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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5Ypr1HT23
160Please respect copyright.PENANAO7djdpp8yB
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWh2KjNsJVb
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAmwaZvza0UR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAND7J69zQc9
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5CcGjo87Mm
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAJVeGdqU6b7
160Please respect copyright.PENANAbJE5H5iLVU
160Please respect copyright.PENANAwxL826yfC9
She started to breathe heavily and felt like she's running out of air as it started to feel stuffy.160Please respect copyright.PENANAIEP4hpR6ed
160Please respect copyright.PENANAziU4rX6hKp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAPggGi5SJxw
“Calm down,” she told herself.“Take deep and steady breaths.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAZP09z6aRuD
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5fJVirEBrj
160Please respect copyright.PENANAx9PMFgMyLL
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAOICK9Pycg1
160Please respect copyright.PENANAtaQwHPzF7d
160Please respect copyright.PENANASBCDa7FidF
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAioLOicEB20
160Please respect copyright.PENANAr1gZJ6F2eR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAyqW21da561
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAnXZpJz1DxR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAKepc5WtnHn
160Please respect copyright.PENANAjJy2oa9AZV
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAij3iO69Ag9
160Please respect copyright.PENANAFJ7YkxENyy
160Please respect copyright.PENANA47PmapYsVc
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAXYW3yWmYIZ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3tQbN9pYsp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAV9pXj1Brww
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA5VOWsu2d8V
160Please respect copyright.PENANAi4NrDlXKHy
160Please respect copyright.PENANAKzhf6eCZUe
“Come on, Griselda,” came a familiar voice, as the man dragged her out.160Please respect copyright.PENANASXaR2HtGM7
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhLMJViBevp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAmVcKXtvMYG
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAFhNxejiQsc
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9CWTR9r4dl
160Please respect copyright.PENANADSIooxDk4A
“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.160Please respect copyright.PENANADqoWXmmBAl
160Please respect copyright.PENANAktxbtuA1BM
160Please respect copyright.PENANAjOH6yq4w5A
“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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAalJiGesyQL
160Please respect copyright.PENANAAliwftOODx
160Please respect copyright.PENANA95zaPawxT2
“Who is ordering you to do this?” Miss Griselda continued to ask. “What have you done with Rhénee?”160Please respect copyright.PENANA3amkATeTMO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAaynReOxWGM
160Please respect copyright.PENANAepwTZwUmGR
“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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAUjXZxfRA7V
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXR1K7FRqhl
160Please respect copyright.PENANASPlUBpjXpO
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAXGmUiNiA1J
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4FB49hOpd8
160Please respect copyright.PENANABaUNdSIZZo
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA9JJbp6VHlt
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4waqqIBlE3
160Please respect copyright.PENANAwNb3GLL3fZ
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAPUMCj36nWv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAUQgHjYayup
160Please respect copyright.PENANAjXWFYtusr7
"What is all this?" Miss Griselda asked as she turned to look at him.160Please respect copyright.PENANA8u3LNSW8wQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA0CvM03PLun
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgTW5gKD5ge
Mr. Cowell stopped dragging her and turned to look at her. "Your fate," he answered.160Please respect copyright.PENANA6NLlexG7LU
160Please respect copyright.PENANAPY3shJztsf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAAbFNJOjuwt
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAVhXMOeXKgY
160Please respect copyright.PENANAGw4IfpGops
160Please respect copyright.PENANAyUxsnMLejG
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA0RN4HjHeDp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAQw848krlUa
160Please respect copyright.PENANA09bglDzQJ7
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAXt9ClMqgxH
160Please respect copyright.PENANAuK5mO6bOCJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9bRIf56iF3
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANA49xQyki6Pb
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgXm4XFOdxu
160Please respect copyright.PENANAJj1gfO7ZZJ
"I’m yet to know how things are going since we planned to jam the signal in the house," Mr. Cowell responded.160Please respect copyright.PENANAOgFqD8vavz
160Please respect copyright.PENANA6XTAvBC89K
160Please respect copyright.PENANARzONqdQtLZ
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAkjhnZhkxii
160Please respect copyright.PENANAa69tZFxS9Z
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3ETdIuYVI1
"Please, don’t hurt Rhénee,” Miss Griselda started to plead. "She has done nothing wrong.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAs5bJwJO971
160Please respect copyright.PENANAllhccgoeLH
160Please respect copyright.PENANAKABjKS54pn
Mr. Cowell looked down at her and said, "If you don’t stop talking I’m going to break you.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAFV1SqhTyJc
160Please respect copyright.PENANArP3w85LAez
160Please respect copyright.PENANAqMar894c9A
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAthnkRPM2ub
160Please respect copyright.PENANAU1qkJnroWQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA080H31obK7
"Tell me, what you’re going to do to her?” Miss Griselda asked.160Please respect copyright.PENANAQCuazPgaHL
160Please respect copyright.PENANAfiSLegecmz
160Please respect copyright.PENANASH6XFCyAl3
"What do you think we’re going to do? She needs to be taught a little lesson.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAkDUgPp70Bq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAzp6OWAAqrE
160Please respect copyright.PENANAiddIx7RUoB
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANABtjR9lBhEm
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4rWmTXqLhG
160Please respect copyright.PENANAOErlo62YSM
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAEbUg4kpz3n
160Please respect copyright.PENANAm54zIgw8IZ
160Please respect copyright.PENANALGhpFVQ6h0
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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q7idLWWZK
160Please respect copyright.PENANAGDYmWFHz56
160Please respect copyright.PENANAmCxuDV9aQl
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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAqSLgspxrdM
160Please respect copyright.PENANAOOkousTVZh
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXoEhXSEKR4
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANARaHUbH5dY2
160Please respect copyright.PENANAZl0OcpH31F
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5tBF6xT8GX
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAnSb1NAj4Wi
160Please respect copyright.PENANAak9SBuE9qG
160Please respect copyright.PENANA22swAGr5PF
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAFweTpbtVpn
160Please respect copyright.PENANA60mVK8WxBX
160Please respect copyright.PENANAfyReRhIKWX
"Enough, Cowell," said the man in front of them. "You shouldn’t have told her."160Please respect copyright.PENANA9Oew75VFaH
160Please respect copyright.PENANAK7eI2SCSgr
160Please respect copyright.PENANAma8a7oBtCp
"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-"160Please respect copyright.PENANAWwS6dKATo2
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9gWt8l8f8K
160Please respect copyright.PENANAAE5jduqzfa
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAsSBfT1tTHO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAMcaGHv4lJF
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3Tg2q4gD6a
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAVHrjt7h7wO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAX3nz7qcz5R
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3vt6T6sdnl
"You better behave yourself, Griselda,” said the man as they soon passed him. "Don’t try to make things complicated as it is.”160Please respect copyright.PENANA7y8IPpfwHB
160Please respect copyright.PENANA74mQYmeVym
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIduSfqkDAY
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAqPTdhlMIIA
160Please respect copyright.PENANA638kyvPI7P
160Please respect copyright.PENANAQUY1Z0w7D2
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAuPYzP6pIEq
160Please respect copyright.PENANABHDhbBCFYu
160Please respect copyright.PENANAFvBRbJNGs4
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAx4eRGnCjTs
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhLhzeYXqlt
160Please respect copyright.PENANAZH7bNfC61Y
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAngoDUD7mJd
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhrcm2Uo0aY
160Please respect copyright.PENANApWoZP32YQy
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAYIIfZTRJMY
160Please respect copyright.PENANAr4yCZP00dK
160Please respect copyright.PENANAE05zciR2BQ
***160Please respect copyright.PENANAuNnJZeiGvV
160Please respect copyright.PENANAHFtjR9nUqz
160Please respect copyright.PENANAxLB6Qd3qWz
"We’re wasting time,” Rhénee sounded frustrated. "The people who have Miss Griselda are probably waiting and they will start to get suspicious.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAmjXa54CTBG
160Please respect copyright.PENANAg7EvnGSc4n
160Please respect copyright.PENANAceWqyFFKzR
"I know that, but we aren’t going to carry this man with us,” said Malcom.160Please respect copyright.PENANAxlL6JsN8Sf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAejScVfPewj
160Please respect copyright.PENANAmTq0YKuQKB
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAanlON2AvMB
160Please respect copyright.PENANAfiYI63fWHO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAlGPUM0Dbhp
"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?”160Please respect copyright.PENANAQrnUyIrCis
160Please respect copyright.PENANAtj34CNgArD
160Please respect copyright.PENANA6jkRO3lRaV
"Then so be it. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAyg4a4nNghx
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5Y95Ps1rfZ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA8dqVK7zIdc
Kevin sighed. "Why can’t we just leave him, then come back for him afterwards?”160Please respect copyright.PENANAXMIoEyiGhA
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhaH5WMH7Jd
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5JsFGrI6yO
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAenk0pL1nh4
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIafeAlNl0D
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWzKdeWFq14
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAdaJWUmQsAq
160Please respect copyright.PENANADADtmhbay4
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9L3yauVZ1w
"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.160Please respect copyright.PENANABUrXfAYnu2
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9A409ypzXy
160Please respect copyright.PENANANDrqxJUHe0
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANA0q3Sgm29RU
160Please respect copyright.PENANA2PtQBHZrZy
160Please respect copyright.PENANASRgvnDpRci
"Well, if we’re going to put him in the back of the car, we better lift him,” said Kevin.160Please respect copyright.PENANA1CMabmwrXG
160Please respect copyright.PENANAaTXqhJNPok
160Please respect copyright.PENANArrZhGWhiCs
"I’ll bring the car up the driveway,” said Malcom as he turned around to head out of the house.160Please respect copyright.PENANAP1RA0xHcnV
160Please respect copyright.PENANAQrS4i1Mfko
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhBWIw7UaCw
"Ya, we better do that to avoid suspicion from the neighbours,” said Greta.160Please respect copyright.PENANAwCphTj7RCT
160Please respect copyright.PENANAdUPJ8IyG0I
160Please respect copyright.PENANAYqp4eR57SS
"I just hope we haven’t drawn too much already,” said Rhénee as she went for the window, drawing the curtain to look out.160Please respect copyright.PENANAYTgt3vzVfI
160Please respect copyright.PENANAKBlDODzVGJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAEMklq5JeEN
"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.”160Please respect copyright.PENANAk3oaZBKjDd
160Please respect copyright.PENANAVJI5dl7cBx
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXNLdaddCBh
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAdAn4PBsm0u
160Please respect copyright.PENANADS5XoKURF2
160Please respect copyright.PENANA0klpDpnULU
"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?"160Please respect copyright.PENANA0B0j0Lsqfv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkEHtND4Zho
160Please respect copyright.PENANAocPhu37qpd
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANADO8qjq8F2D
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXUoquh2X6r
160Please respect copyright.PENANAOzsiwwtoN1
"Wow, where did you learn that from?" Greta asked.160Please respect copyright.PENANA7QuKKpTRKx
160Please respect copyright.PENANAt3oMfH6dOx
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4xJD5TDaTv
"Can we leave that topic for later?" Malcom asked as he walked in the room. "We better get moving."160Please respect copyright.PENANA0tRSr981dZ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAj1iVT6ZvlR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAlFIgwwm0rD
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANACYYWxp6ar3
160Please respect copyright.PENANAvrIJDoMCBH
160Please respect copyright.PENANAtDadYFlpqE
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAc7YfUjnEwV
160Please respect copyright.PENANACY8mFKTFa8
160Please respect copyright.PENANAihAX94fx1R
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."160Please respect copyright.PENANATw5o9zAW4e
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgz73QNajPQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANArt6KJUSRGZ
"Since you've said so, I think we better get suited for the occasion," said Rhénee.160Please respect copyright.PENANAK1D37c7ZIJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAizfpzoekkY
160Please respect copyright.PENANAvGekQHMbEQ
"Why do you say that?" Greta asked.160Please respect copyright.PENANALcnZD1ui42
160Please respect copyright.PENANAS6nPiushX7
160Please respect copyright.PENANAeCfcVm3ytZ
Rhénee stared at the house behind Malcom and Kevin. "We'll have to fight fire with fire," she said.160Please respect copyright.PENANAoNfR6mEwEJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAGek1sfkn3I
160Please respect copyright.PENANA0lOP3o3N6t
***160Please respect copyright.PENANA6dkUaIUdXX
160Please respect copyright.PENANAEY0vvG9OTf
160Please respect copyright.PENANA0HNL5zgE0E
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAhXC8u6alC4
160Please respect copyright.PENANAb01yWYtE7v
160Please respect copyright.PENANAzHoGloEcey
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAjg6mio2yrp
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5OsV8SqrnE
160Please respect copyright.PENANAm1eXAvFT0b
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA5QGVUEUfP9
160Please respect copyright.PENANAC4xiYX53wx
160Please respect copyright.PENANAiN6FTCV6Mi
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAuJCEfkHUzj
160Please respect copyright.PENANApBWymcgfFv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIpPFYfNibY
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAAEShS6ftIL
160Please respect copyright.PENANAif9QDvYR9n
160Please respect copyright.PENANAT0SEVd16CS
The man sounded urgent and Mrs. Derrand quickly sat up on her chair.160Please respect copyright.PENANAGC4edR4Hn2
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4knlOHtAMR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkIDkXmXgWr
"Tell me what’s going on," she said.160Please respect copyright.PENANA2AJC3a3gpc
160Please respect copyright.PENANAr7M25oJ1KW
160Please respect copyright.PENANADyuEakyI9H
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAjbDsBdKXTE
160Please respect copyright.PENANAmFsj7evXn0
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXhjUdYfwJP
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?160Please respect copyright.PENANAbS6epXXWJJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAfn58XD3piB
160Please respect copyright.PENANAJP7tSwhTdO
"What do you mean they’re in trouble?" She now started to worry. "Tell me everything."160Please respect copyright.PENANASfoE6BcgFY
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3Z6lJ9qP7t
160Please respect copyright.PENANAC7Gglzgu3r
***160Please respect copyright.PENANALnvNephTNO
160Please respect copyright.PENANADiAaZCTcNG
160Please respect copyright.PENANAOhngiLhDi4
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAKpegw6vT7f
160Please respect copyright.PENANAja4mDQDHpi
160Please respect copyright.PENANAT2II2Gx4IR
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAhtnbspTcBF
160Please respect copyright.PENANAlGXC1c4DwI
160Please respect copyright.PENANAq9wmzRUWDo
"Eugene?" came a voice in front of him.160Please respect copyright.PENANAWLuMf1CkbC
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5ygHaTj73D
160Please respect copyright.PENANAqONYVOYF0Q
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAD8VpDwEpMC
160Please respect copyright.PENANAq1bB9DSfxq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAu0v8goIMgN
"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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAuif72plkvq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAZfHgOEGZ4P
160Please respect copyright.PENANAq3wtuHcO9x
"Oh, no, I don’t want to be a bother, Mrs. York," he said.160Please respect copyright.PENANA9zXmNxFV5d
160Please respect copyright.PENANA2ldjEDX48v
160Please respect copyright.PENANACfz4DyCbXm
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAeA8wc23fvq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAwRFUEM1Dmw
160Please respect copyright.PENANAYSeRFeN3Jn
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAEeXBMFWz8l
160Please respect copyright.PENANAOran9oDDSR
160Please respect copyright.PENANAvlgiuPdxik
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANABzgyda6Xjq
160Please respect copyright.PENANARlcSayO3SL
160Please respect copyright.PENANARUCHiXFery
"How is Mr. York doing?" Eugene asked as he settled comfortably on the soft, red couch.160Please respect copyright.PENANApKV96UXbIo
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5jyn0Oz1Dt
160Please respect copyright.PENANAy3EHgBZkyI
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANABV9Jh6Qs61
160Please respect copyright.PENANA6oh421srI1
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3fM488Zo9R
"She’s okay. Just trying to keep it together like she always does." Eugene looked down at his fingers.160Please respect copyright.PENANAPuXIFwb4N0
160Please respect copyright.PENANAvY6qbVriQ5
160Please respect copyright.PENANAQILgBHKf63
"She’s always been a strong lady. Born with an iron fist, is what Vincent likes to say about her."160Please respect copyright.PENANAG9T5QCVIGc
160Please respect copyright.PENANArpN3EfMoi0
160Please respect copyright.PENANAYyHdHkUVff
"She’s always been strong. I sometimes think that I can’t be as strong as her."160Please respect copyright.PENANAlUExC65TCf
160Please respect copyright.PENANArK8Ve80jFL
160Please respect copyright.PENANA36E9ZXYBF3
Mrs. York got the TV remote behind her and turned it off. She turned to look at Eugene as silence fell between them.160Please respect copyright.PENANAup8Ktg2LrH
160Please respect copyright.PENANA71piaxAJOf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAJkvjpexBCT
"If you ask me, it’s better that your father just die," she blurted out.160Please respect copyright.PENANANcF9HYx6gQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA4f3dHTYVGJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3vnNKjfKdA
Eugene felt his heart jump to his mouth. Did Mrs. York just wish for his father to die?160Please respect copyright.PENANA6HKkOIZqx0
160Please respect copyright.PENANA8VfSE6I23X
160Please respect copyright.PENANAaGkSol70GR
"Don’t say that, Mrs. York," he turned his eyes to the floor starring at the red carpet.160Please respect copyright.PENANAaVIcPWEyi3
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhsSy8dL0Nq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAiTp3M2XhFc
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAqKZj89Wu8e
160Please respect copyright.PENANAxaJZYdEVFE
160Please respect copyright.PENANAEEuOAwsoxY
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA6lMOkcPZZO
160Please respect copyright.PENANArAPL9TEeEw
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkDDy1Y8rZL
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAI6JFjM1Blq
160Please respect copyright.PENANAA4HsNjQoAb
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3AaRk3c8zK
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANA5JZP5xjZgO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXZk2HLqDtg
160Please respect copyright.PENANAH4fWkKkd00
Eugene nodded. "I know. But no matter what - I'm even ashamed of saying it - he's still my father."160Please respect copyright.PENANAc57IoCPSTf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAC0iG7ThWsj
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIrMShxCaAT
"I just hope he didn't get into some kind of trouble that might put your family in danger."160Please respect copyright.PENANAMG49fgJXlQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXuULuVH4wf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkw3OkyVzwX
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAjXcl9Vna20
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXsmct2pOhX
160Please respect copyright.PENANADbtrsqKL4D
"How's Albert? Did he ask any questions about why he can't go to the house?"160Please respect copyright.PENANA1y8Mz6hbM0
160Please respect copyright.PENANAY7ZKsEgEqs
160Please respect copyright.PENANA7iXAPi549B
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAdlQmPl1EDf
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkG48RVurjD
160Please respect copyright.PENANAuCFHyH8Zo6
"He didn't get to step out of the house and try to see it for himself?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAQJniabBzEK
160Please respect copyright.PENANAFuYTePcYcM
160Please respect copyright.PENANAUE9T4joede
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."160Please respect copyright.PENANACveTVJiY3S
160Please respect copyright.PENANAs28If21Zkk
160Please respect copyright.PENANA9r7XnYvCbo
"Thank goodness," Eugene felt relieved. "The less he knows about it, the better. But he'll get to know about it sooner or later."160Please respect copyright.PENANA93EaD9ErPr
160Please respect copyright.PENANAFuztVQpDn0
160Please respect copyright.PENANAyp5mHSxPSj
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANApQYG9qlWVd
160Please respect copyright.PENANAbNKi6dunw1
160Please respect copyright.PENANAiR8ttmAALL
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAn3eeFxjaki
160Please respect copyright.PENANAotiMSU2Z2O
160Please respect copyright.PENANAGXhRZNSwSL
"Didn't he seem too curious that he had to come over?" Eugene asked.160Please respect copyright.PENANAkacjlTdx9f
160Please respect copyright.PENANATsx5XhAhYH
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgztKwJwSkp
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAozeMnSZsZW
160Please respect copyright.PENANA97iCGCWqku
160Please respect copyright.PENANAVUw4H8VXoE
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?160Please respect copyright.PENANAdLDVH8rHf9
160Please respect copyright.PENANAu4NcM5RqND
160Please respect copyright.PENANANDohQtUzcs
"Where is he?" Eugene asked, turning to look at Mrs. York.160Please respect copyright.PENANABe58SunPEp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkau5JCVx7u
160Please respect copyright.PENANAifqoTLROol
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAlDn9z9sf5l
160Please respect copyright.PENANAkJpJd9BwzS
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWA334gBiVh
"Thank you, Mrs. York," Eugene stood up from the chair. "You've really been a big help."160Please respect copyright.PENANADdPNW5m8yp
160Please respect copyright.PENANAVW8h9rsJtn
160Please respect copyright.PENANAsBvTzDYXDw
"Don't mention it, dear." She also stood up. "You get some sleep. Looks like you need it."160Please respect copyright.PENANAzqOb92WSTs
160Please respect copyright.PENANA24DAmfcb8E
160Please respect copyright.PENANA22SYKEFRCD
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA9lkjABIg7Q
160Please respect copyright.PENANA5VQmTdPS4v
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWL4E3EXmnL
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAS2qect0yhI
160Please respect copyright.PENANAJTLDTqjOhm
160Please respect copyright.PENANAmvVJDgp3Ro
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAu8YdK3u6k8
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgcRzwabzrK
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWanW9bRS2C
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAKzWAeE2bIv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAqqM6yflMz9
160Please respect copyright.PENANA0ehAJYdodA
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAl3WFIad8sF
160Please respect copyright.PENANA7SfobwsXam
160Please respect copyright.PENANA3v0gzVWOcu
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAIRY0gMvTcY
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIHvm93MCDR
160Please respect copyright.PENANASgDNqfivqa
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAY4pVAXi6tk
160Please respect copyright.PENANAT3K3zFB6gQ
160Please respect copyright.PENANA8GHTTQIDue
He quickly got out of bed and rushed out through the door. He went for the stairs and called out:160Please respect copyright.PENANAaGlrGSWUhS
160Please respect copyright.PENANAEsK6MlwLNx
160Please respect copyright.PENANAWWkscVkiRJ
"Mrs. York, I’ll be going out for a bit. Please lock the door when I get out."160Please respect copyright.PENANAOfTcrQNnTA
160Please respect copyright.PENANAXEZuTSERtG
160Please respect copyright.PENANAD1G1Dsf4tA
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANA7bodDGPZFX
160Please respect copyright.PENANAIkl3gHAJje
160Please respect copyright.PENANACLDvA7yRuR
"Where do you think you’re going at this hour?" she asked. "It’s already late."160Please respect copyright.PENANAbGQ1RvVZLZ
160Please respect copyright.PENANATgnzvPF931
160Please respect copyright.PENANAnSPIb60j0W
"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."160Please respect copyright.PENANAauwDdeBLeS
160Please respect copyright.PENANA7dT1XtRzSI
160Please respect copyright.PENANAgvute2MZri
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?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAGetgk9534H
160Please respect copyright.PENANAAjlnlo0gxv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAyMbysFx5hW
"I’m sorry for all the trouble."160Please respect copyright.PENANAdbkHzGzq4p
160Please respect copyright.PENANAs9gnjXtQqC
160Please respect copyright.PENANAbIkmdLW71G
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAeoYJBQBntE
160Please respect copyright.PENANAbPbKFtjecv
160Please respect copyright.PENANAMhtO5GW9Gy
"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?"160Please respect copyright.PENANAqsut3RHAjc
160Please respect copyright.PENANAsMQ0UUldOe
160Please respect copyright.PENANAzZli1sBi0g
"I’ll be back before you know it," Eugene assured her.160Please respect copyright.PENANA3hEptNITdO
160Please respect copyright.PENANAhBsmb0Wnep
160Please respect copyright.PENANAarnI53VYJK
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANABs5uQJWHxX
160Please respect copyright.PENANA6SRRZAHMnT
160Please respect copyright.PENANAtwgcB6sBhl
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAm7hHKWfJwJ
160Please respect copyright.PENANAZOn7T7be89
160Please respect copyright.PENANAVjoQcCPvmH
He must be asleep or something, Eugene thought. He didn't mind as he put his phone back in the pocket.160Please respect copyright.PENANA1z6VxjRtj9
160Please respect copyright.PENANAfmFZFcRW5M
160Please respect copyright.PENANAQn9lO5vuup
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.160Please respect copyright.PENANAERzpPZAzpM
arrow_back
Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
more_vert
-
info_outline Info
-
toc Table of Contents
-
share Share
-
format_color_text Display Settings
-
exposure_plus_1 Recommend
-
Sponsor
-
report_problem Report
-
account_circle Login
Search stories, writers or societies
Continue ReadingClear All
What Others Are ReadingRefresh
X
Never miss what's happening on Penana!
Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
Author:
Namwezi
ISSUE #21
Chapter 20
LIKES 0
READS 156
BOOKMARKS 0
campaign
Request update 0
Sponsor
Suggest Edits
Login with Facebook
or Sign up/Login to comment or bookmark!
Click to load the next chapter
X
After each update request, the author will receive a notification!
smartphone100 → Request update
X
Sponsor again
Click to login
Login first to show your name as a sponsor.
Thank you for supporting the story! :)
Please Login first.
×
Write down what you like about the story
×
Reading Theme:
Font Size:
Line Spacing:
Paragraph Spacing:
Load the next issue automatically
Reset to default
×
People Who Like This