NARROW ESCAPE

ANTONIO'S MANSION 

Lizzy was busy as usual, attending to her chores in the kitchen when a ring from the door bell invaded. She groaned in exhaustion and yelled out at Agnes who stood at the hall with Lola, Natasha's cat. 

" Agnes, please get the door." Agnes whined in hesitation

" Why should it be me?" She cried. "I'm very busy at the moment– can't you get it yourself or ask Gina to do so and stop bordering me." She roared back which made Lizzy bursted out in anger.

" Silly head!" She cursed. " Can't you see I'm  busy at the kitchen and Gina is still attending to Mr. Antonio at his library? – By the way what are you so busy with that you can't get the door...."

" Taking care of Mrs. Natasha's cat. It hasn't eaten since morning and I don't want it to starve to death." She swiftly cut in. Lizzy's jaw slacked in awe.

" What?" She howled, tilting her head. "Gosh, Agnes, I will so kill you before the cat if I get there." She threatened which made Agnes jolt and bolted to the door in hesitation.

" Who is at the door, Agnes...?", Gina queried as she glided down the stairs, approaching the hall.

" Is Mr. George!"

" Oh, let him in. Mr. Antonio had been expecting him." Gina mumbled. Agnes led him to the hall and returned to her work.

" Hey, Lola" She called out to the cat, carrying it on her laps. "I'm back for you but don't be mad at Lizzy, she's always like that– Come on,  let's go out before she starts nagging again ...." She swiftly sauntered out with the cat.

Gina and George starred at her puzzled as she dashed out of the hall. Gina giggled, tilting her head." Um, Mr.George ?" She called, drawing his attention to her.

"This way please..", She eluded. Mr George nodded with a smile.

" Oh, yeah" He mumbked and trod after her as they headed to the library.

************

HOSPITAL

Desmond strolled through the corridors of the hospital and paused in front of Gisel's ward. He stood for a moment, his gaze fixed on the door, nervous. He let out a heavy sigh

" I wish I'd told you earlier before now but as the saying goes– it's better late than never"

He  slowly pushed the door open, his eyes lurked through the room as he peeped through before sauntering over to her bed. He stood beside her in silence as his fixed gaze kept staring at her, blank.

" I'm here, Gisel".  He stuttered. " I miss that smile  you always put on every time,  either in good time or bad time. I wish you could smile for me again, Gisel" The tears soaked in his eyes, slowly drifted down.

"It really took me so long to realize this, Gi– That  I....Love ...You. And if i could wish for anytthinf at the moment" He sighed. "Is for you to wake up,I can't stay any longer without you by my side..."

He caressed her face and kissed her on the forehead. Just then, he felt a strong aura emitting from the flowers and the teddy bear next to her. He instinctively coughed.

" who brought these flowers and teddy bear?"  He groaned. "Its aura alone is strong enough to chock a person to death. Goodness, for how long had this been here...."

Desmond quickly picked them up, covering his nose and dashed out of the ward with it. 

" Doctor! –Doctor " He called as he sauntered over to a doctor by the counter.

" How may I help you, gentleman?" He approached. Desmond spoke up, showing the items to him.

" Please,I want to ask if you know the person who dropped these items in ward 23?– It's aura is too strong for a patient." He expectantly gazed at him.

" No, sir but don't worry I will let them dispose it as soon as possible." he quickly called to the security man at the door.

"Josh, kindly take these things and dispose it off immediately. Make sure no one comes in contact with it."

" Okay, sir", the man took the things from Desmond and dashed out.

" Thank you so much sir. And please, can you kindly check on the patient in that ward for me. I feel she had inhaled it for a while now."

" Okay, let's go now." 

Desmond quickly lead the way, towards Gisel's ward.

***************

Natasha drove through the busy street to the outskirt of the town. She instinctively pulled over in front of a dark forest. She alighted, glanced around carefully to make sure she wasn't followed or seen. Certain she was alone, she quickly sped off into the forest. After about an hour walk, she paused in front of a huge mansion which looks like an ancient palace. She stared for awhile and smiled.

" Mum, I finally came to visit." She mumbled and trod in. 

The room was so dark and quite with webs covering every corner. Even a pin dropped could be heard.

" Are you done with the task I gave you.?", a voice echoed from the hall.

" Almost , mum." She retorted as she sauntered closer.

" Why are you here then?" the voice came again, cold. Natasha trembled.

" I wanted to see you that is why I came." She stuttered but the voice howled furious. The thundering voice rushed through the room, thumping things to the floor.

" That is not necessary for now. Go and finish your task. And secondly, find a way to get  Desmond out of your way. He is being an hindrance to your plot against Gisel, just look at this with your own eyes."

She hit a stone tablet beside her and suddenly a screen showing the hospital appeared. Natasha glared furiously at the screen after witnessing what Desmond did.

" Is time to get rid of you, Desmond.! " Natasha roared, her face roguish and wolfish as her chest rose and fell rapidly with anger. Without uttering anymore words, she stormed out of the mansion.

************

HOSPITAL

It was almost 11:00pm, Desmond still sat beside Gisel's bed. He held her hand in his and his head rested on the bed, fast asleep. He squinted as he drifted out of his sleep. He instinctively gazed up at her face and a faint smile dazzled on her lips as he straightened his back, adjusting himself on the seat. He didn't realize when slept of while keeping watch over her.

He glanced at the clock next to the bed and sighed. It was already late. He rosed to his feet and kissed her on the forehead.

" I have to go now, Gisel but I promise to come visit early after school." He eluded and sauntered out of the ward. Desmond's house was 6 about kilometres away from the hospital and the street was quiet a lonely one. He strolled through the street lost in thoughts. 

Just then, he heard a voice calling from the bushes along the path. He fliched, his face flashed in fright as he consciously lurked around but found no one. He swiftly glanced around for the last time and sauntered off again but the voice howled once more which made him pause in his steps.

" Help– me, please "

Desmond trembled. " Who is there? where are you... ?", he queried, rushing towards the voice.

"I'm here –please help me !!" It became louder as he got closer. Just when he was about to slide into the bushes, a white land cruiser, pulled up beside him. He instinctively jolted, causing him to lose his balance in the process since he wasn't expecting. 

He stared at the window while the driver rolled down the glass.

"Desmond?" a male voice called from the car. "What're you doing here at this odd hour" he queried.

"Uncle Bernard?" Desmond exclaimed, his eyes wide in outer surprise. "How did you get here?–Mum said you travelled out of the country " He stuttered on which made Ben chortled.

" Yes I did, dear but just returned–Come on, let me drop you at home." He opened the front door which lead to the seat next to the driver's seat for him. Desmond nodded but instinctively gazed back at the direction of the call again.

"Um, uncle?" He mumbled. "I heard someone calling for help–Let's try and find her, she might be in danger"

Ben sceptically glanced over his head towards the bush, thoughtfully and spoke up. " There's  no one here, Desmond, it might be your mind playing tricks on you– come on let's go home.."

Desmond stared at him and back at the bush, not so convinced with what he said but nodded as he shrug it off.

He held the door, glanced around for the last time to make sure his ears were really not deceiving him but heard  nothing. He sighed and hopped onto the car and they drove off.

Just then, Natasha appeared from the bush and stood in the middle of the road with her fixed gaze fixed on their car as it diminished into the distance.

" You had a narrow escape this time, Desmond. The next time won't be so lucky for you. You better stay out of my way...", she muttered and disappeared.

************

DESMOND'S HOUSE

In no time, the car pulled over in front of Desmond's house. He alighted and trod towards the door, absent mindedly. He suddenly paused when he realized his uncle was not coming.

" Ain't you coming in, uncle. I'm sure mum will be glad to see you ", he exclaimed.

" No dear, I have to rush off now. I'll come back and visit tomorrow– Hurry and get in, its  late"

Desmond tried to inisit but he realized it wouldn't work so she finally agreed. " Okay, bye and thanks for the ride.."

He nodded with a smile. He stared at him as he sauntered into the house. " I'm glad I came just on time, Desmond.", he muttered and drove off.