Chapter 4 Mia

• For my sister’s sake, I knew that I couldn’t break down. Although it hurt me so much that there was a possibility that I could have done something before everything spiralled out of control like this. I had to still take a stance, I had to find a way to save my sister.
• Taking my phone, the latest Samsung flip 13, dialled my aunt June and I wrote down the text, “ Aunt June, my parents have been killed and my sister is trapped in the house. I don’t know what’s going on. Please help me.” And hit the voice icon. The phone allowed me to write down everything I needed to say prior to the call and then as the caller answered, the phone would use an AI voice that would possibly match my voice type based on my DNA, build and other facial features to relay the message. It would be as though I am the one talking to the person and I used this feature for people who did not know sign language or in emergencies.
• I waited for the phone to be answered. It rang twice and then the call was ended on the other side. Shocked I tried the process again.
• This time after the first ring, it was answered. I smiled as I looked at the call. As the AI voice started talking, aunt June cut it off and said, “ Mia, your family has been labeled as traitors and you guys re wanted throughout the city. Please do not call this number again, I have my family to protect.” Then she ended the call.
• (Beep, beep, beep) I had this after she directly ended the call. I was shocked, Aunt June might have not been my real aunt but my mom considered her as family and we and her family were pretty close.
• Why would she do this? She did not even listen to my message, she just said what she wanted and cut ties with me.
• I felt a little sad but if she did not want to help, I would call other people who would. I did not believe that in all of our witch clan, no one would be willing to help. I dialed out every single number I had and even some of my friends.
• Most did not answer.
• Finally as I was losing hope, Taylor, my only most close friend, answered.
• I used the same feature of my phone, “ Hi, Taylor I need your help.” The AI voice mimicked my anxiety and portrayed the message perfectly.
• She did not say anything. I could only hear breathing from the other side.
• “ Taylor?” I typed the message and the AI voice said it.
• Suddenly, I had hiccupping. Was she crying?
• “ M-Mia, I-I’m s-sorry, but I can’t help you. M-my mom said I should not answer your calls but I could bring myself to ignore your calls so I answered to tell you this. I am sorry, Mia.”
• Toot-toot-toot. That was it, it was the end. I had no one else to call. She was my last hope.
• I slid down against the tree trunk I was leaning against and sat down on the dirt. I closed my eyes because I felt tears welling up. However, closing my eyes did not stop them from falling. I had lost count of how many times I had cried already, this was just too much. I lost my mate and my parents in a single day. My sister was trapped and I did not know how to save her and lastly, my clansmen had turned their backs on me, on us.