okay...I won't take much of your time." utters Ezekiel coldly....but the emotional hurt was still clearly stated in his eyes. Yasmeen remain silent, but her eyes were tearing up..cause she knew..it's over.

"I have make up my mind....I'm leaving for States tonight..with my mum and that ......guy!" exclaimed Ezekiel....as he fight his tears off from his eyes.

"That's not want you want!" said Yasmeen as she fold her arms across her chest...as a slight tinge of anger slip into her thoughts.

"I have left with no other choice Yasmeen." replied Ezekiel as he look straight into her eyes. "My grandma...she's gone, and sooner or later...so is my home."

"No...you left because...what I did." cried Yasmeen. "Just don't act or pretend as though....there's nothing wrong with our relationship right now." continue Yasmeen with tears in her eyes.

Ezekiel, remains silent as he came closer towards Yasmeen....and held out his fingers to wipe the falling tears off from her face. "Yasmeen....please forgive me. I shall be honest with you....! Throughout our relationship, you are just my smoke screen....to cover up my real self." utters Ezekiel as he looks away from her eyes.

"What?" asked Yasmeen. "No...I'm not believing that statement. You are lying." Ezekiel, continue to remain silent with his own thoughts. "I love you..!" utters Yasmeen as she held her hands onto his shoulder.

"Just forget about us!" utters Ezekiel, sadly as he gently remove Yasmeen's fingers off from his shoulder...and walks away from her...without turning back. Yasmeen shut the door behind her as she sank on the floor and wept tearfully.

Being back alone inside her room, she took the novel which she had bought for him and place it on her lap. And then she brings her finger, stroking the illustration of the Beast....her heart breaks, she's the witch....which had put the cursed on Ezekiel's heart....the hope and courage which she had been blewing into his heart.....was demolised and tarnished by her own fault.