The news about the 494Please respect copyright.PENANARxBTKk76hE
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 494Please respect copyright.PENANAyeeraPSnKQ
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 494Please respect copyright.PENANATfbh2OcsHV
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 494Please respect copyright.PENANAEthmTlAZ1x
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 494Please respect copyright.PENANAsgzB7L0zN3
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 494Please respect copyright.PENANAViryw8YkHq
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 494Please respect copyright.PENANAn88kFaoniJ
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries494Please respect copyright.PENANAUXcemupGus
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 494Please respect copyright.PENANAh8WEBxrA6Q
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.494Please respect copyright.PENANAxeBu7bJtsJ
There was more to it 494Please respect copyright.PENANAS1IW9bbAnX
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 494Please respect copyright.PENANA02lP2omPrl
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 494Please respect copyright.PENANA4gDm33SO5H
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 494Please respect copyright.PENANAkhS3jYqmQu
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 494Please respect copyright.PENANAMa8a0OgMtS
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started494Please respect copyright.PENANA0GQKyLUH9w
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 494Please respect copyright.PENANA7Uyt2TQbUH
except from a few individuals. 494Please respect copyright.PENANARniBXWZQvI
And apparently, one of 494Please respect copyright.PENANAZH7jlW45GI
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 494Please respect copyright.PENANAPCyeNyHpRT
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In494Please respect copyright.PENANA4Lxp5naUgS
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 494Please respect copyright.PENANAzZI5X1svnx
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 494Please respect copyright.PENANA6OQZwXlmf7
really going on, all hell would break loose.494Please respect copyright.PENANAMTbiMKXTzG
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."494Please respect copyright.PENANAbjcvnEuGrs
Rhénee dropped the 494Please respect copyright.PENANA1NPEyVp4jL
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 494Please respect copyright.PENANAyKdvORe7Qp
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 494Please respect copyright.PENANAdec72IyxUp
ear, she took a sip of coffee.494Please respect copyright.PENANAjaOh4hAy5A
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAuhd0D9gQVs
"Ya, its crazy here," 494Please respect copyright.PENANAICFfJdx35V
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 494Please respect copyright.PENANAY2ZskUIr7y
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 494Please respect copyright.PENANAl6gcjAEckM
broken in."494Please respect copyright.PENANAj6axPWql8g
"If only they knew."494Please respect copyright.PENANAyDqjQOXBlZ
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."494Please respect copyright.PENANAkVG39HrlGz
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"494Please respect copyright.PENANARLmhJ0zD72
"She did. I had to make 494Please respect copyright.PENANAVrCbfxF6sc
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 494Please respect copyright.PENANAePbzXV85oZ
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."494Please respect copyright.PENANAyK3VN9YBX7
"I doubt if she believed that."494Please respect copyright.PENANA8cDGsDeKr3
"Haha, looks like you 494Please respect copyright.PENANAenjgKecCGu
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAtVme3uvhj2
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."494Please respect copyright.PENANARs8u7HUvkG
"True. But we did. I 494Please respect copyright.PENANARehoWq7qEl
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and494Please respect copyright.PENANA5plgJhvreg
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."494Please respect copyright.PENANA66PqZ5ksgb
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAeznDw6VdA3
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAbCJ8HkDXSB
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."494Please respect copyright.PENANARMdpP5KBAL
"Okay, bye."494Please respect copyright.PENANA2p0EKWCZXS
"Bye."494Please respect copyright.PENANARRfhBfShsm
Rhénee cuts the call and494Please respect copyright.PENANAmruQOepzYE
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAJfQQw2ONWZ
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 494Please respect copyright.PENANAbT8XRCmIF2
wink last night.494Please respect copyright.PENANASr79bdTpNA
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."494Please respect copyright.PENANA8pc0wn6WFT
"I wasn't going to 494Please respect copyright.PENANAZSuLPcuhfM
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda494Please respect copyright.PENANAEbdW4e1vKL
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."494Please respect copyright.PENANANLz5n8a9Zw
"You don't have to 494Please respect copyright.PENANAbdOECIas59
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 494Please respect copyright.PENANAmS5LZM8Ee6
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."494Please respect copyright.PENANASbius8ZjTK
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."494Please respect copyright.PENANAhSFVkSAKTD
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 494Please respect copyright.PENANA61sLlSCkKZ
"Why Malcom?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA6n5YN0KC6K
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."494Please respect copyright.PENANAWTUP05VuEh
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."494Please respect copyright.PENANAXac3kADTBK
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "494Please respect copyright.PENANAKKQJ7X3wtX
"Alright, you go ahead."494Please respect copyright.PENANAxYHMZTQ6x1
Miss Griselda gave 494Please respect copyright.PENANAf5HBpglf02
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 494Please respect copyright.PENANAAJ3rqFu0uE
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she494Please respect copyright.PENANAnz5jz87u4z
did when they talked about Malcom. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAGlQwOYhlQU
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.494Please respect copyright.PENANAOxuDyLCngU
The sound of her phone 494Please respect copyright.PENANAalODSMVGcK
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the494Please respect copyright.PENANA0QHM6mWY0Q
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 494Please respect copyright.PENANACNBAJqAQEq
mother.494Please respect copyright.PENANA0pReWhim8V
"Hello?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAj4hCaTpymW
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAOphhSnCVpk
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.494Please respect copyright.PENANAKq9flkOhBW
That voice. 494Please respect copyright.PENANALeIZpeyMoi
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 494Please respect copyright.PENANA3TEJnufYiD
"What's wrong? The other day you had the guts to talk to me when I talked to you about the necklace. Why are you so quiet now?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAe6m3q8afGl
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.494Please respect copyright.PENANArm7MPAWuWQ
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."494Please respect copyright.PENANAUGH9H3G6XD
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"494Please respect copyright.PENANABv8NiSE1cU
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."494Please respect copyright.PENANAG3lGhS28TT
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.494Please respect copyright.PENANAKCefsSVQ7K
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."494Please respect copyright.PENANAhCHeL3ezNc
"You don't know me, 494Please respect copyright.PENANAfUXOOBMbii
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 494Please respect copyright.PENANAEingeMNNNX
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAA0rag6vg6C
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."494Please respect copyright.PENANAa4X6nj67ca
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAzbKrPcwiq6
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 494Please respect copyright.PENANACkIIClK4di
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.494Please respect copyright.PENANAlvJt2wKgq5
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."494Please respect copyright.PENANANsUWNPBdoG
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.494Please respect copyright.PENANASRSerAOcuq
"Then why did you give me her necklace? And the picture of the house? What are you trying to achieve by scaring me like this?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA2sNTOIePuf
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."494Please respect copyright.PENANAGqtcxO6dEr
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAx2tURwsot7
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."494Please respect copyright.PENANABcP370rZ9d
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."494Please respect copyright.PENANA0UWE1WHRjc
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."494Please respect copyright.PENANAjkX4XTrcuy
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAWXt2pfuxQH
"Oh, and by the way, 494Please respect copyright.PENANAXauwQdktGw
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 494Please respect copyright.PENANAtJyPsX4MIf
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 494Please respect copyright.PENANAJbVTZeoquU
this time around."494Please respect copyright.PENANAmLg6HV0sZO
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAPodwea63z3
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."494Please respect copyright.PENANA6spUfmGC1C
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 494Please respect copyright.PENANA3ELz4JIT6G
Rhénee sat down on the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAGmDsivO6f8
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 494Please respect copyright.PENANAXHS6poRWBh
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 494Please respect copyright.PENANAn7KTtgQmMA
the others, who know what might happen. 494Please respect copyright.PENANATfGV3R09ig
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.494Please respect copyright.PENANAE0He5PWGsx
***494Please respect copyright.PENANABt0Zi6W1re
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAI62otwkr16
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAMK5i6NmCF2
"But she isn't hurt right?"494Please respect copyright.PENANADY2xkEi12t
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."494Please respect copyright.PENANAu3W0Gz5weW
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAQxvb7XR7DA
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."494Please respect copyright.PENANAGhXHi52Xwu
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAzCslinnLsh
"Nah.494Please respect copyright.PENANA5ipigUq8Jh
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 494Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ7AiIyiHQ
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."494Please respect copyright.PENANAMiboKRjznd
"Thats494Please respect copyright.PENANAYoPQVqW95G
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 494Please respect copyright.PENANA7meTMPjP3m
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."494Please respect copyright.PENANAua9pMTJyF3
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAQOpXR9UsyD
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."494Please respect copyright.PENANAYzNi2DKF5d
"Alright."494Please respect copyright.PENANAQPnjLs6QGV
Eugene cut the call and noticed that his mother was standing by the kitchen door looking at him as he stood in the living room. 494Please respect copyright.PENANALdkKD18tUG
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANA1X5yOhECqP
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.494Please respect copyright.PENANAvBEmYgGrNr
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."494Please respect copyright.PENANA2QWRASzyG7
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."494Please respect copyright.PENANArZ6VNtpF9p
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."494Please respect copyright.PENANANZstlZM5sQ
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAW36hgAq5MP
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.494Please respect copyright.PENANA4gaUnhxFF3
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.494Please respect copyright.PENANANAUJJSywxP
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAA4GxRVbIXr
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."494Please respect copyright.PENANAogGXjH2n1m
"Does it bother you?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAVHTpyfeZif
"Um... not really. But.... um."494Please respect copyright.PENANAlALoVMq0Xe
Eugene494Please respect copyright.PENANAS1nvQmtDYX
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 494Please respect copyright.PENANAzasqnDF3tc
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.494Please respect copyright.PENANAcT9X04YosC
"Mum, are you okay?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAewmjk4fJ0K
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAoMkdVK4bfh
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAhyRjHiK2KT
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 494Please respect copyright.PENANATz8n6CVIYu
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."494Please respect copyright.PENANA9VodBc5sD6
Mrs494Please respect copyright.PENANALkfiCHUmzB
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene494Please respect copyright.PENANAO0JWz49oT4
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 494Please respect copyright.PENANAOnJtSYyBdL
had talked about Rhénee?494Please respect copyright.PENANAKD0yNS6KQV
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 494Please respect copyright.PENANArZe5mBCG3u
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.494Please respect copyright.PENANA6BApfwZYSc
***494Please respect copyright.PENANAj5dEOmaMk1
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.494Please respect copyright.PENANAPEIejBNROK
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAZK3fnODoDh
"You better rest though. You still look tired."494Please respect copyright.PENANAxnWAllLOaj
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAM8t38iEraC
"No, I'll do it."494Please respect copyright.PENANA5oWRoRuNb6
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 494Please respect copyright.PENANArT6oDq5NZ9
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.494Please respect copyright.PENANADCDUEDMXQC
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.494Please respect copyright.PENANAhfbS0DWTTp
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.494Please respect copyright.PENANAnhRuFFCvS7
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAuzalAngqKf
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 494Please respect copyright.PENANApAfwmHaKvo
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.494Please respect copyright.PENANA8KCj0HAwDg
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.494Please respect copyright.PENANAy0IHveeC6D
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.494Please respect copyright.PENANA8EOHwqXexT
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAggrFBLwlIl
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.494Please respect copyright.PENANAYG72EsDTsu
"Thank494Please respect copyright.PENANAcLRRGhupIY
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 494Please respect copyright.PENANAmOMmvNAENN
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAtUp6UWDrZO
"Well, yes. I still think I would."494Please respect copyright.PENANARy2Tqto9L1
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."494Please respect copyright.PENANA8f6IRSdlSt
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.494Please respect copyright.PENANAqYMUop8JW3
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."494Please respect copyright.PENANAoTvLlMqbZy
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.494Please respect copyright.PENANA7CgMLuDjLg
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAeU7f8jsqQo
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.494Please respect copyright.PENANAdXWJvVceQT
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA7bRXZLNrvO
"Coffee will be lovely."494Please respect copyright.PENANApImb0XHwxw
Miss494Please respect copyright.PENANAWA3FVw0eWV
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 494Please respect copyright.PENANAWnlSYVCObe
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.494Please respect copyright.PENANAz02lhYo9y1
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.494Please respect copyright.PENANALUi6313eVG
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANACWjuAhQz43
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."494Please respect copyright.PENANA2lmLAIOdr3
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."494Please respect copyright.PENANACaYJn98vkr
"What mysterious person?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAwhiVJUMA1k
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."494Please respect copyright.PENANAt9sFjyyJRX
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAuJKzpY13fu
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.494Please respect copyright.PENANAo55fAbzfzQ
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANAfyRleDz9e9
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAX73hOSYhBA
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA7w4aE1nCko
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."494Please respect copyright.PENANA7bXEpJzzgG
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"494Please respect copyright.PENANAePB9E7MXeV
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."494Please respect copyright.PENANAj3zyIJlIV0
The494Please respect copyright.PENANA5MFQGnGXzP
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?494Please respect copyright.PENANAa4ip2POYM0
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAEV7VOSUxLD
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all494Please respect copyright.PENANAMEZbtdc1tQ
of this.494Please respect copyright.PENANAsoyLQzKacC
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.494Please respect copyright.PENANA6jASbCR1me
"I...494Please respect copyright.PENANAhcFl5HlkI1
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 494Please respect copyright.PENANApFoOJcRnIx
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 494Please respect copyright.PENANAgtBT2oKfWN
frustration. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAZCCqrEi9f4
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.494Please respect copyright.PENANA3W4h5qr8Zn
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAklG5mCChjX
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 494Please respect copyright.PENANArijrrjEEl6
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 494Please respect copyright.PENANAPLWLOwF9GS
cups on the tray and wondered. 494Please respect copyright.PENANABhgxUh5Xdd
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAyhWpWYzVQS
494Please respect copyright.PENANA6l4F6cSqz1
As494Please respect copyright.PENANAlogqEuTMck
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 494Please respect copyright.PENANA9GYwwz95kB
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 494Please respect copyright.PENANA03BVEhF7gg
reminder kept ringing in her head.494Please respect copyright.PENANAxNjgSfg7J3
"And tell your friends not to get involved."494Please respect copyright.PENANAhvkkm8vpyn
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAC6kMDzpEGf
"I494Please respect copyright.PENANAOYMjfJwJtX
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 494Please respect copyright.PENANAeHOAFiEsq3
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 494Please respect copyright.PENANAst43Fk6fvO
talking about, Rhénee?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAFQnIEPN0GJ
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAMKs6JvBbcU
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 494Please respect copyright.PENANAEFoOZf6vc9
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 494Please respect copyright.PENANAQoUejmHVVk
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 494Please respect copyright.PENANADa8u9Q9d5d
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.494Please respect copyright.PENANAduaHbSAEBK
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.494Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2s21frklk
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 494Please respect copyright.PENANACDOaiQ9taM
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."494Please respect copyright.PENANAlOPT4a0YJ8
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAes8c9JRMtu
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAld1cgtsVIL
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANAIyDUn6h7bn
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAQQGGbgTn3Y
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.494Please respect copyright.PENANAyIVS5Huciy
***494Please respect copyright.PENANA60tmqW0txg
Sweat494Please respect copyright.PENANAFnbqu9wJih
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 494Please respect copyright.PENANAgX0rUPHZmb
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 494Please respect copyright.PENANAy3Vfx747n1
the person waiting never likes to wait.494Please respect copyright.PENANAIiE6gEpKO2
He494Please respect copyright.PENANAZf6sKegJGs
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 494Please respect copyright.PENANAKJKJK37BNl
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the494Please respect copyright.PENANASIfVCtLOpD
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 494Please respect copyright.PENANA8OJUjhDfu1
second.494Please respect copyright.PENANANLsMBUfWae
He494Please respect copyright.PENANADymEzCsQFW
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 494Please respect copyright.PENANAHlGaJaJbhl
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 494Please respect copyright.PENANA3VcTWDy7MM
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 494Please respect copyright.PENANAaiNOnWVPq5
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 494Please respect copyright.PENANA5BvuoJ7Tuq
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.494Please respect copyright.PENANA3cDEtjAEzO
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 494Please respect copyright.PENANAe7m0VRsIZR
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAh24tIQtc6M
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAcvfxQ0ekDy
"You're late, again."494Please respect copyright.PENANAOiJklow8Pc
His494Please respect copyright.PENANAR5Qfl2JOT2
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 494Please respect copyright.PENANA42P1y6FVyC
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 494Please respect copyright.PENANAjVAHybaUcm
lion door knob. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAQEHJC7fY75
He494Please respect copyright.PENANApQ3ftBOIhd
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 494Please respect copyright.PENANAX8HFOuj6tR
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAxn0biOO6cj
"What494Please respect copyright.PENANAZN13jONkuA
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 494Please respect copyright.PENANAQZ2qYwqOmT
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA2L2sNCJ6Sr
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."494Please respect copyright.PENANA2PqV4ZWmto
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.494Please respect copyright.PENANAh280nj6fQg
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."494Please respect copyright.PENANAg6dTeZilmY
A494Please respect copyright.PENANAq2PsS5RNrh
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAfDRH95agb4
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 494Please respect copyright.PENANASziT3zwOLL
as they had their backs towards the window.494Please respect copyright.PENANAXMd2Zb6WJP
"You know we need him," said the tall man.494Please respect copyright.PENANA2jb00rx7CP
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."494Please respect copyright.PENANAsozdz4H3Qa
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."494Please respect copyright.PENANAt8HyrwBSDO
The494Please respect copyright.PENANAqkNV2FLqIw
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAY3WVe1hNx1
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 494Please respect copyright.PENANA2pQGcNqlEE
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.494Please respect copyright.PENANADfZI86BCsM
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.494Please respect copyright.PENANAVssv8maYoH
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.494Please respect copyright.PENANAgg3A5XIsgD
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."494Please respect copyright.PENANA28MDydTKo7
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAnTZmmUaMs8
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.494Please respect copyright.PENANAS8MBuZ3vhh
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."494Please respect copyright.PENANAUcXOjcMaXz
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."494Please respect copyright.PENANA4qrmFia7kk
"What if she reveals the truth?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAZo82zlWAX3
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."494Please respect copyright.PENANA5DDsx8fYm6
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.494Please respect copyright.PENANAodCueMf3fj
For a moment, silence hung over them.494Please respect copyright.PENANAvbhOBiCj2E
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."494Please respect copyright.PENANAXq4akr3WVn
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."494Please respect copyright.PENANAqlNYQZC9BR
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."494Please respect copyright.PENANAWupDHcowZI
"I494Please respect copyright.PENANAAPXn2wwnan
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 494Please respect copyright.PENANAbIFG3OpFyn
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 494Please respect copyright.PENANAksPyVY5zNM
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."494Please respect copyright.PENANAclGmRGhb05
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.494Please respect copyright.PENANAaLKXddORNO
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.494Please respect copyright.PENANAVoF7oQWXVw
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."494Please respect copyright.PENANAmOX1OpXtgU
***494Please respect copyright.PENANAQWolT4dW8e
The494Please respect copyright.PENANA3o5e2UATfz
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAtiwdMJX3V9
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 494Please respect copyright.PENANAWBKc6MhRcM
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 494Please respect copyright.PENANAJHzd9tQXVk
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time494Please respect copyright.PENANA1lkKrKA99c
they met, they seemed sky blue.494Please respect copyright.PENANAZmCW8Hztzs
And494Please respect copyright.PENANA9LPCGcOwTh
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No494Please respect copyright.PENANAYii8iOuews
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.494Please respect copyright.PENANA6EDespvCo7
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAnXuN0Ekq0U
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 494Please respect copyright.PENANApMEOsndUss
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied494Please respect copyright.PENANAJmpZCUzc4n
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 494Please respect copyright.PENANAjdQc5297Mf
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAoy8ExVXuQx
coffee table in the middle.494Please respect copyright.PENANAe4SiQIeYmu
When494Please respect copyright.PENANAMBmCzppeh2
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 494Please respect copyright.PENANAI37QLJVK90
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.494Please respect copyright.PENANAuzXERNZW4c
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.494Please respect copyright.PENANAXQe8M4HjGc
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.494Please respect copyright.PENANAjoYnnng4cb
"Are you sure?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAUSvrJlastT
"Yes, I'm positive."494Please respect copyright.PENANAnr8e4Xw8jZ
Miss494Please respect copyright.PENANAoAlB9Q9Ppa
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 494Please respect copyright.PENANAiBnuUvaK7h
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 494Please respect copyright.PENANADfaK3lT2mQ
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips494Please respect copyright.PENANAz8OxND1YId
from their cups.494Please respect copyright.PENANAConPjwcJuc
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.494Please respect copyright.PENANAvuJ59FBDwN
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.494Please respect copyright.PENANAVlyFCAbeFp
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"494Please respect copyright.PENANAkwB9lRIzL7
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANArAY507HuOZ
"And how about the fact that you and Greta were imposing as other people the time I was coming here?" Rhénee spat out at Malcom.494Please respect copyright.PENANApsTHNZ5H21
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."494Please respect copyright.PENANA5gdo6c7H8t
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."494Please respect copyright.PENANAiwVzyNUHaz
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."494Please respect copyright.PENANALRtRZXN7uM
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANAMHm00Ylwgo
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."494Please respect copyright.PENANANtPMVmA6mE
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.494Please respect copyright.PENANAOs3Ehed0aB
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.494Please respect copyright.PENANAAbdE2njcws
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."494Please respect copyright.PENANA5gs0d7Buox
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"494Please respect copyright.PENANA1eNPzbj1An
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.494Please respect copyright.PENANAcpbrGCX6gN
"Oh,494Please respect copyright.PENANAbrQJ249dIo
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted494Please respect copyright.PENANA88AuDDeHTT
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 494Please respect copyright.PENANA7dnePEbyyZ
who he is."494Please respect copyright.PENANAJj1J8JmXdk
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."494Please respect copyright.PENANAzdvwcQlviC
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAnKdvhWXNad
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAo0EN84gOsP
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want494Please respect copyright.PENANAWeHVfDDVgt
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 494Please respect copyright.PENANA1l0srGUG8H
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.494Please respect copyright.PENANAbrzVVhxgFE
Rhénee494Please respect copyright.PENANAAhS4EY3dDS
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 494Please respect copyright.PENANAG2XjNhYrje
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.494Please respect copyright.PENANAlfgeDB8lEn
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 494Please respect copyright.PENANAFRUVEadAMi
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.494Please respect copyright.PENANATtju2sARw7
"Fine,494Please respect copyright.PENANAL9FF3dIq88
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.494Please respect copyright.PENANAfis8LgHDdm
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 494Please respect copyright.PENANADFyoMbgfvC
or die if you stay by me."494Please respect copyright.PENANAS8CbQV0u4d