The news about the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAEzhdraJRfz
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 900Please respect copyright.PENANATG8kjiAgQH
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 900Please respect copyright.PENANA7OawUm6Zn4
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 900Please respect copyright.PENANAYZQaOMAny7
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 900Please respect copyright.PENANAxYDaHKv6Yl
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 900Please respect copyright.PENANAjFkkBfVmrg
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 900Please respect copyright.PENANAPzR4DzoLOi
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries900Please respect copyright.PENANAFZq5NgNupI
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 900Please respect copyright.PENANAwT2sRRyGBB
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.900Please respect copyright.PENANAr8ddgTytL4
There was more to it 900Please respect copyright.PENANAURmJGhs82U
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 900Please respect copyright.PENANA3OYqWPI0qg
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 900Please respect copyright.PENANALv7bQtZwIT
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 900Please respect copyright.PENANA5EaKS3TvNI
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 900Please respect copyright.PENANAiyPsjvc5W7
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started900Please respect copyright.PENANAAB9S2mkJo0
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 900Please respect copyright.PENANArkQUgqr1Qd
except from a few individuals. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAZAzvKIl6Pv
And apparently, one of 900Please respect copyright.PENANA9z2OpgF9wr
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 900Please respect copyright.PENANApGHGIvJ1ht
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In900Please respect copyright.PENANAdpRDT3AZbH
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 900Please respect copyright.PENANA13CvYnbnTn
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 900Please respect copyright.PENANAnLP7BzNYGj
really going on, all hell would break loose.900Please respect copyright.PENANAcDS4YrzJ2N
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."900Please respect copyright.PENANAGWXBHbQfrL
Rhénee dropped the 900Please respect copyright.PENANA8q7j8mnuU1
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 900Please respect copyright.PENANANIkhCTxm92
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 900Please respect copyright.PENANAIqXv4sOVXf
ear, she took a sip of coffee.900Please respect copyright.PENANAD2bBaKbWid
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAT2Kq8Fx0dZ
"Ya, its crazy here," 900Please respect copyright.PENANA64hCIfaS69
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 900Please respect copyright.PENANAVcJT70sd95
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 900Please respect copyright.PENANADuGgX0fzkk
broken in."900Please respect copyright.PENANA3XOaIcHiQz
"If only they knew."900Please respect copyright.PENANANP3vBqpYA7
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."900Please respect copyright.PENANA3cZresUw9e
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAfjQNcDotS1
"She did. I had to make 900Please respect copyright.PENANAOLtvZxQB22
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 900Please respect copyright.PENANATCvW17wY9H
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."900Please respect copyright.PENANA9CmCvcY7qo
"I doubt if she believed that."900Please respect copyright.PENANAe7jcnjmxVA
"Haha, looks like you 900Please respect copyright.PENANAb1eqH5R0M5
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzAwhcRLs1J
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."900Please respect copyright.PENANAh828H7CtWf
"True. But we did. I 900Please respect copyright.PENANAmPl9BYIYYF
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and900Please respect copyright.PENANA7Y0brXgbnb
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."900Please respect copyright.PENANAgO3TuA3OD6
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAxQ2crQIF2k
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAFjHTcg3HfU
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."900Please respect copyright.PENANAF52GPoirHD
"Okay, bye."900Please respect copyright.PENANAt1hDsrGbay
"Bye."900Please respect copyright.PENANAF5fuvbhGG6
Rhénee cuts the call and900Please respect copyright.PENANAyMY1Afty6v
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzIBfcQFeFL
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 900Please respect copyright.PENANA9ErYU0AkrT
wink last night.900Please respect copyright.PENANAuWnLq9rI3H
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."900Please respect copyright.PENANATnaJi1Cjit
"I wasn't going to 900Please respect copyright.PENANAHKNII6EwGY
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda900Please respect copyright.PENANAZxf3duFPrT
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."900Please respect copyright.PENANAu5Pqyc72Qe
"You don't have to 900Please respect copyright.PENANAsBPKZVnCF5
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 900Please respect copyright.PENANAvJisxeNX70
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."900Please respect copyright.PENANAKITvhFTJsW
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."900Please respect copyright.PENANAsl3wvUoP4Q
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAA4yBjqMVyK
"Why Malcom?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAeeiDrYHHf0
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."900Please respect copyright.PENANAs694EFfPGs
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."900Please respect copyright.PENANA9sttVmYNye
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "900Please respect copyright.PENANA5RNdMdkhBi
"Alright, you go ahead."900Please respect copyright.PENANAyUSoDHOi6u
Miss Griselda gave 900Please respect copyright.PENANAFv9Le1jfz3
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 900Please respect copyright.PENANA8XGDQgKGTG
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she900Please respect copyright.PENANAA4y9O5f1hQ
did when they talked about Malcom. 900Please respect copyright.PENANA6f0NSEnS2B
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.900Please respect copyright.PENANAoreRrct5sz
The sound of her phone 900Please respect copyright.PENANAYfR6gk6fIL
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the900Please respect copyright.PENANAN1tBu4bh0S
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 900Please respect copyright.PENANANwutLNfEqw
mother.900Please respect copyright.PENANAnAXuNlCctZ
"Hello?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAZBq8Rx1xad
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"900Please respect copyright.PENANASiXpMj2uIL
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.900Please respect copyright.PENANAJxAIq3JUJK
That voice. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAf7JGCRmlgI
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAwtARCbXaiT
"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?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAk7NP6nJzcm
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.900Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ1ssTdfj0
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."900Please respect copyright.PENANAzp8wEDzV8S
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA4Wl2H22rdi
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."900Please respect copyright.PENANAFoX3X7Iz5e
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.900Please respect copyright.PENANArI1XoTxoE6
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."900Please respect copyright.PENANAcrT8Eal4Tz
"You don't know me, 900Please respect copyright.PENANAdGOaWCXR8x
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 900Please respect copyright.PENANAD1LKxZtYpf
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA9nFrp6gWjv
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."900Please respect copyright.PENANA223mBlW8Xf
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAYvlwQpOmPH
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAIM3X1dq1ET
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.900Please respect copyright.PENANAA3Ec2Nf0Lt
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."900Please respect copyright.PENANArQB78Si9JQ
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.900Please respect copyright.PENANAiRQNYk3ZK3
"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?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAfzmzOKFhmT
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."900Please respect copyright.PENANA8pp9jWb3Li
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA0MJL8ZzCUH
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."900Please respect copyright.PENANAWLN9IwTpBH
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."900Please respect copyright.PENANA1c3hFWhbo2
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."900Please respect copyright.PENANAicgo6Oc51o
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAMjDPPORPWL
"Oh, and by the way, 900Please respect copyright.PENANAOmN3u8KIKT
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 900Please respect copyright.PENANAMb0FuwoeJq
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 900Please respect copyright.PENANAP5zwxYxSfs
this time around."900Please respect copyright.PENANA6jx9e201qt
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9nyTY1uDz
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."900Please respect copyright.PENANAQk8fKCNUQ8
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAYisPyu7CD8
Rhénee sat down on the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAt10hQ35GaB
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 900Please respect copyright.PENANA3IUts0UvM5
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 900Please respect copyright.PENANA7RigoXZOMu
the others, who know what might happen. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAdm5t4FdgZY
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.900Please respect copyright.PENANA4ED3rKZhBV
***900Please respect copyright.PENANA448YSciPNj
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAo3wC6cIG5C
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAaIVDSmVX8O
"But she isn't hurt right?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAHXcoJheswp
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."900Please respect copyright.PENANAaf6WBpUV9F
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAEdgzw5tRJK
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."900Please respect copyright.PENANAkcz6SYXAlj
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAuqf85MayGg
"Nah.900Please respect copyright.PENANAPWsXkJ0qfn
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 900Please respect copyright.PENANAQEG5uCbSuS
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."900Please respect copyright.PENANAtyW8LvUaNW
"Thats900Please respect copyright.PENANAMEYUBmc81f
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 900Please respect copyright.PENANAIgnlfmBup0
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."900Please respect copyright.PENANA6EkZ7NbnbO
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA7sIuW57V09
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."900Please respect copyright.PENANA3aNr4CXl8I
"Alright."900Please respect copyright.PENANA9FnRLIVcGU
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. 900Please respect copyright.PENANA45UTzEkyTw
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAd3THChx1X8
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.900Please respect copyright.PENANAJgRxHjvMFl
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."900Please respect copyright.PENANA7aFnQDNSgo
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."900Please respect copyright.PENANA4dZIbr49Tu
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."900Please respect copyright.PENANAsl6ay5HFIU
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 900Please respect copyright.PENANASNuclh4k1B
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.900Please respect copyright.PENANAKileG9uYv7
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.900Please respect copyright.PENANAKmmZbQvmu3
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 900Please respect copyright.PENANA0VNyQyE1BY
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."900Please respect copyright.PENANAjECTL9I3dD
"Does it bother you?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAsT15Dq49M5
"Um... not really. But.... um."900Please respect copyright.PENANA8HoZhDLgC5
Eugene900Please respect copyright.PENANAlnW0gxkVhl
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 900Please respect copyright.PENANAxuJPXU6RvH
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.900Please respect copyright.PENANAnDcvDUuoIO
"Mum, are you okay?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA32N0CJWr1I
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 900Please respect copyright.PENANACW6rYDvedo
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA3WTHGOfptm
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAtZl0NsPXdK
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."900Please respect copyright.PENANAvSTWK4LXbK
Mrs900Please respect copyright.PENANAZWbDRDbneh
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene900Please respect copyright.PENANAxzJS1s7jQ0
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 900Please respect copyright.PENANAv88uCFbV9t
had talked about Rhénee?900Please respect copyright.PENANARyvpqJAqAL
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 900Please respect copyright.PENANAjlC3dct5fj
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.900Please respect copyright.PENANAg4yxvWVYu5
***900Please respect copyright.PENANA2zifZYcd5s
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.900Please respect copyright.PENANAykNTpxKI40
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 900Please respect copyright.PENANASOD9aOEHpv
"You better rest though. You still look tired."900Please respect copyright.PENANAJV5O80gctH
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA3NviJRWxdC
"No, I'll do it."900Please respect copyright.PENANA5NIHFoKATs
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAksS6JonBUZ
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.900Please respect copyright.PENANAYGR8uAHU46
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.900Please respect copyright.PENANAzdaLO6H9c3
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.900Please respect copyright.PENANAAzZlapyFLZ
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANAQrLHmqYrEU
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 900Please respect copyright.PENANAwvKi0CiZi7
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.900Please respect copyright.PENANANG6guz447y
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.900Please respect copyright.PENANA8PvCUhtlDp
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.900Please respect copyright.PENANAuL2JER0e6z
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA7Xy90QvN0R
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.900Please respect copyright.PENANAD76rDPhNnT
"Thank900Please respect copyright.PENANA2k0zHYOvN8
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 900Please respect copyright.PENANA90fiOuJHgc
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAQddgitIksJ
"Well, yes. I still think I would."900Please respect copyright.PENANAewicjbDTu8
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."900Please respect copyright.PENANAs4NUfHrcnx
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.900Please respect copyright.PENANA262UG2jaIZ
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."900Please respect copyright.PENANAR43ia1zqaY
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.900Please respect copyright.PENANAAXtAEbBxXh
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAcB4jHXmJgk
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.900Please respect copyright.PENANABiL2eqwgAK
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAlZf6EYoRs0
"Coffee will be lovely."900Please respect copyright.PENANAdLLw5OyHJx
Miss900Please respect copyright.PENANAOBRuyrat3K
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 900Please respect copyright.PENANAAMnOOlgdke
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.900Please respect copyright.PENANAfK2xOmWOf4
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.900Please respect copyright.PENANAz0HtJyF3y7
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAspv49o9BtA
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."900Please respect copyright.PENANAMV1834ira8
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."900Please respect copyright.PENANA77VOHw8ZY3
"What mysterious person?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA0yOiJcS2K8
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."900Please respect copyright.PENANAuSluCdrsrn
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA7PTJHJN3Ms
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.900Please respect copyright.PENANA8SIb0jhCO8
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAPKOsOUUuor
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 900Please respect copyright.PENANApJ9qwZpPTR
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"900Please respect copyright.PENANA6Gg0vQYKCa
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."900Please respect copyright.PENANA4c3ZRmg3WT
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"900Please respect copyright.PENANADbo6dnz0qD
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."900Please respect copyright.PENANA8JhGTe9VAK
The900Please respect copyright.PENANAngWkGWVP0A
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?900Please respect copyright.PENANA65SfmW1l2T
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAVe5zVYj9EA
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all900Please respect copyright.PENANAs5CFc3JsM2
of this.900Please respect copyright.PENANAYhv2z9UIGv
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.900Please respect copyright.PENANA5d41grqVVg
"I...900Please respect copyright.PENANANzAuOnl1JJ
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 900Please respect copyright.PENANAF55y1PHKOi
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 900Please respect copyright.PENANAdQbKrbETGC
frustration. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAEIdvNHU6E3
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.900Please respect copyright.PENANAgkdLKqeI5s
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANAkQUaNatPbO
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 900Please respect copyright.PENANAh65JCRHd6Z
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 900Please respect copyright.PENANAvbp5bUw6A3
cups on the tray and wondered. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAZiqhHxKXut
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 900Please respect copyright.PENANANTilixAVom
900Please respect copyright.PENANAe5T0vMHpUN
As900Please respect copyright.PENANAxegEZPE30j
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 900Please respect copyright.PENANAahwzHLsTSV
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 900Please respect copyright.PENANAztU9aVp7gv
reminder kept ringing in her head.900Please respect copyright.PENANAbMhhmSf9T4
"And tell your friends not to get involved."900Please respect copyright.PENANALV9RFIKWx2
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAyMLgivgW3q
"I900Please respect copyright.PENANArEf1lvnWO6
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 900Please respect copyright.PENANA6E87fFyLdr
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 900Please respect copyright.PENANAf2rDP0lSIX
talking about, Rhénee?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAfXzQVKK1uo
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANARixkyZJ2SK
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 900Please respect copyright.PENANA2ECQ1DHV6d
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 900Please respect copyright.PENANAH6LEcK4diK
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 900Please respect copyright.PENANAxEnOC5ULwy
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.900Please respect copyright.PENANAfJes0WfY2F
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.900Please respect copyright.PENANAMa9n4we5Q9
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAhrsTNsyIRg
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."900Please respect copyright.PENANAU9e9flHWbO
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAUfylS6S9tF
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAFi6jJ19K8i
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAG03f7NZUDd
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAhuVllbG8CN
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.900Please respect copyright.PENANAwkVga7RipG
***900Please respect copyright.PENANARZEpTssouk
Sweat900Please respect copyright.PENANABy0wCsAZTN
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 900Please respect copyright.PENANAhlkjMAXxDr
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 900Please respect copyright.PENANAXM8nzPlOeM
the person waiting never likes to wait.900Please respect copyright.PENANAe36p1sfflf
He900Please respect copyright.PENANAEU9JtLaoEl
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 900Please respect copyright.PENANAwzVsD8IE9I
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the900Please respect copyright.PENANA5aL2OGxrQZ
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 900Please respect copyright.PENANA5myS3arrNc
second.900Please respect copyright.PENANA9VC1U7AMGz
He900Please respect copyright.PENANATapR4xov07
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 900Please respect copyright.PENANA8HViMOwYGF
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzQj7Igvehs
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzm2TF0HfHO
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 900Please respect copyright.PENANAsveyUejupN
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.900Please respect copyright.PENANAXDWOkKYvGa
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 900Please respect copyright.PENANABDQDejCP5e
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAQJgy8vZOuk
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3lFcQZPY5
"You're late, again."900Please respect copyright.PENANA89chwvKagG
His900Please respect copyright.PENANAif8j2BBDdY
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 900Please respect copyright.PENANAWMNZbXDpko
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzylT0Ybo1R
lion door knob. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAeqGRrK8Wi6
He900Please respect copyright.PENANAncu72NOgNA
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 900Please respect copyright.PENANAuRLltDoHBs
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 900Please respect copyright.PENANA4x4teSDvU5
"What900Please respect copyright.PENANA00K06k8X0o
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 900Please respect copyright.PENANAI151DSjIeA
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAsTRPFkbipT
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."900Please respect copyright.PENANAG3lagsyBGA
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.900Please respect copyright.PENANAia0I5ugJFg
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."900Please respect copyright.PENANAeRTiI3G3Qu
A900Please respect copyright.PENANAhJ8xve9pdx
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAXlK1DJWpYv
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 900Please respect copyright.PENANAWwgaj1K2jo
as they had their backs towards the window.900Please respect copyright.PENANApbTL5kItUr
"You know we need him," said the tall man.900Please respect copyright.PENANAalZHYdsYAv
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."900Please respect copyright.PENANA8DnGVgRhEN
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."900Please respect copyright.PENANAUSsmcZw72e
The900Please respect copyright.PENANAdqTP2LkvVv
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 900Please respect copyright.PENANApepqtOJc5p
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 900Please respect copyright.PENANAOPQSO0d9Hn
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.900Please respect copyright.PENANA3Sloykqpe0
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.900Please respect copyright.PENANAXfmVn5OQFp
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.900Please respect copyright.PENANAWfvuPkabDY
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."900Please respect copyright.PENANAr0ye7gSSSm
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAUsAacxMBhr
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.900Please respect copyright.PENANA1HwC6FDIQK
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."900Please respect copyright.PENANACK2xsmYy5M
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."900Please respect copyright.PENANATso1X6qWXb
"What if she reveals the truth?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAPGQJtuJ2yg
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."900Please respect copyright.PENANA2QI6Wriuim
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.900Please respect copyright.PENANAWNEZVezrhP
For a moment, silence hung over them.900Please respect copyright.PENANAha4S2kql4s
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."900Please respect copyright.PENANAshCZ498Kxk
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."900Please respect copyright.PENANAeM5oHbTWbi
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."900Please respect copyright.PENANAEDIezWlGJm
"I900Please respect copyright.PENANAUagpzUgyNI
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 900Please respect copyright.PENANACPB1WLrlmq
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 900Please respect copyright.PENANAR6KqPsXkdK
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."900Please respect copyright.PENANA3cQ5mZZgio
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.900Please respect copyright.PENANADiIU02OCkY
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.900Please respect copyright.PENANA1bC3wfaT4z
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."900Please respect copyright.PENANAIIY2C5XiRQ
***900Please respect copyright.PENANAsyJBJlfOcs
The900Please respect copyright.PENANAXPkWOoIGiZ
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAMngNDNkrzq
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 900Please respect copyright.PENANA15AOvnowi5
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 900Please respect copyright.PENANAEdKOqf9MGR
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time900Please respect copyright.PENANA4FpVQZcIyM
they met, they seemed sky blue.900Please respect copyright.PENANAhfnoGL5DF5
And900Please respect copyright.PENANA3wdU7Yu7J4
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No900Please respect copyright.PENANAoGy1dezDps
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.900Please respect copyright.PENANAhtg8tJwOJ4
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANAY4XlM3D03L
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 900Please respect copyright.PENANAnItJWA6Vx9
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied900Please respect copyright.PENANADI0Mvm4nAJ
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 900Please respect copyright.PENANAJFRZMqFQ2O
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAAaZwumU0rH
coffee table in the middle.900Please respect copyright.PENANAxLdekrRQ5y
When900Please respect copyright.PENANAMOkE9zcs4D
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 900Please respect copyright.PENANAVc0lbmxjNV
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.900Please respect copyright.PENANATZ9Hc78Wsp
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.900Please respect copyright.PENANAy5S8dKX67P
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.900Please respect copyright.PENANAtC4WwxMnN9
"Are you sure?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAk7HGvhW9mJ
"Yes, I'm positive."900Please respect copyright.PENANAGFV9UhtQRO
Miss900Please respect copyright.PENANAJBIBosesI4
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 900Please respect copyright.PENANAzKBb9CAimd
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 900Please respect copyright.PENANAfwwNMXzk8O
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips900Please respect copyright.PENANAThkL7rjNSU
from their cups.900Please respect copyright.PENANAP8aMfDLqlr
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.900Please respect copyright.PENANA0wpRZ2RJbC
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.900Please respect copyright.PENANAGYvvkw9sny
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAuy6GSJxDYq
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAWn4u33MplP
"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.900Please respect copyright.PENANAlcNFNkL8Sw
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."900Please respect copyright.PENANAQe9ANsdfCM
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."900Please respect copyright.PENANAp1va7pGUVM
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."900Please respect copyright.PENANABuqZMfjUQK
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANAJsblBDOXpk
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."900Please respect copyright.PENANA3rdVjALVpx
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.900Please respect copyright.PENANAFIyHsnOBXz
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.900Please respect copyright.PENANALwtq3jBnwH
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."900Please respect copyright.PENANAGuRHrDRiLb
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"900Please respect copyright.PENANAGBb71w4Qqo
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.900Please respect copyright.PENANAcQs8n8qFio
"Oh,900Please respect copyright.PENANASz4cbNiJN1
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted900Please respect copyright.PENANABmnfl1PGLQ
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 900Please respect copyright.PENANAffFuEcgTCb
who he is."900Please respect copyright.PENANAsbmhPhsLwC
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."900Please respect copyright.PENANA7IwcQAvRjL
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANAR4r39xZT71
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAt51E20HIQJ
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want900Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ3CQiGcpl
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 900Please respect copyright.PENANApW0G9XkvBo
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.900Please respect copyright.PENANAtMsYfD5WeP
Rhénee900Please respect copyright.PENANABzieipYFPy
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 900Please respect copyright.PENANAi5H6Dp9JS4
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.900Please respect copyright.PENANAvSPR3z88Pm
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 900Please respect copyright.PENANAlafkevticn
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.900Please respect copyright.PENANASlkQRgkd3X
"Fine,900Please respect copyright.PENANAbJhOYJVMug
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.900Please respect copyright.PENANArIiLdLHab0
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 900Please respect copyright.PENANAyCJCxPc1sX
or die if you stay by me."900Please respect copyright.PENANAMFv8lt3f2Q