The news about the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAl3PWL0eOiU
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 735Please respect copyright.PENANAYFddWHcuzk
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 735Please respect copyright.PENANAhRBy7qBoQP
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 735Please respect copyright.PENANAzD1hWkm1pn
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 735Please respect copyright.PENANA15Cmx6OImq
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 735Please respect copyright.PENANAtzizDsjYMJ
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 735Please respect copyright.PENANAuvvoQwnLox
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries735Please respect copyright.PENANA1TADf0qxoZ
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 735Please respect copyright.PENANAaIu7agHWwg
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.735Please respect copyright.PENANA5w3WjxA78z
There was more to it 735Please respect copyright.PENANAwoK0oNe1H7
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAHoQFaoFOd0
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 735Please respect copyright.PENANAuIGlVaBhuE
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 735Please respect copyright.PENANAQjXDdQk28i
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 735Please respect copyright.PENANA3bJER4SarB
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started735Please respect copyright.PENANA56Z2hDNEs0
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 735Please respect copyright.PENANAFvFop4Tgqb
except from a few individuals. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAfEEFPaZULr
And apparently, one of 735Please respect copyright.PENANA1JrdfxyaEr
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 735Please respect copyright.PENANA688dpWMcNM
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In735Please respect copyright.PENANAN0gZtzBt3N
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 735Please respect copyright.PENANApXCoIJXdd8
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 735Please respect copyright.PENANAuPMEMpD4Nb
really going on, all hell would break loose.735Please respect copyright.PENANABpXBCXzcQF
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."735Please respect copyright.PENANAnn7agVakQG
Rhénee dropped the 735Please respect copyright.PENANA4lksbDNhXb
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 735Please respect copyright.PENANADF0IQ0EEgG
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 735Please respect copyright.PENANAsOzomFqOBl
ear, she took a sip of coffee.735Please respect copyright.PENANA524jMt2EBT
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1JToliuVc
"Ya, its crazy here," 735Please respect copyright.PENANA0zWmc5hbgK
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 735Please respect copyright.PENANA5BROBdcprR
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 735Please respect copyright.PENANAaqmNoSyALp
broken in."735Please respect copyright.PENANARLQcOG9M4Y
"If only they knew."735Please respect copyright.PENANAj4iR2EHzSx
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."735Please respect copyright.PENANArTJ1rovsZ8
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAS8EQbbG8lb
"She did. I had to make 735Please respect copyright.PENANAm1Hc3EqodS
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 735Please respect copyright.PENANAA0BsIfsHsc
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."735Please respect copyright.PENANA1c9bLEB4Sp
"I doubt if she believed that."735Please respect copyright.PENANAENf27Lk1FM
"Haha, looks like you 735Please respect copyright.PENANABLSELhSWPL
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 735Please respect copyright.PENANArfjDeqpUKT
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."735Please respect copyright.PENANA5YM5FlDcIW
"True. But we did. I 735Please respect copyright.PENANA6rCqVxsyTf
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and735Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zk4055u13
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."735Please respect copyright.PENANA7o2XOKRit3
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAl7R4gFG1j9
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAVCz2C4Cs02
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."735Please respect copyright.PENANAchWZyJk6gL
"Okay, bye."735Please respect copyright.PENANACAJnlnxdrn
"Bye."735Please respect copyright.PENANAd5kiaeRTnE
Rhénee cuts the call and735Please respect copyright.PENANAFt5mti2aP8
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 735Please respect copyright.PENANA3Uw7HYLh21
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 735Please respect copyright.PENANA7Kn26wxfFX
wink last night.735Please respect copyright.PENANAi8Cr6n1CQW
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."735Please respect copyright.PENANAt4NyX6DEbR
"I wasn't going to 735Please respect copyright.PENANABj0eSyDgND
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda735Please respect copyright.PENANAvHIEnt0IAQ
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."735Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ805r2OB5
"You don't have to 735Please respect copyright.PENANAeDE783VRPD
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 735Please respect copyright.PENANAgEdldDSMzp
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."735Please respect copyright.PENANAIQcAq4Jnl3
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."735Please respect copyright.PENANAzy7dQ0OkoF
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAjnSMU2fqyJ
"Why Malcom?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAIyY8rlGZrO
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."735Please respect copyright.PENANA3cnjwpLZON
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."735Please respect copyright.PENANA7alCpyDedl
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "735Please respect copyright.PENANAPgJTzuLQuR
"Alright, you go ahead."735Please respect copyright.PENANARcPolYdQsd
Miss Griselda gave 735Please respect copyright.PENANAvVd20ZTgk6
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 735Please respect copyright.PENANAVmeOgmPtxI
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she735Please respect copyright.PENANA1jWoiFSQKb
did when they talked about Malcom. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIHNirwr96A
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.735Please respect copyright.PENANANgDYVT1aqK
The sound of her phone 735Please respect copyright.PENANAeV8jcsmwvd
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the735Please respect copyright.PENANA8jF0cAkxyD
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 735Please respect copyright.PENANAd5LaOVCvBw
mother.735Please respect copyright.PENANAa1WA5zhG4a
"Hello?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAFE5f7IZVmA
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAymD4gtATOy
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.735Please respect copyright.PENANAy85C4DJ7Rd
That voice. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAvoIF4JYOMS
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAAkslBg6KkP
"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?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA8B2wIQgiUS
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.735Please respect copyright.PENANAfkpvR5rAv7
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."735Please respect copyright.PENANAaUnVZ0lJZe
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAO5My0LDwGc
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."735Please respect copyright.PENANAAW1gF2zvJ8
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.735Please respect copyright.PENANAUC1Bj8gq0j
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."735Please respect copyright.PENANAIkBKLq9WFr
"You don't know me, 735Please respect copyright.PENANAyCIN5yqYYE
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 735Please respect copyright.PENANA2tRrrNjka9
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"735Please respect copyright.PENANARh3QbZx6ni
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."735Please respect copyright.PENANAFSYuyCgokM
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAOG874XYki4
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAo5cKogEI91
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.735Please respect copyright.PENANAlYDE8N7Tp1
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."735Please respect copyright.PENANAvTBjaJIfYm
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.735Please respect copyright.PENANAn0P1xox0tz
"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?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAMobPp6dbkC
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."735Please respect copyright.PENANAuHJCplpF2Q
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAUvwpJeU8cD
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."735Please respect copyright.PENANAH8wX2rTJCp
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."735Please respect copyright.PENANAHcbSyg279I
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."735Please respect copyright.PENANA50TxZLPkSJ
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAmgHcwu0KkT
"Oh, and by the way, 735Please respect copyright.PENANAswYnqNzRR4
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 735Please respect copyright.PENANAnEcYpH5bs5
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 735Please respect copyright.PENANAPKoC9b2b30
this time around."735Please respect copyright.PENANAfkA2pzHSJR
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAXB8PJCggaM
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."735Please respect copyright.PENANAGUazqKV7pp
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAxMuahLPq4A
Rhénee sat down on the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAokkDX87kLS
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 735Please respect copyright.PENANA2fScapkXwH
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAlY6xobx4Yj
the others, who know what might happen. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAEq2JnYO7xg
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.735Please respect copyright.PENANAwD3ZxoXueC
***735Please respect copyright.PENANALKMa4T9ujH
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAPSLY2ShE77
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAHsNL9zAasr
"But she isn't hurt right?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAyCmvyYzTEF
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."735Please respect copyright.PENANAkUhUQOG0TA
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 735Please respect copyright.PENANA278jYIUi6x
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."735Please respect copyright.PENANAaeHne0M0xm
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAm3U6vaZXEH
"Nah.735Please respect copyright.PENANAvrkIX7MBba
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIeDd1EyjYE
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."735Please respect copyright.PENANArvfPDVmOEs
"Thats735Please respect copyright.PENANAbpo758G0EN
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 735Please respect copyright.PENANAB8zKZi54ox
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."735Please respect copyright.PENANAvlR3RLdWM3
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAV8qHbQWpTf
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."735Please respect copyright.PENANAf96fJVnrkS
"Alright."735Please respect copyright.PENANAQAeZQBjuJM
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. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAgY90NB32R3
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAMv4H9ULeep
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.735Please respect copyright.PENANAPNwpB43dLp
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."735Please respect copyright.PENANAcb5xeUpbdx
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."735Please respect copyright.PENANA68DOproLmp
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."735Please respect copyright.PENANAUuy5cSzMND
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAc1woF5FN3N
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.735Please respect copyright.PENANApcatI5HssU
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.735Please respect copyright.PENANAjWVZfVle2F
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 735Please respect copyright.PENANABbR5HZP03H
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."735Please respect copyright.PENANAkWdvMqs25J
"Does it bother you?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAD7z6PQuNEn
"Um... not really. But.... um."735Please respect copyright.PENANARXBtpoWidv
Eugene735Please respect copyright.PENANAdU5ZU5oBXa
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 735Please respect copyright.PENANAvF7rgnIb4o
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.735Please respect copyright.PENANAgcibaDZZim
"Mum, are you okay?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAYvVIj6TM7g
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 735Please respect copyright.PENANA3tW2AUvMVf
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAhqQ0odlh0p
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAjTRrXalS7r
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."735Please respect copyright.PENANAL4ddxKrjGW
Mrs735Please respect copyright.PENANAGJT3Aczzh1
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene735Please respect copyright.PENANAekh5q0sbTu
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 735Please respect copyright.PENANAaLMtIKKs9U
had talked about Rhénee?735Please respect copyright.PENANAmsjaPWuQfG
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 735Please respect copyright.PENANAhGwZqc5gmE
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.735Please respect copyright.PENANA8Yy9S4Wo1H
***735Please respect copyright.PENANA6A2UgnVEaT
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.735Please respect copyright.PENANA903K3EDvp4
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAAO4IlGnd2Y
"You better rest though. You still look tired."735Please respect copyright.PENANAdDjD1oLSem
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA4QEFTdg6tM
"No, I'll do it."735Please respect copyright.PENANAZBVjKna8QE
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 735Please respect copyright.PENANABxWbmz8Ghu
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.735Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0x2jMCyVL
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.735Please respect copyright.PENANAMKDwYw3ZEg
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.735Please respect copyright.PENANAkXcvRFZlmR
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANA09ZyvDyzMW
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 735Please respect copyright.PENANA1yZGgy5Bq1
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.735Please respect copyright.PENANAF579Mvy4yM
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.735Please respect copyright.PENANAXG2NMF7Lf4
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.735Please respect copyright.PENANAVf8hFMzW5K
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA2t6BgZdzol
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.735Please respect copyright.PENANAJn54aAW3v1
"Thank735Please respect copyright.PENANAkan6wXFPrL
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 735Please respect copyright.PENANAHrQOn98Ay0
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAnklAD38Zg0
"Well, yes. I still think I would."735Please respect copyright.PENANALTVsouSPeL
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."735Please respect copyright.PENANA8Qt13SHdIM
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.735Please respect copyright.PENANACQLlSxmDKk
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."735Please respect copyright.PENANAj1GOGsa15l
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.735Please respect copyright.PENANAuzL9k5MwRF
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAqS5XU6p9AF
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.735Please respect copyright.PENANAaVoFgeGGTa
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA4dxVRhF1Lm
"Coffee will be lovely."735Please respect copyright.PENANAw9pmI1wK7L
Miss735Please respect copyright.PENANAvPY3nKPbvI
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 735Please respect copyright.PENANAYEIj5xB2Hf
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.735Please respect copyright.PENANAAqZvE0AwPl
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.735Please respect copyright.PENANAK3o0Kfx1dk
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAO6becGKc6N
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."735Please respect copyright.PENANA3TrJX0B3DA
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."735Please respect copyright.PENANA7jS4E52m96
"What mysterious person?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAWR21Y5l7rb
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."735Please respect copyright.PENANAi983JvLSZA
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAWDnwPXBQKF
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.735Please respect copyright.PENANAwW2iAGk0Br
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANATza1PIT5pu
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAlVGqCyl2lT
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAyOFff1WUMA
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."735Please respect copyright.PENANA72zH65a0xT
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"735Please respect copyright.PENANATEhDJZ5V6l
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."735Please respect copyright.PENANArgNo05ipOw
The735Please respect copyright.PENANAh8hZ2iDo8t
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?735Please respect copyright.PENANAF5XdzTPTcq
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAMekVGEynB3
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all735Please respect copyright.PENANAMj5ju3WLTE
of this.735Please respect copyright.PENANAWdNYX2IJyR
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.735Please respect copyright.PENANA8DYAAHZdrs
"I...735Please respect copyright.PENANAfJUfEY0QSl
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 735Please respect copyright.PENANAId3E8E1AFt
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 735Please respect copyright.PENANAhNFjburRR8
frustration. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAoEtksyFhGc
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.735Please respect copyright.PENANANtAcnpXnnq
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANAjAZGNUhMiB
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 735Please respect copyright.PENANA1mcU9dsddN
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 735Please respect copyright.PENANA0Rev8xZv4s
cups on the tray and wondered. 735Please respect copyright.PENANABQEsFnOJE1
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 735Please respect copyright.PENANADh76TVV33q
735Please respect copyright.PENANAnPJ2ad3GcO
As735Please respect copyright.PENANAU1KJEthl9j
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIMuKkUvRGy
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 735Please respect copyright.PENANAhkOerwq84C
reminder kept ringing in her head.735Please respect copyright.PENANARMOjkRx3x3
"And tell your friends not to get involved."735Please respect copyright.PENANApePmUaYhRw
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAU2ueXDj7CW
"I735Please respect copyright.PENANAGauNjZwaQo
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIgAaeylE54
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 735Please respect copyright.PENANAO5fI8kBVuf
talking about, Rhénee?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA5xLgPh7Ch3
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANA5l15gw6H0n
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 735Please respect copyright.PENANAd4XUtqv35w
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAH6Tf9k32Yl
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 735Please respect copyright.PENANAmJoW4eZ3yX
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.735Please respect copyright.PENANA375uMztphf
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.735Please respect copyright.PENANA4gGGmDSnfc
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 735Please respect copyright.PENANApP2qgv2zIl
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."735Please respect copyright.PENANASIJ6lQ40Ar
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAxVSHSofajj
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAgNSOxXJHGU
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAlDb5Syr9m1
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA97R7gSqTok
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.735Please respect copyright.PENANAnhrjm8T7Yz
***735Please respect copyright.PENANAk97BnWdGFc
Sweat735Please respect copyright.PENANA6A12ZUI3Gy
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 735Please respect copyright.PENANAsY0JPPzK0l
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAUJEHdXEDaC
the person waiting never likes to wait.735Please respect copyright.PENANAkKXlsGvKC3
He735Please respect copyright.PENANAd33ULaljAn
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 735Please respect copyright.PENANAjMaijADTcT
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the735Please respect copyright.PENANAwQisGrX5rG
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 735Please respect copyright.PENANA0p1yDrzP9B
second.735Please respect copyright.PENANAWgf5EtA6L8
He735Please respect copyright.PENANAZuFuJDdrs6
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAXVKD5t7mtJ
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 735Please respect copyright.PENANASGasf42U3U
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 735Please respect copyright.PENANAEeG5qoS74g
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 735Please respect copyright.PENANAPASfw3kwex
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.735Please respect copyright.PENANA9coN9aE312
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 735Please respect copyright.PENANAusTBGwGbhQ
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAL5HWRIwYe7
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAal69FWATk7
"You're late, again."735Please respect copyright.PENANA0veiJwIWKQ
His735Please respect copyright.PENANAvYSjFqfxWI
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 735Please respect copyright.PENANA0RdjncJpeo
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIrWg5oOGZA
lion door knob. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAChzKcK4vHI
He735Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fz5BiLCxE
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 735Please respect copyright.PENANA8a9bD8kloD
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAz4txB9MsMR
"What735Please respect copyright.PENANA1Sc0Otdkux
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 735Please respect copyright.PENANAXy8ckiUDZa
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAhQUHd8Pq9l
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."735Please respect copyright.PENANAL4TIpc12c5
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.735Please respect copyright.PENANA5DF8O5UOeY
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."735Please respect copyright.PENANAWP3NlVyeiF
A735Please respect copyright.PENANAlDyIJbjDBP
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAt3bux9iVMI
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 735Please respect copyright.PENANAbbd2MxKfqs
as they had their backs towards the window.735Please respect copyright.PENANAPJJOsncrKS
"You know we need him," said the tall man.735Please respect copyright.PENANAF8YPaXTF1g
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."735Please respect copyright.PENANAWWuvdlbpqa
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."735Please respect copyright.PENANASvzt2awqV0
The735Please respect copyright.PENANA39G52g6UbR
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAXVQB9ZdcXD
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 735Please respect copyright.PENANApZjBkFZveG
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.735Please respect copyright.PENANAjDdpHn0Dmz
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.735Please respect copyright.PENANAwCyEVRqZz8
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.735Please respect copyright.PENANAfuToTTlkxh
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."735Please respect copyright.PENANAi1dNLkJ3nl
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAu8xRbXs8m9
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.735Please respect copyright.PENANAWzh4oD73gT
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."735Please respect copyright.PENANATbidgyduFP
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."735Please respect copyright.PENANANDoRqMeSV3
"What if she reveals the truth?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAdpPfvYCiYS
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."735Please respect copyright.PENANAkSZZ6i78XF
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.735Please respect copyright.PENANATzqYWL6Agk
For a moment, silence hung over them.735Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0hPvLjzKS
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."735Please respect copyright.PENANAki5AAB6Bmo
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."735Please respect copyright.PENANA94dhA6pcqb
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."735Please respect copyright.PENANAsvihq5B9zG
"I735Please respect copyright.PENANANX2MJNGfuq
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 735Please respect copyright.PENANAF8ezcaEGLI
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 735Please respect copyright.PENANAENOrmw5nvy
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."735Please respect copyright.PENANA4GjLRvFydP
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.735Please respect copyright.PENANA8MV9jDkA6A
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.735Please respect copyright.PENANA7KD2JYGMiT
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."735Please respect copyright.PENANApufrLFzLgK
***735Please respect copyright.PENANA6wAIUsMIfS
The735Please respect copyright.PENANAhq3IFPDoQh
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAIUeeVQhAhP
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 735Please respect copyright.PENANAQqwnb4Sp1m
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 735Please respect copyright.PENANApRw0LQj2Ps
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time735Please respect copyright.PENANADk0teLKrJU
they met, they seemed sky blue.735Please respect copyright.PENANAeCFJM977AV
And735Please respect copyright.PENANAO1wHTinCF1
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No735Please respect copyright.PENANAnMcS2pBATq
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.735Please respect copyright.PENANAIHc9zGocIk
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANACJI4EewjrC
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 735Please respect copyright.PENANA6A5cDTf8sx
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied735Please respect copyright.PENANA3w7q4iFA2d
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 735Please respect copyright.PENANAp5utIfppiE
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 735Please respect copyright.PENANAlMaVMmSuUf
coffee table in the middle.735Please respect copyright.PENANAGigqLiunuX
When735Please respect copyright.PENANAxI7EaaJXza
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAZeQKwfOOBK
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.735Please respect copyright.PENANArCQ3NfPsTQ
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.735Please respect copyright.PENANAbvzH7qXe9i
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.735Please respect copyright.PENANAz7Sx4UiMhw
"Are you sure?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAnyQ1sHjYnk
"Yes, I'm positive."735Please respect copyright.PENANArj4BGErr52
Miss735Please respect copyright.PENANA5oiX5Da3EV
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 735Please respect copyright.PENANAEgAymQZMP0
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 735Please respect copyright.PENANAY2SllbYM4f
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips735Please respect copyright.PENANAOnXD5vwuzT
from their cups.735Please respect copyright.PENANAoCzjv5xYRU
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.735Please respect copyright.PENANAnWFI4BcZUx
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.735Please respect copyright.PENANAtQqMPFvT4m
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"735Please respect copyright.PENANA2CYYdwBUql
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAuXdlVKmsL0
"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.735Please respect copyright.PENANAOp83PNEVeX
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."735Please respect copyright.PENANAXLPc8wpPqH
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."735Please respect copyright.PENANAVIQSlaeVwO
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."735Please respect copyright.PENANAMSBGFIOuAk
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAsBrBs6B1PY
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."735Please respect copyright.PENANAA5uKEDfP4J
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.735Please respect copyright.PENANA5YddffJS5X
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.735Please respect copyright.PENANAJeP0uvsrf3
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."735Please respect copyright.PENANAx2OpAp79fc
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"735Please respect copyright.PENANAC3boHF6e2O
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.735Please respect copyright.PENANANuJ1Y0Pzrz
"Oh,735Please respect copyright.PENANAceyAqQsQT7
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted735Please respect copyright.PENANAy0ho6f7ajA
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 735Please respect copyright.PENANAaxz8viibpM
who he is."735Please respect copyright.PENANAGs1mGG6HvJ
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."735Please respect copyright.PENANAYT24a0ypDT
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANA9OLCoK8uAV
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 735Please respect copyright.PENANA8OqGFPdGsP
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want735Please respect copyright.PENANA79LwZdWoEv
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 735Please respect copyright.PENANAKMuUXlzHte
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.735Please respect copyright.PENANAvGbEc3xZZV
Rhénee735Please respect copyright.PENANAme87qN81Lt
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 735Please respect copyright.PENANADbSDqDa0PM
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.735Please respect copyright.PENANASVbDyjziZ0
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 735Please respect copyright.PENANARxNtqX2mJ2
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.735Please respect copyright.PENANAfnYhtlCD97
"Fine,735Please respect copyright.PENANAEus6iTIxOa
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.735Please respect copyright.PENANAg82oq1Hr9S
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 735Please respect copyright.PENANAC1kjz7CzsU
or die if you stay by me."735Please respect copyright.PENANAwdO7UpprAF