The bump to the head woke her. She slowly opened her eyes and all she could see is darkness. She felt another bump to the head, fully waking her up from what felt like a slumber. Her head started to ache. She felt like she was moving side to side, not realising what’s going on. She felt like she's lying on a carpeted floor. She moved her legs and found that she couldn’t stretch them out like she wanted to. She drew her hand up and felt herself touching what felt like a wall.183Please respect copyright.PENANA2aqrBEX2lm
183Please respect copyright.PENANAqwCFU4BLMW
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsr7y86VqEk
She started to feel around and realised that she’s in some kind of box as she felt the walls around her. Then she felt the box move around, in the process, hitting her head a few times on the walls. She now started to panic as she started to precipitate, and wondering why she's in a box.183Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZaOWC53SX
183Please respect copyright.PENANA8lvtfH9SW6
183Please respect copyright.PENANA5dMwsVOsjs
She heard the sound of an engine. Is she in a car? I must be, she thought. She started to pound on the lid above and she heard the sound of heavy metal. She is in a car. She continued to bang on the lid, hoping that there is someone out there. But she soon figured they were probably driving down a dark lonely road with no one around.183Please respect copyright.PENANAXVZqdjQ3uJ
183Please respect copyright.PENANAYySZ4DkQmv
183Please respect copyright.PENANA6tbepmCfOd
She started to breathe heavily and felt like she's running out of air as it started to feel stuffy.183Please respect copyright.PENANAMESs3AusmF
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyUGeF4ER7I
183Please respect copyright.PENANAUt4TC0DeMT
“Calm down,” she told herself.“Take deep and steady breaths.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAspxNizHXtT
183Please respect copyright.PENANAN75CWcbUTL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAX1A33RGyTG
As much as she tried to, her heart still beat faster at the thought of being in a trunk of a car. She tried to remember how she got in this situation, but she still felt dizzy and a blank picture came up every time she tried.183Please respect copyright.PENANAAkzk2Pr3mc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeF2DHfuRdM
183Please respect copyright.PENANA8RkMKCjZNx
The sudden thought of Rhénee crossed her mind. She soon remembered where she was before and who she's with right now. She was in the bathroom of Mr. Cowell’s house, trying to help clean his wound, when all of a sudden, he had her back pinned to the wall. Before she could realise what's going on, he covered her nose and mouth with a white cloth. She remembered it had a horrible smell and it made her lose sight of things. Next thing she knew, she's locked in a trunk.183Please respect copyright.PENANAJpPbEhLpmN
183Please respect copyright.PENANAkRTzLrciGA
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZkbsOaznPi
Now that she has recalled everything, she couldn’t believe Mr. Cowell could do what he did. First of all, he lied about being injured, then he drugged and stuffed her in the back of a car. She couldn’t wrap her head around all this so as to know what motive he could've to do what he did. She continued to bang on the lid, hoping that he could hear her and let her out.183Please respect copyright.PENANAM3tHQou4BS
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtNsBtsXXZu
183Please respect copyright.PENANAOH59Zfz9JO
The bumpy ride continued and Miss Griselda soon got tired of banging on the trunk’s lid. There were probably no people or cars around that could hear her. She now wondered where she is.183Please respect copyright.PENANAV6AyQC9INA
183Please respect copyright.PENANAiF5dDjmKSr
183Please respect copyright.PENANA5fkm2SfdhP
Soon enough the car came to a stop and Miss Griselda held her breath for a second as she heard the opening and closing of the car door. The soft roar of the engine continued when she heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer.183Please respect copyright.PENANA9aMYG3fmbB
183Please respect copyright.PENANAq3vzgGv1Xt
183Please respect copyright.PENANAdDBoKoshh3
She heard the trunk opening and when it did, cold air quickly rushed in, surprising Miss Griselda who had gotten used to the hot, stuffy air. A dark figure of a person appeared above her and before she could utter a sound, the person reached for her shoulder and roughly made her sit up so as to get out of the boot.183Please respect copyright.PENANAOCxDFwv1SL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAgC6YZTJWIM
183Please respect copyright.PENANAlxrHgLn5n2
“Come on, Griselda,” came a familiar voice, as the man dragged her out.183Please respect copyright.PENANAom5tmZPUzc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAIZKxFi5i9e
183Please respect copyright.PENANAUIQGLoEOBo
Miss Griselda didn’t try to fight back as she got out. The place is dark and cold. With trees all around, it's like a dark veil covered the whole area.183Please respect copyright.PENANA8odGtbjsI9
183Please respect copyright.PENANAdwrUwcthEc
183Please respect copyright.PENANA0l18Ido5L4
“Why are you doing this?” Miss Griselda asked as soon as she was out. Mr. Cowell closed the boot, while his other hand held tight around Miss Griselda’s arm.183Please respect copyright.PENANA69vsPow3O2
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxpFd1zJiMm
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtixDyVCb13
“Stop talking,” he ordered, as he brought her round the front of the car. The headlights of the car were still on, and when Miss Griselda stood in front of them, she felt like a deer about to get run over.183Please respect copyright.PENANADDuoQiQElv
183Please respect copyright.PENANACDpbTUmkfy
183Please respect copyright.PENANAdjGAEIZnL3
“Who is ordering you to do this?” Miss Griselda continued to ask. “What have you done with Rhénee?”183Please respect copyright.PENANAnaBPirTEhV
183Please respect copyright.PENANApl96AmMw7a
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKahEja8IxU
“Not much if you don’t stop talking,” said Mr. Cowell as he squeezed his hand on Miss Griselda’s arm. “Come on, let’s move.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAAEF7WKLSYB
183Please respect copyright.PENANApIWOvy5Q3Y
183Please respect copyright.PENANA8qYDmyUAFs
He started to drag her with him away from the car and along a one lane road. Miss Griselda tried to stop in her tracks, but Mr. Cowell was too strong for her as he continued to drag her along.183Please respect copyright.PENANAhGOX8sRjjL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAn6LXcyhgFY
183Please respect copyright.PENANApcm6nnUejT
They continued to walk away from the car. Miss Grisleda looked around to see if she could tell where she is, but there were trees all around and Madison is widely known for its vast forestry. Trying to pinpoint where she is will prove to be difficult.183Please respect copyright.PENANA5PMyP3LRC2
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKpfkWRrhPu
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZk7afkwUiT
The two continued their walk down the road when the sound of flowing water reached their ears. Miss Griselda continued to look ahead of her and realised that they were heading towards a wooden bridge. She knew where they were and before she could say anything to Mr. Cowell, she noticed that there were two cars in front of her, close to the bridge. She hadn't seen them until now.183Please respect copyright.PENANArxkbMycKtt
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7PdPyMh8qR
183Please respect copyright.PENANAS6c0d1mutJ
"What is all this?" Miss Griselda asked as she turned to look at him.183Please respect copyright.PENANAVSrSYiAVqv
183Please respect copyright.PENANAwdPRyYVoF3
183Please respect copyright.PENANATlGDAb0b8N
Mr. Cowell stopped dragging her and turned to look at her. "Your fate," he answered.183Please respect copyright.PENANAIRE8biwtye
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsSHsrjHWP7
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZXNWz5UsPt
With his hand still around her arm, he pushed her forward and she fell to the ground. She looked up at him, and started to tremble. She tried not to imagine what he would do to her.183Please respect copyright.PENANAC95SRZOA43
183Please respect copyright.PENANAkwocJTYXsy
183Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ig4IvLpUm
She heard the sound of car doors opening in front of her and when she looked, she saw two cars and people coming out of them. She couldn’t tell who they were because of the dark.183Please respect copyright.PENANAbS4wWVkyR4
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyYTaCbDJ2x
183Please respect copyright.PENANAkQDaLrJk3l
Mr. Collins started to approach the people who had come out of the cars, leaving Miss Griselda helpless on the ground. He knew if she didn’t keep an eye on her, she wouldn’t go anyway. She knew that too. The people standing next to their cars might have guns and wouldn’t hesitate to shoot her.183Please respect copyright.PENANAK1aGviNlUo
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeSvMczfT2t
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeMsc5kNG4x
"Job well done," came a voice as one of those who had come out from one of the cars started to approach them. "I hope things back at the house are going as planned."183Please respect copyright.PENANAvatp7HZALF
183Please respect copyright.PENANA0pn5MZF2tg
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9XP1uxppw0
"I’m yet to know how things are going since we planned to jam the signal in the house," Mr. Cowell responded.183Please respect copyright.PENANAeOemlIvpt1
183Please respect copyright.PENANAaOpUTYcAyF
183Please respect copyright.PENANAExv3b5VmtN
"Ah, I sure hope he would be able to do as planned,” the man continued to say. "We don’t need anything going wrong at this point."183Please respect copyright.PENANAxVne6RPuHW
183Please respect copyright.PENANANogCm93XWH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAbdyApEnoZk
"Please, don’t hurt Rhénee,” Miss Griselda started to plead. "She has done nothing wrong.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAvGOhE1L6nY
183Please respect copyright.PENANA2meohHH7Dv
183Please respect copyright.PENANARoBLZHzs1l
Mr. Cowell looked down at her and said, "If you don’t stop talking I’m going to break you.”183Please respect copyright.PENANArOpTYboCJX
183Please respect copyright.PENANA013JgSczas
183Please respect copyright.PENANAOPuJfmpykZ
"No need for all the violence,” the man said. "But we need to find a way to keep her quiet, though. Or else she will continue to plead and I hate it when people do that.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAGoxWOmFdzf
183Please respect copyright.PENANAg3wqSa5jrl
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7rLvSbMNMn
"Tell me, what you’re going to do to her?” Miss Griselda asked.183Please respect copyright.PENANATuGDL4YoRn
183Please respect copyright.PENANAPdQd9b83M1
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7tI6twH9GH
"What do you think we’re going to do? She needs to be taught a little lesson.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAfujGsBkprg
183Please respect copyright.PENANAMlGmLGL1HI
183Please respect copyright.PENANAq3DoRVAuY0
"You lie!” Miss Griselda revolted. "She has done nothing wrong. Are you punishing her for the crimes of her late grand-mother? If so, then you should be dealing with me. Just leave her out of it.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAcHxiM37bvS
183Please respect copyright.PENANAVOwCBDd2Id
183Please respect copyright.PENANAPm755fHBCa
"You expect that to make us cry?” Mr. Cowell asked. "Sorry, but you of all people know that the girl is destined for this from the very beginning.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAxrxw0qYeWW
183Please respect copyright.PENANAAeETkYWnmC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAlKdQkProlR
Miss Griselda sat up slowly went on her knees. "I don’t understand what you mean. Her grandmother might have made a lot of mistakes in the past, but that doesn’t mean you’ve to take it out on her. She’s innocent.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAHs2ITVn1d6
183Please respect copyright.PENANAfAjsMO0qIx
183Please respect copyright.PENANAK6iSb251g3
The man in front of her started to laugh. "You really do know how to pretend. I should give you an award. But Cowell here is right. She needs to be punished.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAcVaHsGEiTR
183Please respect copyright.PENANA8yv7uvXTEa
183Please respect copyright.PENANA33lmeWlEZD
Before Miss Griselda could say anything, Mr. Cowell came to her and bent downwards so as to grab a fistful of her hair in his hand, yanking her upwards. Miss Griselda muttered, as he pulled on to her hair tightly. It felt like he was ready to rip it out from her skull.183Please respect copyright.PENANAjfZf7dyhaD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAjqxUpYN64c
183Please respect copyright.PENANARSpzTrYxsL
"And we'll only need you to do so,” said Mr. Cowell as he stared at her after forcing her to stand with him. "Can't you see, Griselda? If we hurt you, she'll suffer bitterly. But that doesn't mean she won't have to undergo more of it. For what we'll do to you, we'll do it to her too."183Please respect copyright.PENANA0kvpNsiBGG
183Please respect copyright.PENANAIIpe5SKTv9
183Please respect copyright.PENANALoTp0cnLCW
"Please, don't," Miss Griselda begged. She winced as Mr Cowell pulled at her hair. "You can punish me as much as you want for your own satisfaction. Just don't hurt her."183Please respect copyright.PENANAHvmDYZkQIN
183Please respect copyright.PENANAuVyUyBUnzC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAnj5yY4Nyf0
"Enough, Cowell," said the man in front of them. "You shouldn’t have told her."183Please respect copyright.PENANAqsoCMmysox
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxMMfTf94bH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAMfGJyxUXMa
"You really care about Rhénee, don't you?" Mr. Cowell asked Miss Griselda, ignoring the other man. "You're even ready to suffer for her. You treat her like she's precious. She's nothing but a-"183Please respect copyright.PENANArZZg6VkwrV
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9LVPvLm2Un
183Please respect copyright.PENANAiIzxSfTh00
"Enough, Cowell!" the man in front of them called out. "Bring the woman here. I think you've done your part. Let us do ours."183Please respect copyright.PENANA3iUEHqtqGk
183Please respect copyright.PENANApvhUygOnDN
183Please respect copyright.PENANAqwx1Fmlrxq
Mr. Cowell stared at the man like he would murder him. It's clear that he didn't want to do as he was told. But in the end, he let go of Miss Griselda's hair. He got hold of her arm like he did before and dragged her forward.183Please respect copyright.PENANAdD36ntMleW
183Please respect copyright.PENANAG3p9kpyNn6
183Please respect copyright.PENANAhGIvMOsKss
"You better behave yourself, Griselda,” said the man as they soon passed him. "Don’t try to make things complicated as it is.”183Please respect copyright.PENANA6d9Yppsz2r
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyWzXIhaXVc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAT4hAq6263n
Miss Griselda took a glance at the man before passing him with Mr. Cowell. She could only see the side of his face, but even that wasn’t enough. Now that she's close, she felt she had heard the man’s voice before, but couldn’t tell where she heard it from or who it might be. With all this adrenaline running through her head, she was finding it pretty hard to think.183Please respect copyright.PENANAGFBRjKT1lu
183Please respect copyright.PENANA3Xjq8kwlRj
183Please respect copyright.PENANAvSBD1Ht6eh
She looked at Mr Cowell beside her and questions about him started to rise. Has he been planning to do this for a long time? Why didn’t he do anything when the late Emelda was still alive? He had been her gardener for a long time and even when Emelda died, he still worked at the mansion. When did he have a change of heart? Did he change recently? Miss Griselda thought she knew him, but it's like she never did.183Please respect copyright.PENANAADFBaziAb2
183Please respect copyright.PENANAgavhq9D9xh
183Please respect copyright.PENANAXDFUiEqAlZ
Mr. Cowell dragged her along to one of the cars and made sure to shove her in the backseat, closing the door after her. Miss Griselda heard the corking sound of a gun. It was then that she realised that there's someone seated next to her in the backseat with a gun pointed at her head. She gulped.183Please respect copyright.PENANA4JgRUcb2RC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAs7uSVNREZl
183Please respect copyright.PENANAydG1tTS0pz
"Don’t move,” came a voice. Surprisingly, it's a woman who spoke. "Try anything funny and I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAe38bz0MSe4
183Please respect copyright.PENANAn6DVDFbbnC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAAixaLPTZgG
Miss Griselda couldn’t turn her head to see the woman’s face. It wouldn’t make a difference if she tried as the inside of the car is dark. She had better things to worry about. Miss Griselda now felt scared, hoping that the worst hadn’t happened to Rhénee and to Kevin who is with her at this very moment.183Please respect copyright.PENANAh8VURpLg9l
183Please respect copyright.PENANAVWLwjYWWdx
183Please respect copyright.PENANAFfx8skdGGy
***183Please respect copyright.PENANARVaKd9QAS0
183Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ6DrILepm
183Please respect copyright.PENANAv0bEjMgHSp
"We’re wasting time,” Rhénee sounded frustrated. "The people who have Miss Griselda are probably waiting and they will start to get suspicious.”183Please respect copyright.PENANA16BrQeV6iD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAoXBrQugCVb
183Please respect copyright.PENANAChn7pNA7J1
"I know that, but we aren’t going to carry this man with us,” said Malcom.183Please respect copyright.PENANAfms0LX40ga
183Please respect copyright.PENANAe7jjEqEpDd
183Please respect copyright.PENANA1NagdDou5C
"So what do you suggest we do? We can’t leave him here or drop him off somewhere where we can get back to him later. He knows a lot about what’s going on. We need answers.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAwNokpkDvC6
183Please respect copyright.PENANA29Vmv5ufMw
183Please respect copyright.PENANAh2SmQceSj7
"True, but Malcom is right. We can’t just take him with us,” said Greta. "What if he wakes up then we realise he’s a highly trained assassin and tries to kill us?”183Please respect copyright.PENANAOMEhA3fhvP
183Please respect copyright.PENANAFwua9Cuc2N
183Please respect copyright.PENANAN0fbnwujT4
"Then so be it. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAgRUi0HUvBM
183Please respect copyright.PENANABgKE4F4lBd
183Please respect copyright.PENANAn24ssniKxR
Kevin sighed. "Why can’t we just leave him, then come back for him afterwards?”183Please respect copyright.PENANAH1bREESzIL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAy4dTva7aKL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAExGUd5dMS3
"Someone might come for him,” said Rhénee. "I suggest we put him in the trunk. That way, we’re sure he won’t run away.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAukUkQfE1uy
183Please respect copyright.PENANAgofybbhOgb
183Please respect copyright.PENANAJVkIw1UgUt
Malcom, Kevin and Greta shared a look amongst themselves in the partially dark living-room before turning to look at Rhénee. They were standing around the unconscious man who is still tied up.183Please respect copyright.PENANAmDQxTC5Y2A
183Please respect copyright.PENANABwVjhcRI5Z
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKhzyu3uBHr
"I’m one who doesn’t approve of putting someone in the trunk of a car, but we’re wasting time and we don’t have much of a choice,” said Malcom. He sighed in frustration as he looked at Rhénee.183Please respect copyright.PENANAUAOb7lCoHz
183Please respect copyright.PENANAd4RpIQRF7C
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtdoI4nzhFF
"I’m sorry I had to force your hand, Malcom,” said Rhénee. "But there’s no other option. We might not get this opportunity again.”183Please respect copyright.PENANA5vovGcw0e7
183Please respect copyright.PENANAisLHOeKYAM
183Please respect copyright.PENANAvkDel67yC4
"Well, if we’re going to put him in the back of the car, we better lift him,” said Kevin.183Please respect copyright.PENANAmJ5p6tQJj3
183Please respect copyright.PENANAPmp8s8IqU4
183Please respect copyright.PENANAv26z20cuJG
"I’ll bring the car up the driveway,” said Malcom as he turned around to head out of the house.183Please respect copyright.PENANAN6EDYWfZnE
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9fPlyNTTNj
183Please respect copyright.PENANAy4HuULeAi7
"Ya, we better do that to avoid suspicion from the neighbours,” said Greta.183Please respect copyright.PENANA9Kgt1fTwWy
183Please respect copyright.PENANAhRqbSxH2ss
183Please respect copyright.PENANAzL5nl4157N
"I just hope we haven’t drawn too much already,” said Rhénee as she went for the window, drawing the curtain to look out.183Please respect copyright.PENANAn8QSkslR7n
183Please respect copyright.PENANANA5UicPxmr
183Please respect copyright.PENANArUlU4D762Z
"If you’re worried about the racket we made, I don’t think people heard much of it,” said Kevin. "If they did, the police would already be here.”183Please respect copyright.PENANAbkHe5ATc7n
183Please respect copyright.PENANAGkePctieHQ
183Please respect copyright.PENANAYYppz7dvkM
Rhénee couldn't help but agree. She watched through the window at Malcom who had already reached the outside of the gate and entered his car. He turned on the engine and brought the car through the driveway, bringing it in reverse. Rhénee drew back the curtains and turned back to Greta and Kevin.183Please respect copyright.PENANAV7Uf8gMzNH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAoo1lSuhHb2
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsF5lHo9pfj
"Uh..., Rhénee?" Greta asked as she stared at Rhénee in the dark. "I know this is probably the wrong time to ask, but um..., how were you able to take down this man?"183Please respect copyright.PENANAY326kmBaJT
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWpaI4okQUF
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZjMMlCsQhb
"I used acupuncture," Rhénee wasn't afraid to answer. "It was hard to bring him down at first. If it wasn't for Kevin, I wouldn’t have made him fall unconscious."183Please respect copyright.PENANA3TKIok2omD
183Please respect copyright.PENANA82i51glS2q
183Please respect copyright.PENANAt52qEpa9fO
"Wow, where did you learn that from?" Greta asked.183Please respect copyright.PENANAMBjxW4Zrgt
183Please respect copyright.PENANAfuiFLKaWMD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyaIej28Orm
"Can we leave that topic for later?" Malcom asked as he walked in the room. "We better get moving."183Please respect copyright.PENANAyw2xteTNlx
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxNjTCg583R
183Please respect copyright.PENANACqeufimvS6
Greta sighed in disappointment but Rhénee came over and held her shoulder. "There will be plenty of time to tell you. We better go." Greta nodded.183Please respect copyright.PENANAlycJqMiHJH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyduFYacOYS
183Please respect copyright.PENANAk6iUuOGL8Y
Malcom and Kevin got ready to lift the man on the floor. They carried him up like a heavy log, with two of them lifting him from either side. They looked to be carrying him with ease as they made their way out of the living-room and to the front door. The car stood right outside the doorstep with the trunk open. Rhénee and Greta went past the two to stand outside to see that there were no people watching them from anywhere. At the moment, there were no people moving around. Seems like they were in their houses, settling in for the night. While for Rhénee and the others, their night has just begun.183Please respect copyright.PENANAtjyvDVPzFm
183Please respect copyright.PENANAGEpRlLF55e
183Please respect copyright.PENANAMm56T9wcy5
Malcom closed the trunk. "We're ready to go. But we need a plan. We're obviously going to be dealing with a group of people, so we need to get ready and prepare for the worst."183Please respect copyright.PENANAUH6CeiURQs
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9ojAOGutCi
183Please respect copyright.PENANAe48XgBSj1r
"Since you've said so, I think we better get suited for the occasion," said Rhénee.183Please respect copyright.PENANARcRoCaY5V7
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeNeI2NKx90
183Please respect copyright.PENANAMr2gT5Apkp
"Why do you say that?" Greta asked.183Please respect copyright.PENANAdL2G2esZl0
183Please respect copyright.PENANAgopEfTgMZp
183Please respect copyright.PENANAPWDlVE6F57
Rhénee stared at the house behind Malcom and Kevin. "We'll have to fight fire with fire," she said.183Please respect copyright.PENANA3HBXH6Xb6D
183Please respect copyright.PENANAcuEgpcqVZ5
183Please respect copyright.PENANApykgWKJTqL
***183Please respect copyright.PENANArJ473Gh5go
183Please respect copyright.PENANACNqeFfOM4S
183Please respect copyright.PENANAuJ9sOZnuXa
Mrs. Derrand stared at the clock on the wall and the stomping of her foot on the floor increased impatiently. She looked around the empty living-room, hoping for any of the house help to be there, but they weren't. She looked back at the clock and realised that her children were taking quite a while to get back. Have they lost track of time and are out there doing something else? She wanted to call them. But if they were still at Rhénee’s house, she felt she would be butting in on them. What if they’re having a good time with her? No, they’ll show up when they want to, she thought. I better give them a text to remind them to come back quickly, she thought.183Please respect copyright.PENANADuii9Ztmsc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAjEGYWfWiGx
183Please respect copyright.PENANArNFab6rL46
She went for her phone that rested on the armchair and when she looked at it, she found that she had a message from someone telling her to call. She rolled her eyes in disbelief as she quickly called the number.183Please respect copyright.PENANAbFIKaMXLfl
183Please respect copyright.PENANAe9SCRiE3lt
183Please respect copyright.PENANAMa5zV84wdP
The person on the other end picked up at the second ring and Mrs. Derrand made sure to give the person a piece of her mind.183Please respect copyright.PENANA3LfYl2AHkR
183Please respect copyright.PENANASLDoR9kxG7
183Please respect copyright.PENANADWqyp0w3FY
"Why do you want me to call at this hour?" Mrs. Derrand asked. "I thought I told you that talking to each other like this is inappropriate."183Please respect copyright.PENANA6ObiQSOrWD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAvfQfOIfFGI
183Please respect copyright.PENANAS3D8Xd5kV0
"I know," came a voice of a male at the other end. "But I’ve to tell you something that can’t wait till tomorrow."183Please respect copyright.PENANAp6Zk8V0z7f
183Please respect copyright.PENANAlTFFGePP9A
183Please respect copyright.PENANAcTXWBkjM7l
The man sounded urgent and Mrs. Derrand quickly sat up on her chair.183Please respect copyright.PENANAMHqKGHEuLM
183Please respect copyright.PENANA1FG4SOgMyL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAieZiiJtcZb
"Tell me what’s going on," she said.183Please respect copyright.PENANAk1pVIUXxMh
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsNnP54jaTC
183Please respect copyright.PENANA2lgWpAgyKH
"I’m afraid one of our men is down as we speak," the man answered. "And your children are about to do something that might land them in danger."183Please respect copyright.PENANAG7obg3JVOH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsunjLePyZs
183Please respect copyright.PENANAQKC6tMSIgV
Mrs. Derrand couldn’t believe the news as she quickly got up from the chair. She’s now reminded of the warning she received from Mr. Sinclair earlier about her children. Had he known something from the very beginning? What’s going on?183Please respect copyright.PENANA1prSrkt0b5
183Please respect copyright.PENANAbX8BE4jDVK
183Please respect copyright.PENANAfidrELSimm
"What do you mean they’re in trouble?" She now started to worry. "Tell me everything."183Please respect copyright.PENANALnqrNXotea
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZdxFB80DJE
183Please respect copyright.PENANAEDjBIf2kZw
***183Please respect copyright.PENANACEj7fnH2px
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxE8lfQxS84
183Please respect copyright.PENANAB7PtAUx6Rc
Eugene stood at the front door of Mrs. York's house, waiting for someone inside to open the door. He couldn't wait to see Albert. He hoped that no one had told him about the incident.183Please respect copyright.PENANA59sRp9uvsc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeuuLsQDvoT
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyQeOEt9DJc
He looked to the house next to Mrs. York's, over the hedge that separated the two houses. The place is dark. Even when he wanted so much as to go there, he feared his father’s blood was still on the doorstep. But he will have to eventually. He could only imagine the gruesome scene of his father by the doorstep with a gun wound.183Please respect copyright.PENANAwWNSqoF16G
183Please respect copyright.PENANAXGZoJauLub
183Please respect copyright.PENANAbJNwJiA9Pn
"Eugene?" came a voice in front of him.183Please respect copyright.PENANAjLTM83Sy2E
183Please respect copyright.PENANAl5DxkOcMjh
183Please respect copyright.PENANAah8gLiNBhE
He turned to see Mrs. York standing in the open doorway and looking at him. She is much older than his mother and she put on some weight in the years he has known her. She looked plump with red, ruddy cheeks. Her short, blonde curly hair stood in every direction.183Please respect copyright.PENANAT1OGnb2IFR
183Please respect copyright.PENANAggRomOcqSr
183Please respect copyright.PENANAI4nENJnF9U
"Come in, dear," she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside. "You can sleep here for tonight." She closed the door behind him as the two of them stood in the foyer of her house.183Please respect copyright.PENANAK7we6iPt6D
183Please respect copyright.PENANABN4DFpdJOL
183Please respect copyright.PENANAHjRMMzzcG2
"Oh, no, I don’t want to be a bother, Mrs. York," he said.183Please respect copyright.PENANAmqWlHXJ3w8
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtesIOFgy6n
183Please respect copyright.PENANAiEzGSBT1IA
"Nonsense," she snapped at him, almost angrily. He could see her ruddy cheeks start to redden. Was it with anger? He couldn’t tell. "After what happened, believe me, you’re better off here than at that house for the time being."183Please respect copyright.PENANAevojedgVVH
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsOjHo8777X
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxsB8bpZBgZ
Eugene followed Mrs. York into the living-room where the blurring light from the TV greeted his face that he had to shield the light with his arm. He realised that the main lights in the room were off and only the lamps situated in different parts of the room were on making the place partially dark.183Please respect copyright.PENANAhY2HDgTUYf
183Please respect copyright.PENANAydbIFNzciu
183Please respect copyright.PENANAkgktwRztpQ
"Sorry about that," said Mrs. York as she flipped the switch on the wall upwards and the living room was brightened by the one light bulb up the ceiling. "I fell asleep waiting for you and Vincent must have turned the light off. Take a seat."183Please respect copyright.PENANAX9Mxgudykr
183Please respect copyright.PENANA4f1poJnYCF
183Please respect copyright.PENANAU0cfNMfJOb
"How is Mr. York doing?" Eugene asked as he settled comfortably on the soft, red couch.183Please respect copyright.PENANAWxuYcowkY0
183Please respect copyright.PENANAIWEgCi6nmi
183Please respect copyright.PENANAn64xz1WabD
"He’s fine, just moving around with that bad knee as always," Mrs. York answered as she settled on the couch opposite him. "How’s your mother doing? I can only imagine what she must be going through."183Please respect copyright.PENANAb7PhjUOPit
183Please respect copyright.PENANAW3gRt6ExFB
183Please respect copyright.PENANAJjSrAAjBxa
"She’s okay. Just trying to keep it together like she always does." Eugene looked down at his fingers.183Please respect copyright.PENANAkWjzIwuI3P
183Please respect copyright.PENANAojYtBcgENo
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7C7BBCXYMi
"She’s always been a strong lady. Born with an iron fist, is what Vincent likes to say about her."183Please respect copyright.PENANAbXxNVxLcVi
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsyNHnFLcuz
183Please respect copyright.PENANAN8eQyAnVe6
"She’s always been strong. I sometimes think that I can’t be as strong as her."183Please respect copyright.PENANAE667DbFdZh
183Please respect copyright.PENANA8SmFt84qJl
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7b0F7sInn9
Mrs. York got the TV remote behind her and turned it off. She turned to look at Eugene as silence fell between them.183Please respect copyright.PENANAyl0YVC64Ln
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtu2ynN06Ui
183Please respect copyright.PENANAod1tUD7Dxf
"If you ask me, it’s better that your father just die," she blurted out.183Please respect copyright.PENANAt1Gap68FPa
183Please respect copyright.PENANAaKU95dfINv
183Please respect copyright.PENANA4eGUSltYXM
Eugene felt his heart jump to his mouth. Did Mrs. York just wish for his father to die?183Please respect copyright.PENANAoYNKgcQ1aM
183Please respect copyright.PENANAmz22y17YYX
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKcy8IioUHw
"Don’t say that, Mrs. York," he turned his eyes to the floor starring at the red carpet.183Please respect copyright.PENANA1GT2nzDWlB
183Please respect copyright.PENANAZ60SePErnP
183Please respect copyright.PENANAfe96SXo2Vs
"Forgive me, but it’s the truth. He has brought nothing but pain and suffering. And for what? If anything, all he has done is drag you down with him."183Please respect copyright.PENANAhfCLXH3FBc
183Please respect copyright.PENANACvZkzmm24H
183Please respect copyright.PENANADX1k49dUcQ
Eugene already knew that. He didn’t have to be reminded for what felt like a thousandth time. But he never thought Mrs. York would actually go so far as wishing his father dead. Yes, he’s been nothing but dead weight for years, but his mother didn’t mind and that’s why she is at the hospital. Eugene just tolerated this because of his mother. For some reason, he felt responsible over her and didn't want to leave her in all this grief. Not to mention there's Albert too, who just like his mother, loved his father dearly.183Please respect copyright.PENANAOTdljaq6jn
183Please respect copyright.PENANA41aEKEJRF8
183Please respect copyright.PENANAqTUfw5wgOK
"You're right," said Eugene. "He's been nothing but dead weight. And for so long, I wanted him far away from us. That's why I wanted my mother to divorce him; but she loves him. She has always loved him. I've never wished him dead before, not even in the slightest."183Please respect copyright.PENANAOmhVLbyiMC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAgJTMBhBB55
183Please respect copyright.PENANAFVFNwayKdT
"I know. Forgive me, Eugene." Mrs. York looked remorseful and Eugene could tell she meant it. "It's just that, you, your mother and little Albert are like family to me. And when I see something is wrong, I'm sorry, I just have to air it out. Your father doesn't deserve to live. Not after what he's done and still continues to do."183Please respect copyright.PENANAr5xDhnombD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAeBSuMK9vIA
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9IZbW9xSqx
Eugene nodded. "I know. But no matter what - I'm even ashamed of saying it - he's still my father."183Please respect copyright.PENANAPrRX9cXz6N
183Please respect copyright.PENANA93SWL76v0Y
183Please respect copyright.PENANAa0J3cnxlM2
"I just hope he didn't get into some kind of trouble that might put your family in danger."183Please respect copyright.PENANAhDnPi4Hulp
183Please respect copyright.PENANArErFkj1XpI
183Please respect copyright.PENANAr7xtxMEzSx
A chill ran down his spine and he swallowed hard. Almost an hour ago, he had hoped for the same thing. Now that Mrs. York said it out loud, he felt doubtful.183Please respect copyright.PENANAPVDa7lrdQU
183Please respect copyright.PENANARzasgsnvca
183Please respect copyright.PENANA45ffwvF6m8
"How's Albert? Did he ask any questions about why he can't go to the house?"183Please respect copyright.PENANACXmbYnMiUK
183Please respect copyright.PENANAwL71o5a0qD
183Please respect copyright.PENANAsNEN55xLsP
"Vincent came up with a lie that they had to fumigate the house and that it would be better if he stays with us. And I told him that your mother had to go visit a friend in the hospital and wouldn't be in until tomorrow."183Please respect copyright.PENANAnfIxDxygLY
183Please respect copyright.PENANAG3AvOnVzkS
183Please respect copyright.PENANAGsTkc0HWCy
"He didn't get to step out of the house and try to see it for himself?"183Please respect copyright.PENANAogWuJSKoGs
183Please respect copyright.PENANASNGIdEga7p
183Please respect copyright.PENANAr5pLNUU2oh
Mrs. York shook her head. "I was standing right outside my house when he came down the street. There weren't many police around and most of them had drove away. He didn't get to see what's going on."183Please respect copyright.PENANA0a8Zgb0Ezc
183Please respect copyright.PENANAQHvYta1tuX
183Please respect copyright.PENANA2pd4q9kZqJ
"Thank goodness," Eugene felt relieved. "The less he knows about it, the better. But he'll get to know about it sooner or later."183Please respect copyright.PENANAk6Mde0XWT4
183Please respect copyright.PENANAplYkVctJm4
183Please respect copyright.PENANAvvQB1aLWom
"You're right. I fear he might hear the news from school. When kids hear this from their parents, they'll probably talk about it when they see him."183Please respect copyright.PENANArJIDxYDT6V
183Please respect copyright.PENANAxes6DD1CFG
183Please respect copyright.PENANAyBiQsdyIi2
Eugene tried to think of how to avoid such a thing from happening, but he couldn't think clearly. He just wanted to see how Albert is doing.183Please respect copyright.PENANAQbZ8z1NpnQ
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWJZ9FBiuzr
183Please respect copyright.PENANAse9CYaZsTs
"Didn't he seem too curious that he had to come over?" Eugene asked.183Please respect copyright.PENANATf2o4iT7ic
183Please respect copyright.PENANAXK3JdMxG7l
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWhJvEkL7Do
"He didn't ask many questions," Mrs. York answered. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to tell him the truth? In one way or another, he will find out."183Please respect copyright.PENANAswHRjxiVON
183Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5C1ACqZoW
183Please respect copyright.PENANAbU1S2xwucY
Eugene turned to look at the blank screen of the television as if searching for an answer. But all he saw was a dark, blurry reflection of himself looking back at him. Should he tell Albert what's going on? He deserves to know that his father is fighting for his life at this very moment. But if he does tell him, how will he take it?183Please respect copyright.PENANAY8V2ANTHI5
183Please respect copyright.PENANARjzxjKvLEY
183Please respect copyright.PENANABt8W49aPaT
"Where is he?" Eugene asked, turning to look at Mrs. York.183Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ybjp5SkCg
183Please respect copyright.PENANAoIMylfwv0Q
183Please respect copyright.PENANAP2xj4umSmi
"He's in the guest room," said Mrs. York. "He seemed to be tired and went to bed. I'm not so sure he's asleep, though. There's another bed in the room, so you don't have to worry about where you've to sleep."183Please respect copyright.PENANAGWSDuHwNza
183Please respect copyright.PENANAHt19340W6v
183Please respect copyright.PENANAlMxHlTTLt5
"Thank you, Mrs. York," Eugene stood up from the chair. "You've really been a big help."183Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8dFrxIzOW
183Please respect copyright.PENANASMZe4kZOmo
183Please respect copyright.PENANAoHW6kDmZxF
"Don't mention it, dear." She also stood up. "You get some sleep. Looks like you need it."183Please respect copyright.PENANAoxvvb51w2i
183Please respect copyright.PENANAM3pR1MBOEd
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9D4Pj0o2dy
Eugene started to make his way out of the living-room with Mrs. York following behind him. He didn’t have to be directed where to go for he knew where the room is. He has been in this house many times. He branched off to the hall to the left before approaching the stairs. Mrs. York stood for a bit, watching him go to the room at the far end before she went for the stairs to her own room.183Please respect copyright.PENANAUB3fNEzmfN
183Please respect copyright.PENANAUq71B5OVE2
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWaGeAWovd3
Eugene reached the guest room, but instead of going in, he stood right at the door. He didn’t have the energy to lift his hand to touch the door knob. He felt rooted on the spot. He didn’t want to go in. What if he finds Albert awake? He didn’t even bother to check the time because he’s usually asleep around 9PM. He might be tired as Mrs. York put it, but what if he’s up? Eugene didn’t know what to do as he felt himself start to sweat.183Please respect copyright.PENANA5ly62T5Bm3
183Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4UuhoElnp
183Please respect copyright.PENANAE4nuUt6hAs
He remembered what Mrs. York told him about Albert finding out and he knew she was right. If he does find Albert awake, he'll have no choice but to either come up with something or break the news.183Please respect copyright.PENANARJHYxsend5
183Please respect copyright.PENANAaPg3Ur4lY7
183Please respect copyright.PENANAj8swTaojKm
He found himself lifting his hand to hold the door knob. He turned it and slowly pushed the door open. He found the lights of the room on. And for a minute there, he thought Albert is awake. But instead, he found his brother on one of the beds, sleeping above the bed covers with a book wide open beside him. Eugene couldn’t help but feel relieved, yet again, he really hoped to find him awake, just to talk to him. This way is the best, he thought in the end.183Please respect copyright.PENANAkTT3B79wLi
183Please respect copyright.PENANAuuYAmL6Egb
183Please respect copyright.PENANA7RO6VqFTqk
He approached the bed and quietly put aside his book back in the bag that lay on the floor. He then put Albert inside the bed covers. Albert didn’t even open his eyes as he turned around to a more comfortable position and continued with his sleep.183Please respect copyright.PENANA4mlJ0xv5nu
183Please respect copyright.PENANAijNGIkwz0J
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtm7xuUpG1T
Eugene went to the other bed across from his brother and watched Albert for a while. He decided that he should take some rest too. He knew he was going to have a huge confrontation with him in the morning, so he needed all the energy he could get.183Please respect copyright.PENANADaEqWF0yyp
183Please respect copyright.PENANA5aPoDWYD62
183Please respect copyright.PENANA6tCoWOrnRO
He stood up from the bed and made his way to the door where next to the wall is the switch. He flipped it and the lights went off. He went to the bed and lay himself down. He looked up at the dark ceiling and thought for a while. Despite being tired he still felt like he couldn’t sleep.183Please respect copyright.PENANA5OEm0bEgIB
183Please respect copyright.PENANAd37NycQo5N
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9cTejQTh6K
He quickly got out of bed and rushed out through the door. He went for the stairs and called out:183Please respect copyright.PENANAI4c17gSeyl
183Please respect copyright.PENANAIKA2KQErzq
183Please respect copyright.PENANAtLOooXarGV
"Mrs. York, I’ll be going out for a bit. Please lock the door when I get out."183Please respect copyright.PENANAFjiNateukG
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKHxAZg9zRw
183Please respect copyright.PENANALkjFcOWqAh
Before he could turn around and leave, he heard the opening and closing of the door upstairs. He heard quick footsteps, and Mrs. York soon appeared on the landing in a pink night gown and matching pink bed slippers.183Please respect copyright.PENANAmBtDHnbZBh
183Please respect copyright.PENANA68FzxBbMJC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAYMTcQLobin
"Where do you think you’re going at this hour?" she asked. "It’s already late."183Please respect copyright.PENANAjr0fNPxosA
183Please respect copyright.PENANA32mXw6gXwk
183Please respect copyright.PENANAXGhJWwAPlR
"I’ll be back real quick," he answered as he looked up at her. "Do you mind if I carry the spare key? I don’t want to disturb you when I return."183Please respect copyright.PENANAsDy0oudgss
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9TG2elHMN5
183Please respect copyright.PENANAIZFWy2mxFB
Mrs. York rolled her eyes as she started to make her way down the stairs. "You’ve already disturbed me enough, don’t you think?"183Please respect copyright.PENANA0DPnVfRCmC
183Please respect copyright.PENANAbeQc11MiOS
183Please respect copyright.PENANALw89Lni0I0
"I’m sorry for all the trouble."183Please respect copyright.PENANA09mnnHIlZk
183Please respect copyright.PENANA6hxSBVRBvP
183Please respect copyright.PENANA9uAKq2SNN6
Mrs. York reached the bottom and made her way down the hall with Eugene following right behind her. She went in the kitchen and he stood by the door. There is a key hanger on the wall next to the back door and there were several other keys on the hooks. She got one of them and approached him, handing it over.183Please respect copyright.PENANAsEiWGWaUAv
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWXVTroe6Wl
183Please respect copyright.PENANAWMheJ85SAd
"Here you go," she said. "You make sure you get here before midnight. We don’t want anything bad happening to you. If something does happen, how will I explain to your mother?"183Please respect copyright.PENANANCf8MiR1Lw
183Please respect copyright.PENANAjG7X2nWlzr
183Please respect copyright.PENANAmLa5q97hYJ
"I’ll be back before you know it," Eugene assured her.183Please respect copyright.PENANAASphRJcELv
183Please respect copyright.PENANAKV2B7vilqp
183Please respect copyright.PENANAAnf6r1KZGj
Mrs. York escorted him to the door and unlocked it for him. When Eugene stepped out through the door, he looked back at Mrs. York and gave her a nod, before turning round to walk down the stone path to the gate.183Please respect copyright.PENANAneESf1liNi
183Please respect copyright.PENANALLLWDkQ8Fa
183Please respect copyright.PENANAVZ3zTZOMEp
Immediately he walked out of the York's premises, he pulled out his phone from his pocket and called Miguel. He started to make his way to the nearest bus station with his phone to his ear. Miguel didn't pick up.183Please respect copyright.PENANAe1vKLhWq7c
183Please respect copyright.PENANA31zbjhkqln
183Please respect copyright.PENANAP8ebVtmCta
He must be asleep or something, Eugene thought. He didn't mind as he put his phone back in the pocket.183Please respect copyright.PENANA2TcJMsrkDQ
183Please respect copyright.PENANAGNCLW9VwJF
183Please respect copyright.PENANAGXnPAHoTKN
Something made him want to get out of the house. He didn't know where the feeling came from and he didn't know what or where he's going. He decided to let whatever he felt take control. Maybe he might find the answers he's looking for.183Please respect copyright.PENANAgNuPm15ScC