{ I bought you a semi-detached house on Cross estate. Three bedrooms and two living rooms. That should be enough for you, my love.The details have been attached below.I miss you.Jude.}When I got his mail, I placed a voice message to Ria and sent her the home address. I finally made up my mind that I wouldn't be alone in that big house. Since she's also into music, we would be better together.*Ria and I, exhausted and sweaty, dropped the last of thepacking boxes on the dining room carpet. I can alreadyfeel her muscles starting to cramp up and I knew she was goingto be in serious pain tomorrow. I had a lot in Jude's house to move, a lot. And Ria's boxes, just too much.I looked over at Ria, she had this unending grin on her face.We were probably thinking the same thing. This is so good. Her cotton blouse was drenched in sweat but I didn't care when she came over and wrapped me in a bear hug. " It is beautiful. I could share in the rent if you want me.""No no, you don't need
"Hey Kim," I said. She was at the door at seven in the morning for the housewarming. Her knock had woken us up. "Oh my, let me guess."She walked in, with her usual sense of euphoria. "You guys are just waking up.""Exactly."I laughed. "Damn, you're too early, Ria rushed into the bathroom just now.""Beautiful house!" She exclaimed as she slumped onto the couch. "Hope you have something in your kitchen? I'll make breakfast. It's my off day at work.""A little, yes. Can you make a meal? I don't know."She followed me to the kitchen and searched each cupboard."Go freshen up. I'll make a meal."She smiled while I left. Best girlfriends!*"This is good!" Ria exclaimed after taking a bit of her food. Kim made noodles and egg sauce. I was especially marvelled at how she was able to manage the resources in the kitchen to do that. I loved the food immediately."Majored in culinary after high school."She blushed. "I'm glad you like it.""I do too. You should teach me how to cook one of these d
"Happy Birthday Paige!"I took a short glance at Ria, she winked at me, then Kim, she smiled. The food, a four-course meal, was exposed on the dining table.They all had smiles, Kim, Henry, the other three guys, expecting me to say something. I was just too shocked to say a word.I inspected the dishes, each of them, Classic Caesar Salad, Chef-made dressing, imported aged parmesan, garlic croutons, Alligator Stuffed Mushroom, shrimp served with toasted french bread and jalapeno-cheddar grits, White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Brandy Sauce. Wow! I remembered immediately that I'd told Ria once how much I'd like to eat all of those.Such a darling!"This is..."I gasped."I don't know what to say. I didn't expect this... Thank you so much guys. You really made my day.""Time to pop champagne then!"Henry said. The others cheered, after the pop sound. Kim embraced me, Ria slapped me on my back. We sat at the table to eat. I wasn't gonna stare at him. I told myself.And I didn't."You guys
When they were all gone that day, Kim and Ria sat at the table to listen to me. Ria was pissed that I didn't say Hi to Henry, despite all her sermons and Kim, she was completely lost."Start talking! You guys have hidden enough. What's with that guy and your awkwardness? You two!" Kim yelled.Ria smiled. It wasn't funny to me though."Who should start first then?"Ria asked."You. You planned this whole awkward arrangement. And the tension between your boss and Paige should be explainable."She nodded playfully. "You know, I was also surprised that he stared at her throughout breakfast and after, until our baby girl ran up to her room to cry."She laughed. I threw a pillow at her. "I invited them over fine! But I can't explain that "awkwardness". ""Let's start with the five-star four-course meal you asked us to cook." Kim seemed impatient. Who wouldn't be? Ria was giving a lot of clues and saying nothing at the same time."Once we went to a party."I decided to explain that myself. "She
Ria came dancing into my room. It wasn't strange, she danced a lot whenever she was happy. I only knew something was up and I could not wait for her to spill it."Aww...so what is it this time?"I yawned, stressed from school work. She packed up the books in front of me and sat on the desk."I have good news and bad news."She said smiling, she didn't look like she carried bad news at all. "Which one should I spill out first?""Good news for sure"She giggled playfully. "I have a date tonight!"Oh finally! "Wow, good for you babe..." She embraced me before I was able to complete my sentence.Too excited. Hmm..."You like the guy this much?""Actually, I've been crushing on him since forever. He's part of my band. The school band. Just as young and vibrant as Henry..."Why did she bring that up?!"He wasn't here that on your birthday. I was too shy to invite him."Shy?! Ria has never been shy!"You were shy. Oh, I'm surprised.""You never know with love, baby."She placed her middle fing
"How did it go? You weren't home last night." Ria said the next morning. I was at the kitchen table, brooding on coffee."I decided to spend the night and get some other stuff done,"I said. She smiled. "How was the interview?""I got your interview. It's over there."I pointed toward a cabinet in a corner of the living room."Thank you sis."She blew me a kiss."So, how was your date?"She grabbed a chair and sat with me."Splendid. I think he's different. From other guys. He's wise.""And I don't know his name yet."She never mentioned it."Samuel."She blushed. "I can't believe I never mentioned his name. He's Sam. I'm getting older, Paige.""You're twenty-two now, yes you are old." I snapped."So it wouldn't be weird if I said, I'd love to get married to this guy?""Too Weird!"I exclaimed. "You only had one date yesterday!""Doesn't matter..."She pouted her lips. "I want to be with Sam forever. Lord, he's the best!""Well, good luck with that."I stood up. "I need to be somewhere today
"Henry!"I yelled."Master Henry just went out through the back door. He asked that, I keep an eye on you." The robot said. "Have your seat, Miss Kam, he'll be back soon."What is all this? Why is he keeping me in his house?!"Have your seat, Miss Kam," she repeated."Shut up!"I shrieked. "I'm not sitting. I have a place to go. Get the door open now!""Only Master Henry can open the door."I snorted. "And why did he fucking leave me here?!"The robot was quiet.I dropped my bag on the couch.Checked the time, it was still very early, 10:12am.I took a walk round the hall. All the other doors were locked."How do I get to the studio?!""Move three meters forward, to the door on your left."The robot answered as if expecting the question.The door to the studio was wide open, it was in a mess. He broke his guitar!Bad moment. I muttered, remembering how I had broken mine."Seems like our instrument is the first thing we place our aggressions on as musicians," I said aloud, picking up the
"Wait," he murmured. "Listen to me."I stepped back to get his hands off my waist. "I don't know what you are thinking..."I do not want to hear that!"You know what, just answer my questions. I don't need your explanation. I might look crazy to you but..."I swallowed. "Why do you have my high school picture framed in your studio?"" Cause I know Paige Kam. Obviously, she's a star." He stopped. I would have laughed in his face if I hadn't been so serious. He only annoyed me more."You're not going to tell me who Henry really is, huh? Are you Damien Smith?!" I yelled. He smiled. "Yes I am."I blinked, felt like a dream or another hallucination. I really need a therapist.He laughed. "Stop staring like you've just seen a ghost. I'm Damien!"I jumped on him in a tight embrace."Oh my God, this must be a dream. Crazy punk! That ugly pretence wasn't so good."I whispered. He held me so tight like he was never going to let go. I was happy. Yes, I'm not crazy. I know Damien when I see him. B
”Are you sure Hope sent you to me?“???”Who else would send me to you if not her?“ He replied with a question, intentionally questioning her insecurities.”Are you sure she's okay? Or are you…lying to me?“ she asked.”She is fine. “ he forced on a smile. ”i'm curious though, why do you care so much?“”i might be hidden in this dark place but I still priorities and Hope is one of them.“Kyle pondered on that statement. It sounded strange coming from a stranger who obviously isn't a stranger anymore. How come? She even calls her by her most cherished name.”That's great.“ he smiled and she nodded.Kamila really did a good job.He thought. But where the hell is she now to complete it?!”Jude Kam was a successful business man so yeah, he had a lot of enemies. Just like you you guys, the cops, do.“She answered willingly.”we do?“ Kyle smirked.”i hate policemen. All of them!“ she spat.Kyle swallowed. ”Why, if I may ask?“Conspiracy. They're failed in a lot of ways. They always have a pr
He woke up with a kick, made by his legs. Another nightmare!He sniffed soberly and dragged himself to the bathroom to wash off the dream not only from his face but from his life. She might be missing now, but she'll be back. He told himself.He was on a compulsory leave and when he checked the time, he saw that he really needed the leave. At first when his boss asked him to stay off work until she is found he argued. To him, it was better that he was at work. He will be more miserable if he's alone without her. He and his team has worked so hard for the past two days, even at night. He settled in late the night before because he had visited a dead trail.It's always been a dead trail. He dragged himself down the stairs to the kitchen, but could not enter. Everywhere smells of her.He kicked a pillow on the rug and sat by the couch. The same way they sit every night. They prefer to sit on the rug than the couch. He sucked on a tear.“Shit…” he hissed, throwing away another pillow. He
“You're not going to say anything?” I said. “I saw a picture in her room. You both were in it. That's why you looked so familiar when I saw you. Or am I…”“You are right.” I gasped. “I should have told you earlier. I was just too… shocked.And hurt. I could tell“ She killed her uncle.I was silent waiting for his reply, maybe he also knew that he wasn't her uncle but her dad“Jude Kam.” He said, as if reading my mind. “She didn't.I winced. The truth gets so hard to believe. “Who are you to her?“ I can't say.” He gasped. “I don't know if I'm worthy anymore to be called by any title to her. She's not going to forgive me. I won't forgive myself, either. It's all my fault.“I'm lost, “I declared“Since we're here together, and we have all day, I'll explain to you.I sat by his side, putting on my only asset, the tape recorder“Jude Kam use to think he was a powerful man. Perhaps he was. His best friend, Brianne Hooke, killed him. He is the same person who have us here. And he's going t
Kyle got home that night sad and distressed. It was the second night that he was going to spend without her. He had searched all the places he could think of. He had been to that address she sent to him the umpteenth time. Yet, she still was missing. He took a bottle of wine from the fridge and gulped in it. Hoping that it would ease his tension. " She's not dead. "He told himself. "It's not two days yet. I'll find her."He blamed himself severally for allowing her take up the case when he knew what danger was in it, blamed himself for ignoring his phone beep while at a rescue mission. Of course, it should have been switched off but he didn't because of his gut feeling. Yet he still failed her.The landline hung on the wall beeped and he reached for it immediately. There was an unfamiliar ID and he wouldn't have picked it if it was not for Kamila's disappearance."Hello."He rasped."Hello, Miss Dickson. I finally tried your home number today. How's everything?""It's her husband speak
I wasn't dead. My eyelids were heavy, and I was cold.it was all too dark, and I could barely see. I moved my hands, and it moved, and my legs moved too. The last I remember was that I was pushed into a vehicle, and that seemed like an eternity ago.I grunted in pain as I pushed off my bruised knees. I was an idiot. I should have waited. I should have called Kyle. He warned me not to go anywhere without him. Paige warned me too. Now I've failed her. I'm caged in here by God knows who, and I won't be able to help her out of there. What is a disaster?!Once I was on my feet, I ripped off the tape on my mouth. Did they expect me to sleep forever? Tch...I took in my surroundings. I was in a cage at one end of a closed basement, and a dim lantern on the side of the space cast just enough light to see dark walls.“Shit!” I gasped. The heat the lantern created was just too unbearable, and I thought that it was the intended torture by my captives.Someone moaned softly. I spuned and gasped w
After that short meeting with Paige, I could not control my nerves. All my being told me to get on with it with or without protection. Besides, Kyle is always busy at work and I can't afford to bother him with mine. Maybe, this is for me. I should do this myself. I wasn't hurt when I visited the villa. Why should I be so scared to visit a college student's house?And i need all the information I can get as soon as possible. There's a lot at stake here, obviously.I parked my car at the entrance of this small cottage gate. I knew immediately that the estate has assured its occupants adequate safety because almost every house has this short cottage gate. I got down from my car, my phone, a polythene bag and some gloves in hand. I was hoping to see something. I just didn't know what exactly.The gate wasn't locked and there was still a car in the lot, probably hers. In the world where tinted car windows showef wealthiness, I hoped someday I'll make enough to get mine tinted and maintaine
"She's my mum and... You don't have to believe me."She stopped and I was quiet too. Thinking."Can we..."She said. "I wanna be alone. I... Can you come tomorrow? I'll talk to you tomorrow. I don't feel alright anymore."She winced."Did I say something wrong?""No, I'm just tired of this conversation.""Okay...but!"I remembered something. "Do you... hurt yourself in there?""Do I look insane to you?"She said, then yelled. "Warder! Get me out of here!"Time to go. I told myself."Okay Paige, thank you for speaking with me."The warder appeared and unchained her. Before I was done packing up she was gone. That was... breathe taking. I needed some sleep. When I got into the car, my phone beeped. It was then I realized I have spent hours in there. It's noon already, past lunchtime. Little wonder, I'm so exhausted."Kamila."He said on the other end. Whenever he calls my name on the phone I get that he is quite serious. Actually, he rarely calls during the day."Hey."I yawned."I found some
“Good to see you today.” I said, while she just nodded. I prayed that she would be in a good mood, but her silence spoke otherwise. I took some time to observe her before talking further. Her hair was unusually packed today, and it gave me a full view of her distressed yet stunning face. She is the real definition of beauty for ashes. Though she still had some scars on her left cheek, the redness of those scars only complemented her beauty. She didn't have any blood stain today on her body, and I wondered why.She looked…good, and that gave me enough hope.“How're you doing today?”“You've only been gone for some hours.” She said, more like a whisper, and with time I realized that was the highest she could go. Life in the prison has taken her voice, and her soul, probably. I just can't imagine…“Hope,” She called me.“Yes, Paige.”“Do you…know my mother? Annabelle Steele?” She asked and I answered immediately.“Who doesn't? I do. I loved her…very much.”“Do you believe me? That she's
"Leave?" I said. "No, I won't. What is wrong with you Paige? Isn't it obvious enough that you don't belong here? You called the police on yourself. Which criminal does that...""The one who wants justice Hope!" She yelled at me."You're crazy."I sat without thinking.When I realized what I spewed out, it was already too late because she had gone immediately cold. I wanted to apologize but i changed my mind. You don't always have to talk. I told myself.This isn't the right time to pity but to speak truth. She's really crazy."Your friends are worried about you. You think everyone in this world is against you? Well, You're not the only one who thinks that. We all have been in a cloudy weather before. What about God, Paige? I heard you were a worshipper. Is this His plans for you? Did you suddenly forget him because of a single mistake?""I killed him."She muttered like a hurt bird, seeking mercy, full of regret and pain."Or did you suddenly forget that david who you represent in our a