The news about the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAw92EDygjgh
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 487Please respect copyright.PENANAICJ7PDJcoh
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 487Please respect copyright.PENANAsRnyHQFsZC
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 487Please respect copyright.PENANAjN6eua9jj6
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 487Please respect copyright.PENANATUKN0kPkns
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 487Please respect copyright.PENANAtyIJVZcUb7
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 487Please respect copyright.PENANA8AGoUP6TpO
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries487Please respect copyright.PENANAyiyv91SRoC
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 487Please respect copyright.PENANAQSTFb2BWGR
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.487Please respect copyright.PENANAqQhdwOaxfz
There was more to it 487Please respect copyright.PENANAgdn44hyg1U
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAFik45bUT5h
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 487Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ujg94LU9y
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 487Please respect copyright.PENANAFwp60gw6Ff
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 487Please respect copyright.PENANA7fdeDEA43x
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started487Please respect copyright.PENANAJIiMucnNeu
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 487Please respect copyright.PENANA8fuWrOGNyo
except from a few individuals. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAb1EQ8YDdKj
And apparently, one of 487Please respect copyright.PENANAKRVT2aDWGz
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 487Please respect copyright.PENANAwRMIk8vNhk
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In487Please respect copyright.PENANArg7D56cIqI
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 487Please respect copyright.PENANA5yasfSliUj
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 487Please respect copyright.PENANAUN90Rn4tRD
really going on, all hell would break loose.487Please respect copyright.PENANAyP1bCf07ti
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."487Please respect copyright.PENANAwutK5rTlcw
Rhénee dropped the 487Please respect copyright.PENANALG6lsEart2
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 487Please respect copyright.PENANAmccjfbxb5S
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 487Please respect copyright.PENANAfsWViuIQoc
ear, she took a sip of coffee.487Please respect copyright.PENANABwTjE8oFVB
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAHuCVAj1WXS
"Ya, its crazy here," 487Please respect copyright.PENANAl6x7v1w4K1
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 487Please respect copyright.PENANAPBUYQxGJAl
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 487Please respect copyright.PENANA1rP7AEY46S
broken in."487Please respect copyright.PENANAbBNHeHpHNm
"If only they knew."487Please respect copyright.PENANAGvkRRa37kI
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."487Please respect copyright.PENANAoPSkY1us2A
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAPNDgAPIL73
"She did. I had to make 487Please respect copyright.PENANAFO8W8CZeJR
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 487Please respect copyright.PENANA8w5fD7XgtO
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."487Please respect copyright.PENANACdjJR7INj8
"I doubt if she believed that."487Please respect copyright.PENANAatJUO9GScF
"Haha, looks like you 487Please respect copyright.PENANAmeSfslHXci
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAEgwnbVMPSH
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."487Please respect copyright.PENANAQQdBRm6aYT
"True. But we did. I 487Please respect copyright.PENANAvfTVJgZLoy
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and487Please respect copyright.PENANACbrIDc4739
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."487Please respect copyright.PENANAHPe6mxL37u
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAUzDxBDqIbp
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA9cRoHiDoWC
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."487Please respect copyright.PENANAZOwJYP1g3Y
"Okay, bye."487Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8re4yLKBn
"Bye."487Please respect copyright.PENANAvBJy2dCvGp
Rhénee cuts the call and487Please respect copyright.PENANAzSJaElBEhG
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAO5Au7OFXib
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 487Please respect copyright.PENANASfG2b1O5Uo
wink last night.487Please respect copyright.PENANAEqSX43q2ls
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."487Please respect copyright.PENANAii3PyLFodc
"I wasn't going to 487Please respect copyright.PENANANmgNBnnJmD
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda487Please respect copyright.PENANAxXQRALzOB9
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."487Please respect copyright.PENANA1RAsPUChP1
"You don't have to 487Please respect copyright.PENANAIUP8iOIA1I
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 487Please respect copyright.PENANAxtV2ocKGTe
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."487Please respect copyright.PENANAT5SnvDN39A
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."487Please respect copyright.PENANAEnemSMKEcn
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAt1Pn5oNR5s
"Why Malcom?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAPDJA0fBMkr
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."487Please respect copyright.PENANAXvSNoGULxD
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."487Please respect copyright.PENANADPyZ4NYBjQ
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "487Please respect copyright.PENANATZKyPq0lGI
"Alright, you go ahead."487Please respect copyright.PENANAdMJ6hdR3dL
Miss Griselda gave 487Please respect copyright.PENANAqtf52doLEz
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 487Please respect copyright.PENANA4vfy1Q6HFX
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she487Please respect copyright.PENANAew4cLKzx7v
did when they talked about Malcom. 487Please respect copyright.PENANANVs6eMGWzT
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.487Please respect copyright.PENANA6G4GnVLs7H
The sound of her phone 487Please respect copyright.PENANAke6pZ6jUUq
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the487Please respect copyright.PENANAgwDF3dNinF
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 487Please respect copyright.PENANAl5OnJtEORa
mother.487Please respect copyright.PENANASM4h9FqHpO
"Hello?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAyK7V2XiO5b
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAq5QgsIaCfB
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.487Please respect copyright.PENANAcYLGXViY0P
That voice. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAJodH8CJxsl
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAK5lBBreswT
"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?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAUi3lCebEBW
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.487Please respect copyright.PENANAkUYxzuGeKi
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."487Please respect copyright.PENANApMDBUsL1E6
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAaCxQaCfxMD
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."487Please respect copyright.PENANA3KAcwP8bKi
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.487Please respect copyright.PENANAXgM4zhY0zp
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."487Please respect copyright.PENANAHFoKPRX5TW
"You don't know me, 487Please respect copyright.PENANAoF2TLYBPpW
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 487Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2TJkelWEI
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA94UFJFzJrj
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."487Please respect copyright.PENANAVZmZuh1Irt
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAh60D5F1E9Y
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 487Please respect copyright.PENANASZMTvfBEWv
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.487Please respect copyright.PENANAsFvG8FDoJm
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."487Please respect copyright.PENANAkZb7qehRKX
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.487Please respect copyright.PENANAgaP7dHcLCj
"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?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAJoiwFc1kc3
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."487Please respect copyright.PENANACdhZGjnZPh
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA7gKqo06uXk
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."487Please respect copyright.PENANAKdWVdBFBtv
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."487Please respect copyright.PENANAq7cxB21Vnn
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."487Please respect copyright.PENANAOCmlSdGgfT
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 487Please respect copyright.PENANARfIErP3QEt
"Oh, and by the way, 487Please respect copyright.PENANABhZSjt62D1
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 487Please respect copyright.PENANAqxNJTwPYu0
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 487Please respect copyright.PENANA5cGbysD6HH
this time around."487Please respect copyright.PENANA0rYU5ZpfW1
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA1urTZeIWD0
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."487Please respect copyright.PENANAWbphXBYf3q
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAFJFyFUSXx7
Rhénee sat down on the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAIC7ZXvY17f
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 487Please respect copyright.PENANAzneJoKYE3R
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 487Please respect copyright.PENANAKAGg00LVZ5
the others, who know what might happen. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAu8tQGzg3ar
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.487Please respect copyright.PENANAw6zUICAKtP
***487Please respect copyright.PENANARlDJW2OGgR
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAPmsP91NmPr
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAZr1kN4cWo3
"But she isn't hurt right?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAB52iP1HQUv
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."487Please respect copyright.PENANAQO9fXwqtD0
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 487Please respect copyright.PENANArTHj3RQS1H
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."487Please respect copyright.PENANAqVWfnTkPpm
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAhTqPNlZz4A
"Nah.487Please respect copyright.PENANAHR0T3OAIxB
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 487Please respect copyright.PENANAfFZwhZrWyH
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."487Please respect copyright.PENANA34ozXoZZRQ
"Thats487Please respect copyright.PENANAin3bGqNtYI
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 487Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ74w7chnP
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."487Please respect copyright.PENANAm8ZtRU7nGd
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAvdGdlza7gG
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."487Please respect copyright.PENANAgstM3UlB0j
"Alright."487Please respect copyright.PENANAqilW9RYpKl
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. 487Please respect copyright.PENANA0xw37kGhIJ
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAqy0csMUHxS
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.487Please respect copyright.PENANAV7ve7yoChC
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."487Please respect copyright.PENANAHG5ZIzrHU7
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."487Please respect copyright.PENANAh01jZso8Ap
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."487Please respect copyright.PENANAe5CS8yisSe
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAxIVDTs4WXZ
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.487Please respect copyright.PENANASAjqIzRpNf
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.487Please respect copyright.PENANA6AhJr18IRc
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAIVOVR0CXFR
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."487Please respect copyright.PENANAGpKkBGPqW0
"Does it bother you?"487Please respect copyright.PENANARq5vsV7Jrb
"Um... not really. But.... um."487Please respect copyright.PENANAp2o3SGEbGY
Eugene487Please respect copyright.PENANAkARi935xow
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 487Please respect copyright.PENANADDIybViPOc
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.487Please respect copyright.PENANARael0q0o69
"Mum, are you okay?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAHNFxaZ17YQ
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 487Please respect copyright.PENANA254seIjtpR
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAxD5EnwMfVP
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAHwwI0ECHz7
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."487Please respect copyright.PENANA0EkhBfXeMB
Mrs487Please respect copyright.PENANAM1mrZzF7o6
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene487Please respect copyright.PENANAFMTDBIwAxo
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 487Please respect copyright.PENANAUdp42oLqWr
had talked about Rhénee?487Please respect copyright.PENANALu3yEe4aXr
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 487Please respect copyright.PENANA0xR8HF4MIk
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.487Please respect copyright.PENANArfE4DtyxFu
***487Please respect copyright.PENANAw8t6MF0W0E
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.487Please respect copyright.PENANArTlJGvVJOL
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 487Please respect copyright.PENANACzqbin4rxv
"You better rest though. You still look tired."487Please respect copyright.PENANAA9OMWPmPVQ
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAdbzgR3iKQf
"No, I'll do it."487Please respect copyright.PENANANCokSuffYd
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAcgxbFEg8C3
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.487Please respect copyright.PENANAHoBKvbRYgX
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.487Please respect copyright.PENANAMWxDal91w2
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.487Please respect copyright.PENANAzMbcEXqWCT
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANAVk8ojYjqAb
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 487Please respect copyright.PENANAQfxZlRMkvT
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.487Please respect copyright.PENANAOkB1sASXQK
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.487Please respect copyright.PENANADwdLITU4qn
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.487Please respect copyright.PENANAHDUh3HaE3X
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"487Please respect copyright.PENANACRlnVJTFHW
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.487Please respect copyright.PENANA0eJ408Yw1g
"Thank487Please respect copyright.PENANAyg0UdMMMBh
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 487Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ698CRfkT
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAA0kAgv6JSI
"Well, yes. I still think I would."487Please respect copyright.PENANABDAkS0CdIp
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."487Please respect copyright.PENANAPEOqwxt3yM
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.487Please respect copyright.PENANAKjbXjeWXhy
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."487Please respect copyright.PENANAVvwDlxiKRM
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.487Please respect copyright.PENANA0L6XwEpng8
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAJcHXKndgze
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.487Please respect copyright.PENANAmJyKhbh31O
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA9im3svzpi7
"Coffee will be lovely."487Please respect copyright.PENANAUmXqN4BSuC
Miss487Please respect copyright.PENANAuSRB2uCbSA
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 487Please respect copyright.PENANAlpUX6Vs911
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.487Please respect copyright.PENANAyspIndHPf8
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.487Please respect copyright.PENANAajwgNXUvYB
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAETlzKok0zU
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."487Please respect copyright.PENANAbQMg85MWKR
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."487Please respect copyright.PENANAciseWcQI8a
"What mysterious person?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAiFgqDhXQrA
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."487Please respect copyright.PENANAOc5SNF7yRK
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"487Please respect copyright.PENANA0FDj3m6nxn
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.487Please respect copyright.PENANAUOcr2hHVoB
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAsbfphPUdEQ
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAOlJx735kD1
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAuEAdeD53ss
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."487Please respect copyright.PENANA6zCYKr4eAh
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"487Please respect copyright.PENANAOCyeHKoP91
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."487Please respect copyright.PENANAQYiToNJPKV
The487Please respect copyright.PENANAc0wUK6Tyka
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?487Please respect copyright.PENANAyyi2kcR1L3
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 487Please respect copyright.PENANArdKZoCHsOJ
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all487Please respect copyright.PENANAisBD4AZdNc
of this.487Please respect copyright.PENANAFeBAD68bJ4
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.487Please respect copyright.PENANAWONcR3oidn
"I...487Please respect copyright.PENANA2PK7NEvDrk
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 487Please respect copyright.PENANAj27i4onTQX
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 487Please respect copyright.PENANAiH65tueuN0
frustration. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAAjMvnwDlC9
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.487Please respect copyright.PENANAgKNinJz39O
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANADfxfmRs2OS
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 487Please respect copyright.PENANAqcPFP2d9zN
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 487Please respect copyright.PENANAWaBRWxOnPH
cups on the tray and wondered. 487Please respect copyright.PENANABaTuogf0X1
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAltjQ3w1by7
487Please respect copyright.PENANAwety3V0gsf
As487Please respect copyright.PENANASrFsHEZmnr
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 487Please respect copyright.PENANABBd8e0W5jU
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 487Please respect copyright.PENANATYDffQrMML
reminder kept ringing in her head.487Please respect copyright.PENANADaUCQK7nfh
"And tell your friends not to get involved."487Please respect copyright.PENANAJzYtud6OwT
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAYzlCgj546q
"I487Please respect copyright.PENANAtsLqLcoCMT
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 487Please respect copyright.PENANA18WqS3yUkp
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 487Please respect copyright.PENANACqo1jglGig
talking about, Rhénee?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAc8Oedwo5vA
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANAm9SGY1ISxl
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 487Please respect copyright.PENANAz1imT4p3x9
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 487Please respect copyright.PENANA0hJzP9kirr
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 487Please respect copyright.PENANAeZS1QxexLd
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.487Please respect copyright.PENANACFFM5l51Vp
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.487Please respect copyright.PENANADm9UR9jpIM
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAp3t0Fa7XTP
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."487Please respect copyright.PENANAtREYSYcO5p
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAhFgHF24idl
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAndvPmPT70w
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAL5z0tYQeYN
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"487Please respect copyright.PENANApdjLbiAxRR
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.487Please respect copyright.PENANAZYgrOy1oyd
***487Please respect copyright.PENANASFyimAJXBw
Sweat487Please respect copyright.PENANAVDvztiZ0gZ
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 487Please respect copyright.PENANAeKReXqSkq9
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 487Please respect copyright.PENANA7GNAB14q93
the person waiting never likes to wait.487Please respect copyright.PENANAUBVpXvv94Q
He487Please respect copyright.PENANAG1ec42QSHh
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 487Please respect copyright.PENANA0nRYXTjMQw
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the487Please respect copyright.PENANAiaOhq9bDxE
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 487Please respect copyright.PENANA8OoSoqL6ve
second.487Please respect copyright.PENANAStsDcmLeXL
He487Please respect copyright.PENANAETN2Zjt3pi
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 487Please respect copyright.PENANA1RgFeMoYzi
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 487Please respect copyright.PENANAG6ARiqWuPV
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 487Please respect copyright.PENANAuYH4rGqpWs
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 487Please respect copyright.PENANAgkC1eQXMTq
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.487Please respect copyright.PENANA2UP5bC3nSi
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 487Please respect copyright.PENANA9GkqjVSKwf
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAnPQhkGnTRh
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAPfi4HU8YBS
"You're late, again."487Please respect copyright.PENANAszSYQVFwmz
His487Please respect copyright.PENANASaLGdo9aUt
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 487Please respect copyright.PENANAq7AJFhpAS7
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 487Please respect copyright.PENANAopQo5PYyTs
lion door knob. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAiCNqj2a2T2
He487Please respect copyright.PENANA7rp97M90Iy
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 487Please respect copyright.PENANAoE5Nm7oG3X
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAtS0ZARpCLu
"What487Please respect copyright.PENANAGl3Ib7kNYf
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 487Please respect copyright.PENANAWRdX6TCKCM
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAdemTckRAuy
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."487Please respect copyright.PENANAzA1epkgtPs
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.487Please respect copyright.PENANA1hspX5Hgpy
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."487Please respect copyright.PENANAVE873vRh9o
A487Please respect copyright.PENANA9h2taoCJJ0
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAMCPUsKMROI
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 487Please respect copyright.PENANAnQkz2jiqht
as they had their backs towards the window.487Please respect copyright.PENANAebRBOMekzP
"You know we need him," said the tall man.487Please respect copyright.PENANAPbzM2MMCgA
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."487Please respect copyright.PENANAGUYXCIQWcZ
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."487Please respect copyright.PENANADEv4Xtrihg
The487Please respect copyright.PENANAflqZoUlJyS
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAkWWKHucMe1
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 487Please respect copyright.PENANA3dqteKsgyC
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.487Please respect copyright.PENANAhBfbv7NmQ3
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.487Please respect copyright.PENANAVyAuskcovg
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.487Please respect copyright.PENANAB0A0DgyrEq
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."487Please respect copyright.PENANAyhrHoxyGGu
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAFaIOUKXaft
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.487Please respect copyright.PENANAnunUFeu9kw
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."487Please respect copyright.PENANAt3egXSOkXV
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."487Please respect copyright.PENANAwlyH81W6X0
"What if she reveals the truth?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAdRfNSI9L7A
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."487Please respect copyright.PENANA5qKjj7Fovj
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.487Please respect copyright.PENANAl2E4aXvKLA
For a moment, silence hung over them.487Please respect copyright.PENANAkS9uMkc8Je
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."487Please respect copyright.PENANAE8tpj6kgzR
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."487Please respect copyright.PENANATA4b9R47Vs
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."487Please respect copyright.PENANA0dzJXMZjoW
"I487Please respect copyright.PENANAGzMZsuyd3U
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAICzTTVPeeG
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 487Please respect copyright.PENANAz3dLE6ZJnj
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."487Please respect copyright.PENANATUCIxQfvx6
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.487Please respect copyright.PENANA49Q5lrYxHP
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.487Please respect copyright.PENANATZ0puT3x35
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."487Please respect copyright.PENANAttmUuNRl1n
***487Please respect copyright.PENANAa5NoBnYIEl
The487Please respect copyright.PENANA4UMLQwDVAS
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAldlhuNSmdu
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 487Please respect copyright.PENANAe97DYLRmok
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 487Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z0VIUQkwU
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time487Please respect copyright.PENANAw4fywhcLq7
they met, they seemed sky blue.487Please respect copyright.PENANAZqcs7ImmO0
And487Please respect copyright.PENANApT7uWhNNUy
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No487Please respect copyright.PENANA0aThmZvp77
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.487Please respect copyright.PENANAXYPYBRsRM0
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANAvL864P0x0E
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 487Please respect copyright.PENANAX0HL22bNL9
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied487Please respect copyright.PENANAjkZp9TdUqi
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 487Please respect copyright.PENANAaUcPHRPEfH
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAHeITKM3s9v
coffee table in the middle.487Please respect copyright.PENANARHxwUpHy3y
When487Please respect copyright.PENANAUwBEsciJO0
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 487Please respect copyright.PENANAYtUWyYbojj
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.487Please respect copyright.PENANAf7qCeVypqo
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.487Please respect copyright.PENANArHsMGA6x6m
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.487Please respect copyright.PENANAtqijan8yfJ
"Are you sure?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAxlETuUvqFm
"Yes, I'm positive."487Please respect copyright.PENANAli3meYSk4Q
Miss487Please respect copyright.PENANAVn7MXk1xK6
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 487Please respect copyright.PENANAeBmrqroO0j
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 487Please respect copyright.PENANAnJUQBP6jc3
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips487Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7u5tP4sD5
from their cups.487Please respect copyright.PENANACVdCLQ5T7r
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.487Please respect copyright.PENANAILjwHMlMe9
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.487Please respect copyright.PENANAAI4eZxM9uM
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAytociYypG5
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAKZB41XIXGJ
"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.487Please respect copyright.PENANAGnXH3LsZ8N
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."487Please respect copyright.PENANAZSsxQymi68
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."487Please respect copyright.PENANAOxj0CW1cfm
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."487Please respect copyright.PENANAPqYlJAF5uC
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAnQik3AEQjM
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."487Please respect copyright.PENANA921bFAdfqv
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.487Please respect copyright.PENANASJmwQdPkoU
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.487Please respect copyright.PENANAqETGm7RRxy
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."487Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZjVLxRIYQ
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"487Please respect copyright.PENANAutT2TudlA6
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.487Please respect copyright.PENANA95slzfNBHu
"Oh,487Please respect copyright.PENANAfMTo1KED2Z
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted487Please respect copyright.PENANA9cQJNDlbKA
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 487Please respect copyright.PENANAzEkR8BlMsq
who he is."487Please respect copyright.PENANAzsbQbRMW0s
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."487Please respect copyright.PENANAjnNsmUnX1j
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANAhyzBGXgo7I
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 487Please respect copyright.PENANAaDugnzdgXC
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want487Please respect copyright.PENANAUtg8zV7d9R
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 487Please respect copyright.PENANATWpXlB8XS1
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.487Please respect copyright.PENANA9ib6eD0Cnd
Rhénee487Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1CbolL6Wt
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 487Please respect copyright.PENANARZo2Gw3x3r
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.487Please respect copyright.PENANAOFDGR8mgR4
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 487Please respect copyright.PENANA1Yf2PWJKDY
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.487Please respect copyright.PENANACSrzc0zrhb
"Fine,487Please respect copyright.PENANAzDVA5bJSfC
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.487Please respect copyright.PENANAPO2eiiFKME
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 487Please respect copyright.PENANAKN8p4aoK09
or die if you stay by me."487Please respect copyright.PENANAfJQBnYH4Df