The news about the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAaM81h69KT0
shootout that took place at the Derrand mansion last night spread like 736Please respect copyright.PENANAl4E0pfk9fx
wildfire the next morning. It even made the front page of the local 736Please respect copyright.PENANASYPU029yXD
newspaper and people couldn't help but wonder. Some who were invited to 736Please respect copyright.PENANACvK7v0y1gZ
the party had their own story to tell, but they couldn't figure out why 736Please respect copyright.PENANAjZCIGZl1zh
the shootout had taken place. With that everyone started to make their 736Please respect copyright.PENANAzT2gxL1UzD
own assumptions. Were the gunmen trying to rob the mansion or was there 736Please respect copyright.PENANAItGr4HXH51
something else? No one who had attended the party sustained any injuries736Please respect copyright.PENANAOZeUVjdcOZ
except the two security guards who were found dead within the mansion 736Please respect copyright.PENANACEkm9iGbUb
grounds. Nothing seemed to be adding up.736Please respect copyright.PENANAmve6gWNzJO
There was more to it 736Please respect copyright.PENANAwJT8LNcVWY
than the situation at hand and people thought it might be about the 736Please respect copyright.PENANANfILUSwdtA
Derrand family. Had they made enemies who were willing to kill them? 736Please respect copyright.PENANAeHvr1RCFK9
Maybe so. As the morning wore on, some locals got to work and forgot 736Please respect copyright.PENANAEXIFZ043P2
about the incident hoping that the police will turn up with something 736Please respect copyright.PENANAC9j1fLH13W
but some still couldn't stop talking about. And as usual rumours started736Please respect copyright.PENANA0XCItU5t2c
to spread about the Derrand's. No one knew what was really going on, 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPKcnKLvFrd
except from a few individuals. 736Please respect copyright.PENANArKSIKahtG2
And apparently, one of 736Please respect copyright.PENANAFsQk0QeOu7
those individuals was sitting on the couch in their own living room 736Please respect copyright.PENANAU3qlkWzXwU
reading the front page of the newspaper with a cup of coffee in hand. In736Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ2rP7HYwQ
the article, the police hadn't found any clues and were still 736Please respect copyright.PENANAAjGtN9AxdV
investigating. That was a relief. If anyone had any clue about what was 736Please respect copyright.PENANAs26hFHMzAy
really going on, all hell would break loose.736Please respect copyright.PENANAfC12CacEFL
"You've a phone call," came Miss Griselda's voice, "its Malcom."736Please respect copyright.PENANAKk58EFFgRB
Rhénee dropped the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAnpMmzYEosw
newspaper on her lap and took the phone from Miss Griselda who was 736Please respect copyright.PENANAywskyFftBr
standing right beside her. Before Rhénee could place the phone to her 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPNLqA5k3ir
ear, she took a sip of coffee.736Please respect copyright.PENANAM8smt6Yu8C
"Hey, Malcom," said Rhénee, "are the police still at your house?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAMKSrXPaJPU
"Ya, its crazy here," 736Please respect copyright.PENANAgCiZMj5Wyv
replied Malcom, "didn't sleep the whole night. The police even had to 736Please respect copyright.PENANARJoq8JeCXj
search all the rooms in the mansion fearing that he gunmen might have 736Please respect copyright.PENANAKdipWnqKQJ
broken in."736Please respect copyright.PENANAjICfXfYeDd
"If only they knew."736Please respect copyright.PENANAa2QKvjRaUa
"Ya. But it has to stay quiet. No one should know what is really going on."736Please respect copyright.PENANAIkArxDEvU3
"And what about your mother? Didn't she get suspicious about my disappearance last night?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAcPB26BIs9G
"She did. I had to make 736Please respect copyright.PENANA83pPeA0dqG
up a story that you and Greta rushed up to the rooms upstairs and went 736Please respect copyright.PENANAEviSoloqGO
out the moment the police came and told everyone to leave."736Please respect copyright.PENANAVxXwMMygOf
"I doubt if she believed that."736Please respect copyright.PENANA1CeDMQ2zsa
"Haha, looks like you 736Please respect copyright.PENANALqIPYqBQfL
know my mum already. She just had to believe what Greta and I told her. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWCQlzsYKoM
No one could've left with gunshots all over the place."736Please respect copyright.PENANAeCIPRYfI1U
"True. But we did. I 736Please respect copyright.PENANAXp81Kv6tlb
just hope my mum doesn't get to find out about this. She would freak and736Please respect copyright.PENANA4bWmZcNpZB
she might come here to stay with me or force me to come home with her."736Please respect copyright.PENANAVxVPSGFZeJ
"The news will obviously get to her in one way or another. You just stay safe, okay?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA3evN2DOvKH
Rhénee couldn't help but smile. "I'll. Say hi to Greta for me, would you?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAZfPLJupfEK
"I sure will," Malcom chuckles, "I'll see you when all this dies down."736Please respect copyright.PENANA5jakVVMgg3
"Okay, bye."736Please respect copyright.PENANARGMokxdnqC
"Bye."736Please respect copyright.PENANAknZL6Y9YtF
Rhénee cuts the call and736Please respect copyright.PENANATB3KepZTwe
realises that Miss Griselda was still standing beside her. With the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAy1dXY3dTWC
look on her face, Rhénee could tell that Miss Griselda had not slept a 736Please respect copyright.PENANA363iv9duWs
wink last night.736Please respect copyright.PENANAoIgU4MBCQk
"Miss Griselda, you look awfully tired," said Rhénee, standing up from the couch. "I think you should sleep for a few hours."736Please respect copyright.PENANARV37hRjh0S
"I wasn't going to 736Please respect copyright.PENANAElt0fhL6vX
forgive myself if anything ever happened to you, my dear," Miss Griselda736Please respect copyright.PENANARSvZe2m697
said, "I have always known that Mrs Derrand was up to no good at all."736Please respect copyright.PENANAgRC0ASry6L
"You don't have to 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWm10XjLOaT
worry, I'm fine,"said Rhénee pulling Miss Griselda into a hug, "its all 736Please respect copyright.PENANAcKWaZGZm5G
thanks to Malcom, Greta and Kevin that I'm still alive."736Please respect copyright.PENANAjmwgViFaEq
"You're right. I really am grateful to all of them. Especially Malcom."736Please respect copyright.PENANAWlPsWZ2I4x
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Miss Griselda. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAeOqkCHB721
"Why Malcom?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAikOTbr9GZ2
"Well.... he....." Miss Griselda hesitated for a moment, "I am just glad that he is a good guy thats all."736Please respect copyright.PENANAhaTu3GSnjB
"Really? Are you sure?" Rhénee raised her eyebrows, "I think there is more to what you just said, Miss Griselda."736Please respect copyright.PENANADCSGeSv9qt
"Don't you mind me, dear. Um... I'll be in the kitchen making some cupcakes. "736Please respect copyright.PENANAtoWJOVP8n0
"Alright, you go ahead."736Please respect copyright.PENANAE9eDayq3On
Miss Griselda gave 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPFIpLOqPfo
Rhénee a tired smile and went to the kitchen. As Miss Griselda walked 736Please respect copyright.PENANAe7yaEWaYLk
away, Rhénee couldn't help but wonder why Miss Griselda reacted like she736Please respect copyright.PENANA3517628bfB
did when they talked about Malcom. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3grdwjlioZ
"Does she know something that I don't?" Rhénee wondered to herself.736Please respect copyright.PENANArZP8L8cMaN
The sound of her phone 736Please respect copyright.PENANA0BS9TBkVzJ
ringing on the couch interrupted Rhénee's thoughts. Without checking the736Please respect copyright.PENANAc4mZREnTu0
caller ID, Rhénee answered it immediately hoping that it wasn't her 736Please respect copyright.PENANAcOJulhBgCQ
mother.736Please respect copyright.PENANACgXyJt49H5
"Hello?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAstww3GZFOC
"Hello, Rhénee. Had a wonderful sleep last night?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAfuGrBhkOAt
Rhénee's heart skipped a beat.736Please respect copyright.PENANA6s0s0j6P5F
That voice. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAN82e0UqZCK
Rhénee felt her mouth run dry as she couldn't utter a word to respond. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAi8aY2trhym
"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?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAShc0gPTJ5j
Because I know that because of you, I'm not safe. Rhénee said that in her head.736Please respect copyright.PENANAQWqE8kCSRS
The person on the other end chuckled. "It doesn't matter. Oh, last night you looked gorgeous in that beautiful black dress of yours."736Please respect copyright.PENANA1aAbFSVcxD
Rhénee's eyes grew wide, and this time she spoke. "You were there last night?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAibXvzhv7Ad
"Ah, she finally speaks. I was starting to get worried, Rhénee. And yes, I was at the party last night."736Please respect copyright.PENANAH8KK6qsoGV
"Why didn't you show yourself to me then?" Rhénee asked with all the courage she had in her voice.736Please respect copyright.PENANAOxtIr8sffw
"Now that's the Rhénee I know. I like that feisty voice of yours."736Please respect copyright.PENANAIoB0p2WaTw
"You don't know me, 736Please respect copyright.PENANALrHKgz8fiT
whoever you're. Now answer my question, why didn't you introduce 736Please respect copyright.PENANAm9cxhElc3c
yourself to me last night? Were you scared?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA1pWyoq1FJ6
"I'm never scared of anything and I've never had, Rhénee. We will meet each other face to face all in due time."736Please respect copyright.PENANAiaPzuRXcXo
"Oh, really? And if we do meet will you kill me like you killed my grandmother?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA7W5shWx1os
There was silence for a moment until Rhénee heard the person at the other end chuckle. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAevXjEgCYye
"Why are you laughing?" Rhénee asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.736Please respect copyright.PENANATaLdEy37j9
"Do you think I killed your grandmother? If so, then you're dead wrong."736Please respect copyright.PENANAkH5zd4Urss
With that statement, Rhénee could tell that the person sounded serious.736Please respect copyright.PENANA8EcS7dbjf4
"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?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAjiqjGLIXN8
"You've asked enough questions and it isn't necessary to answer them all, Rhénee."736Please respect copyright.PENANACQFnO7wzRQ
"Then why are you troubling me if you won't give me any answers?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAgCNQ75auBT
"There will come a time when you will know everything. You just have to take things little by little."736Please respect copyright.PENANAFzZw7BZOrw
"I can't take things little by little. I want to know everything now."736Please respect copyright.PENANA4iBtLZ3heZ
"All in due time, Rhénee. You're smart and we both know that. You'll figure it out."736Please respect copyright.PENANAkkRWSsRWoz
Rhénee couldn't help but suck her teeth in annoyance. All this seemed to be nothing but a game to this stranger. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA9hfh5HKrHe
"Oh, and by the way, 736Please respect copyright.PENANAgyYsZ4JomI
the stunt your friends pulled off last night to rescue you was quite 736Please respect copyright.PENANAU4Ng6zrZFD
impressive. But tell them that will be there last. They won't be lucky 736Please respect copyright.PENANAKoIZjcqpC1
this time around."736Please respect copyright.PENANAKn5YoU5Ll9
"Is Mrs Derrand working for you? What do you want from me, huh?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAYHUK52ZNER
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."736Please respect copyright.PENANAmG79YZGvlW
And just like that, the line went dead. Rhénee wanted to throw her phone away but that would only alarm Miss Griselda. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAa7JDBYf2PG
Rhénee sat down on the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAgNefmIjIKf
couch. Even though she had just been warned not to involve anybody else 736Please respect copyright.PENANA5XEJ2OByIw
in all this, she couldn't do it alone. And if she involved Malcom and 736Please respect copyright.PENANASjpI0LBRPY
the others, who know what might happen. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAGwaAHxF2O2
She had to think of something and she had to do it fast.736Please respect copyright.PENANAxURCxZ5ERR
***736Please respect copyright.PENANAwg38fkmykd
"What? She's back home? But how come?" Eugene asked. 736Please respect copyright.PENANANAtf4Z61Yn
"I don't know, man. As it turns out, she went to the rooms upstairs with Greta to hide," said Miguel. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWm46jR4TRd
"But she isn't hurt right?"736Please respect copyright.PENANALIqqJgF7VH
"Of course not. She's absolutely fine, you don't have to worry."736Please respect copyright.PENANADvbODiKQkU
Eugene breathed out a huge sigh of relief. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAcbb6zWH4oR
"Thats good. At least I know that she is safe."736Please respect copyright.PENANAP8oTHPzyiz
"I should be there to see the look on your face right now," said Miguel over the phone. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA7QEKeSs2kF
"Nah.736Please respect copyright.PENANAf3377SaBbr
You don't have to. Oh, speaking of coming to my house, aren't you 736Please respect copyright.PENANAuM3SARmMwW
supposed to be here to pick me up right now? You're never this late."736Please respect copyright.PENANAhyBTu7GjCb
"Thats736Please respect copyright.PENANAMhrQEyvvku
why I called, actually. I'll be taking grandma somewhere today and she 736Please respect copyright.PENANAJfyukNKXtO
insisted I come along with her, thats if you don't mind."736Please respect copyright.PENANAXyADkC9ABm
"Its no big deal, Miguel. I'll just take the bus. Greet your grandma for me, would you?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA7BBx85X6zY
"Alright, man, I'll. Call you later."736Please respect copyright.PENANAbGbGBBQgGA
"Alright."736Please respect copyright.PENANAH15OQ5u2SY
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. 736Please respect copyright.PENANApHl3Hvd31C
"Everything okay, Eugene?" his mother asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANA02UsqvU1m9
"Well, ya, why do you ask?" Eugene looked puzzled.736Please respect copyright.PENANAI64u1OYSrV
"Last night, after what had occured at Mrs Derrand's party, you looked really troubled."736Please respect copyright.PENANAcH9yPLNKWW
"Mum, there was a shoot out last night. Of course I was troubled."736Please respect copyright.PENANATUOe3Va1JT
"No. There was something else that was bothering you."736Please respect copyright.PENANA6ov73zbUEo
For a moment, there was silence between the two as they stared at each other. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAQTVLEnERY7
"Were you troubled because of Rhénee?" Mrs Chamberlin asked as she broke the silence.736Please respect copyright.PENANA1i4xbv0Mxj
Eugene felt a sudden tension in the air as he lifted an eyebrow giving his mother a questioning look.736Please respect copyright.PENANAmSVSjUAbCe
"Why are you asking, mum?" Eugene asked. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAMSAsSbUSv5
"Because I noticed that look on your face when Miguel was talking to you about her."736Please respect copyright.PENANAk9ppDds6yy
"Does it bother you?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAvqzvzWsJyG
"Um... not really. But.... um."736Please respect copyright.PENANAp4CskuKRW4
Eugene736Please respect copyright.PENANAWYDhVMkLqF
realised that his mother started to fumble with her fingers. And he 736Please respect copyright.PENANANr92OKF8kO
knew she only did that when she was nervous about something.736Please respect copyright.PENANA36ErEkZAWb
"Mum, are you okay?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAL7FaDQwjq2
"I'm okay, sweetie..... I'm just.... well," Mrs Chamberlin licked her lips nervously. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAuf5lEAS08e
"You don't look okay. You were about to tell me something. What is it?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAvEhTXXQdND
Mrs Chamberlin's eyes grew wide as looked at Eugene. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3PAqvigdlf
"Nothing, nothing, Eugene. It's fine. It's no big deal."736Please respect copyright.PENANAeOD0rvUEpr
Mrs736Please respect copyright.PENANAMFt86Ev9Jf
Chamberlin turned around and entered the kitchen without a word. Eugene736Please respect copyright.PENANAgdSe5C9G6n
knew something was wrong. Why did his mother get all nervous when she 736Please respect copyright.PENANAoT0MSD3SOw
had talked about Rhénee?736Please respect copyright.PENANAM7WVNOHVMJ
Did dad come here and tell her about Rhénee being a danger to the family? 736Please respect copyright.PENANAYTtJXa33tt
If that were the case, Mrs Chamberlin would've told him already. Something wasn't right here, and Eugene knew it.736Please respect copyright.PENANAdtjxkn2HFp
***736Please respect copyright.PENANAwqnykegRgx
"These cupcakes taste so good, Miss Griselda," said Rhénee after taking a bite out of Miss Griselda's homemade cupcakes.736Please respect copyright.PENANAiR7KPkorfx
"I know how to make the very best," said Miss Griselda. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWnzc7TNiz4
"You better rest though. You still look tired."736Please respect copyright.PENANAmQDvd1sQjx
"No, honey, I'm fine. Do you want coffee with the cupcakes?"736Please respect copyright.PENANArTptb8THyb
"No, I'll do it."736Please respect copyright.PENANA4VPPzNIwFp
As Rhénee stood up from the couch with her cupcake still in her hand, there came the sound of the doorbell. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAiNp5RD2STs
"I'll get the door," said Rhénee, rushing to go and open it.736Please respect copyright.PENANA0pmwo3x1MO
"And I'll make the coffee," said Miss Griselda, as she headed to the kitchen.736Please respect copyright.PENANAwXqDf0LA7A
"No, I'm making the coffee!" Rhénee called out to Miss Griselda, as she put the rest of her cupcake into her mouth.736Please respect copyright.PENANAUpfgeLcH7W
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANA4NrZBrfjrR
reached the door and pulled it open. And standing in front of her was 736Please respect copyright.PENANAauwpJAnS3g
the old woman whom she had met in the forest the previous day.736Please respect copyright.PENANAAdC7sAnL0q
"Hello, dear," greeted the old woman.736Please respect copyright.PENANAy3EpIrQpu6
"You came," Rhénee couldn't tell if she was relieved to see her or surprised.736Please respect copyright.PENANAtrR1XzYBTZ
"I did tell you I would come, didn't I?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAuOw6WvEgPo
"Oh, please do come in," Rhénee led the old woman inside.736Please respect copyright.PENANAe86nicehGb
"Thank736Please respect copyright.PENANA218lh27618
you, dear. Looks like you would still keep this place as it is then?" 736Please respect copyright.PENANAM4hLu0UG5C
the old woman asked as she looked around the place. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA9s2mDZ1RGz
"Well, yes. I still think I would."736Please respect copyright.PENANAtt13qYMoSm
"Good. Your grandmother had great taste."736Please respect copyright.PENANAHygWEeuv7o
Rhénee led the old woman to the living room where they sat on the couch.736Please respect copyright.PENANADqhUiKkAIC
"Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Rhénee asked. "Miss Griselda even made some cupcakes to go with either of the two."736Please respect copyright.PENANAsFbNKMzUzy
Before the old woman could reply, Miss Griselda appeared.736Please respect copyright.PENANA6vjX0u2MpK
"Miss Marie? I wasn't expecting you here," said Miss Griselda. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAhJK8ryX5ZB
"Hello, Griselda. How nice to see you again," said Miss Marie.736Please respect copyright.PENANA01ECts8F29
"Its nice to see you too, Miss Marie. Tea or coffee?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAIFE1KJis8q
"Coffee will be lovely."736Please respect copyright.PENANA9Of6fYtMC1
Miss736Please respect copyright.PENANAa1mYFwN6bq
Griselda left Rhénee and Miss Marie in the living room and at the same 736Please respect copyright.PENANAdyevFDk6P2
time Sophie appeared and jumped onto Miss Marie's laps.736Please respect copyright.PENANAwwx4rAUjaG
"Oh, hello little fella," sais Miss Marie as she scratched behind the cat's ear. Sophie purred and got settled comfortably.736Please respect copyright.PENANAOaYJwtQZXX
"So, are you going to tell me all you know about my late grandmother?" Rhénee asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANAzOrnkEM29b
"I know you deserve to know everything, but you're putting everyone in danger, Rhénee."736Please respect copyright.PENANAGJasRSGabb
"I know. That's what the mysterious person said over the phone."736Please respect copyright.PENANArrAsl1Fmaj
"What mysterious person?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA6j5FSStNTr
"The person who gave me the necklace which belonged to my grandmother and also the photo."736Please respect copyright.PENANAI0v1erJz1F
Miss Marie gave Rhénee a horrifying look. "Do you know who he is?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA2eKvqmbOR9
"No, I don't know who he-" Rhénee paused for a second as she looked at Miss Marie.736Please respect copyright.PENANAMR10GRsewL
"How do you know I was talking about a man, Miss Marie?" Rhénee asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANALZJYOWVvPi
This time, it was Miss Marie to pause. She turned away from Rhénee's gaze. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAgWep5IBdB0
"You know this person, don't you, Miss Marie?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAMU9o664KnY
"I.... well, I don't know what to tell you, Rhénee."736Please respect copyright.PENANA8KXeTBBm1S
Rhénee held Miss Marie's hand. "But you can-"736Please respect copyright.PENANA5zuJf3S9wk
"Figure it out. And tell your friends not to get involved."736Please respect copyright.PENANAZePZia22Ys
The736Please respect copyright.PENANAIy0XSR0s4D
stranger's voice rang in Rhénee's mind so suddenly. What was she doing?736Please respect copyright.PENANAkWrlhWVhiT
Even if Miss Marie wasn't a friend, it was quite clear that the 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3bEheVgQ0U
stranger meant everyone around her wasn't supposed to be involved in all736Please respect copyright.PENANANnQHuHdhCa
of this.736Please respect copyright.PENANA39PSZD4EzJ
"Are you okay, Rhénee? You looked like you were deep in thought," came Miss Marie's voice.736Please respect copyright.PENANA0OO7Fg5S1z
"I...736Please respect copyright.PENANAn097efycXo
it's nothing. You don't have to tell me who the person is if you don't 736Please respect copyright.PENANAxPHJQDmAGL
want to," said Rhénee as she covered her face with her hands in 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3C1WTZKDzr
frustration. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAV6H8i4506a
"Who is this person you keep talking about?" came Miss Griselda's voice.736Please respect copyright.PENANANT1BlMVjxJ
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANA1ByJKjV1eu
and Miss Marie looked behind them and Miss Griselda was standing there 736Please respect copyright.PENANAX0Frgz8Pa0
with a tray of tea cups and cupcakes. Rhénee realised the number of tea 736Please respect copyright.PENANA8mIkPAEKBz
cups on the tray and wondered. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAFZEVuIZ9PR
"Are we having other guests?" Rhénee asked. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAJcB1LZbHMj
736Please respect copyright.PENANA3fldALq5ZE
As736Please respect copyright.PENANANAGoc584SO
though to answer Rhénee's question, Greta, Malcom and Kevin appeared 736Please respect copyright.PENANAhE0zWsSKIB
behind Miss Griselda. Rhénee stood up from the couch as the stranger's 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWv2S97f3qI
reminder kept ringing in her head.736Please respect copyright.PENANA7ek2HCuG3T
"And tell your friends not to get involved."736Please respect copyright.PENANAHJrwfqytn6
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAhqPHpGIycN
"I736Please respect copyright.PENANAWfO38Zog8D
told you I was coming to see you," said Malcom, "but you yourself 736Please respect copyright.PENANAOkoeTzzvd8
haven't answered Miss Griselda's question. Who is the person you're 736Please respect copyright.PENANAtpSxj07r5r
talking about, Rhénee?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAPPMiz75uVt
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANAkhEo3laQd9
couldn't answer. What was she going to tell them anyway? If she did, 736Please respect copyright.PENANA079Q8zSRs3
she was getting them into trouble. She looked down for a moment and 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3HkvwWsnP0
looked up again, straight into Malcom's striking blue eyes. But as she 736Please respect copyright.PENANAqdqpQi9QA2
continued to look at Malcom, something dawned on her.736Please respect copyright.PENANADMeLt3UjTa
"Rhénee, are you okay?" Malcom looked concerned.736Please respect copyright.PENANABbo8tdmHVs
Rhénee for a moment couldn't breathe. Something felt wrong about her as she continued to look at Malcom and then at Greta. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAl4M5P5GSpw
"You don't look okay, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda, "are you okay? Say something at least."736Please respect copyright.PENANAC47SGO75Jf
Rhénee still didn't say a thing as her eyes drew from Malcom to Greta and then back. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPDtDIfgYNJ
"You. Why didn't you tell me all this time?" was all Rhénee could manage to say as she looked straight at Malcom. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAqq33UHRBM0
"Tell you what, Rhénee?" Malcom asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANAPD4JWYCHiA
"You were the guy I met at the gas station the day I was coming here to Madison, weren't you?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAghOrvz9IIr
And with that, a silence fell amongst them.736Please respect copyright.PENANATHYrhDw5Ne
***736Please respect copyright.PENANAOXERoe5xI1
Sweat736Please respect copyright.PENANAzJjAlS0OFt
ran down his face as he rushed along the hallway. His heavy panting 736Please respect copyright.PENANAY8W2Dmo5ub
echoed as he ran as fast he could in the semi-darkness. He was late and 736Please respect copyright.PENANAMuRfjvyPEQ
the person waiting never likes to wait.736Please respect copyright.PENANA6xW2CSafDe
He736Please respect copyright.PENANAHsI8q2UcPr
reached the end of the hall where he found a door with a golden door 736Please respect copyright.PENANADtvcUdy3XY
knob shaped in a head of a ferocious lion. For a moment, the head of the736Please respect copyright.PENANA71nOX2SbMA
lion looked deadly to touch, like it would bite your hand off at any 736Please respect copyright.PENANAY19Rcv9vAj
second.736Please respect copyright.PENANAKB2IvYjV6V
He736Please respect copyright.PENANAO0FhiDH8Cy
wiped away the sweat from his head with his already sweaty hand and 736Please respect copyright.PENANAwJvFm6jMDF
wiped his hand on his shirt. He held the door knob, twisted it and 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPYpbyDNxtR
slowly pushed the door open. His heart beat quickened at each dying 736Please respect copyright.PENANACTpYN4c7cy
second as he took in the surrounding of the room. For a second, it was 736Please respect copyright.PENANAkshQxTaxmr
completely dark and then a bright light quickly flashed before his eyes.736Please respect copyright.PENANAHJD3fWOEfg
He held up his hands to shield his eyes from the striking light. When 736Please respect copyright.PENANABaRI2ZSBZ4
his eyes had adjusted to the light, he realised that the light in the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAlvw6AmQ1ux
room came from outside. Someone had just drawn the curtain window. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA506dSUMuZ9
"You're late, again."736Please respect copyright.PENANAn1soH6fT6I
His736Please respect copyright.PENANAuJ8HhNhUx8
heart beat quickened even more. He didn't like that tone. Even though 736Please respect copyright.PENANAsWHRZOYGMr
the words came out calmy, it carried ferociousness in it just like that 736Please respect copyright.PENANArXKLNWpeQz
lion door knob. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAfGdIXlcxfa
He736Please respect copyright.PENANAUMQvFbglI2
lowered his hands slowly as he saw a dark silhouette of a talk man 736Please respect copyright.PENANAPTd94eNwXA
standing in front of him with the man's back towards the huge windows. 736Please respect copyright.PENANAqjH5MRG8QD
"What736Please respect copyright.PENANAAaWENuprpg
do you have to say for yourself?" came that voice again from the tall 736Please respect copyright.PENANAYbls8bTfQD
man. "Do I always have to remind you of what to do around here?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA0uwkot1inN
"No.... no, no..... you don't," mumbled the sweaty man in fear, "I'm sorry I came late."736Please respect copyright.PENANAOTqUKPFn90
"Again. You came late, again," said he tall man.736Please respect copyright.PENANA1HFxUzZt7k
"I've always told you that he is of no use to us," came a hoarse female voice, "but you never listen to me."736Please respect copyright.PENANAlB3yHxCSGx
A736Please respect copyright.PENANAHSJdXplQeg
female figure stepped out of the shadows and went to stand beside the 736Please respect copyright.PENANA9hUQA8nxiX
man in front of the huge windows. There faces were blinded by the light 736Please respect copyright.PENANAukFrIAkLzZ
as they had their backs towards the window.736Please respect copyright.PENANAlqdOIau6pR
"You know we need him," said the tall man.736Please respect copyright.PENANAedmeaweWCs
"But he is useless as always," said the woman, "I don't know why you have kept him alive all this time."736Please respect copyright.PENANAkPMB85VwYe
"Lets go back to the matter at hand, shall we? Now, tell me what news you have for me."736Please respect copyright.PENANALCTwu47G1n
The736Please respect copyright.PENANABwfBeBHWLh
sweaty man wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. Dealing with the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAuoozU1lw7V
people in front of him wasn't easy, especially when you knew your life 736Please respect copyright.PENANARHx4sMkz4H
was in their hands and they could crush it whenever they felt like it.736Please respect copyright.PENANAHCZjaSAwAZ
"We have bad news I'm afraid," started the sweaty man.736Please respect copyright.PENANAMm5cpb8IGt
"What kind of bad news?" asked the tall man, his voice still calm.736Please respect copyright.PENANAGbHfX4HLXY
"It's Miss Marie. I'm afraid she could spoil our plans."736Please respect copyright.PENANAXD5EnAJcPI
"That old hag?" asked the woman. "Didn't I tell you we should have eliminated her sooner?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAeesWPd1auL
"Don't insult her like that, will you?" insisted the tall man.736Please respect copyright.PENANApMwNhMOmvC
"Oh, please! She's a pest and you know it."736Please respect copyright.PENANAGms1yRRfJE
"As much as she is a pest to you, she is also very crooked. So we must play our cards right."736Please respect copyright.PENANAu2joSpVDVW
"What if she reveals the truth?"736Please respect copyright.PENANAnM5sTvN23Q
"No, Miss Marie is too smart to pull off that move. We just have to keep a watchful eye on her."736Please respect copyright.PENANAlu0fK2BYcC
"She was seen this morning going to the late Griselda's mansion," blurted out the sweaty man.736Please respect copyright.PENANAGzJeMEBAZj
For a moment, silence hung over them.736Please respect copyright.PENANALt0lZCP8TV
"You see! I told you," said the woman, "that old hag has no limits."736Please respect copyright.PENANA5nABywG8Wo
"But still she won't say anything," said the tall man. "I know her better than you do."736Please respect copyright.PENANAaT95MLnr9y
"I still suggest we get rid of her though."736Please respect copyright.PENANAKb41bD42dV
"I736Please respect copyright.PENANAktWh3lk9Pp
know." The tall man then addreader the sweaty man in front of him. 736Please respect copyright.PENANA9Z6u3afQnd
"Assign men to watch over Miss Marie 24/7. That woman may pull out 736Please respect copyright.PENANAViXAiSGmrF
something under our noses and I want to be one step ahead of her."736Please respect copyright.PENANA77p0yOS5Ka
"Yes, sir," said the sweaty man as he quickly left the room.736Please respect copyright.PENANAzvnSjxwNq8
"Aren't you going to assign anyone over....." the woman wanted to ask but the tall man raised his hand to silence her.736Please respect copyright.PENANA13BmFJiLwr
"Don't worry about that," said the man smoothly. "I already have someone special working on that."736Please respect copyright.PENANA5bHWRCKknz
***736Please respect copyright.PENANAIungjqEirj
The736Please respect copyright.PENANAxbyWAcF0mB
Diamond stud on his left ear, his hair cropped on one side with the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAWlwmjGEkgZ
rest of his blonde hair falling over his right striking blue eye..... 736Please respect copyright.PENANAEVBwE7srd9
how could Rhénee have not seen all of this sooner? From all she could 736Please respect copyright.PENANAm09TUaeto6
remember, his eyes weren't striking blue as they were now. The last time736Please respect copyright.PENANAiRuJzHCtib
they met, they seemed sky blue.736Please respect copyright.PENANAKCclV2M825
And736Please respect copyright.PENANAcDn61vsQjq
the girl who served her at the restaurant was none other than Greta. No736Please respect copyright.PENANA3cD1CeJDCw
wonder Rhénee had felt like she had seen Greta before.736Please respect copyright.PENANAiDYDQzaHhc
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANAgFa6HwdDxT
couldn't stop staring at Malcom from where she sat with Miss Marie. 736Please respect copyright.PENANANumfAxfH4N
Greta and Kevin occupied a couch to Rhénee's right while Malcom occupied736Please respect copyright.PENANAOAbYyU43CD
the couch opposite from where Rhénee sat. Miss Griselda was serving 736Please respect copyright.PENANA6WimrFRMdx
everyone a cup of tea and coffee, whichever anyone preferred, on the 736Please respect copyright.PENANALoEDg7jjx5
coffee table in the middle.736Please respect copyright.PENANAbid6CFu68h
When736Please respect copyright.PENANASZuuv2hfc7
Miss Griselda served Malcom his coffee, he looked up at Rhénee and 736Please respect copyright.PENANAUD2JuvQ9S8
caught her staring at him. Rhénee blushed as she quickly looked away.736Please respect copyright.PENANA2l0eu2UUHR
"Here, Rhénee," Miss Griselda was holding a cup of coffee for Rhénee to take.736Please respect copyright.PENANAajgLmbk0Nh
"It's fine, Miss Griselda. I'll drink it later. I'm in no mood for coffee at the moment," said Rhénee.736Please respect copyright.PENANAqX490XAu4q
"Are you sure?"736Please respect copyright.PENANApdqKt8G5S4
"Yes, I'm positive."736Please respect copyright.PENANA1Lmb6uN4mC
Miss736Please respect copyright.PENANA7VlIe5hKwy
Griselda placed the cup of coffee on the table and went to take her 736Please respect copyright.PENANALOyBAvmVa0
seat opposite Greta and Kevin. Silence hung over them for a while and 736Please respect copyright.PENANAwaCQ5GWKUN
Rhénee started to tap her feet on the floor while others took a few sips736Please respect copyright.PENANASE3BwlZF81
from their cups.736Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZQhNvhHiI
"Well, thus us a weird gathering," said Rhénee as he broke the silence.736Please respect copyright.PENANADrLlFDeg3I
"It sure is," said Malcom, with a cocky grin on his face. Rhénee I felt her face heat up.736Please respect copyright.PENANAOcHbn2sAAQ
"I agree," said Miss Marie. "So, where shall we start?"736Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yd9rgu3Df
"How about the mysterious person, Rhénee was talking about a while ago?" Malcom asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANA9Kms74eMj2
"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.736Please respect copyright.PENANAAG9zi84kLu
"All that can come at another time, Rhénee."736Please respect copyright.PENANAD3bNEwmuLf
"I don't need another time," Rhénee's tone was becoming tense. "I want now."736Please respect copyright.PENANAA1Bb2cTrvY
"To be fair, Rhénee, we've answered most of your questions," said Greta. "Now it's time you answered ours."736Please respect copyright.PENANASarJnb2FNH
"Doesn't all this have to do with me?" Rhénee asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANAcOuwxNPpSZ
"Yes, it does, but this time you've to answer us," said Kevin. "We're trying to help you."736Please respect copyright.PENANAPDKI9XCHsL
"But I'm the one in control here. And I say we go for my question," said Rhénee.736Please respect copyright.PENANA34xICn7Qbs
"Oh, goodness, you're one tough but aren't you?" Miss Marie asked.736Please respect copyright.PENANAwUlajLQiYN
"Rhénee, we don't have to make all this into one big fight," said Miss Griselda. "It's best you calm down, please."736Please respect copyright.PENANAB6TNoDuuKs
"She's right," said Malcom, "apparently, most of us in here want to go for the first question. How about you, Miss Marie?"736Please respect copyright.PENANABVbitAP110
"I agree," answered Miss Marie.736Please respect copyright.PENANAxudWjDEfPi
"Oh,736Please respect copyright.PENANAuPk0cb1JgT
come on!" Rhénee raised her arms in frustration. "How can I be outvoted736Please respect copyright.PENANAQ06QMSl0Ly
like to this? Miss Marie and I just talked about it and I betshe knows 736Please respect copyright.PENANAqEUcuM1iuA
who he is."736Please respect copyright.PENANAGXbe7vkDnQ
"Rules are rules," said Malcom, "now, tell us what you know."736Please respect copyright.PENANAW4tr6he6RF
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANAwrH0gjmgAf
scowled. She thought trying to bend away from talking about the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAjPTD4IoYif
mysterious stranger might have worked out but it didn't. She didn't want736Please respect copyright.PENANAoOdO48Cxp2
to get anyone's lives in this room in danger and the only way to do 736Please respect copyright.PENANA3XNNbm1JHL
that was to tell them about the stranger's warning.736Please respect copyright.PENANAthpD4VgJ1L
Rhénee736Please respect copyright.PENANAnOaC9wwMon
sighed, feeling defeated as she took a cupcake from the table and a 736Please respect copyright.PENANAuoyrOhInYr
huge bite out of it. All of this was making her hungry and she hated it.736Please respect copyright.PENANAKwaEn6tgVP
Sophie jumped from Miss Marie's lap to Rhénee's. It was good that the 736Please respect copyright.PENANAYV33mbZZEM
cat was on her side. Rhénee felt a little relieved by the cat's gesture.736Please respect copyright.PENANAMUCW2Za46M
"Fine,736Please respect copyright.PENANAUgNeXB9o8g
I'll tell you," said Rhénee, after swallowing the cupcake in her mouth.736Please respect copyright.PENANAw7PoeA0Ckc
"But at the end of it all, you'll have to choose. You either walk away 736Please respect copyright.PENANAJcUYoPQLrY
or die if you stay by me."736Please respect copyright.PENANATVeqMXAI11