The bump to the head woke her. She slowly opened her eyes and all she could see is darkness. She felt another bump to the head, fully waking her up from what felt like a slumber. Her head started to ache. She felt like she was moving side to side, not realising what’s going on. She felt like she's lying on a carpeted floor. She moved her legs and found that she couldn’t stretch them out like she wanted to. She drew her hand up and felt herself touching what felt like a wall.488Please respect copyright.PENANA2cJGBgeixP
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzoWZpsIqFO
488Please respect copyright.PENANAMVjeT8PeL8
She started to feel around and realised that she’s in some kind of box as she felt the walls around her. Then she felt the box move around, in the process, hitting her head a few times on the walls. She now started to panic as she started to precipitate, and wondering why she's in a box.488Please respect copyright.PENANAUhG77MfX7R
488Please respect copyright.PENANAvs4RINaIdC
488Please respect copyright.PENANAJPDFtdfrhA
She heard the sound of an engine. Is she in a car? I must be, she thought. She started to pound on the lid above and she heard the sound of heavy metal. She is in a car. She continued to bang on the lid, hoping that there is someone out there. But she soon figured they were probably driving down a dark lonely road with no one around.488Please respect copyright.PENANAHW9ghAZBK6
488Please respect copyright.PENANAwgTpo1YLpH
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She started to breathe heavily and felt like she's running out of air as it started to feel stuffy.488Please respect copyright.PENANA1r6l0J8QeY
488Please respect copyright.PENANAdKc8l8AEm2
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7fdWAdB5yc
“Calm down,” she told herself.“Take deep and steady breaths.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAB0MeJ2ZrX7
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7h4iQ9sLGm
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzJWALG7QKj
As much as she tried to, her heart still beat faster at the thought of being in a trunk of a car. She tried to remember how she got in this situation, but she still felt dizzy and a blank picture came up every time she tried.488Please respect copyright.PENANAJEXIsfqsFk
488Please respect copyright.PENANAOdC2fhdPVE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAEeEwpXCRSE
The sudden thought of Rhénee crossed her mind. She soon remembered where she was before and who she's with right now. She was in the bathroom of Mr. Cowell’s house, trying to help clean his wound, when all of a sudden, he had her back pinned to the wall. Before she could realise what's going on, he covered her nose and mouth with a white cloth. She remembered it had a horrible smell and it made her lose sight of things. Next thing she knew, she's locked in a trunk.488Please respect copyright.PENANAIWiM4gZnXn
488Please respect copyright.PENANAoK49rFD4e9
488Please respect copyright.PENANAoG228c3H6l
Now that she has recalled everything, she couldn’t believe Mr. Cowell could do what he did. First of all, he lied about being injured, then he drugged and stuffed her in the back of a car. She couldn’t wrap her head around all this so as to know what motive he could've to do what he did. She continued to bang on the lid, hoping that he could hear her and let her out.488Please respect copyright.PENANA9r2fHQPUIY
488Please respect copyright.PENANA58lTCsjWTp
488Please respect copyright.PENANAXXIsCgn3Bg
The bumpy ride continued and Miss Griselda soon got tired of banging on the trunk’s lid. There were probably no people or cars around that could hear her. She now wondered where she is.488Please respect copyright.PENANAms9DhE1ACF
488Please respect copyright.PENANAKw2aiw1wIY
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0oJ2URwkCu
Soon enough the car came to a stop and Miss Griselda held her breath for a second as she heard the opening and closing of the car door. The soft roar of the engine continued when she heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer.488Please respect copyright.PENANATsMg5ccqxL
488Please respect copyright.PENANAxZp5kpPPyq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAJHvRBoPf2W
She heard the trunk opening and when it did, cold air quickly rushed in, surprising Miss Griselda who had gotten used to the hot, stuffy air. A dark figure of a person appeared above her and before she could utter a sound, the person reached for her shoulder and roughly made her sit up so as to get out of the boot.488Please respect copyright.PENANAtnAvmN5yEx
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3gyUsw5zE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtykRPIY4yE
“Come on, Griselda,” came a familiar voice, as the man dragged her out.488Please respect copyright.PENANAv0lQVV1HWd
488Please respect copyright.PENANAGwpKBOgNxI
488Please respect copyright.PENANAAbkSqicaTG
Miss Griselda didn’t try to fight back as she got out. The place is dark and cold. With trees all around, it's like a dark veil covered the whole area.488Please respect copyright.PENANAHqxGklZJRn
488Please respect copyright.PENANAriga2jYySc
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtaWJ22T1ce
“Why are you doing this?” Miss Griselda asked as soon as she was out. Mr. Cowell closed the boot, while his other hand held tight around Miss Griselda’s arm.488Please respect copyright.PENANAPQ0allyt9r
488Please respect copyright.PENANANMYOv4kle6
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYvR1ojPA8p
“Stop talking,” he ordered, as he brought her round the front of the car. The headlights of the car were still on, and when Miss Griselda stood in front of them, she felt like a deer about to get run over.488Please respect copyright.PENANA1v1zIL6lnA
488Please respect copyright.PENANAC4wOxhhuuK
488Please respect copyright.PENANAMLQ0WGVoit
“Who is ordering you to do this?” Miss Griselda continued to ask. “What have you done with Rhénee?”488Please respect copyright.PENANAMoMmah7mwx
488Please respect copyright.PENANAUlvtvBJSMy
488Please respect copyright.PENANAUdEi1s8mSb
“Not much if you don’t stop talking,” said Mr. Cowell as he squeezed his hand on Miss Griselda’s arm. “Come on, let’s move.”488Please respect copyright.PENANA1oq4IkM0tC
488Please respect copyright.PENANAohMIqAjOJF
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzhVBd4vW8s
He started to drag her with him away from the car and along a one lane road. Miss Griselda tried to stop in her tracks, but Mr. Cowell was too strong for her as he continued to drag her along.488Please respect copyright.PENANAk4VEPfyxrs
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0IDax4udzK
488Please respect copyright.PENANARDMghSQvvm
They continued to walk away from the car. Miss Grisleda looked around to see if she could tell where she is, but there were trees all around and Madison is widely known for its vast forestry. Trying to pinpoint where she is will prove to be difficult.488Please respect copyright.PENANAwiP6ujjPqZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzIx49zXs4o
488Please respect copyright.PENANA12CoSMwTfX
The two continued their walk down the road when the sound of flowing water reached their ears. Miss Griselda continued to look ahead of her and realised that they were heading towards a wooden bridge. She knew where they were and before she could say anything to Mr. Cowell, she noticed that there were two cars in front of her, close to the bridge. She hadn't seen them until now.488Please respect copyright.PENANAPoiifWckTS
488Please respect copyright.PENANA2KRC7AmysG
488Please respect copyright.PENANAMhvBBxpzhH
"What is all this?" Miss Griselda asked as she turned to look at him.488Please respect copyright.PENANAskTsxXe6Em
488Please respect copyright.PENANABTflKIZl9z
488Please respect copyright.PENANAW0ytC05Wqs
Mr. Cowell stopped dragging her and turned to look at her. "Your fate," he answered.488Please respect copyright.PENANA6wk9kqeIyI
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7PgxDhylFK
488Please respect copyright.PENANAqfNyiiUcts
With his hand still around her arm, he pushed her forward and she fell to the ground. She looked up at him, and started to tremble. She tried not to imagine what he would do to her.488Please respect copyright.PENANA1IoYcJCDG4
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnNwmhbxLR6
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0LCatb7NAV
She heard the sound of car doors opening in front of her and when she looked, she saw two cars and people coming out of them. She couldn’t tell who they were because of the dark.488Please respect copyright.PENANACILQdAc10U
488Please respect copyright.PENANArUsOzXpLKu
488Please respect copyright.PENANAbQagUohTvY
Mr. Collins started to approach the people who had come out of the cars, leaving Miss Griselda helpless on the ground. He knew if she didn’t keep an eye on her, she wouldn’t go anyway. She knew that too. The people standing next to their cars might have guns and wouldn’t hesitate to shoot her.488Please respect copyright.PENANA0JOaJ9Xh5t
488Please respect copyright.PENANAc03pwcEwfq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAuq9QQFlitJ
"Job well done," came a voice as one of those who had come out from one of the cars started to approach them. "I hope things back at the house are going as planned."488Please respect copyright.PENANA9xm0sNyf1L
488Please respect copyright.PENANA3gQJv3iQNb
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzkRggK0wxX
"I’m yet to know how things are going since we planned to jam the signal in the house," Mr. Cowell responded.488Please respect copyright.PENANAx3hywUQlfj
488Please respect copyright.PENANARV2yu3GAjM
488Please respect copyright.PENANAXRGsDWweKS
"Ah, I sure hope he would be able to do as planned,” the man continued to say. "We don’t need anything going wrong at this point."488Please respect copyright.PENANADgddObJEwz
488Please respect copyright.PENANAfrdrDvdXKh
488Please respect copyright.PENANA84WFXRdr7q
"Please, don’t hurt Rhénee,” Miss Griselda started to plead. "She has done nothing wrong.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAvKRlkWqFVo
488Please respect copyright.PENANApXVyf3iEXW
488Please respect copyright.PENANASSb4543EdA
Mr. Cowell looked down at her and said, "If you don’t stop talking I’m going to break you.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAUOF9nBoQy0
488Please respect copyright.PENANAeeUPheueFr
488Please respect copyright.PENANASdA8Iiy1K7
"No need for all the violence,” the man said. "But we need to find a way to keep her quiet, though. Or else she will continue to plead and I hate it when people do that.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAvQrJFVdcVL
488Please respect copyright.PENANAENggLX7cVJ
488Please respect copyright.PENANADhW4efMbKl
"Tell me, what you’re going to do to her?” Miss Griselda asked.488Please respect copyright.PENANADTUOqBI4Yq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAuszT2gK2Gt
488Please respect copyright.PENANAGSA8AR0aa9
"What do you think we’re going to do? She needs to be taught a little lesson.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAvfNO76Qokc
488Please respect copyright.PENANA2aQFy7qy5T
488Please respect copyright.PENANAkOeb05574W
"You lie!” Miss Griselda revolted. "She has done nothing wrong. Are you punishing her for the crimes of her late grand-mother? If so, then you should be dealing with me. Just leave her out of it.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAfn0yc5AFgj
488Please respect copyright.PENANAVZgCeAt1OC
488Please respect copyright.PENANAHQy1gxcZCQ
"You expect that to make us cry?” Mr. Cowell asked. "Sorry, but you of all people know that the girl is destined for this from the very beginning.”488Please respect copyright.PENANA00wUS1y54k
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzx8Ffd6hRo
488Please respect copyright.PENANACW7NMTUVo0
Miss Griselda sat up slowly went on her knees. "I don’t understand what you mean. Her grandmother might have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but that doesn’t mean you’ve to take it out on her. She’s innocent.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAoWc5URV7uW
488Please respect copyright.PENANAg1EQuzYCUN
488Please respect copyright.PENANAkSi2fQwL34
The man in front of her started to laugh. "You really do know how to pretend. I should give you an award. But Cowell here is right. She needs to be punished.”488Please respect copyright.PENANApufvo8fv9J
488Please respect copyright.PENANAmAmIXq17Gg
488Please respect copyright.PENANAm0MrIU0qM2
Before Miss Griselda could say anything, Mr. Cowell came to her and bent downwards so as to grab a fistful of her hair in his hand, yanking her upwards. Miss Griselda muttered, as he pulled on to her hair tightly. It felt like he was ready to rip it out from her skull.488Please respect copyright.PENANAUcPLbDma0G
488Please respect copyright.PENANAChj6Hg59pn
488Please respect copyright.PENANANvuCH1lJgI
"And we'll only need you to do so,” said Mr. Cowell as he stared at her after forcing her to stand with him. "Can't you see, Griselda? If we hurt you, she'll suffer bitterly. But that doesn't mean she won't have to undergo more of it. For what we'll do to you, we'll do it to her too."488Please respect copyright.PENANAhi4NhGTJ8w
488Please respect copyright.PENANAQPdnYOi0z5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAyLyat6PJNV
"Please, don't," Miss Griselda begged. She winced as Mr Cowell pulled at her hair. "You can punish me as much as you want for your own satisfaction. Just don't hurt her."488Please respect copyright.PENANA4oTkkKnyTD
488Please respect copyright.PENANAvFHSZG0HL1
488Please respect copyright.PENANAFy5i5hZuCS
"Enough, Cowell," said the man in front of them. "You shouldn’t have told her."488Please respect copyright.PENANAN2SbKIJHWV
488Please respect copyright.PENANADQ0BA6mhj1
488Please respect copyright.PENANAsko1yxw63x
"You really care about Rhénee, don't you?" Mr. Cowell asked Miss Griselda, ignoring the other man. "You're even ready to suffer for her. You treat her like she's precious. She's nothing but a-"488Please respect copyright.PENANA16yGZnbCBa
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtkgMeLU7ZU
488Please respect copyright.PENANA81IuEVxwej
"Enough, Cowell!" the man in front of them called out. "Bring the woman here. I think you've done your part. Let us do ours."488Please respect copyright.PENANAIOxr2AHnrZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWs62lBhGhE
488Please respect copyright.PENANANdlaFrx6kD
Mr. Cowell stared at the man like he would murder him. It's clear that he didn't want to do as he was told. But in the end, he let go of Miss Griselda's hair. He got hold of her arm like he did before and dragged her forward.488Please respect copyright.PENANAJtXS2K2V5z
488Please respect copyright.PENANAGvpKyzYZwm
488Please respect copyright.PENANADeDYCJvqCR
"You better behave yourself, Griselda,” said the man as they soon passed him. "Don’t try to make things complicated as it is.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAwa24lTFcow
488Please respect copyright.PENANAih7fvtgFWL
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZyt1v0s1DE
Miss Griselda took a glance at the man before passing him with Mr. Cowell. She could only see the side of his face, but even that wasn’t enough. Now that she's close, she felt she had heard the man’s voice before, but couldn’t tell where she heard it from or who it might be. With all this adrenaline running through her head, she was finding it pretty hard to think.488Please respect copyright.PENANAuOGjlsi0M3
488Please respect copyright.PENANAHzxuXqtXFl
488Please respect copyright.PENANAkqiWqedIHf
She looked at Mr Cowell beside her and questions about him started to rise. Has he been planning to do this for a long time? Why didn’t he do anything when the late Emelda was still alive? He had been her gardener for a long time and even when Emelda died, he still worked at the mansion. When did he have a change of heart? Did he change recently? Miss Griselda thought she knew him, but it's like she never did.488Please respect copyright.PENANARKuanvvu2F
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZt8z5T432Z
488Please respect copyright.PENANAifoT6q6Ovq
Mr. Cowell dragged her along to one of the cars and made sure to shove her in the backseat, closing the door after her. Miss Griselda heard the corking sound of a gun. It was then that she realised that there's someone seated next to her in the backseat with a gun pointed at her head. She gulped.488Please respect copyright.PENANAsVs1NByiph
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZkCm7cgjX6
488Please respect copyright.PENANAcv7PqQjG02
"Don’t move,” came a voice. Surprisingly, it's a woman who spoke. "Try anything funny and I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.”488Please respect copyright.PENANANyqR37CfVE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAfSsEvYMQXw
488Please respect copyright.PENANAsLAbr1p4eZ
Miss Griselda couldn’t turn her head to see the woman’s face. It wouldn’t make a difference if she tried as the inside of the car is dark. She had better things to worry about. Miss Griselda now felt scared, hoping that the worst hadn’t happened to Rhénee and to Kevin who is with her at this very moment.488Please respect copyright.PENANAelzgbFqRrH
488Please respect copyright.PENANA2jJAwRgAr6
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnNejcqfWnW
***488Please respect copyright.PENANAban7aUyRxE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYTjSAWOtFV
488Please respect copyright.PENANANbTYrTwPrV
"We’re wasting time,” Rhénee sounded frustrated. "The people who have Miss Griselda are probably waiting and they will start to get suspicious.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAwhLRlqLFID
488Please respect copyright.PENANAFE6KIRlIKb
488Please respect copyright.PENANA9Goi35StCe
"I know that, but we aren’t going to carry this man with us,” said Malcom.488Please respect copyright.PENANAsS51jyuSSb
488Please respect copyright.PENANAF27ERhofqc
488Please respect copyright.PENANAV6BgIRXLKi
"So what do you suggest we do? We can’t leave him here or drop him off somewhere where we can get back to him later. He knows a lot about what’s going on. We need answers.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAjqEVkQcoPZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWOBWKn4EGG
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtT7cQT9MBF
"True, but Malcom is right. We can’t just take him with us,” said Greta. "What if he wakes up then we realise he’s a highly trained assassin and tries to kill us?”488Please respect copyright.PENANANi7YL64kZ2
488Please respect copyright.PENANAigemRwvDAA
488Please respect copyright.PENANAd27kOtav2H
"Then so be it. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”488Please respect copyright.PENANA2PAfthfE7T
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzOFIojXu6j
488Please respect copyright.PENANArt8IQZufoN
Kevin sighed. "Why can’t we just leave him, then come back for him afterwards?”488Please respect copyright.PENANA5liUP4dYNR
488Please respect copyright.PENANA5U0Jt9G2c9
488Please respect copyright.PENANAVgw4moH2wP
"Someone might come for him,” said Rhénee. "I suggest we put him in the trunk. That way, we’re sure he won’t run away.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAAAYjAIF4wO
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnCAhSyvgn4
488Please respect copyright.PENANADdLLL09oRD
Malcom, Kevin and Greta shared a look amongst themselves in the partially dark living-room before turning to look at Rhénee. They were standing around the unconscious man who is still tied up.488Please respect copyright.PENANANd6dL120On
488Please respect copyright.PENANAfZEYgqn7AK
488Please respect copyright.PENANAKRDAJxWGu5
"I’m one who doesn’t approve of putting someone in the trunk of a car, but we’re wasting time and we don’t have much of a choice,” said Malcom. He sighed in frustration as he looked at Rhénee.488Please respect copyright.PENANAgomhOLAEHW
488Please respect copyright.PENANAhpv03PcHjH
488Please respect copyright.PENANAxqVG41P3nx
"I’m sorry I had to force your hand, Malcom,” said Rhénee. "But there’s no other option. We might not get this opportunity again.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAAEmm8WMBdX
488Please respect copyright.PENANA18AF4rO9NJ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAKMI4mLH3ao
"Well, if we’re going to put him in the back of the car, we better lift him,” said Kevin.488Please respect copyright.PENANAAZSN8TMQ02
488Please respect copyright.PENANAdw9s4fNX4L
488Please respect copyright.PENANAbqx2QsQvkv
"I’ll bring the car up the driveway,” said Malcom as he turned around to head out of the house.488Please respect copyright.PENANANFUuCgvXuF
488Please respect copyright.PENANABDKB8P2p0h
488Please respect copyright.PENANADsOHUFQjUM
"Ya, we better do that to avoid suspicion from the neighbours,” said Greta.488Please respect copyright.PENANA8rvBbJX1O4
488Please respect copyright.PENANAi7Wzis16JS
488Please respect copyright.PENANAxUN9Ou72IO
"I just hope we haven’t drawn too much already,” said Rhénee as she went for the window, drawing the curtain to look out.488Please respect copyright.PENANAnaq8tTAyc3
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYDAoNN2utE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAm3cB69lw0J
"If you’re worried about the racket we made, I don’t think people heard much of it,” said Kevin. "If they did, the police would already be here.”488Please respect copyright.PENANAdbfwxvz0hB
488Please respect copyright.PENANAv0GvX3zAZr
488Please respect copyright.PENANAh7FLwb0vCl
Rhénee couldn't help but agree. She watched through the window at Malcom who had already reached the outside of the gate and entered his car. He turned on the engine and brought the car through the driveway, bringing it in reverse. Rhénee drew back the curtains and turned back to Greta and Kevin.488Please respect copyright.PENANAVNMcT9Um0E
488Please respect copyright.PENANASraBGA4gpl
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0576M2LNkY
"Uh..., Rhénee?" Greta asked as she stared at Rhénee in the dark. "I know this is probably the wrong time to ask, but um..., how were you able to take down this man?"488Please respect copyright.PENANARK1SLYfHww
488Please respect copyright.PENANA4uZUdiJUjH
488Please respect copyright.PENANAg75DaD13tW
"I used acupuncture," Rhénee wasn't afraid to answer. "It was hard to bring him down at first. If it wasn't for Kevin, I wouldn’t have made him fall unconscious."488Please respect copyright.PENANAWPSEKDMiny
488Please respect copyright.PENANAQKBLVFc0zW
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYuT8CXmPeW
"Wow, where did you learn that from?" Greta asked.488Please respect copyright.PENANAM6IQS6c0iC
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnmC7366dRw
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZsz8hgAgZP
"Can we leave that topic for later?" Malcom asked as he walked in the room. "We better get moving."488Please respect copyright.PENANAuS6TCTfys5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtOIHpgcfHO
488Please respect copyright.PENANAW3iiXSaQ1T
Greta sighed in disappointment but Rhénee came over and held her shoulder. "There will be plenty of time to tell you. We better go." Greta nodded.488Please respect copyright.PENANAavXrTImdsU
488Please respect copyright.PENANAVWMCGsH6fq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAqqJA7qgdnm
Malcom and Kevin got ready to lift the man on the floor. They carried him up like a heavy log, with two of them lifting him from either side. They looked to be carrying him with ease as they made their way out of the living-room and to the front door. The car stood right outside the doorstep with the trunk open. Rhénee and Greta went past the two to stand outside to see that there were no people watching them from anywhere. At the moment, there were no people moving around. Seems like they were in their houses, settling in for the night. While for Rhénee and the others, their night has just begun.488Please respect copyright.PENANAAQUsCFJ2Ue
488Please respect copyright.PENANA5dyJFb76i0
488Please respect copyright.PENANAoIizMJgN8M
Malcom closed the trunk. "We're ready to go. But we need a plan. We're obviously going to be dealing with a group of people, so we need to get ready and prepare for the worst."488Please respect copyright.PENANAZc7DhnCRUl
488Please respect copyright.PENANANJoDyoe38O
488Please respect copyright.PENANApxudMV1GDv
"Since you've said so, I think we better get suited for the occasion," said Rhénee.488Please respect copyright.PENANAumRcHP1Nyx
488Please respect copyright.PENANAyUqTXTnRTZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAizcPQhllJo
"Why do you say that?" Greta asked.488Please respect copyright.PENANAQVmfxBoDkU
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7TPYtALuWy
488Please respect copyright.PENANA9P5It8dXzA
Rhénee stared at the house behind Malcom and Kevin. "We'll have to fight fire with fire," she said.488Please respect copyright.PENANAUwmHKTpvXq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWPHxNtj4S8
488Please respect copyright.PENANAyw9nNgJa0S
***488Please respect copyright.PENANA0ImOpXyG8j
488Please respect copyright.PENANABNhyFdpOiW
488Please respect copyright.PENANAV4fQkXsGh4
Mrs. Derrand stared at the clock on the wall and the stomping of her foot on the floor increased impatiently. She looked around the empty living-room, hoping for any of the house help to be there, but they weren't. She looked back at the clock and realised that her children were taking quite a while to get back. Have they lost track of time and are out there doing something else? She wanted to call them. But if they were still at Rhénee’s house, she felt she would be butting in on them. What if they’re having a good time with her? No, they’ll show up when they want to, she thought. I better give them a text to remind them to come back quickly, she thought.488Please respect copyright.PENANANcS6mJO1Xq
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7VQ7AbE3B3
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7yH3giBK5P
She went for her phone that rested on the armchair and when she looked at it, she found that she had a message from someone telling her to call. She rolled her eyes in disbelief as she quickly called the number.488Please respect copyright.PENANAE0LJAkWYQT
488Please respect copyright.PENANAX7exGWDh9a
488Please respect copyright.PENANAvXw4gVrdMT
The person on the other end picked up at the second ring and Mrs. Derrand made sure to give the person a piece of her mind.488Please respect copyright.PENANAXNzcDd1m85
488Please respect copyright.PENANAO0pzA4k5nT
488Please respect copyright.PENANAi4cn0A3pab
"Why do you want me to call at this hour?" Mrs. Derrand asked. "I thought I told you that talking to each other like this is inappropriate."488Please respect copyright.PENANAI8aCtG5eto
488Please respect copyright.PENANAuWQAWzrmMe
488Please respect copyright.PENANAtf1upNlQ9i
"I know," came a voice of a male at the other end. "But I’ve to tell you something that can’t wait till tomorrow."488Please respect copyright.PENANA0Fr3dtZrkG
488Please respect copyright.PENANA3SfuLDxlZo
488Please respect copyright.PENANA248SBP9wac
The man sounded urgent and Mrs. Derrand quickly sat up on her chair.488Please respect copyright.PENANAyLFQVPQ5fD
488Please respect copyright.PENANAcR7NYNc0ai
488Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8pdiEuBj7
"Tell me what’s going on," she said.488Please respect copyright.PENANADlzCkKfelQ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAJFCdJD6ZcZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANASc87275NeI
"I’m afraid one of our men is down as we speak," the man answered. "And your children are about to do something that might land them in danger."488Please respect copyright.PENANAAFN4tvwxL2
488Please respect copyright.PENANAkkKP26Bhkc
488Please respect copyright.PENANA13nEjH7cSB
Mrs. Derrand couldn’t believe the news as she quickly got up from the chair. She’s now reminded of the warning she received from Mr. Sinclair earlier about her children. Had he known something from the very beginning? What’s going on?488Please respect copyright.PENANA9QQBh1SYik
488Please respect copyright.PENANAzFq2JZ21Ch
488Please respect copyright.PENANAQXBgPlfdkb
"What do you mean they’re in trouble?" She now started to worry. "Tell me everything."488Please respect copyright.PENANAijfYem3N0Z
488Please respect copyright.PENANAIr9FNRWXp3
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnV1mL2wjNu
***488Please respect copyright.PENANAJRWyu7O62s
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAev7f2Fms9H
Eugene stood at the front door of Mrs. York's house, waiting for someone inside to open the door. He couldn't wait to see Albert. He hoped that no one had told him about the incident.488Please respect copyright.PENANAWADQCVu986
488Please respect copyright.PENANAXe0p1iDnCl
488Please respect copyright.PENANAgERjbMLsx6
He looked to the house next to Mrs. York's, over the hedge that separated the two houses. The place is dark. Even when he wanted so much as to go there, he feared his father’s blood was still on the doorstep. But he will have to eventually. He could only imagine the gruesome scene of his father by the doorstep with a gun wound.488Please respect copyright.PENANAxhHFvSUwKc
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWVhgNJhxXV
488Please respect copyright.PENANASW0sOqnD0O
"Eugene?" came a voice in front of him.488Please respect copyright.PENANA0hvtxDLwAr
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYGBdWZsC7J
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7QtcclRsIB
He turned to see Mrs. York standing in the open doorway and looking at him. She is much older than his mother and she put on some weight in the years he has known her. She looked plump with red, ruddy cheeks. Her short, blonde curly hair stood in every direction.488Please respect copyright.PENANALyyjFPJMEL
488Please respect copyright.PENANA8X0FWz61tE
488Please respect copyright.PENANAeRLd4Nuc8B
"Come in, dear," she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside. "You can sleep here for tonight." She closed the door behind him as the two of them stood in the foyer of her house.488Please respect copyright.PENANA4jFrZIymoK
488Please respect copyright.PENANAPGkQjmOcuD
488Please respect copyright.PENANAworq7xu3SP
"Oh, no, I don’t want to be a bother, Mrs. York," he said.488Please respect copyright.PENANAtPY3oA9hhP
488Please respect copyright.PENANAqJPzfUxZyj
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7gfNW1UnnC
"Nonsense," she snapped at him, almost angrily. He could see her ruddy cheeks start to redden. Was it with anger? He couldn’t tell. "After what happened, believe me, you’re better off here than at that house for the time being."488Please respect copyright.PENANAyonW1sZb80
488Please respect copyright.PENANApyVRAiupwS
488Please respect copyright.PENANAaZK4P3Kdbj
Eugene followed Mrs. York into the living-room where the blurring light from the TV greeted his face that he had to shield the light with his arm. He realised that the main lights in the room were off and only the lamps situated in different parts of the room were on making the place partially dark.488Please respect copyright.PENANAC50MXh6k0H
488Please respect copyright.PENANAGP7tbiLj8G
488Please respect copyright.PENANAASVXwhRGax
"Sorry about that," said Mrs. York as she flipped the switch on the wall upwards and the living room was brightened by the one light bulb up the ceiling. "I fell asleep waiting for you and Vincent must have turned the light off. Take a seat."488Please respect copyright.PENANAm5EwqSZfMi
488Please respect copyright.PENANAVmVeYJn6Qw
488Please respect copyright.PENANA9jqflv2kxp
"How is Mr. York doing?" Eugene asked as he settled comfortably on the soft, red couch.488Please respect copyright.PENANACi8CgYSFeZ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAoXHxfbDPQM
488Please respect copyright.PENANAZES5KOtrwf
"He’s fine, just moving around with that bad knee as always," Mrs. York answered as she settled on the couch opposite him. "How’s your mother doing? I can only imagine what she must be going through."488Please respect copyright.PENANAWiy2eXMnPC
488Please respect copyright.PENANA94mJC8Dd9r
488Please respect copyright.PENANAHKQAZrvTCp
"She’s okay. Just trying to keep it together like she always does." Eugene looked down at his fingers.488Please respect copyright.PENANAyx3nxBTY4Y
488Please respect copyright.PENANAFaaKOqzXg5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAENtSruFspK
"She’s always been a strong lady. Born with an iron fist, is what Vincent likes to say about her."488Please respect copyright.PENANAif1b1dB7Cl
488Please respect copyright.PENANA04dCIdbKXT
488Please respect copyright.PENANAGtpeXfehix
"She’s always been strong. I sometimes think that I can’t be as strong as her."488Please respect copyright.PENANAb45QuK2jQ8
488Please respect copyright.PENANA046mzUFrpk
488Please respect copyright.PENANAUSaareYgi3
Mrs. York got the TV remote behind her and turned it off. She turned to look at Eugene as silence fell between them.488Please respect copyright.PENANANd79RBw1Gw
488Please respect copyright.PENANA5amigYK8q5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAa49m9CAm5c
"If you ask me, it’s better that your father just die," she blurted out.488Please respect copyright.PENANAvNumMH7yht
488Please respect copyright.PENANATN5uS4hHv1
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0p3QoYlMP9
Eugene felt his heart jump to his mouth. Did Mrs. York just wish for his father to die?488Please respect copyright.PENANAuHbwlwX5ke
488Please respect copyright.PENANAeB5VWeFsxq
488Please respect copyright.PENANAjYzpcz9ywD
"Don’t say that, Mrs. York," he turned his eyes to the floor starring at the red carpet.488Please respect copyright.PENANAPugrqz5fgp
488Please respect copyright.PENANAjMN9C8b56x
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnT3FgTSgVW
"Forgive me, but it’s the truth. He has brought nothing but pain and suffering. And for what? If anything, all he has done is drag you down with him."488Please respect copyright.PENANAV6STUbdaqf
488Please respect copyright.PENANAz9FiNogKmr
488Please respect copyright.PENANA0PW2Vtfn8E
Eugene already knew that. He didn’t have to be reminded for what felt like a thousandth time. But he never thought Mrs. York would actually go so far as wishing his father dead. Yes, he’s been nothing but dead weight for years, but his mother didn’t mind and that’s why she is at the hospital. Eugene just tolerated this because of his mother. For some reason, he felt responsible over her and didn't want to leave her in all this grief. Not to mention there's Albert too, who just like his mother, loved his father dearly.488Please respect copyright.PENANArIpJ1t3GVK
488Please respect copyright.PENANAa6GhiZCi4G
488Please respect copyright.PENANACtKJMYkIIX
"You're right," said Eugene. "He's been nothing but dead weight. And for so long, I wanted him far away from us. That's why I wanted my mother to divorce him; but she loves him. She has always loved him. I've never wished him dead before, not even in the slightest."488Please respect copyright.PENANAOUc7SGlF4u
488Please respect copyright.PENANAru9LCeVSeH
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnUqkIUB7tR
"I know. Forgive me, Eugene." Mrs. York looked remorseful and Eugene could tell she meant it. "It's just that, you, your mother and little Albert are like family to me. And when I see something is wrong, I'm sorry, I just have to air it out. Your father doesn't deserve to live. Not after what he's done and still continues to do."488Please respect copyright.PENANA9NGSSbCEsB
488Please respect copyright.PENANA6dmvLTVXBA
488Please respect copyright.PENANACnhXgKvW6k
Eugene nodded. "I know. But no matter what - I'm even ashamed of saying it - he's still my father."488Please respect copyright.PENANAcjuwcs0Xhz
488Please respect copyright.PENANAxupqopteht
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"I just hope he didn't get into some kind of trouble that might put your family in danger."488Please respect copyright.PENANApWIKIoYTnF
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWR9uXKrQ9p
488Please respect copyright.PENANARW5HhJAhM3
A chill ran down his spine and he swallowed hard. Almost an hour ago, he had hoped for the same thing. Now that Mrs. York said it out loud, he felt doubtful.488Please respect copyright.PENANAepshsaxJCC
488Please respect copyright.PENANAdVWdFAKE19
488Please respect copyright.PENANA6krB53dUoo
"How's Albert? Did he ask any questions about why he can't go to the house?"488Please respect copyright.PENANAMl0Yv4fjmN
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"Vincent came up with a lie that they had to fumigate the house and that it would be better if he stays with us. And I told him that your mother had to go visit a friend in the hospital and wouldn't be in until tomorrow."488Please respect copyright.PENANAft1dWYmyBd
488Please respect copyright.PENANAJbvprDZigb
488Please respect copyright.PENANArc9qkjhzmX
"He didn't get to step out of the house and try to see it for himself?"488Please respect copyright.PENANAMPOilwnpug
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488Please respect copyright.PENANABCvvWklwcK
Mrs. York shook her head. "I was standing right outside my house when he came down the street. There weren't many police around and most of them had drove away. He didn't get to see what's going on."488Please respect copyright.PENANAptT23yZrC0
488Please respect copyright.PENANAnA8u7aX83J
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"Thank goodness," Eugene felt relieved. "The less he knows about it, the better. But he'll get to know about it sooner or later."488Please respect copyright.PENANAowuh7tPUTb
488Please respect copyright.PENANAHGXEEnOACN
488Please respect copyright.PENANAYC0JbKFbua
"You're right. I fear he might hear the news from school. When kids hear this from their parents, they'll probably talk about it when they see him."488Please respect copyright.PENANA7IQUqXSIAH
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Eugene tried to think of how to avoid such a thing from happening, but he couldn't think clearly. He just wanted to see how Albert is doing.488Please respect copyright.PENANACSL88gKmik
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"Didn't he seem too curious that he had to come over?" Eugene asked.488Please respect copyright.PENANA4mnx7PNdW3
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488Please respect copyright.PENANA6hsaWTIhxp
"He didn't ask many questions," Mrs. York answered. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to tell him the truth? In one way or another, he will find out."488Please respect copyright.PENANAjrvKYtPb8J
488Please respect copyright.PENANAVtXG6RxD2x
488Please respect copyright.PENANAwvsaplsYaE
Eugene turned to look at the blank screen of the television as if searching for an answer. But all he saw was a dark, blurry reflection of himself looking back at him. Should he tell Albert what's going on? He deserves to know that his father is fighting for his life at this very moment. But if he does tell him, how will he take it?488Please respect copyright.PENANAShAUf0kLsM
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"Where is he?" Eugene asked, turning to look at Mrs. York.488Please respect copyright.PENANAJpVOFGGzJA
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"He's in the guest room," said Mrs. York. "He seemed to be tired and went to bed. I'm not so sure he's asleep, though. There's another bed in the room, so you don't have to worry about where you've to sleep."488Please respect copyright.PENANAhRLrfgadXf
488Please respect copyright.PENANAcdtOiUzIk4
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"Thank you, Mrs. York," Eugene stood up from the chair. "You've really been a big help."488Please respect copyright.PENANAG1wZPhoL80
488Please respect copyright.PENANAdBkzrEKHBj
488Please respect copyright.PENANAh9yz7lfx6D
"Don't mention it, dear." She also stood up. "You get some sleep. Looks like you need it."488Please respect copyright.PENANAsTxhEiytM1
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAEWNTVQPFHE
Eugene started to make his way out of the living-room with Mrs. York following behind him. He didn’t have to be directed where to go for he knew where the room is. He has been in this house many times. He branched off to the hall to the left before approaching the stairs. Mrs. York stood for a bit, watching him go to the room at the far end before she went for the stairs to her own room.488Please respect copyright.PENANAiVvP2Tk7IC
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Eugene reached the guest room, but instead of going in, he stood right at the door. He didn’t have the energy to lift his hand to touch the door knob. He felt rooted on the spot. He didn’t want to go in. What if he finds Albert awake? He didn’t even bother to check the time because he’s usually asleep around 9PM. He might be tired as Mrs. York put it, but what if he’s up? Eugene didn’t know what to do as he felt himself start to sweat.488Please respect copyright.PENANAVEY7GJWBmz
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He remembered what Mrs. York told him about Albert finding out and he knew she was right. If he does find Albert awake, he'll have no choice but to either come up with something or break the news.488Please respect copyright.PENANAPUr6cgvUoi
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAihe77RQ0Wm
He found himself lifting his hand to hold the door knob. He turned it and slowly pushed the door open. He found the lights of the room on. And for a minute there, he thought Albert is awake. But instead, he found his brother on one of the beds, sleeping above the bed covers with a book wide open beside him. Eugene couldn’t help but feel relieved, yet again, he really hoped to find him awake, just to talk to him. This way is the best, he thought in the end.488Please respect copyright.PENANA9gqaHNZBmG
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He approached the bed and quietly put aside his book back in the bag that lay on the floor. He then put Albert inside the bed covers. Albert didn’t even open his eyes as he turned around to a more comfortable position and continued with his sleep.488Please respect copyright.PENANAJlhlHs5PqC
488Please respect copyright.PENANA8L5l6izqeb
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Eugene went to the other bed across from his brother and watched Albert for a while. He decided that he should take some rest too. He knew he was going to have a huge confrontation with him in the morning, so he needed all the energy he could get.488Please respect copyright.PENANAs6m2LIBY9i
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAGgAbINB1h8
He stood up from the bed and made his way to the door where next to the wall is the switch. He flipped it and the lights went off. He went to the bed and lay himself down. He looked up at the dark ceiling and thought for a while. Despite being tired he still felt like he couldn’t sleep.488Please respect copyright.PENANAS6paPg5rfi
488Please respect copyright.PENANAk6V1e4el0s
488Please respect copyright.PENANABOn2uwWeng
He quickly got out of bed and rushed out through the door. He went for the stairs and called out:488Please respect copyright.PENANAnsNFXSEIjy
488Please respect copyright.PENANAwx1j2VdDLE
488Please respect copyright.PENANANuCyTQKid0
"Mrs. York, I’ll be going out for a bit. Please lock the door when I get out."488Please respect copyright.PENANAupWcBqW1QR
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAH1tUMvZMrE
Before he could turn around and leave, he heard the opening and closing of the door upstairs. He heard quick footsteps, and Mrs. York soon appeared on the landing in a pink night gown and matching pink bed slippers.488Please respect copyright.PENANAfWVNJ6o14h
488Please respect copyright.PENANA5dFELvpa6g
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"Where do you think you’re going at this hour?" she asked. "It’s already late."488Please respect copyright.PENANAmx44fVkSbI
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488Please respect copyright.PENANAiroy4fnYWG
"I’ll be back real quick," he answered as he looked up at her. "Do you mind if I carry the spare key? I don’t want to disturb you when I return."488Please respect copyright.PENANA79xuWz5hD6
488Please respect copyright.PENANAEDm94rPbt7
488Please respect copyright.PENANA7n9cW2Z6Qw
Mrs. York rolled her eyes as she started to make her way down the stairs. "You’ve already disturbed me enough, don’t you think?"488Please respect copyright.PENANA8Pak12AahD
488Please respect copyright.PENANAglKTuHflJP
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWlikkztehw
"I’m sorry for all the trouble."488Please respect copyright.PENANA4SVahPPE1b
488Please respect copyright.PENANAwnwj7QQzBm
488Please respect copyright.PENANAMgd8iICqny
Mrs. York reached the bottom and made her way down the hall with Eugene following right behind her. She went in the kitchen and he stood by the door. There is a key hanger on the wall next to the back door and there were several other keys on the hooks. She got one of them and approached him, handing it over.488Please respect copyright.PENANA01SJoYOuhu
488Please respect copyright.PENANAWJBxhYCWj5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAvnI5voTZ2y
"Here you go," she said. "You make sure you get here before midnight. We don’t want anything bad happening to you. If something does happen, how will I explain to your mother?"488Please respect copyright.PENANAv9GjiJxKeQ
488Please respect copyright.PENANAT8dY0hVbM0
488Please respect copyright.PENANAFrQcPnXmUM
"I’ll be back before you know it," Eugene assured her.488Please respect copyright.PENANAVevxN1hy88
488Please respect copyright.PENANAKlxwUaQ5NB
488Please respect copyright.PENANAIYjaduVimj
Mrs. York escorted him to the door and unlocked it for him. When Eugene stepped out through the door, he looked back at Mrs. York and gave her a nod, before turning round to walk down the stone path to the gate.488Please respect copyright.PENANAmfAyrMRCnM
488Please respect copyright.PENANAdQdHBbmVaB
488Please respect copyright.PENANARiRY3R3h6P
Immediately he walked out of the York's premises, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and called Miguel. He started to make his way to the nearest bus station with his phone to his ear. Miguel didn't pick up.488Please respect copyright.PENANAaJO5EjU2KH
488Please respect copyright.PENANA5Pwjwly5Dt
488Please respect copyright.PENANAxknnd5I8tk
He must be asleep or something, Eugene thought. He didn't mind as he put his phone back in the pocket.488Please respect copyright.PENANAisH7sXa7z5
488Please respect copyright.PENANAkmUes5BRpm
488Please respect copyright.PENANABiwWD7WBfL
Something made him want to get out of the house. He didn't know where the feeling came from and he didn't know what or where he's going. He decided to let whatever he felt take control. Maybe he might find the answers he's looking for.488Please respect copyright.PENANAUoGRxPM446
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Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
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Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
作者:
Namwezi

篇 #21
Chapter 20
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