Chapter 13 Being Paranoid

Chapter 13 Being Paranoid

…

Everyone was running, grabbing their shawls, and yelling out to each other. 

As the sandstorm got bigger, the whole Island was bathed in dust. 

Violet spun around, her eyes darting back and forth.

From left to right, nothing was in sight but pure dust.

“Vi… let's hurry inside!” Asher called out to her. 

Unease crept up Violet's heart. 

She looked around once more. “Where's Mimi?”

“I bet she's inside!” Asher replied, coming to grab her hand. 

Together, they rushed inside the Villa with the rest. 

Yet, her mind wasn't at ease. 

Violet couldn't point her fingers at the source of her discomfort.

Once inside the living room, everyone was there.

Her Mum, her Uncle and his wife… her grandma and grandpa as well.

“Mum, have you seen Mimi?” Violet patted her chest, coughing slightly as some of the dust entered her throat.

Her mother was dusting off her hair. 

Furrowing her brows, the woman shook her head. “Mimi's with Freya.”

Well, where was Freya?

Violet glanced around.

No traces of her best friend in the room. 

Was she still outside?

With Mimi?

Instinctively, Violet turned to run back outside and search for the duo.

Asher held her back. “Relax… They must be upstairs.”

Relax?

How could Violet relax?

When did Freya come inside to go upstairs?

They'd all been outside moments ago.

Snatching her hand, Violet shook her head. 

Mimi must have wandered off again. Freya was probably searching for her, the reason why she was still outside.

“Stop being paranoid, Vi,” Asher said helplessly.

Was Violet being paranoid?

She just didn't like this eerie feeling building up in her chest. 

Disregarding Asher's command, Violet rushed towards the door. 

She hadn't gotten out, however, when she bumped into Freya returning.

“Ah! My eyes! Dust- dust- dust- someone, blow it off!!!” Freya was jumping and screaming. 

Having lost her sight, she waved both hands in front of her, trying to grab onto something.

Violet's apprehension increased.

Freya was back…

Alone. 

Where was Mimi?

She quickly blew the dust off her best friend's eyes. 

Once Freya's vision cleared, Violet asked, “Where's Mimi? Have you seen her?”

“Wasn't she with you?” Freya blinked at her. 

No way! 

Violet's heart sank, dread washing over her. 

Mimi…

Her baby must be outside. 

No… it couldn't be.

Pushing Freya out of the way, Violet took to her heels, running outside. 

“Calm down, Violet!” Asher ran after her. He held her arm, preventing her from moving. “I'll ask the bodyguards to search for her.”

But there were no bodyguards in sight. 

They must also be seeking shelter. 

The wind blew stronger and the dust got higher. 

Violet shook her head, struggling to break free. 

“It's dangerous, Violet-”

“Just let me go!!!” Violet shouted back, her heart racing. 

The devastation was so overwhelming that she couldn't breathe properly. 

Her baby. 

“Mimi!!!” Shouting her name amidst the raging storm, Violet broke out of Asher's hold, running into the vast space.

Dust entered her eyes and stuffed her lungs. 

Coughing, Violet looked around, squinting her eyes. “Mimi!!! Where are you!!!”

She kept calling out, her throat aching. “Mimi!!!”

“Violet!!!” Asher called out to her. “It's dangerous, come back!”

Even more dangerous was her daughter getting caught up in this sandstorm.

Violet didn't listen. 

Shielding her eyes with her palm, she dragged her feet forward, calling out Mimi's name again and again. 

“She might be inside! Upstairs, Violet!!!” Asher shouted. “You're worrying too much!!!”

No!

Violet's mind told her Mimi wasn't inside. 

She never remained in one place. 

She'd be scared to go upstairs alone when everyone else was downstairs, outside. 

“Violet!!!”

As Asher kept on calling out to her, Violet didn't look back. 

She headed to the other side of the Island, covering her mouth as well. 

The dust was getting unbearable.

The sharp sand whipped her skin, prickling her flesh. 

No matter how hard Violet tried, some of the dust got into her eyes and mouth, going down straight to her lungs. 

Violet panted heavily, running out of breath.

Then suddenly, the sandstorm stopped. 

As if the heavens were with her, answering her unspoken prayers, everything came to a complete stop.

The dust began fading away, and a vast empty Island spread ahead of her. 

Violet sighed in relief,

But then, her heel hit something.

A shoe!

Asher caught up to her, panting as well. “See? Mimi's not here while you almost got yourself killed.”

Mimi? 

No!

Shaking her head in disbelief, Violet squatted and picked up her daughter's single pair of shoes.

Mimi was here.