“The latest report, the case of the forbidden forest that has been closed for a long time is successfully revealed. A girl from Lago Sul is reported to have gone to the forest with a legendary character named Nick Erhan. They managed to get out by bringing three living suspects from the tribe of women who killed and raped the men who came to there. From ….” The reporter’s voice from the television channel was cut off. Dev stares blankly at the screen that has turned black.
“Look, Dad! Soon the world will apologize to you.” After saying that, she got up and decided to go somewhere.
Wearing a hoodie, hat, and glasses, she made it to her destination without a hitch. She looked intensely at the figure of the woman who had taken care of her since childhood. There was no life imprinted on the skinny woman’s pale face. Dev sighed, holding back the streak of longing she was trying to dodge.
“Are you her family?” Dev nods as a woman in police uniform comes to her.
“There’s something we want to talk about.”
“Yes!” Dev replied, then followed the police’s steps to a special room. There was already Michele, a psychiatrist who was very instrumental to Erhan’s family, especially Jess. Pulling up a chair, Devada sat across from the police.
“What happened?” asked Dev straight to the point.
“The court has decided to move Mrs. Jessyca Amora from prison to a mental hospital under the care of Doctor Michele. Mrs. Jess is experiencing a very frightening mental disorder. We the police ask you as her family to continue to provide support.” The blue-eyed woman explained.
“Uncle Michele, can you explain?” Dev asks the man sitting between them.
“Jess often comes out of the cell in a way that no one knows about. Every time that happens, there is always someone seeing her eating an animal alive.” Dev’s sharp, straight eyes immediately turn to the man who had helped Jess.
As the only family left, Dev assumes full responsibility to her stepmother. Jess’ depression was a blow to Dev. Her calm face hid a lot of commotion. Silence enveloped the car that took them to the mental hospital. Dev could only look at Jess’ blank eyes which were glued to the spot outside the glass.
“I heard the viral news. Is Nick busy now avoiding the paparazzi?” Michele tried to dispel the cold atmosphere that was created.
“You can see how daddy is after this.”
“All right. That’s a certainty.” Michelle replied. There was a question behind the crease of his forehead. He would get the answer later. However, not with Jess. The thin-looking woman did not respond to their “sensitive” conversation at all. The pair of gray eyes continued to point outwards.
“What happened to mommy while I was gone?” Dev asks when they arrive at hospital.
“I checked first, but, I suspect your mother has psychotic disorder,” said Michele.
“Is it dangerous?”
“It’s a serious mental breakdown, but, again, that’s just conjecture.”
“Uncle, please heal my mother.” Dev cupping hands.
“Be patient! You must always support her with love. I will do my job to the best of my ability. The rest, leave everything to God.” Michele lightly tapped Devada’s shoulder.
“Yes, of course!”
“I think, I can visit your father. Where is he now?” said Michele after looking at the hands of the clock on his wrist.
“In Lago Sul,” said Dev, then left the room ahead of the man called “uncle”.
Right in front of the room, Dev watches how her mother sits cross-legged on the floor with a happy look. She doesn’t know what Jess saw on the wall in front of her.
“Finally you die, you lose!” Such was the chatter that Dev heard from her mother’s mouth, which was thrown at someone.
“I’m sorry, Mommy!” Dev looks down and drops the wound fluid that fills her eyes. There was a tremor that shook her body, and she felt a hand on her shoulder. Dev immediately turned and found Jess’ gaze as sharp as a dagger. Her breath suddenly roared. The glass window that was originally in front of her cracked due to a strong impact from her head.
“Mommy!” she screamed. She saw Jess bring a knife.
“Mom!” Dev doesn’t understand why the lady suddenly swings the knife at her. Millions of anxious expressions are hidden behind the beads of sweat that come out of the pores of her mother’s beautiful face. Just inches away, the sharp edge of the knife reached Deva’s chest.
“Ners, help me bring her into the room. One of you, prepare a sedative!” one nurse shouted to the other two nurses.
“Let go! Let me go! My child needs this to protect herself!” Jess rebelled against the nurses’ grip.
“Hurry!” The dimpled nurse there came rushing over to prepare an injection filled with sedatives.
“No! Don’t kill me!” Fear was driving Jess out of control. The nurses were very overwhelmed. Jess’ aggressive moves eventually led to an error.
A painstaking injection was aimed at Jess, eventually getting into the skin of one of the nurses. Instantly, Jess found her freedom. The thing that caused everyone to panic.
“Don’t try to kill me!” The knife in her hand, Jess pointed at the nurses. The two nurses backed away in panic.
“Mom, no!” stop Dev. However, Jess stood her ground. She was like a snake feeling in danger.
“Devada!” Michele came at just the right time.
“Doctor!” said one of them. Michelle didn’t flinch. His palms were pointed at them. Signaling for nurses to be quiet and remain calm. His gaze then turned to Dev. The transgender girl nodded as if understanding Michele’s eye signal.
“Mommy come here! Give it to me! I’ll take care of the baddies. I’ll protect you.” Slowly, Dev approached her mother. The woman slowly calmed down. However, one of the nurses chimed in, “Criminals?” This made Michele cast an angry look. The slender nurse was silent for a moment.
“I’m with you, Mom! I will kill anyone who hurts you.” Slowly, Jess held out the knife shakily. Dev quickly picks it up, then hugs her mother lovingly. A hug that soothed her aching heart.
“Dev, come on, take your mother to the room!” Nodding, Devada followed Michele’s words, leading her mother to the room.
“Take her to the room!” Michele called out to the nurses. They both nodded fearfully.
“Go to sleep, Mom! You look exhausted. I’m here with you.” Dev said as she guided Jess to rest on the all-white mattress.
While Dev rubbed her mother’s forehead, Michele carefully injected medicine into the wistful woman who didn’t look sleepy. After a few minutes of waiting, Jess finally yawned and fell asleep.
“What did you give to Mommy?”
“Only sleeping pills. Your mother never slept while in detention. It endangered her health.”
“Oh, my God! Uncle, you must know something.” Michelle frowned.
Arriving at home ….