AUTHOR’S POV
Nine days had passed.
Nine days since Jay’s nightmare.
Nine days since she had decided that she would leave.
And surprisingly…
everything had been normal.
Almost too normal.
The mansion had returned to its usual chaos.
The television was always on.
Someone was always arguing.
Someone was always stealing food.
Someone was always annoying Percy.
And Percy was always threatening to throw someone out.
But there was one thing everyone had noticed.
Jay had become quieter.
Not weak.
Not broken.
Just…
more distant.
She laughed.
She joked.
She ate.
She attended school.
She even argued with ASTRA when they irritated her.
But whenever the conversation turned toward Section E…
her expression immediately changed.
She simply stopped responding.
JAY’S HEALTH
Her health, however, was good.
The doctor had confirmed that everything was progressing normally.
The babies were healthy.
Jay was healthy.
She was still tired more often than usual, but there were no serious complications.
Percy had practically turned into a walking reminder system.
“Medicine.”
Jay looked at him.
“I know.”
“Food.”
“I know.”
“Water.”
“I KNOW, PERSE.”
Percy smiled.
“Good.”
Kade laughed from the sofa.
“He’s going to say that every day.”
Jay pointed at Percy.
“He’s annoying.”
Percy shrugged.
“I’m keeping you alive.”
Jay rolled her eyes.
“I was doing that before you.”
Raphel immediately interrupted.
“Technically, you’re responsible for five more people now.”
Jay stared at him.
“Don’t remind me.”
Everyone laughed.
Jay couldn’t help smiling.
SCHOOL
At school, however…
Jay was completely different.
She was polite when teachers spoke to her.
She answered questions.
She completed her work.
She talked normally with Rakhi, Grace, Mica and Freya.
But Section E?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Ci-N tried talking to her.
“Jay—”
She walked past him.
Drew tried next.
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
David stood in front of her one morning.
“Jay…”
She looked at him.
“Not today.”
Aris tried several times.
Every time…
the same result.
Or a simple:
“Move.”
Aris hated seeing her like this.
But he also knew he had no right to force her.
Yuri once tried to apologize.
Jay simply looked at him.
“You don’t need to.”
Then she walked away.
Keifer was the worst.
Because Jay didn’t even look at him.
Not once.
She could feel his eyes following her.
But she never turned around.
ONE AFTERNOON
Jay was sitting beneath a tree during lunch.
Rakhi sat beside her.
Grace was eating.
Mica was scrolling through her phone.
Freya was talking about an upcoming event.
Jay was listening quietly.
Then Freya suddenly asked,
“Are you leaving?”
Jay looked at her.
“What?”
freya: girl, you are not even listening.
jay didn’t say anything she remained silent.
MARIANO MANSION
That evening…
boxes had started appearing.
Not many.
Just enough to begin preparing.
Jay stood in the hallway watching Percy give instructions.
“These go into the storage room.”
“These?”
“Those stay.”
Kevin lifted another box.
“What about this?”
Jay looked at it.
“Mine.”
Kevin opened it.
Inside were several childhood things.
Photographs.
Small decorations.
Old books.
A tiny Krishna idol.
Jay immediately took the box from him.
“Don’t touch.”
Kevin raised both hands.
“Okay, okay!”
Kade laughed.
“She’s possessive about her stuff.”
Jay looked at him.
“Correct.”
PERCY’S OFFICE
Later that night, Percy sat at his desk.
Maps were spread across the table.
Travel documents.
Property information.
Security arrangements.
Everything needed for the move.
Jay stood near the door.
“How long?”
Percy looked up.
“Everything will be ready.”
“When?”
“Three days.”
Jay nodded.
“Good.”
Percy studied her face.
“You nervous?”
“No.”
“Scared?”
“No.”
“Then why are you staring at the floor?”
Jay looked at him.
“Because you’re asking too many questions.”
Percy smiled.
“There she is.”
Jay rolled her eyes.
Then she became serious.
“Perse.”
“Hmm?”
She hesitated.
“I don’t want anyone from Section E finding out where we went.”
Percy nodded.
“They won’t.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Jay smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
THAT NIGHT
Jay stood near her bedroom window.
The city lights were visible in the distance.
Nine days ago…
she had been crying because of a nightmare.
Tonight…
she wasn’t crying.
She wasn’t afraid.
She was simply thinking.
She had spent years believing that staying strong meant never letting anyone see her pain.
But now she understood something different.
Sometimes strength meant knowing when to walk away.
She placed one hand gently over her stomach.
“Don’t worry.”
A tiny smile appeared.
“Mama’s got you.”
She looked at the night sky.
“All five of you.”
Then she whispered,
“We’re going somewhere new.”
ELSEWHERE
At the same time…
Keifer’s countdown was getting closer too.
London was almost here.
Kieren and Keigan had already finished most of their preparations.
Keifer stood alone in his room.
His suitcase was ready.
His documents were packed.
His phone was in his hand.
Jay’s contact was still there.
He stared at her name.
Nine days.
Nine days since he had last seen her properly.
Nine days of wondering whether she hated him.
He didn’t know she was preparing to leave.
He didn’t know she was carrying his five babies.
He didn’t know that the girl he planned to return to…
was preparing to disappear.
Keifer locked his phone.
“Just a little longer.”
He looked at the documents on his desk.
“London first.”
Then Jay.
He believed he still had time.
MARIANO MANSION
Back at the mansion…
Jay was already asleep.
Percy stood outside her room for a moment before quietly walking away.
Downstairs, ASTRA was still awake.
Kade looked at the clock.
“Three more days.”
Raphel nodded.
“Then we’re gone.”
Kevin smiled.
“New place.”
MJ grinned.
“New chaos.”
Thyme laughed.
“Same idiots.”
Percy walked into the room.
Everyone looked at him.
Percy simply said,
“Keep everything quiet.”
They all nodded.
Because nobody knew exactly what the next few weeks would bring.
But one thing was certain.
Jay was leaving.
Keifer was leaving.
Both were heading toward a completely different future.
And neither of them knew…
that the distance they were creating…
might not be enough to keep their lives apart.