Chapter One Hundred and Forty Nine Annabelle _ It was past four o'clock in the afternoon when Nana knocked on my room door and said, “Can I come in?” “Sure, you can.” I recognized her voice and answered her. I was working on my laptop on my bed. Brooklyn was beside me but she was engrossed in her phone. “Is anything the matter?” I asked Nana because she looked very worried as she walked into my room. She always wore a soft grin even when she wasn't in the best of mood so I was alarmed by her facial expression. “It's Johnson.” The moment I heard that, I sat up straight. I didn't know that Brooklyn wasn't as engrossed as I thought she was on her phone because the moment she heard what Nana had said she jumped up and said, “What happened to him?” “He is yet to be back from school. I've called the school management and they said he was no longer in school and that he was picked up by a black car.” Brooklyn and I looked at ourselves and echoed together, “What black car?” I calmed
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Annabelle_ The time was fast spent and we still couldn't get through to Henry, nor did anyone come home with Johnson. “What are we going to do Brooklyn? Where is Johnson?” I became so stressed and I kept asking Brooklyn several questions. “I don't know who can even help with this.” I stood up severally and sat back on my chair minutes later, then stood up again. I did not know what to do and it felt as if we were running out of time. I held my phone in my hand expecting Henry to call or a miracle to happen. Then, I started to feel a vibration in my hand before my phone rang. Because I was anxious already, I did not let it ring at all. I picked up the call immediately and said, “Did you pick Johnson up from school?” I had seen who called before I picked but it wasn't Henry,it was Travis. I just felt that for him to call me at that time he was probably the one who picked Johnson. “Annabelle, are you fine?” Those were Travis's first response to me.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty OneTravis_I had gotten ready to leave for Annabelle's home when Samantha walked into my room and said, “Where are you going this early?”I knew that wasn't what she had planned to ask me because she had a surprised look on her face.“I'm going to see Annabelle. She can't find her son.” I felt that if I was being sincere with Samantha, she would not try to stress me like she always did.“I see. Well, I came to remind you about what I had asked you and I need the money as soon as possible.” Samantha showed little to no concern about the fact that I said Johnson was kidnapped.On seeing what she was about that morning, I didn't think it was necessary to stress myself over arguing with her so I said, “You know what, when I get back, we will discuss that. For now, I need to be on my way.”I stood up and headed out the door.I honestly expected Samantha to shout or nag or say something but she didn't. I just perceived that she was looking at me as I walked aw
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty TwoTravis_I did not want to answer the policewoman because I did not want to get Annabelle offended if I said I was Johnson's father.“It's just the gene in the family. We all look alike. One won't know who gave birth to who in my household. “ I responded to the Policewoman.“Oh, I see. You both look alike though. I just had to ask. I see the reason why you followed her here to find him. Someone can not be the carbon copy of you and go missing without making you feel worried too.” She smiled and said warmly, “But you all should not worry much. If it is true that he left an unknown vehicle, we will get the CCTV cameras and identify the vehicle and who owns it.The policewoman turned to Annabelle and asked, “Have I helped to an extent?”I knew Annabelle wanted them to do something about it immediately but there was nothing they could do about it at that instant. “Yeah. You did the best you could and you were very warm too. I'm grateful, thank you.” Annab
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Three Annabelle_ Everyone seemed to not be aware that Johnson was missing in his school and that made me more furious about them all. “How could it be that my child would be missing and even after I had called the school, the information wasn't passed to the right authority that could do something about it in their school.” I thought to myself. I had spoken a lot of words to the Principal of the school and I just didn't want to add anything more. The Principal led us to the room where all the cameras were being watched in the school. Immediately she entered, the staff stood up and greeted her. They were all surprised to see her in their monitor room. “Do you have the video coverage of yesterday?” The principal asked them. “Yes ma, but it might soon delete on its own.” One of the staff answered. “Is it possible that we can extract the video to another system because we can not afford to not have access to it again because it was not kept” I cut in
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Four Annabelle _ Brooklyn went to get me food and she came and told me, “You should come to the dining room to eat your meal because we can't keep Travis in the parlor alone.” “Travis is still around?” I was surprised to hear that because I thought he was going to leave after he dropped us off. “Yes, he is. He has just been sitting in the parlor.” On hearing that Travis was still around I felt bad because I didn't mean to treat him like he wasn't important to me. I stood up after realizing that and made my way out of the room with Brooklyn. Brooklyn stopped me in the corridor and said, “We are going to find Johnson. Please don't push all of us away because of what is going on. I know this can be so hard for you but I need you to know that it's so hard for everyone also and seeing you in this state makes it harder for us. I'm sure the reason why Travis has not gone is because he's as bothered about his son as you are but he's deciding to be here fo
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Five Annabelle_ “What is wrong with you? Did you not care that I said that I was looking for my son? Why would I care to focus on getting married even after I have told you severally that this wouldn't work?” I yelled at Henry and I was seated in front of Travis. It was going to be the first time he would find out that I had issues with getting married to Henry. I stood up and walked away from the midst of them so they would not hear the conversation that Henry and I were having. “Let me make something very clear to you, Annabelle. Enough of this childish way you've been behaving and I have been condoning. You do not have a say in this because I have given you all the time to think about this. Now I'm taking it up, whether you want to do it or not, we are going to get married to each other. Just prepare your mind.” Henry said in a stern voice. “Are you trying to threaten me? What do you mean by I do not have a say? Now you listen to me, you will do w
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Six Annabelle _ Brooklyn had opened the laptop and transferred the file to mine before she came downstairs to give it to Travis and me to watch. “I saw something very interesting in this video. I'm glad we got to it first.” Brooklyn said as he placed it on the table before us. Nana brought us juice because it was already late at night and we had all just been in the parlor thinking and discussing about what we would do without eating or drinking anything. “Thank you, Nana.” I turned to her, picked up the glass of juice and sipped it. “You should join us to watch the content of the video too. Anything you see that is strange, you can note it down too.” I added. I knew she was going to be very happy to be included. Brooklyn played the video for us to see how Johnson was taken away by an unidentified vehicle. The camera was positioned in front of him which was why we could see his face as he sat on a chair and smiled while watching the other students