It's early morning when Coreen left the Mansion. Some people are already up and about at this time. Some are jogging, exercising, having their morning coffee. Coreen only has one thing on her mind; to finally go home and be with her sister. Of course, she's not looking forward to seeing her evil Uncle and her evil cousin. Yes, they are the devil reincarnate.

Upon leaving the Village, she fortunately rode the bus before it leaves. While the bus is moving, her mind flew to the man she left in the mansion. How can he even survive alone? Does he eat out? Order? Come to think of it, the most she's seen the man doing is to exercise, eat, leave for work and sleep before she even arrives. Not really much has changed between them. Royce is still an asshat and Coreen is still a maid doing his master's chores and tolerating his rotten attitude.

Coreen tilted her head to dismiss the young man from her thoughts. She shouldn't even be thinking about the man when she's not with him. Even the mere thought of his name brings a huge headache to her. Forget about that man and focus on your sister. Coreen said to herself.

When she finally arrived at their old house, the sun is already scorching hot. Coreen lifted the box of donuts she bought on her way home and smiled. Her sister will surely love them. She sighed before staring at the old and worn outhouse. It sure does need some repair and re-painting but she cannot afford that. Her uncle is a bus driver and her aunt is a housewife who occasionally receives sewing. She also accepts babysitting when needed.

She was only a week away from home but felt like it had been a year since she had last seen her sister.

Coreen opened the door and heard the familiar sound of it. The sound you often hear in any horror movie. The only difference is, inside their house, there are monsters and not ghosts. Her smile faded when he saw his uncle sitting in front of the television and obviously drunk—the man who was never kind to her and Rica, the man who often tormented me. I remember being his alcohol-buyer, his servant, his stress-reliever. The only thing I'm thankful for is he never touched us. If he ever did, I'll fight back no matter what.

"Uncle." she politely greeted him. Rude as he was, he was still her Uncle and Coreen is an educated woman. She took part-time jobs before just so she can finish college without any help from anyone.

"So, you still remember this house? I thought you forgot. Your aunt can't do anything but take care of your sick sister. Every single fucking day. Do you really want to waste away her life like this? Why not get a babysitter if you're so busy?"

"I'm going inside our room." she ignored his words and started walking to their room.

"My God! When will my life change?!"Coreen just rolled her eyes when she heard his Uncle's dramatic words.

There were three rooms in their little house, the room of her uncle and aunt, the room of their two children and their

bedroom. Coreen was not affected by what she heard from her uncle and smiled just as before she opened the door. She immediately saw her sister sitting while her hands are moving and her aunt was sewing.

"Hi, lil' sis!" she greeted her sister warmly and set the boxes of donuts beside Rica for her to see it.

She saw how her face brightened and Coreen felt like all the stress she felt from work is gone. Rica embraced her and she embraced her tightly.

"Hello! Did you miss me?" she smiled at her and pressed a tender kiss on her forehead.

Her sister's hair was gradually shedding due to her illness and she knew that by the time she had undergone chemotherapy all of her will be gone. But her sister is still as cheery as ever, she loved her more than ever because at her age, she's already so mature. For Coreen her sister Rica looks like an angel.

"Of course, Big Sis!" Rica shouted as she grabbed the box and opened it. "Wow!" she exclaimed when she all different flavors.

"Those are all your favorite."

"Wow! You're the best sis ever! That's why I love you so much!" She shouted in glee before taking a bite of a chocolate donut.

"Hmp! You only love me when I come home with a donut." she jokes before turning to her Aunt Clarice. "Good morning, Auntie." she smiled at her in greeting.

"And Good morning to you,too."

"Didn't you have a hard time with this naughty girl?" she asked as he gently squeezed her sister's cheek and lowered her large bag containing her used clothing. She can't use Royce's washing machine 'coz the man washes his own clothes. She didn't know why and she didn't bother asking why.

"I am not naughty, big sis. I am always behaving."

"Yes, yes. I believe you."

"What about your new job, Coreen?" she heard her aunt ask as she removed the dirty clothes from her bag.

"It's okay. My boss is a little screwed up but that's okay." she shrugged in response before turning her attention back to her things.

"Screwed up? Like, crazy?"

She laughed at her aunt's words. "Nay, Auntie. I am only two years older than him."

"Is he handsome, big sis?" her sister asked teasing her.

She gently flicked her forehead. "Not naughty, huh?"

Coreen spent the rest of her day off washing clothes for her and her sister. Then she joined her in drawing and coloring.Apparently, Rica was able to walk but she was so tired and her doctor advised her not to walk too hard and force herself because her bones don't work the way they used to and it made Coreen's heartache. When she finally saved enough, she would buy a wheelchair that Rica can use to go outside.

In the evening, they silently shared a delicious dinner that she had helped her aunt cook. After the prayer, she took care of the sister's food. She made sure that she ears everything her body needs.

"You eat a lot, huh?"she said to her sister lovingly with a gentle pat on her head...

"'Just not more than what we eat." my eldest Cousin Iya said. The spawn of Satan himself. She was the one who inherited her uncle's behavior while her sister Anna is just as good as his aunt.

"Just eat, Iya." Aunt Clarice reprimanded her daughter.

"Why are you stopping your daughter? Let her speak in her own home." her uncle's defense of the eldest daughter. Like Father, like daughter.

Coreen did not say anything and just smiled at her sister and motioned for her to eat. What would she say? No matter how painful his words may be, they are all true. Coreen dreams of having their own house someday but for the time being her sister has to be healthy first. For now she will have to endure them.

Aunt just sighed but didn't say anything. They continued the meal and when they are finished, Iya went straight to her room while Anna helped her clean the table and wash the dishes.

"I'm sorry my sister's such a bitch." Anna apologized on behalf of her evil sister.

"It's okay. I'm a little used to it and well, she's right." she smiled at her cousin as she washes the dishes.

"We are family, we should work together and not hurt each other," Anna said as she wipes the plates. "Besides, the truth is that I admire you, Coreen. You do everything for Rica, I can see how much you love her."

A warm hand touched Coreen's heart by what Anna had said. "Thank you, Anna."

"That's nothing."

Their conversation was interrupted when his uncle approached them. "Coreen, give me fifty bucks and I'll just drink." he did not ask.He demanded money from her. Like he always did.

Coreen sighed. He has never really changed, since they were young he would drinking and half of their income goes to his addiction. He also often asked her for it and despite her refusal, she could do nothing.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I haven't received my pay."

"Son of a bitch!" he shouted at the same time hitting the table making her flinch. "Your parents should have brought you both with them! You're all useless!" he shouted loudly and it echoes around the house. Coreen won't be surprised if their neighbor heads him.

Coreen was very close to losing her own temper. She restrained herself from weeping for the sake of herself and her sister. How many years have they endured his words? How many years will they have to endure?

"Are you all right, Coree?" she heard Anna ask with a worried tone.

She breathed a sigh before answering her cousin. "Yes, I'm fine."

Not really.

"Wow, my sister's so good." she praised Rica for showing her paintings but she was also stunned to realize what she had drawn.

This was their home then, in front of the house they are holding hands with their parents. She smiled at her sister with tears in her eyes.

"Big sis, I miss Daddy and Mommy," Rica said in tears, and she could do nothing but embrace her sister and comfort her.

"Ssh, lil sis. I'm here, aren't I? I'll never leave you." she kissed her on the head. "I'll never leave you." Coreen repeated as she closed her eyes to prevent her own tears from the trials that the two of them had gone through and will to go through.

"Iya told me I'm just a burden to you. She says I'm holding you back and because of me you won't be happy.

Anger erupted in her heart over what she heard. She looked at her sister and caressed her face. "That's not true, Rica. She's just lying. You're the reason I'm happy and you'll never be a burden to me. You're my strength, always remember that, huh?"

Rica nodded and wiped the tears from her face before embracing her again. When her sister went to bed, she went to her cousin's room. She found him holding her cellphone. "If you have a problem with me, face not my sister and me!"

She stopped what she was doing and stood up to face me. "Why? All my words are true! She is burden to you and you both are a heavy burden to us!"

Coreen couldn't control herself and slapped her. Her heart was beating so fast because of the intense anger she's feeling. "Tell that to me but don't ever talk to my sister like that again." Iya glared at her while rubbing her cheek. "And for your information, I'm the one who feeds you so you are a burden to me."

She didn't let her answer and left. She returned to her sister's room and held her. She knew Iya would surely tell her uncle but

he also knew he couldn't get rid of them because when they were gone, no one would help them. Not his and his daughter's lazy ass.

"As long as I live, I will never allow anyone to hurt you."

COREEN LEFT early monday morning to return to the White mansion. She walked her way to the white mansion and when she saw Lola again, she smiled at the elderly woman but the latter just stared back at her making her lose her smile and frown. She has that look in her eyes again when she first met him and it sent chills down Coreen's spine. When she looked back, she was shocked to see her following her with her eyes.

Luck was not on her side as it started pouring before she could even reach the mansion. And her stupid ass forgot to bring an umbrella! She was too confident that it will not rain today but alas, she's paying for her stupidity. By the time she reached the mansion, she was soaking wet from head to toe.

"How can I get inside the room? Well, whatever! It's not like there is someone else in the house who will slip. I'll just wipe the floor once I'm done." she said to herself before opening the door and running up to her room and hurried to the bathroom to get a towel. She put it around her head and laid the bag on the floor before beginning to take off her wet pants, following the top that's stuck to her body.

Now she was standing in the middle of the room wearing nothing but her undergarments. She dried her hair and her body. Suddenly all of her hair rose and her eyes widened as she felt the familiar sensation of something staring at you.

Impossible. She said to herself and her heart started beating louder and faster.

Slowly she turned to look behind her and she was just as surprised as to see no steel and instead of a glass wall just like what's between the mansion.

And no, that isn't why Coreen is shocked. It is the fact that a man with a scorching gaze is scanning her almost naked body from head to toe with a heated look in his face.

Coreen screamed.