The news about the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAH82wMVu1O0
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 510Please respect copyright.PENANAt9KuF58rQw
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 510Please respect copyright.PENANAgYPK4u27V1
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 510Please respect copyright.PENANAbqjaXe0h1T
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 510Please respect copyright.PENANAy48YcLRsWu
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 510Please respect copyright.PENANAOM5wN1GLpv
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 510Please respect copyright.PENANAItwY9t2h2J
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries510Please respect copyright.PENANADvq14QzT5v
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 510Please respect copyright.PENANAPbbL2yeJfc
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.510Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2Z2cMOyIO
There was more to it 510Please respect copyright.PENANAIva0phpiW4
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 510Please respect copyright.PENANACtAtAc7EDX
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 510Please respect copyright.PENANAtxsZdXlQMn
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 510Please respect copyright.PENANAeq4knbNk1Q
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 510Please respect copyright.PENANAcyBx72Jj76
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started510Please respect copyright.PENANAkP0x3eGNEC
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 510Please respect copyright.PENANACuMB3pYEyX
except from a few individuals. 510Please respect copyright.PENANABT9PCpTT6q
And apparently, one of 510Please respect copyright.PENANA9KGE4165Xu
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 510Please respect copyright.PENANAkl8WBmH4fo
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In510Please respect copyright.PENANAYelfxzbnY7
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 510Please respect copyright.PENANAmmfMYuDcnm
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 510Please respect copyright.PENANAKgsm6dgFs7
really going on, all hell would break loose.510Please respect copyright.PENANAnsH8lkWac9
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."510Please respect copyright.PENANA9x5pChjms8
Rhénee dropped the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAScXzEWy7XB
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 510Please respect copyright.PENANAsdu0XWlmge
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 510Please respect copyright.PENANAb93HtEQkSs
ear, she took a sip of coffee.510Please respect copyright.PENANAoOYTIN2WKX
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAcymJ4rr6Gq
"Ya, its crazy here," 510Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZkD8xMFO1
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 510Please respect copyright.PENANACOk4x1Ptbr
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 510Please respect copyright.PENANAHUHHmqMrMY
broken in."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPhhFocuPc4
"If only they knew."510Please respect copyright.PENANAkcX6WNnxLF
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."510Please respect copyright.PENANAhgooLNVXEE
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAteYX7jmU3x
"She did. I had to make 510Please respect copyright.PENANAFVz5sWcgHe
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 510Please respect copyright.PENANAKQs1GjVU3t
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."510Please respect copyright.PENANA41jL1WnGoj
"I doubt if she believed that."510Please respect copyright.PENANASppEEYty4G
"Haha, looks like you 510Please respect copyright.PENANA3JUqG6KY2H
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAe02gOMCOJP
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."510Please respect copyright.PENANANj4Dt13pqg
"True. But we did. I 510Please respect copyright.PENANA0tldf6U0Un
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and510Please respect copyright.PENANAh5palfAiVJ
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."510Please respect copyright.PENANA8cY009SlgR
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAuI6eAqXH6l
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAQZvtySJNf3
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."510Please respect copyright.PENANAF5MX7qBmEd
"Okay, bye."510Please respect copyright.PENANAWniekYplIv
"Bye."510Please respect copyright.PENANA6BEwR1XJB7
Rhénee cuts the call and510Please respect copyright.PENANAdGpwz9LDtg
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAcgci3PNUYw
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 510Please respect copyright.PENANAzAU4IGDzoK
wink last night.510Please respect copyright.PENANA0yuaHol9sN
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."510Please respect copyright.PENANAvSV25bftQs
"I wasn't going to 510Please respect copyright.PENANAPS6osweEuE
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda510Please respect copyright.PENANAVzrpGcereO
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."510Please respect copyright.PENANAiYPAoEw207
"You don't have to 510Please respect copyright.PENANAVP85l2ka8k
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 510Please respect copyright.PENANABUdy9gCJKl
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."510Please respect copyright.PENANAOBKFRZK5Mk
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."510Please respect copyright.PENANAvnA9QEkz6C
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAfyrec4AteY
"Why Malcom?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAWjtXT9QL6d
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."510Please respect copyright.PENANA5TXxjMBssf
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."510Please respect copyright.PENANAAt7pENUjZj
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "510Please respect copyright.PENANABzyDwZJkOr
"Alright, you go ahead."510Please respect copyright.PENANAJGVR20v8Kd
Miss Griselda gave 510Please respect copyright.PENANAA7JKTivH5o
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 510Please respect copyright.PENANAiKgLPAAzRF
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she510Please respect copyright.PENANAJoJeIueuXk
did when they talked about Malcom. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA83QARypySk
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.510Please respect copyright.PENANAW2lAg2mg6f
The sound of her phone 510Please respect copyright.PENANACLBsuIms00
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the510Please respect copyright.PENANAzZOGkGVD38
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 510Please respect copyright.PENANAJPvHVHTavv
mother.510Please respect copyright.PENANAL9RiFokavI
"Hello?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAIwekaBuUqC
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAx5ud9NXHk5
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.510Please respect copyright.PENANARDmUZ3fKIT
That voice. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAgqbzct5O9I
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAKTtibHRu19
"What's wrong? The other day you had the guts to talk to me when I talked to you about the necklace. Why are you so quiet now?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAw96eqdH0cq
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.510Please respect copyright.PENANATw7Mmux8UD
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."510Please respect copyright.PENANAIx2l2PNEGs
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAt6X1HHyBTh
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."510Please respect copyright.PENANAmwtm20WxXA
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.510Please respect copyright.PENANAjHL3EsEP4Z
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPgWJibi426
"You don't know me, 510Please respect copyright.PENANAIObqpsT6q4
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 510Please respect copyright.PENANAILysSHcKqC
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAQDH9lDxdB7
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."510Please respect copyright.PENANAzkL5NZaQVh
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAck7bPbxRIz
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAiSvCZV2vco
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.510Please respect copyright.PENANAfXol2Z7uDG
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."510Please respect copyright.PENANAbwVwjiNOsS
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.510Please respect copyright.PENANAGist022a0s
"Then why did you give me her necklace? And the picture of the house? What are you trying to achieve by scaring me like this?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAbZeFBcFewd
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."510Please respect copyright.PENANADDZthzqsKx
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAhzhVZw51aD
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."510Please respect copyright.PENANApIqbnCHbGW
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."510Please respect copyright.PENANAcmk98zNgUO
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."510Please respect copyright.PENANA44XtGLIlCs
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA9Gr11kSGUO
"Oh, and by the way, 510Please respect copyright.PENANAj7vhy9MqwL
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 510Please respect copyright.PENANAtlMXfZDVlq
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 510Please respect copyright.PENANAhoiG7IcdVo
this time around."510Please respect copyright.PENANA6BFGvcFJNv
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAyqWwYoyCau
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."510Please respect copyright.PENANAhtzJOfOWk5
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 510Please respect copyright.PENANATD7Xg3i03J
Rhénee sat down on the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAbSVmesaJQC
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 510Please respect copyright.PENANA2HQVq8aqmm
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAPTJdgWeyG5
the others, who know what might happen. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAezXuFG6ptp
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.510Please respect copyright.PENANAPXKMXwzJlC
***510Please respect copyright.PENANAv4IOCVULgN
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 510Please respect copyright.PENANArugRYnMqjK
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA1ROnczIwcJ
"But she isn't hurt right?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAoMFwLaXScR
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."510Please respect copyright.PENANAAD1N9BkNKR
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA0JQrRFI5O9
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."510Please respect copyright.PENANAZLLirrnxSu
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAIvnBPjGBFd
"Nah.510Please respect copyright.PENANAyh1FPLbaTL
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 510Please respect copyright.PENANA9s9xE200fW
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPId4pLMVj2
"Thats510Please respect copyright.PENANAlteeqSAQoh
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 510Please respect copyright.PENANAnBPlwZ5Bwm
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."510Please respect copyright.PENANAx4TJbTTlAv
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"510Please respect copyright.PENANA8zLKvLdTgL
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."510Please respect copyright.PENANAHJZvUzIDZj
"Alright."510Please respect copyright.PENANAjEDYgpTLcp
Eugene cut the call and noticed that his mother was standing by the kitchen door looking at him as he stood in the living room. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1kFx3Ymwh
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAQnMDvi59SZ
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.510Please respect copyright.PENANAHoCUsRN8HC
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPciYeawMv8
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."510Please respect copyright.PENANADl9vwyIKsT
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."510Please respect copyright.PENANAuUZc9ItvuI
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 510Please respect copyright.PENANARprqKo8Nz1
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.510Please respect copyright.PENANAarqF3JNre9
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.510Please respect copyright.PENANASxHvvnimVE
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAteACGrDl1O
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."510Please respect copyright.PENANAJjUgSfM6Ef
"Does it bother you?"510Please respect copyright.PENANA78oUgUowgp
"Um... not really. But.... um."510Please respect copyright.PENANA4Qs6acTuh1
Eugene510Please respect copyright.PENANA6sn5gkk2cB
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 510Please respect copyright.PENANA3eEq5aeCaA
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.510Please respect copyright.PENANAtaAkuDhTGl
"Mum, are you okay?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAMmtC3DpALT
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA0qDCyR8Pxn
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"510Please respect copyright.PENANA9qiCRIhBRJ
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAfP5ESJI6QC
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."510Please respect copyright.PENANAmrJP8wEB9P
Mrs510Please respect copyright.PENANAeGQzIS1jgn
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene510Please respect copyright.PENANAZFIGRYEG92
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 510Please respect copyright.PENANAbvOtP5EsoB
had talked about Rhénee?510Please respect copyright.PENANA1wIkgU3mIO
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 510Please respect copyright.PENANASqq34ke3AN
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.510Please respect copyright.PENANAH1vTBYonFA
***510Please respect copyright.PENANASl8HVmA6jD
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.510Please respect copyright.PENANAiyWlYW4Kpt
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAwMKk42gjhT
"You better rest though. You still look tired."510Please respect copyright.PENANAUV9gt6Z8Ny
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAx2ysfpNXIN
"No, I'll do it."510Please respect copyright.PENANADr7soMweFW
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7KjLvvRAq
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.510Please respect copyright.PENANAQs8MP9ziKC
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.510Please respect copyright.PENANAJPlNnGhU7e
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.510Please respect copyright.PENANAvUTKXz3fqh
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANAX78MdB3o1i
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 510Please respect copyright.PENANAsXu1LPdMTN
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.510Please respect copyright.PENANAKVaqZeCt6z
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.510Please respect copyright.PENANAH7bb0LpyxA
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.510Please respect copyright.PENANA3hGtb9mTpX
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAOEA9bb5eXO
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.510Please respect copyright.PENANArRBePBZjR2
"Thank510Please respect copyright.PENANAJKrY6CEYLd
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 510Please respect copyright.PENANADvZZFcS7cv
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAtajEEjLf6P
"Well, yes. I still think I would."510Please respect copyright.PENANAw1MtgUN2OL
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."510Please respect copyright.PENANAjxJR8MJyxx
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.510Please respect copyright.PENANAYz96Ayrkch
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."510Please respect copyright.PENANAOTFrGJhR3f
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.510Please respect copyright.PENANA3mHoPO1D8d
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 510Please respect copyright.PENANATquwinWjvO
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.510Please respect copyright.PENANAkhOjrxUjMT
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAbOxCvnpJRz
"Coffee will be lovely."510Please respect copyright.PENANAgzZISdkm3C
Miss510Please respect copyright.PENANAAFWaguGRKG
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 510Please respect copyright.PENANAe1T1ji3cDr
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.510Please respect copyright.PENANAwfXyLGXJt1
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.510Please respect copyright.PENANAwZp8pOxSq6
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAJlPpuit73X
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."510Please respect copyright.PENANAEfGQofISuq
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."510Please respect copyright.PENANAIq5yx3jPGD
"What mysterious person?"510Please respect copyright.PENANA4wkH3S5BIF
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."510Please respect copyright.PENANAzM8kLMOODG
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAKsRp7DplQq
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.510Please respect copyright.PENANAjvPZ9uVatK
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAc0g3dVmcbQ
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA0RTVkhwxvx
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAE3108gcoCu
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."510Please respect copyright.PENANAYQ0kF1GXjP
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"510Please respect copyright.PENANA7TbdFjHlWn
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."510Please respect copyright.PENANAy6AUEhgBoQ
The510Please respect copyright.PENANAwUhQde5WWb
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?510Please respect copyright.PENANAEo0VNBsZbB
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAhnoXoamORU
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all510Please respect copyright.PENANAEQdHjYLPSo
of this.510Please respect copyright.PENANAI3bZXzctnE
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.510Please respect copyright.PENANAj72rhwaQ1W
"I...510Please respect copyright.PENANAw69gm6K8kV
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 510Please respect copyright.PENANAzhKW5TaKh7
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 510Please respect copyright.PENANAszslf0WOsD
frustration. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA2vy7gApFD8
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.510Please respect copyright.PENANA39Us3eTYSG
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANAXqKDaNB6uW
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 510Please respect copyright.PENANApQWgj6fc3Q
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 510Please respect copyright.PENANAv8tEfTvaN8
cups on the tray and wondered. 510Please respect copyright.PENANATqlDiOnd1b
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAMxjlJhZLAr
510Please respect copyright.PENANA1plywMUUpC
As510Please respect copyright.PENANADVatZyJVKw
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 510Please respect copyright.PENANAEaiBaWKekd
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 510Please respect copyright.PENANA7jdY4dAgjM
reminder kept ringing in her head.510Please respect copyright.PENANAB5tHpyv1rq
"And tell your friends not to get involved."510Please respect copyright.PENANARukaFTxUCZ
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA1bcQT7i68Y
"I510Please respect copyright.PENANAlXp63q0I9Q
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 510Please respect copyright.PENANAKx3frMEVcx
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 510Please respect copyright.PENANAMbmaVqp9z9
talking about, Rhénee?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAk44gcdjcIF
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANAE5xqTQx4Zh
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 510Please respect copyright.PENANA17P4P7BNkf
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 510Please respect copyright.PENANA357UNN5luN
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 510Please respect copyright.PENANAnKJNumIQZ0
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.510Please respect copyright.PENANABW9nFIAZDR
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.510Please respect copyright.PENANAx108bmo32u
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAuvAui3DBI0
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."510Please respect copyright.PENANA46sDU5Yc3N
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAM72KjOQjIx
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAHmLuOv2Xpc
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAO1i3sP3JG2
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAB6SfX15o2Z
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.510Please respect copyright.PENANANrhlGoVUsT
***510Please respect copyright.PENANA96jPwo02jQ
Sweat510Please respect copyright.PENANAIKhELnBkBg
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 510Please respect copyright.PENANAl10nxBD6JX
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAPQF0S95SmH
the person waiting never likes to wait.510Please respect copyright.PENANAC9NVnYLjt2
He510Please respect copyright.PENANACxBNBPnHgN
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 510Please respect copyright.PENANAkGCwoMDbj1
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the510Please respect copyright.PENANAISf8bybkAd
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 510Please respect copyright.PENANAZKwqgVJROB
second.510Please respect copyright.PENANAFBqSv1zKi9
He510Please respect copyright.PENANAOw1aAzcwNp
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAgjxJ5pY11i
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAyj7apBfVjd
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 510Please respect copyright.PENANATjvNZTFwTN
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 510Please respect copyright.PENANAQmpSBYl7pj
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.510Please respect copyright.PENANAYkq7Iz7i15
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 510Please respect copyright.PENANA0dA3QZaJUi
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 510Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZTlN0rHQj
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAUUzFl6AbCX
"You're late, again."510Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZAff6qdwa
His510Please respect copyright.PENANAMuGRZF5Rm7
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 510Please respect copyright.PENANAO0U3of1ODz
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 510Please respect copyright.PENANAEimuv925Gs
lion door knob. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAid3voxYmCq
He510Please respect copyright.PENANAAK9cZyEE7I
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 510Please respect copyright.PENANAVyL4eywNj4
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAZvZWk2jf3w
"What510Please respect copyright.PENANAjbZr8hVZ1N
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 510Please respect copyright.PENANAazSwmLwkO6
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAR4HcbuhvF2
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."510Please respect copyright.PENANAJu8uBfTZEP
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.510Please respect copyright.PENANAKd96PojpER
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."510Please respect copyright.PENANAvK1naSenA7
A510Please respect copyright.PENANAqNjJT65N0y
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAvJeLp9MIZv
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 510Please respect copyright.PENANAD3PVhFKZoE
as they had their backs towards the window.510Please respect copyright.PENANAfH5unDEqHk
"You know we need him," said the tall man.510Please respect copyright.PENANA3KSyG8WDYr
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."510Please respect copyright.PENANA2tUJu5qN2B
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."510Please respect copyright.PENANAX9GWgWXGwt
The510Please respect copyright.PENANAkKa4mPNV4F
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 510Please respect copyright.PENANA981N0uG0DO
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 510Please respect copyright.PENANAnqjuuEurAa
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.510Please respect copyright.PENANAhmCHEnIApo
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.510Please respect copyright.PENANAZSYTJwisNP
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.510Please respect copyright.PENANAWtcS3hgKk0
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."510Please respect copyright.PENANAb2VXhO6KIj
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAnynrCEsMMt
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.510Please respect copyright.PENANAVuS5DniRm2
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."510Please respect copyright.PENANAYQrqrETYnL
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."510Please respect copyright.PENANAOF1ZauKpoU
"What if she reveals the truth?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAkSEIRRa8VZ
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."510Please respect copyright.PENANAcOldrbD1YU
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.510Please respect copyright.PENANAR3cBdlcToK
For a moment, silence hung over them.510Please respect copyright.PENANAin0V6WZgAE
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."510Please respect copyright.PENANAy5a3fYnZ64
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."510Please respect copyright.PENANAZj0AEHWOfR
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPhHYOd0wxr
"I510Please respect copyright.PENANAGlcSAIW4wD
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 510Please respect copyright.PENANAV7XncrKf6Z
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 510Please respect copyright.PENANALkp9PmnfJ1
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."510Please respect copyright.PENANAa4h0ZTpzu2
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.510Please respect copyright.PENANAfepcUcOril
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.510Please respect copyright.PENANACDuskeK0eZ
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."510Please respect copyright.PENANAn15rCuTkgd
***510Please respect copyright.PENANAKbqH59AbuN
The510Please respect copyright.PENANAOKsontQoAb
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAFTTuLmokix
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 510Please respect copyright.PENANAXTDwCdvNUL
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 510Please respect copyright.PENANAslvYxW5eN1
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time510Please respect copyright.PENANADAH4l3Uwd6
they met, they seemed sky blue.510Please respect copyright.PENANAKQDkCHREvH
And510Please respect copyright.PENANAONcQO2S40y
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No510Please respect copyright.PENANAY1r0BimptH
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.510Please respect copyright.PENANATZDaudR1iF
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANA5lIpCZu69g
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 510Please respect copyright.PENANA2zcbgrfHs5
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied510Please respect copyright.PENANAHVlf5IeqHC
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 510Please respect copyright.PENANAuiEREqxrtN
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 510Please respect copyright.PENANApyaeuy3LSW
coffee table in the middle.510Please respect copyright.PENANAWEZJSilvNy
When510Please respect copyright.PENANAFTQsJzVNlz
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAJjejL9YbXw
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.510Please respect copyright.PENANA1av24PQ08c
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.510Please respect copyright.PENANAKfeASTsuZW
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.510Please respect copyright.PENANA0zkUMoMnOU
"Are you sure?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAUtNlOIaI6u
"Yes, I'm positive."510Please respect copyright.PENANAymPMoDw0BS
Miss510Please respect copyright.PENANANR5VD1kKOM
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 510Please respect copyright.PENANA2qG9VcfyXi
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 510Please respect copyright.PENANAcJE0DLGbFt
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips510Please respect copyright.PENANAQyRJNrQZCb
from their cups.510Please respect copyright.PENANAguoidR8Qw1
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.510Please respect copyright.PENANAZVHooS36MM
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.510Please respect copyright.PENANAtrulHs6MLS
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"510Please respect copyright.PENANA7TWOXy60SD
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAIEITSxnciR
"And how about the fact that you and Greta were imposing as other people the time I was coming here?" Rhénee spat out at Malcom.510Please respect copyright.PENANAPGAOx9yezB
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."510Please respect copyright.PENANAwQU90Vp42g
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."510Please respect copyright.PENANAPTXRADvLT8
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."510Please respect copyright.PENANAGgZcXoPyeB
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAm3PfGQpzbH
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."510Please respect copyright.PENANAQwUHnyuhPI
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.510Please respect copyright.PENANA7zGPUOXqPy
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.510Please respect copyright.PENANAYku4ScPKXN
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."510Please respect copyright.PENANALNtkMgyyQe
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"510Please respect copyright.PENANAePOOsw8YcH
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.510Please respect copyright.PENANAeXmFwtUowd
"Oh,510Please respect copyright.PENANAsY4rU1OnWv
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted510Please respect copyright.PENANAed19pY080t
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 510Please respect copyright.PENANALKe7GapVdi
who he is."510Please respect copyright.PENANATxNrRUfuxH
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."510Please respect copyright.PENANAAdARcQuZNa
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANAwcVLHxfqg8
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAE1tmVSA2sh
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want510Please respect copyright.PENANAdHPcIwwgG3
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 510Please respect copyright.PENANAP1wwdogCR9
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.510Please respect copyright.PENANAEniew4AGNh
Rhénee510Please respect copyright.PENANAMvWyKdyy5Y
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 510Please respect copyright.PENANARAugReyTaj
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.510Please respect copyright.PENANAqbgg11Rh9e
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 510Please respect copyright.PENANAhViaaf8Qw9
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.510Please respect copyright.PENANA2kjpqt6t5x
"Fine,510Please respect copyright.PENANAplDG2XJy8O
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.510Please respect copyright.PENANAJF1BkKReny
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 510Please respect copyright.PENANA9R8lnIlvJ9
or die if you stay by me."510Please respect copyright.PENANAS30lc4OTce