CHAPTER 2:THE VISIT

          CHAPTER 2: THE VISIT

THE HIROTO FAMILY

Fiona Hiroto worried constantly about her twins.

Especially Ezra.

Ever since birth, there had always been something different about him.

He didn't react to things the way other children did.

Joy.

Fear.

Sadness.

Anger.

Most emotions seemed distant to him.

The only exception was Fabiola.

Whenever she was close, Ezra became calmer.

She would place his hand against her chest and let him feel her heartbeat.

Somehow, that always worked.

It was as if she were his anchor.

Without her, Ezra often got into unnecessary fights.

Many children called him a vampire because of his "dead heart."

But Fiona refused to believe that.

He was her son.

And she would protect him no matter what.

One afternoon, a certain prophet came to visit.

(Doorbell rings)

FIONA: (opening the door)Papa!... Welcome. Please come in.

P. ISAIAH:Thank you, my daughter.

Fiona quickly welcomed him inside and prepared fruits, snacks, and soft drinks.

After settling down, the family gathered in the living room.

HAVIOR:Seems the heavens have smiled on us today.

To what do we owe this pleasure, Father?

You're a hard man to find these days.Yet here you are.

P. ISAIAH:I missed you, my children.Now let's stop acting so formal.Where are my grandchildren?

And where is my beloved daughter?

FIONA:What kind of father forgets to hug his beloved daughter first?

HAVIOR:Oh come on.He's my father.Me first.

P. ISAIAH:I see neither of you has changed.

Suddenly two voices echoed through the house.

EZRA & FABIOLA:Grandpa!

The twins came running.

Isaiah laughed and embraced them.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Grandpa, why are you always away?

P. ISAIAH:Because, child, I go wherever God sends me.Someone has to preach the Gospel.

YOUNG~EZRA:When I grow up, I'll be just like you.I'll do God's work too.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Me too!

YOUNG~EZRA:We're men.You should be your own woman.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:Oh come on.God uses both men and women.

P. ISAIAH:Fiona, I believe the children inherited these arguments from you and Havior.

FIONA:Not true.Maybe him.I've always been the sensible one.

HAVIOR:False.

YOUNG~EZRA:We weren't arguing.We were simply speaking to one another in a loud and angry voice.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:And what exactly do you call that, dummy?

YOUNG~EZRA:That reminds me.How did Mom and Dad meet?

Whenever Grandpa visits, he calls both of you his children.I get confused.

Do siblings marry each other?

The room fell silent.

Then everyone burst into laughter.

P. ISAIAH:No, child.Your father is my biological son.

Your mother is my goddaughter.I took Fiona in when she was sixteen after her parents died in a car accident.The two eventually fell in love.

Although...Fiona remains my favorite child.

HAVIOR:Dad!

The children laughed.

Fiona smiled proudly.

FIONA:Aww.Did you hear that, darling?

HAVIOR:Don't flatter yourself.

YOUNG~FABIOLA:I think I'm in love.

P. ISAIAH:You're twelve years old.You don't even know what love means.

YOUNG~EZRA:What is love?

FIONA:Well, sweetheart...Love is a strong feeling you have toward someone.

Someone you care about deeply.Someone you're willing to do almost anything for.

Ezra became quiet.

Then he asked softly.

YOUNG~EZRA:Will I ever be able to feel that?My friends say I'm a blood-sucking vampire because my heart is numb.Whenever I lose control, Fabiola calms me down.

But what if one day she leaves?Who will stop me from hurting people?

The room grew silent.

Fiona's heart ached.

FIONA:Come here, love.

She pulled him onto her lap.

FIONA:First of all...Find new friends.Those ones are terrible

Secondly...Don't believe everything they say.You are not a vampire.

You're human.Just like the rest of us.And the fact that you're sharing your worries with us

proves you can feel.Maybe not in the same way.But you can.And I promise you something.

One day your heart will beat.

Maybe it just needs a jump-start.

Until then, pray.

Leave the rest to God.

Ezra hugged her.

YOUNG~EZRA:I've seen people hug after emotional conversations.

I hope you felt something.

Fiona laughed through her tears.

FIONA:I did.

The family smiled.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

Then Isaiah's expression changed.

P. ISAIAH:Children.Take your gifts and play outside.

I need to speak with your parents.

The twins happily accepted their gifts and left.

Once the room was empty, Isaiah's smile vanished.

P. ISAIAH:I bring bad news.

HAVIOR:As usual.You always do.

FIONA:Havior.Let him speak.

P. ISAIAH:My son...I only tell people what God shows me.Not every revelation is pleasant.

But it is better to know the truth early.

HAVIOR:I understand.

Isaiah took a deep breath.

P. ISAIAH:Ezra was never supposed to survive.

Silence.

P. ISAIAH:A curse followed Fiona's bloodline.It began when her father refused a throne that came with dark rituals.

As punishment, he was told that his firstborn son would die.

Instead...He had a daughter.

Fiona.Your family's faith broke much of that curse.

But not completely.

FIONA:When I was younger, a strange woman kept telling me I was cursed.

She warned me again and again.

I ignored her.

HAVIOR:You said the curse was broken.So what does that have to do with Ezra?

P. ISAIAH:Because it came back.Fiona was supposed to die in the car accident.

Instead, her parents died.The curse waited.

Then it found another opportunity.

The room felt colder.

P. ISAIAH:Try to remember.What happened at the hospital before Ezra and Fabiola were born?

(The Sun by Frida Sundemo plays)

Fiona thought carefully.

Then her eyes widened.

FIONA:A nurse gave me an apple.A few moments later, the doctors said they couldn't hear my baby's heartbeat.

Isaiah nodded.

P. ISAIAH:Your children were poisoned.

Fiona gasped.

HAVIOR:What?

P. ISAIAH:Fabiola didn't suddenly appear.

She was always there.Hidden spiritually.

That is why the doctors never detected her.

If you had agreed to the C-section...

Fabiola would've died.

That was the plan.The same darkness that

 has haunted your family for generations tried

 to claim your children.But your prayers interfered.

Your faith changed the outcome.Fabiola became Ezra's anchor.

The curse no longer controls him.

But...Another revelation was shown to me.

The room became silent once more.

P. ISAIAH:Destiny calls alongside sorrow and joy.And when one of them stands at death's door...

Remember your Maker.

Fiona's face turned pale.

FIONA:No.No!I will not lose my children!

Tears streamed down her face.

But Isaiah said nothing.

He simply stood.

Turned.

And walked away.

Leaving behind a warning.

And a future nobody fully understood.

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