The news about the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAZgqb6MXefB
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 732Please respect copyright.PENANA6DMgFAo71E
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 732Please respect copyright.PENANA4C6UdeiRvs
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 732Please respect copyright.PENANAAEf18l4yRE
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 732Please respect copyright.PENANAYSNEgUkJ73
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 732Please respect copyright.PENANAKiSsgZ1hM5
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 732Please respect copyright.PENANAEsNRtJ1Oti
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries732Please respect copyright.PENANAXxJhgbBtl2
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 732Please respect copyright.PENANA9k2JQb9ZPK
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.732Please respect copyright.PENANAIF6BkVdV7E
There was more to it 732Please respect copyright.PENANAHlWfEQFu8M
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAEQb20wkarO
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 732Please respect copyright.PENANATXkxWNoxwA
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 732Please respect copyright.PENANAOBgT3Piou7
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 732Please respect copyright.PENANANJTlsAFnMK
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started732Please respect copyright.PENANAMb2BEJqwjT
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 732Please respect copyright.PENANAiXb6vr9BjE
except from a few individuals. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAjY19pdVmRW
And apparently, one of 732Please respect copyright.PENANAvX4TvqV8w0
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 732Please respect copyright.PENANAus4PWzHTkW
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In732Please respect copyright.PENANAkbZTGFI9KU
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 732Please respect copyright.PENANAzokHaDWFPM
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 732Please respect copyright.PENANAcRYTaIinlY
really going on, all hell would break loose.732Please respect copyright.PENANAiW90DGLRlp
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."732Please respect copyright.PENANAXImuVZL4EV
Rhénee dropped the 732Please respect copyright.PENANA0rP8gfiqLv
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 732Please respect copyright.PENANAZE0alMxOpB
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 732Please respect copyright.PENANAcepdAx1xIv
ear, she took a sip of coffee.732Please respect copyright.PENANAf5Go4cheTT
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAuD8Wt1lkJ3
"Ya, its crazy here," 732Please respect copyright.PENANA97PBABYMHm
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 732Please respect copyright.PENANAB3pa5fnQpB
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 732Please respect copyright.PENANAK0ICdINiR8
broken in."732Please respect copyright.PENANApmZ6UFIyyD
"If only they knew."732Please respect copyright.PENANACTKZvKJChW
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."732Please respect copyright.PENANADwuY579rKB
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA2BV5dncBbX
"She did. I had to make 732Please respect copyright.PENANA7KqDFUesYB
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 732Please respect copyright.PENANABc12q27Vcn
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."732Please respect copyright.PENANA1yZIyt6Etu
"I doubt if she believed that."732Please respect copyright.PENANARi7HhJddxJ
"Haha, looks like you 732Please respect copyright.PENANAYjRtuNpCE6
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAWa52ZJwvOS
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."732Please respect copyright.PENANAgVxjutw4om
"True. But we did. I 732Please respect copyright.PENANAGWJfUIIJLc
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and732Please respect copyright.PENANAOI2KP0Gybo
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."732Please respect copyright.PENANATGHjGfnROF
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAjinj8H0BU8
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAlE3WJlmUtx
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."732Please respect copyright.PENANAVWvJIbyeI8
"Okay, bye."732Please respect copyright.PENANANNXSKadcjq
"Bye."732Please respect copyright.PENANA1IFVpRGlWB
Rhénee cuts the call and732Please respect copyright.PENANAQttWdx5uvt
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAlCI4jLLAi2
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 732Please respect copyright.PENANAbfAEQZ3ss8
wink last night.732Please respect copyright.PENANAU0MS8sHZfv
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."732Please respect copyright.PENANAkGzBvgEIsm
"I wasn't going to 732Please respect copyright.PENANAtGLXQBvg7Y
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda732Please respect copyright.PENANAEoFTjK9nEh
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."732Please respect copyright.PENANAiCvCVJXLQ6
"You don't have to 732Please respect copyright.PENANAaEuRMOvswV
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 732Please respect copyright.PENANASKxeorbJ4z
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."732Please respect copyright.PENANArOy900llpH
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."732Please respect copyright.PENANAFMgU5yKaMo
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAbaoAdHkujv
"Why Malcom?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAz2L2U2T2tA
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."732Please respect copyright.PENANA9uqz7ssIZw
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."732Please respect copyright.PENANAqFatM4gzE6
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "732Please respect copyright.PENANAsQXJyhMkwD
"Alright, you go ahead."732Please respect copyright.PENANAPcn4PZkZEV
Miss Griselda gave 732Please respect copyright.PENANAXiWN4yVjvq
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 732Please respect copyright.PENANAMowmFtMxrx
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she732Please respect copyright.PENANAPb84Eq8LfJ
did when they talked about Malcom. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAOHinW7wz3V
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.732Please respect copyright.PENANAOGnAY666oW
The sound of her phone 732Please respect copyright.PENANAHQiSwTimvB
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the732Please respect copyright.PENANAUtSdRYnDbj
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 732Please respect copyright.PENANAD0AO88svP1
mother.732Please respect copyright.PENANAvdyUlSWXUh
"Hello?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAenTGMeObXO
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAnsEf8Aq3dr
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.732Please respect copyright.PENANALtcu6mo38A
That voice. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA3nDjqiKrRA
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA5oKXxATkjv
"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?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAcbGAmcI7i2
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.732Please respect copyright.PENANA8hSlNgxR6N
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."732Please respect copyright.PENANAveb6EH6vwB
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAj9isIzi35x
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."732Please respect copyright.PENANAgQwQNBnfRY
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.732Please respect copyright.PENANAoib11PvkXp
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."732Please respect copyright.PENANAt09x5EBamd
"You don't know me, 732Please respect copyright.PENANAmJ6KO84sOk
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 732Please respect copyright.PENANAy21X71GibQ
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA6ITg9s5jYc
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."732Please respect copyright.PENANAaQnFYscwCa
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAV1RSZpn1wy
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAzzxb3AbI3m
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.732Please respect copyright.PENANAWbDlWYNz6u
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."732Please respect copyright.PENANAWBEW7ZZHLe
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.732Please respect copyright.PENANArUcSUZTBoO
"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?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAX9gbPbUVMT
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."732Please respect copyright.PENANA0D2q0LPPOg
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA8NfmoZubjO
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."732Please respect copyright.PENANA2O10D7VKC9
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."732Please respect copyright.PENANA5aqEgNGgYr
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."732Please respect copyright.PENANASkKlzM0be4
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAKgSUpn0o5U
"Oh, and by the way, 732Please respect copyright.PENANA2TRYRnXE30
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 732Please respect copyright.PENANAiL5XX67yjl
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 732Please respect copyright.PENANA9ONE6LSgte
this time around."732Please respect copyright.PENANAm9H1l5uBoZ
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAzjcCf0dVH2
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."732Please respect copyright.PENANAia2hN5hQ2W
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA970WnmRvGL
Rhénee sat down on the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAHEoVlWIhpH
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 732Please respect copyright.PENANAqxWNrl5mHL
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 732Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8xdhhxnWS
the others, who know what might happen. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAGOSLrSFfWD
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.732Please respect copyright.PENANA0k7iZUXwsY
***732Please respect copyright.PENANAQ05SKD9CzS
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAj4TDZUvbjF
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ6ftwqjS9
"But she isn't hurt right?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAaKbjGA9RFk
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."732Please respect copyright.PENANAQrVlhr0QY9
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAn1yJ4ECmkr
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."732Please respect copyright.PENANARzZMVoAiPk
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAzxoNAyRhoi
"Nah.732Please respect copyright.PENANAAy6mPWMfom
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 732Please respect copyright.PENANAdg1R7SnmZs
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."732Please respect copyright.PENANASW6OILV3qp
"Thats732Please respect copyright.PENANABySSzMexPc
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 732Please respect copyright.PENANAvHmsGImpEH
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."732Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ2tzQDwTs
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA6gAJMnjb4H
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."732Please respect copyright.PENANAJ98ZYBRTiP
"Alright."732Please respect copyright.PENANADNRg5VpgMj
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. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAyvuEpebwi6
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAAFQDIbXEP9
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.732Please respect copyright.PENANACsi2VCUFEB
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."732Please respect copyright.PENANA2OkbByzHef
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."732Please respect copyright.PENANAbQANwMwv8B
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."732Please respect copyright.PENANAvd5o9uJjgr
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ng9wv7rJo
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.732Please respect copyright.PENANA771FBJuupN
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.732Please respect copyright.PENANAVU0mI6FAjw
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA8UDND67J4M
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."732Please respect copyright.PENANALoUfPFpw6K
"Does it bother you?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAYDpToR0FML
"Um... not really. But.... um."732Please respect copyright.PENANA8nEkJzbsVk
Eugene732Please respect copyright.PENANAvhFOA5eiMd
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 732Please respect copyright.PENANAua6ZS1L63j
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.732Please respect copyright.PENANAmoPqgt6HsU
"Mum, are you okay?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA7AQQoJ56rT
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 732Please respect copyright.PENANACZNaKD1zUN
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ1Ev89kK6
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA1he1cZdXcj
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."732Please respect copyright.PENANARzDVN0jqWg
Mrs732Please respect copyright.PENANA3lCByLoFnF
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene732Please respect copyright.PENANA5i5itYOATw
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 732Please respect copyright.PENANASs2YbBBhAB
had talked about Rhénee?732Please respect copyright.PENANAt7QclonyII
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 732Please respect copyright.PENANABxw85bUoT6
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.732Please respect copyright.PENANAsk7b9vSzpw
***732Please respect copyright.PENANAFyrmeDZb8u
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.732Please respect copyright.PENANAEZBqylA1rv
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAWrgs0P07jk
"You better rest though. You still look tired."732Please respect copyright.PENANAgPYVk4gk7W
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA9ouSmTdYBI
"No, I'll do it."732Please respect copyright.PENANAmIQFDmET6f
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA6kWPkq3HR4
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.732Please respect copyright.PENANAY05qMIRORp
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.732Please respect copyright.PENANAyrdqGPAqsQ
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.732Please respect copyright.PENANAa0U9VynCfL
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANA3CVdhdqmgB
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 732Please respect copyright.PENANA2rwsouqXyi
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.732Please respect copyright.PENANAVopobefQZ7
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.732Please respect copyright.PENANA2H7mmlft9v
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.732Please respect copyright.PENANANMYT4YLQpL
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA4nbndVkfvh
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.732Please respect copyright.PENANA88dek4MhUM
"Thank732Please respect copyright.PENANASGyIapkM24
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 732Please respect copyright.PENANA61QkIue30h
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAlOh4UYShO0
"Well, yes. I still think I would."732Please respect copyright.PENANAst6TpBNeEy
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."732Please respect copyright.PENANArL2ZPWBNDr
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.732Please respect copyright.PENANA0K1LdXyQS4
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."732Please respect copyright.PENANAmxJhi2vXp3
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.732Please respect copyright.PENANA38jWypTYw4
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAYvr582tfEj
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.732Please respect copyright.PENANAoauoI2gLOm
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA5YiWRjOZ9N
"Coffee will be lovely."732Please respect copyright.PENANAZMKiVMAZeE
Miss732Please respect copyright.PENANAbGSZsjkplK
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 732Please respect copyright.PENANAECMn6ylTN2
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.732Please respect copyright.PENANAGoUxCKN6Ny
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.732Please respect copyright.PENANAAQrAdkvtJD
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAunANDJYd2a
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."732Please respect copyright.PENANA2JXcpEGNnB
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."732Please respect copyright.PENANAIyzIfKdUZ0
"What mysterious person?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA1ku0lmPBud
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."732Please respect copyright.PENANAdY8hMMxSeN
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA7SCUNoIMUE
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.732Please respect copyright.PENANAAaBxp9HLol
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAGJKE7mipmZ
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAMSR5MUebfT
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"732Please respect copyright.PENANADzAWkT8jU0
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."732Please respect copyright.PENANAmhiAvYd95V
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"732Please respect copyright.PENANAnuOtrLmRdQ
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."732Please respect copyright.PENANAWWgeOsVew7
The732Please respect copyright.PENANA9SzxsnDK1k
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?732Please respect copyright.PENANA4fxjC1TG2r
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAjxOYIp0GQQ
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all732Please respect copyright.PENANAAoEnwDiN3z
of this.732Please respect copyright.PENANAApz5GPcfuQ
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.732Please respect copyright.PENANAhO3DWVVTut
"I...732Please respect copyright.PENANAgd8qg49vje
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 732Please respect copyright.PENANAql0Y1zc7ZW
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 732Please respect copyright.PENANAP0M1520BLJ
frustration. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAgfl0oEfLNU
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.732Please respect copyright.PENANAVCNfnyKMfz
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANAjCrnYNDF8u
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 732Please respect copyright.PENANAheeXA721bQ
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 732Please respect copyright.PENANAG9Eo122Z57
cups on the tray and wondered. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAKjKQdGKXjo
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAKzEM6hy5hq
732Please respect copyright.PENANAyyvx3WThPL
As732Please respect copyright.PENANApZHseDNa2Y
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 732Please respect copyright.PENANA2jtPNeCtKg
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 732Please respect copyright.PENANA9mEAyfGcr9
reminder kept ringing in her head.732Please respect copyright.PENANAoqLPXooQQb
"And tell your friends not to get involved."732Please respect copyright.PENANAhHOLrtpJdn
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 732Please respect copyright.PENANA3nM4iMDwaS
"I732Please respect copyright.PENANA0p2l1W5LyP
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 732Please respect copyright.PENANASyiWAwqMp8
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 732Please respect copyright.PENANAgCkj1mLTVg
talking about, Rhénee?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAtfejQhKJgp
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANA5Rhb3czHKF
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 732Please respect copyright.PENANA5dEGU0838z
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 732Please respect copyright.PENANA56ercEO0wb
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 732Please respect copyright.PENANAcokjqTFFPQ
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.732Please respect copyright.PENANARo5IjjZuZi
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.732Please respect copyright.PENANAeut3PC7glJ
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAj26chg3hZR
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."732Please respect copyright.PENANAOfOBSowOGk
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAQMwTXJRuYy
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAgYXbhjmgun
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAv0GXITCmWs
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAKRagz58Fdn
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.732Please respect copyright.PENANAc1dL4lUYCO
***732Please respect copyright.PENANAogztVWjLaV
Sweat732Please respect copyright.PENANAplmC5zDJaL
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 732Please respect copyright.PENANAdXuyXF4Hpe
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 732Please respect copyright.PENANAhyF0hyekc8
the person waiting never likes to wait.732Please respect copyright.PENANANULXXZ3ny2
He732Please respect copyright.PENANAKtFWdG2vwh
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 732Please respect copyright.PENANAdFORlG6t5S
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the732Please respect copyright.PENANA5OFPZFNpsj
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 732Please respect copyright.PENANA5U4u82irUx
second.732Please respect copyright.PENANAxwccVqjDvi
He732Please respect copyright.PENANA4jPSFai4ms
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 732Please respect copyright.PENANA1gDxurNrgc
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 732Please respect copyright.PENANAx2boAvjnoc
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 732Please respect copyright.PENANAqQT9gbC64l
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 732Please respect copyright.PENANATLhnjdY1IV
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.732Please respect copyright.PENANAOic68FdJnE
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 732Please respect copyright.PENANAAxf7neZkEt
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAxoEQi6rjsV
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 732Please respect copyright.PENANANAoHb3AOjI
"You're late, again."732Please respect copyright.PENANAnFRfcHzI05
His732Please respect copyright.PENANAmo2GNLctrc
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 732Please respect copyright.PENANAGUofYpzAQk
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 732Please respect copyright.PENANAu7WJ11UKCR
lion door knob. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAzGVD6Goa2c
He732Please respect copyright.PENANAyT50O4IdOg
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 732Please respect copyright.PENANA10RRrKGYmI
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 732Please respect copyright.PENANABS5MNgvxZo
"What732Please respect copyright.PENANA13KBlEtYG3
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 732Please respect copyright.PENANA96iCytd7Ql
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAAPhZHWgPJ4
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."732Please respect copyright.PENANAL5uCpIjFRw
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.732Please respect copyright.PENANAiDlSfMOIPl
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."732Please respect copyright.PENANAQjlI3QDFFA
A732Please respect copyright.PENANACXoqp0E5bh
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAGOoYviwhwz
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 732Please respect copyright.PENANANQus62bbMP
as they had their backs towards the window.732Please respect copyright.PENANAdIxhgi0RXq
"You know we need him," said the tall man.732Please respect copyright.PENANAI1Xm23T3mb
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."732Please respect copyright.PENANAVndljgZWmz
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."732Please respect copyright.PENANAlYBHAGMg3l
The732Please respect copyright.PENANAvVEKitoGxY
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 732Please respect copyright.PENANApgh0ftQvw6
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 732Please respect copyright.PENANACrUneQFBKC
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.732Please respect copyright.PENANAt2l15HyUUq
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.732Please respect copyright.PENANAkXH4MQ3emD
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.732Please respect copyright.PENANAoCPEJPdu9F
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."732Please respect copyright.PENANAJZEpTg7DhZ
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"732Please respect copyright.PENANASpM6aXz596
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.732Please respect copyright.PENANAYvm6UU2K5K
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."732Please respect copyright.PENANArXNrIOQwoW
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."732Please respect copyright.PENANANZ9LUbZS1H
"What if she reveals the truth?"732Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ot2YVqpMO
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."732Please respect copyright.PENANAaiSGpJFUPd
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.732Please respect copyright.PENANAeukoyJiWwF
For a moment, silence hung over them.732Please respect copyright.PENANAqRWWawWmAq
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."732Please respect copyright.PENANAmc436S7X6Z
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."732Please respect copyright.PENANAllLm7Aq6EC
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."732Please respect copyright.PENANAtZhhj6WwF7
"I732Please respect copyright.PENANAJz9A4jZXKe
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 732Please respect copyright.PENANAN8h04GXbsr
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 732Please respect copyright.PENANANV3gTpuHIv
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."732Please respect copyright.PENANAhqkcrg7zzL
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.732Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ4YqnCXHX
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.732Please respect copyright.PENANADMOh6phW6x
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."732Please respect copyright.PENANAvGa4pZtl7g
***732Please respect copyright.PENANAr4G4teKBJO
The732Please respect copyright.PENANAjtwKsweOlD
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAT1p13lIz4R
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 732Please respect copyright.PENANAYQ32l6QbU4
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 732Please respect copyright.PENANAYEg4Sc3MoJ
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time732Please respect copyright.PENANAApLWmamrtn
they met, they seemed sky blue.732Please respect copyright.PENANAZvcxZ1uVky
And732Please respect copyright.PENANA2guphsr5TZ
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No732Please respect copyright.PENANAC2ByuhSqB5
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.732Please respect copyright.PENANAgwAGMjsrgl
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANA44GtzZsede
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 732Please respect copyright.PENANADz7q9N4hVe
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied732Please respect copyright.PENANAJIIvEnWTCS
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 732Please respect copyright.PENANA2W9CmlOXN0
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 732Please respect copyright.PENANA8pyjZPGR55
coffee table in the middle.732Please respect copyright.PENANAkr89mnA7jl
When732Please respect copyright.PENANArrEjSSeH0S
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 732Please respect copyright.PENANA3IjDASecDr
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.732Please respect copyright.PENANAwcVWDdZxkc
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.732Please respect copyright.PENANA3NoMEF9WfZ
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.732Please respect copyright.PENANACfYN29an14
"Are you sure?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAiRjXyAaoD6
"Yes, I'm positive."732Please respect copyright.PENANALnLyAj8SJd
Miss732Please respect copyright.PENANAe2MF44KBvw
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 732Please respect copyright.PENANAaV8GgFB6nk
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 732Please respect copyright.PENANAi8qkgryEO3
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips732Please respect copyright.PENANAmrEWu7iMMS
from their cups.732Please respect copyright.PENANAwOOvjTMOmS
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.732Please respect copyright.PENANAmvxLyrPoi0
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.732Please respect copyright.PENANAMZJrzgv1Jr
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"732Please respect copyright.PENANArQi62IXTZm
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAcuJSav1wEc
"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.732Please respect copyright.PENANAQ98ur4mvWT
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."732Please respect copyright.PENANATCq7wmG4NK
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."732Please respect copyright.PENANAZCLr1nIGk1
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."732Please respect copyright.PENANA47nle8vHmO
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANASxbZNLnPUN
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."732Please respect copyright.PENANAz30H3QyjSJ
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.732Please respect copyright.PENANALf56VNXGPE
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.732Please respect copyright.PENANAYNPxzlBVTX
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."732Please respect copyright.PENANANy9KW2hkHf
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"732Please respect copyright.PENANAK4LBFLWdqd
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.732Please respect copyright.PENANA3aT9atoPJS
"Oh,732Please respect copyright.PENANA2R9MwJehE9
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted732Please respect copyright.PENANAnhgp1pC5ck
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 732Please respect copyright.PENANAn1xWGySVGx
who he is."732Please respect copyright.PENANAGKJnpbHqDN
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."732Please respect copyright.PENANAz0yOj0DdHl
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANAVSChztoIE5
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 732Please respect copyright.PENANAkp1vR5EveD
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want732Please respect copyright.PENANAIPxwqbMYPE
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 732Please respect copyright.PENANA1pepscb5mN
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.732Please respect copyright.PENANA53LT3DlrFM
Rhénee732Please respect copyright.PENANACB0b3z6dxw
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 732Please respect copyright.PENANAUTr8EqB2Nk
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.732Please respect copyright.PENANApEqPzsH2se
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 732Please respect copyright.PENANA0Dfir0JWpS
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.732Please respect copyright.PENANAUNsDS1CGWL
"Fine,732Please respect copyright.PENANA4MizqLFFHV
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.732Please respect copyright.PENANA5dcEnhxaom
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 732Please respect copyright.PENANA5fNbsoR7sD
or die if you stay by me."732Please respect copyright.PENANAmmlJ3rkouv