“What’s going on? I can’t get through to him,” Malcom looked down at his phone after trying to call Kevin. He received a message from him almost thirty minutes ago and for some reason, he can’t get through to his phone.469Please respect copyright.PENANAdZZE9yrvun
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7vfpabYk9N
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQa2AXBHVYX
He sat on his bed, careful not to strain his shoulder. He hoped everything back at Mr. Cowell’s house is fine. After Kevin’s message, he couldn’t help but worry even more. He wished he could go there, but now that his mother had her eyes on him and his sister, getting out of the house just got harder.469Please respect copyright.PENANAFjcXqek8lV
469Please respect copyright.PENANA2cKQsY7I1m
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGH6cZ8huCM
He looked at his phone and tried to call Kevin again, but his phone still isn’t going through. He thought of calling Rhénee, but thought again if it would be appropriate at this time, considering that she might be tired after what went on today. Kevin must have also told her about Mr. Cowell. And knowing her, she’s probably there right now. He thought of calling her instead.469Please respect copyright.PENANAuctCIlIRY5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcjyLSlLM4X
469Please respect copyright.PENANAL5KMa7Mh2C
Before he could do so, he heard a knock at the door. He muttered to himself, irritated that someone was by the door when he wanted to be alone. He told the person to come in and when he saw his mother enter the room, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath.469Please respect copyright.PENANAv5va2apvN3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1ElU4SfMK
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1V09R9lHkx
“Well, you don’t seem so happy to see me,” said Mrs. Derrand as he approached his bed.469Please respect copyright.PENANA0LLYdaJ4zp
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwP3kZgqi8d
469Please respect copyright.PENANAoS5uId5pKi
“Maybe it’s because I wanted to take a nap before you came in,” Malcom calmly lied.469Please respect copyright.PENANAC6NRfHVs3h
469Please respect copyright.PENANAkUYVmU3G7n
469Please respect copyright.PENANANLa5xhXzvB
She stopped at the foot of the bed and stared at him. Malcom tried not to flinch in pain as his shoulder still continued to ache. He can’t give himself away now. His mother would throw a fit.469Please respect copyright.PENANAu81vs1J7Jz
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ri8jOvAGB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAehaVOsY4Q7
“Sorry if I’m interrupting, but I just came to check on you.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA3zyEF9iLId
469Please respect copyright.PENANAA04pUNKvWh
469Please respect copyright.PENANA53TTlcRZmA
“As you can see, I’m fine.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA6VHh37xAZz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMKxdveYoR3
469Please respect copyright.PENANANjMgROJIsm
Mrs. Derrand almost did a 180, when she stopped and turned back to look at Malcom. “Can you do me a favour tomorrow?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAeIdZDvWIc9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJsTnpLLtfW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAI2cfG9Mhux
Malcom raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAqQtqUV17r8
469Please respect copyright.PENANABhBxCtWVyu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAb3DbABidlB
“You’ll be on leave for a week, right? I was wondering if you could go to Rhénee’s house tomorrow to deliver something for me.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAJmDmJVF1KW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJaOLMxT4Q5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbBHMhqjCXV
Now Malcom is concerned. What could his mother want him to give Rhénee?469Please respect copyright.PENANAw6qBSfPeTZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmhT0krKgZ3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAn341tVWZvv
“Why should I be the one carrying out that errand? You can easily tell the driver to do that, can’t you?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAKCrYpZnFd4
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnUWuA47u0b
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4J9rX2yyxa
“Well, after the incident at the party, I didn’t get to give her a gift.” Mrs. Derrand made herself comfortable, sitting at the foot of his bed. Malcom hoped she wouldn’t come closer. “And I've been busy dealing with the police that I completely forgot until I saw it in my room today.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAnLeD8kw7cO
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxbBKdcCUm4
469Please respect copyright.PENANA33CjnhGETC
“I know you’ve been busy and that you probably forgot, but why don’t you do it? I mean, it’s your gift to her, right?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAClonC0sClB
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5cjFBrGkh2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEjTqslp0Ko
“Yes, I know. But I’ve to get back to work tomorrow and it would be nice if you would do this for me. Besides, you can use that time to get to know Rhénee better since we were rudely interrupted at the party.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA4hRDMhSolC
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbW6YGw9aOq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAOpRa3v8V4O
Malcom raised an eyebrow. Why would his mother want him to get too familiar with Rhénee? Is there something that she wants out of it, he thought.469Please respect copyright.PENANAiTnaRfqjU9
469Please respect copyright.PENANANcGEgNxjng
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxEYUPAXK7a
“And if I refuse?” he dared to ask.469Please respect copyright.PENANAdcdsPgSSU5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbevSLJQI3E
469Please respect copyright.PENANAWP5917G7sT
“Don’t try to be stubborn,” she scoffed. “It’s only natural that you should get to know her since we all knew her late grandmother. And she hasn’t been in Madison in years. We’ve to make her feel welcome.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAqE3FJomlTg
469Please respect copyright.PENANACblNYUkUoK
469Please respect copyright.PENANAW3uOKEKoXV
“But you and Emelda weren’t the best of friends, you know.”469Please respect copyright.PENANALXi9kWDhyH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAYYAw5Zqa4d
469Please respect copyright.PENANAW96Z6dmotB
Malcom knew he had struck a nerve because his mother stared at him like she would shoot lasers out of her eyes. But her demeanour quickly disappeared as she sighed and put up a smile.469Please respect copyright.PENANAtfck972Svn
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4kxhsmN8Fs
469Please respect copyright.PENANARDGGs5kZBZ
“It’s because of that that I want to make amends. I know she’s gone and there’s nothing I can do to patch things up with her. It's left me in deep regret. I feel the need to connect with Rhénee more, you know?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAal0yI543Bg
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGpSNOV6OoS
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQLq59ch60O
“Then why not take the present to her yourself?”469Please respect copyright.PENANATiRphZVCLT
469Please respect copyright.PENANABrpqUpLQ8L
469Please respect copyright.PENANAPLbGp2fQGA
“I would, but like I told you earlier, I’ve work to do. There’s plenty of time for me to get close to her. You and sister should too. Your friendship might be valuable in the future. You'll never know when you would ever ask each other for help.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAdPjhXspCBX
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZuZuoeu0Qz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAy0ravvjtrA
Malcom continued to sit in silence as he looked at his mother. Why would she want him to get close to Rhénee all of a sudden? In the few days he and Greta got to be with Rhénee, they were already close. But their mother isn’t aware of it because as far as he and his sister are concerned, she might be their enemy.469Please respect copyright.PENANAlaqEMC7nO0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAaANTfUWuCe
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJYKufO6GEu
“I’ll take it for you,” he said. “But you should be the one getting to know her better. Not me.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA6pfiqdv0qi
469Please respect copyright.PENANAiE7BSNzFOc
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHwEfKMBDvP
“Thank you, Malcom,” Mrs. Derrand said with a smile. “You should make your sister tag along.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAiq7qGZ2tff
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7bQlniRe8U
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0mb2XCLnw2
“I’ll see if she'll be up for the idea.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA23HkMiq21V
469Please respect copyright.PENANAt8yjjqdtzn
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHxuxRycRLd
Mrs. Derrand stood up from the bed and stretched out her hand to touch Malcom by the shoulder. He was quick enough to catch her hand before it landed. She looked a little shocked by the sudden gesture.469Please respect copyright.PENANAop6JM1uqUw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEBpe4VtKHa
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvcbWyoAxpj
“What is it?” Mrs. Derrand asked. “You don’t want your mother touching you, Malcom?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAHxWvMyzEgd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQWw7Cu5cR0
469Please respect copyright.PENANACm1yq75XbM
“Wow, mum, when you put it like that, it sounds really wrong,” Malcom said as he quickly stood up.469Please respect copyright.PENANAxcEf92r9Mw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGN1v2WDYew
469Please respect copyright.PENANAFzacxQccLC
"Sorry, dear. I just wanted to show my affection for the favour."469Please respect copyright.PENANAog0xfCTwds
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1rdL0CBUCI
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3OP0cnxKR
"Maybe you should do that by leaving me for now. I need to rest."469Please respect copyright.PENANA9a6GmP6BGc
469Please respect copyright.PENANACE7bTvJNWu
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z60zS8n0A
His mother sighed. "When are you going to stop hating me, Malcom?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAps4w4nonEs
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1igMgszqHP
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsRI27XK3jf
"I think you already know the answer."469Please respect copyright.PENANAMuyuZyZWG8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAoIlaBAWMn
469Please respect copyright.PENANASWkXzIjCGM
"Whatever happened to your father..., I still regret it to this very day."469Please respect copyright.PENANA7W95Auv7Ox
469Please respect copyright.PENANAUhGr2ohtFb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMHd6oGVAzL
"Do you mum? Because it doesn't feel like it."469Please respect copyright.PENANANgozbuwxrf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHeKnwiQSfh
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHWZzzBa7KF
Malcom folded his arms and almost winced in pain as he strained his injured shoulder by doing so. Instead, he humphed as though he's upset. He turned to look away from his mother, approaching the window and looking at the dark lawn outside.469Please respect copyright.PENANAHzsn2ExRhn
469Please respect copyright.PENANAV7Ap3lsDy6
469Please respect copyright.PENANA2w0tSHbIob
"I know I can't undo what I did," said Mrs. Derrand, as she stood behind her son. "But will you continue to hate me forever? It's been three years since-"469Please respect copyright.PENANACY43zXqKxz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsLrXogn9wl
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7bn4Vs532X
"Mum, enough. I don't want to talk about it. It hurts even more when you start this all over again. Staying here with you is already enough to bear, don't you think?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAQr7dRIPh8V
469Please respect copyright.PENANAWLTvnZ7Mag
469Please respect copyright.PENANAoMYl1E9OoE
Mrs. Derrand opened her mouth, but no words came out. She knew it's best for her to leave.469Please respect copyright.PENANAWKdCz6izWn
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7BwRKaWanF
469Please respect copyright.PENANAWAXxgjZZPA
"I know you and your sister hate me, Malcom. But know this, whatever I did, I did it for the two of you. And I was never going to let your father get in the way. If you ask me, I would do it all over again."469Please respect copyright.PENANAA9sWTqVEPY
469Please respect copyright.PENANANRbPJckp9T
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKYUTHg5hkv
Malcom dropped his arms and clenched his hands into fists, straining his injured shoulder. He just wanted his mother to leave.469Please respect copyright.PENANAZv95Xim6IF
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7YYAKwX43Q
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAWB5F9lMc6
Someone knockwd at the door, and judging by how quick the knocks came, Malcom knew it's Greta. She might be late, but she couldn't have come at a better time.469Please respect copyright.PENANAHxH7k4pMs1
469Please respect copyright.PENANA76bDwITqjZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEeHn3iXo3h
Mrs. Derrand went to the door and opened it. Greta gasped at the sudden sight of her mother in her brother's room.469Please respect copyright.PENANAUkOJTjmUoD
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbF3WjQouHp
469Please respect copyright.PENANANY17zMKtX6
"Hey, mum," said Greta, trying to compose herself.469Please respect copyright.PENANAz6r4bo2Vq0
469Please respect copyright.PENANASy2WVwYvxt
469Please respect copyright.PENANApsyWElCeIv
Her mother gave a nod of her head and looked back at Malcom who still looked out of window. She sighed.469Please respect copyright.PENANACuwWUJuRhz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAWW9xYzkxFl
469Please respect copyright.PENANAXRUQCc6MZ4
"I'll leave you two," she said as she went past Greta who quickly stood aside. Greta looked on as her mother walked down the hall to her room.469Please respect copyright.PENANAi62uo40N2i
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9E38kKjyap
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxF9Zceau5s
Greta quickly entered her brother’s room, closing the door quietly. She turned to look at her brother. “What was she doing here?” she asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAP2geACDn0v
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvsL88VrEvd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAD2vBOlrBUt
Malcom shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, something’s up with Kevin’s phone. I tried calling him but he isn’t answering.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAubm3n3m3dd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAoWRaJeqWu8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGgk3BE1ELM
“I guess you received the message too. I tried calling Rhénee and her phone wouldn’t go through either. I also called the house landline. It's ringing but nobody’s picking.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAaXbc4ZG9kE
469Please respect copyright.PENANAe2F6RSlin2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAYnXrzunUOR
“Odd.” Malcom turned to look at his sister. “There should be Miss Griselda at the house. Could they not be home?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAokZXemFPdv
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8zfXMOBsGs
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcp6hxMYGin
Greta also looked just as confused as Malcom. He didn’t like this at all. Kevin and Rhenee’s phones were unreachable, and no one was answering the phone at Rhenee’s house. Could Kevin, Rhénee and Miss Griselda be in trouble? Or is there any reasonable explanation?469Please respect copyright.PENANAVx4pZOW0xC
469Please respect copyright.PENANAADBwNoH7By
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnpTuV8nGqW
“I would like us to go check Rhénee’s house, but I don’t think mum would want us to go out,” said Greta.469Please respect copyright.PENANAXGk3pUy6yJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANASRN9s73mQU
469Please respect copyright.PENANArljhA3X7OF
Malcom couldn’t agree more. Their mother would find it suspicious that they were both leaving the house together. Unless…469Please respect copyright.PENANAj6DCHhKrBT
469Please respect copyright.PENANA09WoLYkwJ6
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8yv3Q1MWXp
Malcom snapped his fingers and quickly walked past his sister, heading for the door.469Please respect copyright.PENANAAFHIl0DXZU
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqVduZxJ6vA
469Please respect copyright.PENANA3CwbwjALiA
“Hey, where are you going?” Greta called out to him, as she followed.469Please respect copyright.PENANABdmRTnHljq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAtNJ68VsSDB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqKxahrEcIp
Malcom stopped himself in the hall and turned to look at his sister coming behind him.469Please respect copyright.PENANALoQxM4DDaH
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8612ZVM2Rz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAa6GvJUR6WC
“Lower your voice, I don’t want mum to hear,” he whispered to her.469Please respect copyright.PENANAABJP6TtInN
469Please respect copyright.PENANA38s2wqJzy7
469Please respect copyright.PENANA3yy7JRlmur
“What is it?” she asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAUvBmUvTkIk
469Please respect copyright.PENANAW5qXprgIUC
469Please respect copyright.PENANAOazHcuE6Po
“I want you to follow my lead. Can you do that?”469Please respect copyright.PENANArHtZhRgVLW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAVgub8FUpGN
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAQtQnnC8C9
“Whatever plan you have, I hope it works. What am I saying? Of course, it will.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAkI3s7OvxvN
469Please respect copyright.PENANAgJqcDSF6x8
469Please respect copyright.PENANA6xD7C5uU7M
Malcom gave her a brief smile and continued his way down the hall, heading for his mother’s room. He heard Greta yelp behind him, but she continued to follow nonetheless.469Please respect copyright.PENANAezLGHIFUDO
469Please respect copyright.PENANAESHR5SG8OZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAz9kCUd0Eih
When he got to the door, he knocked and heard his mother behind the door tell him to come in.469Please respect copyright.PENANAFwYi0JFWd6
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJyfuNQxQ80
469Please respect copyright.PENANAArzNlZSStv
"Malcom, Greta," said Mrs. Derrand as she looked up at her two children. She was seated on her bed, with her phone in her hand. She looked a little surprised to see them, not after what happened with Malcom in his room. "What brings you two here?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAKLeT831iRc
469Please respect copyright.PENANAOMPLO06aG5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMcvsTveWD6
Greta looked at her brother who immediately answered, "that gift you wanted me to take to Rhénee, I would like to take it to her now, if you don't mind."469Please respect copyright.PENANAjiPF0hpBUI
469Please respect copyright.PENANAyvbBjDbHk0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcRVEQGl0ib
Mrs. Derrand looked even more surprised. "I thought we agreed you would take it to her tomorrow."469Please respect copyright.PENANAuEVYQVJigv
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7OuH3nI2DR
469Please respect copyright.PENANAeZlKrozaFJ
"I did, but I thought I'm better off taking it today, before it gets too late. I just remembered that there's something I need to do tomorrow. And it's urgent."469Please respect copyright.PENANABxxrKQvZ1G
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAgfhAYCdA0
469Please respect copyright.PENANALKf1tV19gL
Mrs. Derrand looked at Malcom and Greta intently. The two thought she would simply refuse. She stood up from her bed and went to her closet. The two siblings looked at each other, wondering what she's going to get out of there.469Please respect copyright.PENANAGVYgphNfU6
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvUumFX80Mu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzMGpyYpVFW
The doors of the closet closing caught the two's attention as they turned to look back at their mother who now had a small white gift bag in her hand. She held it up for Malcom to get.469Please respect copyright.PENANAh221GkEghh
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxOq6HSUuwz
469Please respect copyright.PENANArLX4WdrWvP
"Here it is," she said. "Are you sure you need to take it to her now?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAvojsHVDyb6
469Please respect copyright.PENANADhewjFyEJ0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAF8Z2bxegPl
"I'm sure," Malcom answered. "I'll make sure she gets it."469Please respect copyright.PENANAUTroABAQnm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzGdhS4QBOT
469Please respect copyright.PENANAajDrQHC7d9
"I know you will. I'm just worried about the time. Do you two really have to be out at this time?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAZxmku2lqbB
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9gZIUdx72J
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhlseKY6BQ1
"Come on, mum, we aren't kids anymore," Greta chirped in. "It's not that late. We haven't even had supper yet."469Please respect copyright.PENANA0kgF1FlAGM
469Please respect copyright.PENANAyVWiIyGP4w
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlMSvbNWZSY
"That's because you two weren't here that I told the cooks to delay for a little bit."469Please respect copyright.PENANAAaUT50fgKb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAV5Pgu55sM3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvl1j3BCFez
"We'll be back before you know it," said Malcom. "We'll have time to chat with Rhénee later."469Please respect copyright.PENANA5oQYjygDqd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnXKIoN0KHg
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKmjoXNJaZK
Mrs. Derrand sighed, knowing that she didn’t have a choice. She probed Malcom to get the bag from her hand which he did.469Please respect copyright.PENANAoEvyCkSyAo
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwcJb1kDr8A
469Please respect copyright.PENANArjqvuXkgP4
"Be careful out there," Mrs. Derrand said to them as they made their way out of the room.469Please respect copyright.PENANAnBXAKaGrMI
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4MSlQSQiWK
469Please respect copyright.PENANA6IFZWo5Xrp
"Did anyone ever tell you how brilliant you are, Malcom?" Greta asked as they quickly rushed down the stairs.469Please respect copyright.PENANASnISjywgHt
469Please respect copyright.PENANAkzyz7gZUwN
469Please respect copyright.PENANAc4QpzP71Sl
"Keep it down," he warned as he reached the bottom of the stairs first and headed for the front door. "We don't want her to hear you."469Please respect copyright.PENANA0QVtA50kkk
469Please respect copyright.PENANADfvIhodCS2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAltbOWIzscY
He searched for the keys to the car in his pocket. Luckily he hadn't removed them from the time he got back home. He quickly opened the door and went for the car. Greta closed the door behind her and quickly followed her brother to the car. Malcom already unlocked the door and got in.469Please respect copyright.PENANAxpOzHKr9h2
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4XL45lb0Np
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwXT2of7Rep
"I just hope they're okay," said Greta as she got in the car. Malcom had already worn his seatbelt.469Please respect copyright.PENANA2K2D4ngSCB
469Please respect copyright.PENANACCYSdYwNw0
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1TyXLqPPJO
"I hope so too, especially Rhénee."469Please respect copyright.PENANAyRb6Gp2IHJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQSy6tQmCf8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAle3EW1LKlb
Greta raised an eyebrow at her brother as she also wore her seatbelt. "You seem to care about her a lot lately."469Please respect copyright.PENANALcwn0mZmc5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxkW5HN6bY5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAyCTVnyALV1
"Is that a problem?" Malcom asked as he turned the ignition and the car's engine roared to life, not looking at his sister.469Please respect copyright.PENANAAWVaIh49Kg
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEpe41BIBuY
469Please respect copyright.PENANAxxq77XCDeI
"Oh, nothing," said Greta. "I know we're protecting her because we swore that we would, but you seem to be taking this a little too seriously."469Please respect copyright.PENANAqHwQM0OytB
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7qlraKmUez
469Please respect copyright.PENANAjLqcc7PQOq
Malcom now turned to look at Greta. "It's like you said at first. We swore that we would protect her."469Please respect copyright.PENANAZospK5Z7p1
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEbWBxo894T
469Please respect copyright.PENANA23sYGFfgUB
He put the car in reverse and it reversed right out of the driveway, through the gate. He put the car on drive, driving away from their house.469Please respect copyright.PENANAaKY9Jj3Sf0
469Please respect copyright.PENANALG3UDeJnbw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAi8q9xplKfZ
"I know that. But haven't you stopped to think that by doing so we're also going against our mother?" Greta asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAxMIYzVUIlu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZfoMOiOz6F
469Please respect copyright.PENANATqQMku3m5V
"You're forgetting that we've been against her for a long time even before Emelda passed on."469Please respect copyright.PENANA4DgjgIMZSp
469Please respect copyright.PENANA3Vav2CXm6k
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQRohKHVPs7
"True. But what if things had been different back then? Would we be protecting Rhénee like we're now?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAIClv2Ombbr
469Please respect copyright.PENANABy4ug3bzWS
469Please respect copyright.PENANAgLTtMBH8aa
Malcom didn't answer at first as he had his eyes fixed on the road. "If things had been different," he finally answered, "something tells me we wouldn't have known Rhénee at all."469Please respect copyright.PENANA7soDIGQVCe
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9NRZAs5nHg
469Please respect copyright.PENANACHA0qGv91z
Greta looked at her brother and thought about what he said. She looked ahead. "I guess you're right."469Please respect copyright.PENANAcbX6pXOnxF
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnjiWZDo2hq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhfpmoI394M
“Do you regret doing this?” Malcom asked after a moment of silence had passed between them.469Please respect copyright.PENANArdpQwV5bRf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqUkmGneJdB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAUwBBPBQWZq
Greta hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words to use. “To be honest, I don’t know what to think anymore,” she answered. “If it weren’t for our parents, something told me we wouldn’t have been in this mess.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAsLamKeGJ5u
469Please respect copyright.PENANAImxlBTVfj8
469Please respect copyright.PENANApZg4A45IHj
“But you don’t regret helping Rhénee out?” Malcom gave his sister a brief glance before fixing his eyes on the road again.469Please respect copyright.PENANAjvBalLcvB3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAgOb4r8G9Zm
469Please respect copyright.PENANApcS8rPMifj
“For some funny reason, I really don’t. And you?”469Please respect copyright.PENANA8CKyOUK7YZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAI7NnzYkNsS
469Please respect copyright.PENANAjvUe2n36Af
Malcom found himself shaking his head. He knew he and Greta are doing this because they promised the late Emelda. Now it felt more like an obligation. He didn’t know if his sister also felt this way, but he did. As much as that thought scared him, he didn’t seem to care. Ever since he met Rhénee, he felt he had to protect her from whatever is going on in this little town. Maybe his sister is right. Was he taking this a little too far? If so, why? He felt he isn’t only doing this for the late Emelda, but for something else. Is it to get back at his mother for what she did to him and Greta in the past? Now that he is thinking about it, he realises that there must be some other reason, though he doesn’t seem to know what it could be.469Please respect copyright.PENANAJsebbuMmcP
469Please respect copyright.PENANAuGia5Sm6Oy
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5Nmb7uRBbv
They were now pulling over in front of Rhénee’s house and they noticed as the car entered the front gate, that the lights inside the house were off. They couldn’t have called it a night and gone to bed for it’s far too early. Malcom and Greta knew right away that something's wrong.469Please respect copyright.PENANAkDJE8poYd1
469Please respect copyright.PENANAetj5uN3UQn
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0ohAYOsxjf
Malcom parked the car in front of the house and Greta immediately got out. Malcom killed the car’s engine and followed Greta.469Please respect copyright.PENANAk5Qvnoxqcf
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8qaAoWVGCb
469Please respect copyright.PENANADA4bCCik3r
“The place is dark and quiet,” said Greta as she walked up to the front porch. “It looks like nobody’s home.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9YogQ8imY
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEo7W1z1MEq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAp9g4riGY01
Malcom looked at the mansion and then at his sister. “Let’s try the back.”469Please respect copyright.PENANABIbZAqvIwF
469Please respect copyright.PENANANHrjvrUAz9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAi1rbEKjnIo
They went round the house and went for the kitchen back door. They weren’t surprised to find it locked.469Please respect copyright.PENANA3X4fgvxGy6
469Please respect copyright.PENANAShUTNpuEUW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAo0S15fxNU5
“I’m guessing they must have gone to Mr. Cowell’s house,” said Malcom. “I just noticed that Rhénee’s car isn’t here.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAEdUu2hAkr9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbdxhnC8Fw3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKmZfw2hhzk
“Could she've gone with Miss Griselda?” Greta asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAIaP160j0dv
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8G7vGxdexk
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1u4PuvLWSx
“I guess so, otherwise, we would’ve found her here. Come on, let’s go to Mr. Cowell’s house.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAeHA3OxJ710
469Please respect copyright.PENANALHW1SXVNo3
469Please respect copyright.PENANALkOfFAqyW9
“Ya, let’s get out of here. With this house quiet and dark, I find it really creepy. I feel like a ghost can just appear out of nowhere.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAnQR79P3ws2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJks8mEId5H
469Please respect copyright.PENANAExhFLhdMvt
“You watch too many horror movies,” Malcom shook his head at his sister. “Let’s go.”469Please respect copyright.PENANABKmxRQF2VW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzY7Cp4b62x
469Please respect copyright.PENANAjVn50qDvlp
Greta went back to the front of the house. Malcom lingered a little as he looked towards the garden and the greenhouse. For an odd minute, he thought there was someone there, but he was greeted by silence and darkness. Now that Greta mentioned how creepy she felt, it also got to him except this time around, he actually felt there's something out there, but he couldn't see or tell if it's actually there.469Please respect copyright.PENANAB4tvxD4TVs
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJRidfz8LkB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAG84vcgxwGf
He followed Greta and found her waiting by the car.469Please respect copyright.PENANANb2bS7C7zA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvRdPq90Lj5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAoyObinv7QV
"I thought someone had nabbed you back there," she said as he got close.469Please respect copyright.PENANAHgL2bUPENg
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwv0FjdAzYK
469Please respect copyright.PENANAUYMrHKbCon
"I'm okay, as you can see," he said as he went to the driver's side and entered the car.469Please respect copyright.PENANArpfz0acupZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAApxFmITUqy
469Please respect copyright.PENANAfjUWciPUgN
"I really hope Rhénee is okay," Greta also followed into the car.469Please respect copyright.PENANAXtHUmEAT4U
469Please respect copyright.PENANAERtmkbPo8c
469Please respect copyright.PENANAduWeSiPSWL
"Give her a ring again." Malcom started the car. "If her phone won't go through, then there's definitely something going on."469Please respect copyright.PENANAEPOeOTPJdL
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZYMfpQwgHW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAabNyofjOtH
***469Please respect copyright.PENANARJWP21kB8B
469Please respect copyright.PENANAaY5XchKmPX
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJVApiIDQda
"Rhénee?" Kevin called out as he heard noises coming from the livingroom.469Please respect copyright.PENANA9TEVXCzjuq
469Please respect copyright.PENANATvI0rSRo2h
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJOXQ8KUCXY
With his phone acting as a torch, he made his way to the door. When he pushed it open, he saw Rhénee on someone's back, her arms and legs wrapped round the person's body. All this while, the person was trying to get her off, but she stuck to the man like glue. Kevin looked confused as the two went from left to right, knocking over a few things in the room.469Please respect copyright.PENANAjbzhWd4pfn
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9gEVPiYoUZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANABelbCAg6SL
How did he get in the house, he thought. And if he had been here the whole time, how come he and Rhénee hadn't realised it?469Please respect copyright.PENANAdW3LnSF3v9
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4SqCypnEQD
469Please respect copyright.PENANADrSTtGUHwx
Rhénee hung onto the man's back and as they spun around the room, she noticed a light appear in the room. She knew Kevin had arrived after hearing the noise. Right now, she needed to put this man down, but with him moving around, she didn't know what to do.469Please respect copyright.PENANAcFNd41neNx
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsrVbG6mOeX
469Please respect copyright.PENANAh3ouLFRxL1
"Kevin, help!" she called to him.469Please respect copyright.PENANAHRkrJuY8p4
469Please respect copyright.PENANA73Z2m7osqV
469Please respect copyright.PENANAFcTwmWCDaH
Soon, the man ran her up the wall, making her get hit in the back. But it still wasn't enough for her to let him go.469Please respect copyright.PENANAKnt40B3VNb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAYBcj5vkSSB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAj12hEh954M
"Get off of me!" the man yelled, running across the room, and in the process, hitting into the coffee table.469Please respect copyright.PENANA1nMKwUbUJR
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlSCfhUxoxd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAVijQtYlitB
Rhénee and the man fell to the floor together, with Rhénee still on top of him. Now is the man's opportunity to get her off of him. But Rhénee was quick enough to sit upright on his back and press his head down onto the floor with her hand and pinning his back with one knee.469Please respect copyright.PENANAtpNxpdB9La
469Please respect copyright.PENANAV6oSe0nqQa
469Please respect copyright.PENANArmHcks0v9h
"Kevin, help me hold him!" Rhénee called out to Kevin in front of her.469Please respect copyright.PENANAwuazZ07Xaz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAIWoXS4eL7J
469Please respect copyright.PENANAVLzZUsy6na
Kevin woke up from his shock and tossing his phone on the couch, he came over to help her as he also pinned his knee onto the man's back. He also pinned the man's hands onto his back.469Please respect copyright.PENANATv9afHMw5y
469Please respect copyright.PENANAIwk8cz6bjD
469Please respect copyright.PENANAb9iNYJL9W7
The man squirmed and struggled to get out. He's much bigger and broad shouldered. Rhénee and Kevin weren’t going to be enough to pin him down for long. They had to do something quickly.469Please respect copyright.PENANA2CwTi9hVaz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAdNYfVD2tQp
469Please respect copyright.PENANANYLTwTbzJo
“We can’t hold him down for much longer,” Kevin told Rhénee. “We’ve to do something quick-”469Please respect copyright.PENANA7FWgW4JuB5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmlUBrGskcY
469Please respect copyright.PENANAi3LjLsN4iL
Before Kevin could finish his sentence, Rhénee had quickly pressed her index and middle fingers onto the man’s neck and he quickly fell unconscious.469Please respect copyright.PENANAzqlZJGzByB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAyd25VScunc
469Please respect copyright.PENANATZaIdm9Vck
“What the-?” Kevin couldn’t believe what he's seeing. “How did you do that?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAJYnI6wiRHn
469Please respect copyright.PENANASRiNFYZDEI
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvlToe75Rj9
“I hit his pressure point,” Rhénee calmly answered. She slowly stood up taking in a few deep breaths.469Please respect copyright.PENANAFYVtic7Gft
469Please respect copyright.PENANAe7VfNq5wUZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhrw7RcfbQm
“Where did you learn to do that?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAyvaCTvl70P
469Please respect copyright.PENANA20o6sryiqd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnYvCOUJsh1
“I’ll explain later. We need to check if he has weapons on him.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAUcceZTQ74e
469Please respect copyright.PENANANH2uN3cRD5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAgmtvCaCbGe
Kevin agreed to leave this discussion for later as he started to check the man’s pockets while Rhénee went over by the couch to get his phone to provide light as he searched. He found an AK47 tucked under his belt and a sharp pocket knife in one of his pockets. He checked the other one and found a cellular phone. Weird, most people have smart phones these days. Why would he need a cellular phone?469Please respect copyright.PENANAZL5gpQLsYC
469Please respect copyright.PENANADFFQAzTpSX
469Please respect copyright.PENANALeCIvGm8MU
“I guess this is important,” said Kevin as he passed the phone to Rhénee.469Please respect copyright.PENANATCrmBm6Imu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwVPTtr5CD1
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGMPCY3h6sD
“Whoever he works for might get into contact with him,” said Rhénee as she looked at the phone and checked it. She frowned. “There’s still no signal.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAkwWKx4XhgD
469Please respect copyright.PENANADnYFeRRAnG
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1JYzfezFwt
“Maybe he was going to cut off whatever is jamming it after he finished the job. We just have to find it.”469Please respect copyright.PENANA6eURcevK3g
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKp2WfaWsjp
469Please respect copyright.PENANAIWjr7RTFsJ
“Let’s tie him up first. Who knows when he might come around.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAlpuYsKS9JQ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEv8E3ez7bx
469Please respect copyright.PENANAdo2V2IJpuR
“I thought he will be unconsciousness until you touch his pressure point again.” Kevin stood up from the floor.469Please respect copyright.PENANA3xicdoFeD2
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8TASZpSe8M
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvFIHw8QLCM
“Not always. There’s a limit, you know?”469Please respect copyright.PENANA6KqJZNpJMH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzNra76tOC3
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhEWoV5cY1E
“I think I saw rope somewhere in the kitchen.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAemX6Ie7png
469Please respect copyright.PENANAf8weozLxyO
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZkIWmAsZ8G
Rhénee gave Kevin his phone back as he rushed to the kitchen. She took her phone out and turned on the torch. She looked at the man who lay unconscious on the floor. Sophie stood on the overturned coffee table, looking on. Rhénee smiled at the cat, glad that her plan had worked. She felt the cat could really understand her after all.469Please respect copyright.PENANAnllZWsNMLk
469Please respect copyright.PENANAuwnAFmeMUm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAInZ5r49o6n
She knelt on the floor so as to take a good look at the man with short black hair and ruddy face with a slightly big nose. He wore black clothes and black leather boots like that of a soldier. In fact, Rhénee thought that if she were to look at him properly with the lights on, she might mistake him for one. But who could he be?469Please respect copyright.PENANAkxAwKnAhFc
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5XiQZboFFq
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4t9pZFsFzq
Rhénee continued to look at him when she spotted something on his neck like a chain, hidden under his black t-shirt. It looked like one of those chains most soldiers wear in memory of fallen soldiers. But the chain isn’t silver but gold. Looks like he isn’t a soldier then, she thought.469Please respect copyright.PENANAWZThsTBbjd
469Please respect copyright.PENANA6TQhi4GDto
469Please respect copyright.PENANAk01qo2YYol
Out of curiosity, she placed her fingers on his neck to get the chain out. It’s a chain necklace with a grey key. The odd thing about the key is that it’s real and not a trinket. She noticed rust in some areas and it looked old. Why would he be carrying it with him around his neck? Did it mean something?469Please respect copyright.PENANA7oOQMZVkdS
469Please respect copyright.PENANArb2KXGWGcg
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMXe3vppQvK
She heard the door to the kitchen creak open and Kevin walked in, holding up his phone to light the way. Rhénee brought the neck chain around the man’s head, and managed to get it.469Please respect copyright.PENANARNowcQq9E8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAY6sQZ90E77
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8qdLU7qJQW
“What’s that?” Kevin asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANALRVxYxn5HA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcZDL3pEXFf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAn83h2fgS6Y
“A key,” Rhénee answered as she stood up and held up the chain for Kevin to take a look.469Please respect copyright.PENANAzO6JjSdyyI
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvv8OS4wmr9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAk9s0eMOAeI
“Do you think it’s important?” Kevin raised an eyebrow.469Please respect copyright.PENANASwE2usFdOE
469Please respect copyright.PENANAvn6UNu3CPL
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKv6HOhIr0N
“I have a hunch.” Rhénee placed the key in her pocket. “Come on, let’s tie him up. Then we can go check upstairs for whatever is jamming the signal.”469Please respect copyright.PENANArwWMdOUUtp
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsSvBDycKOV
469Please respect copyright.PENANA49eITxghUR
“How sure are you that it’s upstairs?”469Please respect copyright.PENANACS9yEAnu1A
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhB6oRoxHmo
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcgoWo2xyUB
“Because that’s where he has been hiding this whole time. It’s obviously up there.”469Please respect copyright.PENANADZMRvqnZMo
469Please respect copyright.PENANAn9gWePWhEf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAh3odesTFNq
Kevin nodded and they went on ahead to position the man on the floor to tie him. They bounded his hands and legs, making sure to tie the rope round his body for him to lie straight on the floor.469Please respect copyright.PENANAKLfL5cpBm8
469Please respect copyright.PENANA72WYO1YJpU
469Please respect copyright.PENANASEk6d6W9GP
Together with Sophie, they soon made their way up the stairs. When they reached the top landing, Kevin suggested they split up; him taking the left and Rhénee taking the right.469Please respect copyright.PENANA1OQFVpnE07
469Please respect copyright.PENANAozTwJ9SLn7
469Please respect copyright.PENANAIfNg0uCzkH
Rhénee walked down the hall with Sophie at her heels and approached the first door to her left. She opened the door and looked inside. It's a bedroom. There weren't things lying around on the dressing table opposite the bed which was close to the bed, so she could tell that no one occupied this room. She thought of leaving to go check somewhere else, but she found herself now in the middle of the room. She didn't know why, but she felt that she might find something of importance.469Please respect copyright.PENANAYong1Btw9E
469Please respect copyright.PENANAdj6RngiRz4
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbCprPEIEWU
There were sheets and pillows on the bed and Rhénee found it odd for a room that seemed unoccupied. Maybe she's wrong and there was someone who occupied it.469Please respect copyright.PENANAUGaOxSbptA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKGj8KRNnXj
469Please respect copyright.PENANAfCWrybH5ga
A wooden closet stood in front of her and she went straight for it. She drew the doors open, and found the closet empty. Strange, she thought. She felt sure she would find something. Just as she was about to turn and look elsewhere, she felt a light thud below. Sophie had just stepped in the wardrobe and went for the corner.469Please respect copyright.PENANAyt3Py6KWyb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAoYsTrugx0w
469Please respect copyright.PENANApkQjuxxAOC
Rhénee shone the light over to where the cat was as it started to scratch the floor of the wardrobe. Rhénee knelt on the floor and bent over to the far corner and when she placed her hand on the spot the cat had been scratching at, she realised that the wall of the wardrobe felt light and hollow.469Please respect copyright.PENANAe9w6eaksA4
469Please respect copyright.PENANABBhOxQB4PR
469Please respect copyright.PENANAndy8yCm29t
"Just how many secret places does this house have?" Rhénee asked herself aloud.469Please respect copyright.PENANAGqdkfNwce9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAdpOuJqqXNm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnCU4S4fDkw
She now started to press her hand along the corner of the wall of the wardrobe while the other held her phone. The wall caved in a little until Rhénee realised that it could be pushed aside. She pushed a little, and what she saw made her gasp in awe. She decided to call Kevin.469Please respect copyright.PENANAB7bwCXXDok
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmbp8c3V1mU
469Please respect copyright.PENANA3xmlbbOnmT
“Kevin!” she shouted, bringing herself out of the closet. “You’ve to see this!”469Please respect copyright.PENANAuUBdan27Ze
469Please respect copyright.PENANAw7rL48Kybw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKPjxSvnLoZ
She heard quick, heavy footsteps and Kevin soon came with his light pointed at Rhénee. “What is it? Are you okay?” he asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAzBG13nWtjm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqwJlZW6EWm
469Please respect copyright.PENANANeiLrUTQyu
"You'll be surprised with what I'm about to show you," she said as she went on her knees to enter the cupboard. Kevin still remained outside, and when Rhénee fully drew the wall of the cupboard aside, his jaw couldn't help but drop.469Please respect copyright.PENANAJK4CYv2AyG
469Please respect copyright.PENANARTcxj7SvdL
469Please respect copyright.PENANANA1Sc2UOpv
In front of them stood a stack of guns, mounted on the wall like they had been put up for some kind of display. Below them, were drawers. Rhénee drew one of them open to find a variety of bullets for the guns neatly stacked away. She drew out another and there were a variety of short knives also lined up neatly.469Please respect copyright.PENANAs1PuSnt10q
469Please respect copyright.PENANAr4QRknL2sB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAv0patL36gM
"Was this man preparing for war?" Rhénee asked as she looked at Kevin.469Please respect copyright.PENANAoVeRz5850X
469Please respect copyright.PENANAR1nj8hw8K0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmRAP0oYiqG
"I'm just as surprised as you," said Kevin. "I've known Mr. Cowell to be peaceful. I never thought he could’ve a stack of guns and knives hidden in his house."469Please respect copyright.PENANA4MkgDmHoFJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcdFl4KBsEM
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9RiN1pl9Xh
"He isn't some war veteran, is he?" Rhénee got out of the wardrobe, her eyes still fixed on the guns.469Please respect copyright.PENANAqRGNCVZ5lQ
469Please respect copyright.PENANA6PsaPqhc7k
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMKWL7qdaLP
Kevin shook his head. He had a worried look on his face and Rhénee thought it best that they move on.469Please respect copyright.PENANAz3i1Q5BaDn
469Please respect copyright.PENANAFDClwHSdzk
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmTSx5kd48r
"Come on, we can worry about that later," she said as she went back in the wardrobe to slide the wall shut.469Please respect copyright.PENANAULIsioIqDM
469Please respect copyright.PENANAFH98HHlIjh
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKZQqE4Y1MA
"So many things are happening today," said Kevin. "It's kinda hard to process it."469Please respect copyright.PENANAW987M0WO38
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmfjpAXLVrE
469Please respect copyright.PENANAIslFtaTeFz
Rhénee put her hand on his right shoulder as she faced the opposite direction. "I know what you mean. All this is overwhelming for you and I'll understand if you decide not to go on with it."469Please respect copyright.PENANAmKr22cHk56
469Please respect copyright.PENANA3XxbbGS73s
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmCb8gWcYAB
Kevin turned to look at her in the semi-darkness. "I know what you're trying to do, Rhénee. You aren't going to convince me to leave you to face these things alone."469Please respect copyright.PENANATJ2MzEzfSF
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJrwI6JObXJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANACKlKlDKsXG
Rhénee couldn't help but blush in embarrassment as she stared at the floor in front of her. She felt Kevin take hold of her hand on his shoulder and turned to look at her.469Please respect copyright.PENANA88K6BuIkKu
469Please respect copyright.PENANA2pHsSQtjIf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEctO4AppKu
"I know I might not protect you with guns and whatnot, but I'll do as promised to your late grandmother: to protect you in the best way I know how. So you aren't going to drive me out of your life that easily. Not until the threat around you is gone."469Please respect copyright.PENANAifwjHkF9sB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQHBb09x0YH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAG1ehvyGKf2
The two continued to look at each other and Rhénee soon cleared her throat, finding their little moment a little weird. She gently pulled her hand away from Kevin's, and he didn't resist as he also looked away.469Please respect copyright.PENANATyfqWzObjq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAEFqFOPLqX5
469Please respect copyright.PENANAXttk6RYGTW
"We should continue looking," Rhénee suggested as she started to make her way towards the door. She stopped. "You know I'm suggesting this for your own safety, right?"469Please respect copyright.PENANA3E06gRr0Kw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbxIdpSPCbT
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZFzYTYJmEc
"I know. But you don't decide what I do. I'm here to protect you willingly."469Please respect copyright.PENANAwH80okHi7T
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlRHQ73R52Q
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJrdIB6zxdZ
Rhénee noticed Sophie stand right next to her. She sighed. "Let's go check the other rooms. We can't waste any more time."469Please respect copyright.PENANAbiqOgQNODZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAs2MJfkCpjB
469Please respect copyright.PENANAfGIwo2JJT7
"You're right."469Please respect copyright.PENANAojdRRPovXo
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5Grk10jFs2
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5TEC95wQTH
The two left the room and carried on with their search. After checking in two rooms, Kevin found himself in the master bedroom: Mr. Cowell's room. He looked around for anything suspicious, but nothing. He started to check around the room where he could probably hide anything of value by checking the wardrobe for any secret compartments and also under the bed, but to no avail.469Please respect copyright.PENANAA063BRFlM5
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0vzQZwr1Mm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmZihM4AMgG
He was just about to go check the bathroom when he thought he had seen something through the corner of his eye by the bookshelf at the far end of the room. He almost ignored it, thinking that he’s just seeing things. But then a small flashing green light blinked in the darkness before he even had a chance to look away. He went towards the shelf, looking for whatever could be blinking in the dark. After moving a few books aside, he finds a small black device that had been placed behind the books. It looked more like a small black box and the green LED light blinked at him after a few seconds. He noticed a small wire from it going all the way into a small hole drilled in the wall. He wondered if this could be what’s blocking the signal. He took the device in his hand and found a small button to press on. He pressed it.469Please respect copyright.PENANAlYxijhKVZG
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8kH91RXHTy
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9M7eISXM8Y
The LED light suddenly went from green to red and immediately, Kevin felt the phone in his hand vibrate. The network signal is back and he couldn’t help but feel relieved. He checked his phone and found three messages from Malcom asking why his phone wasn’t going through when he tried to call. Kevin thought of calling him back, telling him what’s going on.469Please respect copyright.PENANAbIqAIVz5gn
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmF9Vgw1Yf5
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5PtiqN0q5A
Rhénee is in one of the rooms searching, when her phone beeped. She quickly checked it and realised that the network is back. Kevin must have found what was jamming the phone signal, she thought. She quickly rushed to the door and called out in the hall:469Please respect copyright.PENANAjB7XgUiSo0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsCMqcQGLez
469Please respect copyright.PENANAPtMDIDT6EY
“Kevin, did you find it?”469Please respect copyright.PENANActbnYN2j9q
469Please respect copyright.PENANAp7WF9y6bwA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMpa1BYd2g9
Kevin appeared down the dark empty hall from the master bedroom. “Yes, I’m trying to call Malcom. He tried calling me earlier but he couldn’t reach me.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAm7FTwt9gX1
469Please respect copyright.PENANAjWEwfXxVP8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMdVT1Eetms
Rhénee went back to looking at her phone and found messages from Greta asking her if she was alright and if they’re at Mr. Cowell’s house. She didn’t have to text back as Kevin got through to Malcom.469Please respect copyright.PENANAWCCcPj0ngX
469Please respect copyright.PENANARszmNTaZzW
469Please respect copyright.PENANAucnNV1lrZD
“Malcom, hey,” Rhénee heard him say on the phone. “We’re fine, yes, I’m with Rhénee. You’re almost at the house? But there's a problem. We can’t seem to get out of the house meaning that you can’t get in..., it’s a long story. If we can figure a way out you’ll get the details. Great.”469Please respect copyright.PENANANEkGN1EcyN
469Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ6RN3Lfw0
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7KkxJ7PVJJ
Kevin cut the call and said to Rhénee: “they are on their way.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAlKDfRh9u2H
469Please respect copyright.PENANACxQ5OcWFjC
469Please respect copyright.PENANADwDIRfIpDA
“Where did you find the device jamming the signal?” Rhénee asked as she approached Kevin down the hall.469Please respect copyright.PENANAC1O35Oo7mI
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7nLz7aTFJX
469Please respect copyright.PENANA792eDRpi4X
“Hidden behind some books on a shelf,” he answered.469Please respect copyright.PENANAxvwVSSZ2yK
469Please respect copyright.PENANALlYSyQ3cfw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhJXp6LVJqS
“Good work. Found anything else interesting?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAEyuRQhb1nf
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnhQ5A6ZN5J
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5TfChJ8MgQ
Before Kevin could answer, the phone in Rhénee’s pocket beeped. It’s the phone for the man whom they had tied downstairs. Rhénee quickly took out the phone to check it and found a message. She opened the inbox and what she read brought chills down her spine. She quickly looked up at Kevin.469Please respect copyright.PENANACJ35W89NmO
469Please respect copyright.PENANA07f6zsLbMV
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1NoA3LMr1
“Kevin, you’ve to see this?” She quickly found herself approaching him.469Please respect copyright.PENANAayQTKKtnnA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKGPCOla6r1
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqis5WElCRo
“Isn’t it the man’s phone?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAo2XueDu3EM
469Please respect copyright.PENANAUxpi6yGcW7
469Please respect copyright.PENANABYEIZDVgwa
“It is, and the message he got might be the clue to finding Miss Griselda.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAMHeW4998YE
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4DN6QZ3IJb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAuTtz9YJ8sY
Rhénee showed Kevin the message which read:469Please respect copyright.PENANAlHFBRTLm6L
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMwDf6O9AIF
469Please respect copyright.PENANAbOw1w18fpl
“After the job is done, meet me at the … bridge.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAS1MZi29sss
469Please respect copyright.PENANATnBCPGOYcr
469Please respect copyright.PENANArvaFAutWHX
"Could it be Mr. Cowell?" Kevin asked, looking wide-eyed at Rhénee.469Please respect copyright.PENANABfYGA5vxSw
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0qXHRS3OIi
469Please respect copyright.PENANA2MVy2kIAoZ
"It could be, or it must be the person they're working for," she answered.469Please respect copyright.PENANASeZLUrNI1l
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJkAgTfKmrH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZIPQaI3TO1
"Reply to them saying that you've got the message. They might find it a little suspicious that they didn't give any response."469Please respect copyright.PENANAuQDTi3Ff8N
469Please respect copyright.PENANAp8ODMIlwUJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANApFKGlllWY8
"Judging by the time the message was sent," Rhénee continued to look at the phone, "we were already here with Miss Griselda."469Please respect copyright.PENANAQtfDtScBlq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAkOA5cPK6lh
469Please respect copyright.PENANACHSnmFaQRH
"Let me see." Rhénee showed him and found that she was right. If they had sent back a message replying to it, they might have caused a blunder and the people on the other end would know something's wrong.469Please respect copyright.PENANALZilyyajdn
469Please respect copyright.PENANA1spjuLppFZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAWVnVeouk4n
"We can send a message telling them that the job is done and we'll be heading to the bridge right away," Rhénee suggested.469Please respect copyright.PENANA3yF0pRCwTj
469Please respect copyright.PENANAfz4sXdDR7E
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0zuIxDPapb
"That's okay, but that's if we can find a way out of here," said Kevin.469Please respect copyright.PENANA3eZ8bDuPon
469Please respect copyright.PENANAkyH3FZBDuU
469Please respect copyright.PENANAVD0uvLjn7v
Just as Rhénee replied to the message, a sound of someone banging on the door downstairs reached them. Malcom and Greta are here. Together with Sophie, the two of them quickly ran down the stairs with their phone's as torches. When they got to the front door the banging on the door continued.469Please respect copyright.PENANAiGvQPtYkwe
469Please respect copyright.PENANAYCunazi9CH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAsf3ITUJOKz
"Malcom!" Rhénee called to him.469Please respect copyright.PENANA2Uwj07Az7v
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhIKMuEzcT9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlqelCHq6z2
"Rhénee? Thank goodness!" came Greta's voice, sounding relieved. "We thought all this is just some silly prank when we found the lights off and the door wouldn't open."469Please respect copyright.PENANAhzzw6z963S
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7pFnqZd8vD
469Please respect copyright.PENANAf659IQLfVv
"It's no joke. Somehow, we got locked in, the lights went out and the phone signal got jammed. It's why we couldn't call for help."469Please respect copyright.PENANACwF00eX7w8
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwkTAUGwIrR
469Please respect copyright.PENANA9NuiOfr2wa
"And what of Miss Griselda?" Malcom asked. "There was no one at the house. Is she with you?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAUCrAd2gom2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlExKKBWgvZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4krO0WSEM
Kevin and Rhénee looked at each other in the semi-darkness, wondering who would be the one to break the news about Miss Griselda's kidnapping.469Please respect copyright.PENANAYaCj41Ys2n
469Please respect copyright.PENANAgmxg9Mkjkw
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzBnBmlT7td
"She was with us," Kevin answered, as he continued to stare at Rhénee, then back at the door.469Please respect copyright.PENANAx0M4Xk4iIM
469Please respect copyright.PENANAh54K0AcOhn
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5A3agZrJM
"What do you mean 'was?'" Malcom asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAlepXScQZxq
469Please respect copyright.PENANA2wnbe2CDkb
469Please respect copyright.PENANAI3Xy9ibmwP
Kevin looked at Rhénee, willingly for her to answer that. She swallowed before she said:469Please respect copyright.PENANApbOL5QNzhZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAXjfcDTefRl
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAhmSc0KseM
"She was with us at first but she isn't anymore. She's been kidnapped."469Please respect copyright.PENANAanmx8BQ7jq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAJZnl5jQe5z
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHeChD6lap4
"What!" Greta exclaimed. "And what about Mr. Cowell? Isn't he there with you? How's he doing?"469Please respect copyright.PENANAi9eWKc0sbv
469Please respect copyright.PENANAtrhCY8zRKd
469Please respect copyright.PENANAVCQO0rPYzi
"That's the thing," Rhénee quickly started to say, "he was never injured."469Please respect copyright.PENANA1cZy3FeXqG
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHzu8jIO4CP
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlTUePQAY0B
"Huh?" Malcom and Greta sounded surprised by the whole thing. Rhénee could only imagine the look on their faces.469Please respect copyright.PENANAghmD7XQX7a
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAYQ5bi1FIt
469Please respect copyright.PENANAAtkw7rejVS
"How come? Is all this some sort of setup?" Malcom asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAorgb0bVZD4
469Please respect copyright.PENANATyaVMOo7P7
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnwOX0aWT1O
"Seems so," Kevin answered. "Mr. Cowell drugged Miss Griselda and left us trapped in the house. But we do know where they are."469Please respect copyright.PENANAfASntZNfX1
469Please respect copyright.PENANArP20k4Hg2h
469Please respect copyright.PENANAQTP3os0dUg
“Let’s get you out of here first. It seems we have to break the door from outside.”469Please respect copyright.PENANARrlbp27jHY
469Please respect copyright.PENANAptoE4sIdGR
469Please respect copyright.PENANAz5DiJtAJIf
“Aren’t there any keys or anything?” Greta asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANAFCWkxWWHea
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmgvVTQFZsZ
469Please respect copyright.PENANA63gIVLKLTT
Rhénee brought over the light from the torch to illuminate the wall where the key hanger was. She wasn’t surprised to find it empty.469Please respect copyright.PENANA5BG0Ag4DFP
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHFZjQt0vW5
469Please respect copyright.PENANALWorladQLr
“Nothing, we just have to break the door down,” said Rhénee. “We tried looking for something like a crow bar in the house, but there isn’t any.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAVmbyAmlftu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAPkMMgBu2E0
469Please respect copyright.PENANAn02YX6XHFW
“Let me see if there’s something in the car,” said Malcom. Rhénee heard his footsteps as he walked away from the door.469Please respect copyright.PENANABUnmAWcvYA
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHSPasDPKXJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAqQqtGrf8bU
“Don’t worry, guys,” said Greta. “You’ll be out before you know it.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAeVcNjNl3XM
469Please respect copyright.PENANADzwwEMRypT
469Please respect copyright.PENANAHYxOhx2TNI
Rhénee turned around and went for the living room. Kevin followed and saw her approach the man they had tied up, still unconscious on the floor.469Please respect copyright.PENANA1pcCsUpFWm
469Please respect copyright.PENANA4Isw0PdqLp
469Please respect copyright.PENANA0ukvgkS2d7
“Do you plan on waking him up already?” he asked.469Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q279Tuntz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAiqwtbRk88X
469Please respect copyright.PENANAV3cfiHgzdp
“Not yet,” Rhénee answered as she squat next to him. “We’ll have to take him with us.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAUqnmqkOm1F
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMMEqyrtl8m
469Please respect copyright.PENANAMmJgBhg0kC
“Are you crazy? He just tried to kill us not too long ago.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAikrAXPwRgJ
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcy9YduPDYf
469Please respect copyright.PENANA7ogRJfDi9q
“Yes, but there’s a lot he knows that we don’t,” Rhénee stood up from the floor. “I need answers.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAyC3cdweF9S
469Please respect copyright.PENANANDViBBRRwH
469Please respect copyright.PENANAlxdtt4yC83
“I know you, but isn’t it dangerous to carry him along?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAeZywaGjIH6
469Please respect copyright.PENANAhKd8uMfOkT
469Please respect copyright.PENANA5RvQymOVwk
“It is. But he’s the only one who can tell us what’s going on.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAxENQOXMXrk
469Please respect copyright.PENANAnG7h6wq0ix
469Please respect copyright.PENANAcpNMb1YR4a
Kevin shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so. Let’s hope the others will agree with your plan.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAw8qOFyVljL
469Please respect copyright.PENANApJWIgkIdtj
469Please respect copyright.PENANANW2q8MDo5k
They soon heard the sound of something banging the door. Malcom must have found something to break the door open.469Please respect copyright.PENANA4AlXZeZZLx
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmXb1J8gM37
469Please respect copyright.PENANA8Stoumspxd
“I hope so too,” Rhénee said as she followed Kevin to the foyer. They already found a hole right next to the door knob until Malcom removed it, drawing the door wide open.469Please respect copyright.PENANAXTCkC1tlG9
469Please respect copyright.PENANAmHCbRFVXaq
469Please respect copyright.PENANAaXsDRKRykN
“You guys are okay!” Greta exclaimed as she quickly ran through the open door and went straight to hug Rhénee. Rhénee could only chuckle.469Please respect copyright.PENANAR0qAfNleNu
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwTGeHauM9j
469Please respect copyright.PENANAKvgGe4CS7G
“Don’t worry, we’re okay,” Rhénee assured her.469Please respect copyright.PENANAwVoHiAvlHz
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZDApqvF25U
469Please respect copyright.PENANAzkC9BZ3C07
“Do you mind explaining to us what’s really going on? Why did they lock you in here?” Malcom asked with a crowbar in his hand. “And why did they take Miss Griselda?”469Please respect copyright.PENANAXCrTktRDxL
469Please respect copyright.PENANAINP0zm18yv
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZhY7i1xEGU
“We don’t know. But I’m guessing the man tied up in the living room might know the answers to all that.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAw5gvGnUDOp
469Please respect copyright.PENANAip0mJqlaLi
469Please respect copyright.PENANAfA69hH3Z5H
“There’s a man in the living room?” Greta sounded surprised.469Please respect copyright.PENANA8ctuHTDmY2
469Please respect copyright.PENANAZtZxMiTlek
469Please respect copyright.PENANAwWOArWOVpG
“A lot has happened and you’ll be surprised,” said Kevin. “I’m still taking a lot in.”469Please respect copyright.PENANAcMShb0rGrr
469Please respect copyright.PENANANaXR4EMTrm
469Please respect copyright.PENANAGdqAjkSEcG
“Tell us everything,” said Malcom. “And don’t leave out any details.”