The awkward silence stretched for years before I finally had enough courage to speak up.

"So are going to start packing or are we going to continue standing here, staring at each other. And Uncle Eduardo you might have to lend Nyx some stuff I don't think he brought anything."

"We are? He needs to find somewhere else to go."

"Where do you expect him to go Uncle, its not like he can go back to his father, did you see what just happened?"

"Yna, we can't trust him, who knows maybe this was all planned."

"He saved me and grandma, and he killed lots of his father's men just to save us, his father wouldn't afford to lose lots of his men just for a silly plan, tell him gran."

"Sweetie your uncle is right, this could have easily been planned."

"I don't think it was planned, his dad seemed pretty angry and disappointed," Luisa commented.

At least someone is on my side.

"Of course you wouldn't not see anything wrong about this Luisa, since you're working for them."

"Aunt Laila please shut up, if you're interested in talking then let him stay."

"There's no way the murderer of my daughter is staying with us, not while I am alive."

"Yeah about that, i didn't mean to-"

"Shut up!" We all chorused like an ensemble.

"I don't want to hear any excuses Nia or whatever your name is."

"It's Nyx and it's not an excuse."

"Shut up, she doesn't want to know why you decided to kill her daughter-"

"Yna let's hear what he has to say."

"Grandma you don't understand-"

"Speak up, Nyx."

"But Uncle-"

"Yna, let him speak," thundered Uncle Eduardo.

I can't let him cause them to blame Luisa even more.

"He killed Ara to prove a point, there you go now you know , now can we-"

"Prove a point to who?"

Oh oh.

"Can you guys quit interrupting me?"

"Who were you trying to prove a point to?"

"Well-"

"Luisa accused him of liking Ara because he was staring at her, so he killed her to prove to Luisa he had no feelings for Ara, but you must understand it wasn't Luisa's fault, she didn't know Ara was going to end up dying,"I rushed trying my best to make Luisa seem innocent.

"I knew it's all your fault, you killed your sister," Aunt Laila screamed in Luisa's face.

Didn't she hear what I said.

"It isn't her fault Laila, cut the girl some slack."

"It is, I mean how does him staring at her affect you-"

"Actually, I wasn't staring at her, I was staring at-"

"Shut up," we all chorused again.

"Laila, really doesn't care if you were staring at our daughter or not and neither do I."

"Can we go back to topic please, we still have to decide whether Nyx is staying with us or not."

"I thought I made it clear Yna, he isn't."

"Fine, but if he leaves I'm leaving too, com on Nyx!" I said marching off into the sunset.

"Wait, what?"

"Yna you can't just leave, your life is in danger, you could die."

"I don't care!"

"Yna, what the h.e.l.l are you doing? You are not leaving this house."

"No."

"Maybe we should let him stay," grandma suggested.

"Nanay, you can't be serious. We can't let him stay even if this isn't all part of their stupid plan, he could have a tracking device."

"Actually, I don't, you could search me if you want," Nyx whispered.

"Oh shut up, in this house you only speak when you are addressed."

"Uncle, you are being ridiculous-"

"No, Yna, you are being ridiculous. I can't believe you do you have no respect for Ara or at least for me. Your grandma has spoiled you way too much. Ever since you've been born you've been nothing but a spoilt brat."

"Oh you are one to talk Laila, if Yna is a brat, what are you?"

"Nanay-"

"Oh shut up Eduardo, if you don't like how I speak to your wife tell her to watch her mouth and stop pa.s.sing on the blame."

"I should just go. I'm truly sorry for killing your daughter," Nyx mumbled, going for the door.

"No, Nyx wait-"

"Let him leave-"

"Actually we can't-"

"Luisa would you keep quiet-"

"No mum, you don't understand. If he leaves how are we sure he won't tell his gang exactly where we are. We are running out of places to move to we can't risk it."

"Fine, he can stay."

"Eduardo-"

"Laila, Luisa is right. I understand how you feel and believe I am not particularly happy I have to share a house with a murderer, my child's murderer but we have little choices. He going to have to stay in the mean time while we think of other methods to dispose of him. As longer as he follows the rules."

"What rules, uncle?"

"Rule one, I must not see him within 10 metres near any of us. 2. He is forbidden from leaving this house. The rest you'll find out tomorrow morning."

"That is impossible, the house isn't even that big."

"Nothing is impossible Yna, now can we go in, it's to late to move out so we will have to move out at dawn."

***

"Good morning, where is he?"

"He is still sleeping."

"You've got to be kidding me, I told him we are going at dawn," Uncle muttered, going to the kitchen, only to arrive minutes later with a heavy bucket then marched into Ara's old room.

I saw the contents of the bucket spill followed by a high-pitched scream.

"Rule three, get up when everyone else does."

"What the h.e.l.l man, it's freaking four in the morning."

"That's it! Get out!"

"We had an agreement-"

"I don't care, I won't tolerate his att.i.tude and I definitely won't tolerate his language."

"What do you expect after pouring a bucket full of ice and really cold water on him."

"Get your stuff we're leaving now Yna, and you get up and follow us."

"You can't expect him to go like this."

"What it's going to be sunny outside in a few hours, he would dry quickly."

You've got to be kidding me.

"Let's go, you'll have to get changed when we get there," I said already walking out of the house.

"Didn't I tell you I must not see you 10 metres near us," Uncle Eduardo questioned as Nyx tried to enter the car.

"Uncle, how do you expect him to do that if he's in the same car."

"Easy, we go by car while he walks or go into the city and get a bus, there's the address, you have a map on your phone right? And if you don't, install one."

"Dad, you can expect him to walk-"

"Luisa I can and I am, now will someone shut the door, we have a tight schedule."

"He's joking right?"

"I am so sorry Nyx but I am afraid he's not. See you later."

***

"You're here, finally."

"What took you so long?"

"Well you were the one who insisted I walk," Nyx snapped.

"Don't take that tone with me, what did I tell you Yna, he is rude, rotten and disrespectful."

"Well you are cruel, unjust and wicked!"

"Nyx,you want to stay here, you have to be polite and uncle cut him some slack, please."

"Nyx my dear, go take a shower, Eduardo give him some of your clothes to change into," grandma suggested.

"Stop calling 'my dear' he is a murderer," Aunt Laila snapped.

"I'm sorry, did I ask for your opinion? Mind your business Laila. Eduardo go get the boy some clothes and you go and change," grandma ordered.

"Yes ma'am," they both chorused reluctantly.

***

"Aaaaaaarh, omg use a towel," I screamed, as I tried to wipe what I just saw from my memory but then remembered I haven't learnt the art of erasing memories.

"I came as fast as I could, Yna what's wro... Nyx rule four, never let anyone see you naked. Rule five, follow all my rules, especially the one that tells you not to go anywhere near us. Why aren't using a towel anyway?"

"That is what I came to ask her, I don't have one."

"Here, you can use mine for tonight but you and my uncle are going shopping tomorrow."

"What, no he..."

"Yes uncle, you guys are going shopping."

"No, not that I mean he isn't using your towel," my uncle bellowed take the wrapped towel off Nyx's body.

"My eyes, my innocent eyes."

"Oh yeah, sorry, fine he can use it but we are burning afterwards and buying you a new one tomorrow."

"Did you really I was going to use that after it has touched his... stuff."

"Of course you wouldn't, I guess burning it is a bit over the top then since you have no interest in using it."

"You think."