"Where did you see this wristwatch? I've searched for it everywhere." Rob took the wristwatch from her hand and stared at it. "I found it in Chloe's room," Hailey replied as she resumed walking."You found it there?" Rob gave her a confused look then he clicked his tongue. "Chloe." He shook his head and sighed. "I bet she hid it to spite me."But the wristwatch wasn't hidden. Hailey found it sitting on Chloe's bedside table. She gave him a sideways glance before entering their bedroom. And Rob followed her inside and dropped his wristwatch on the vanity table."Hailey." He held her shoulders when she came out of the closet. "Remember what I told you," he said in a soft tone. "You must be obedient.""Alright." Hailey stared up at him. "I won't disappoint you, Rob?"Staring at his expression, a bad feeling crept into Hailey's heart. What were Rob's parents like? And why did he look so serious when he asked her to be obedient?They left the bedroom and Hailey trailed after him as they
"You see what I was talking about!?" His mother pointed a finger at her. "She didn't even care to receive us despite knowing that we were coming. She doesn't have an ounce of respect for us anyways. Rob, is this the way you'll allow your wife to treat us?""I– I'm so sorry for my carelessness." Taking Rob's silent command, Hailey stepped forward and apologized, "Please have some rest, Mum and Dad, while I prepare the food.""This is disrespectful.""She doesn't have the right to treat us like this.""And don't you dare call us that. Look at me, do I resemble your mother?"Hailey shook her head and lowered it. She thought that was the best thing to call them since Rob had used the same term to address them. "Ahh, enough with the drama, Mum." Cassie stood up from the couch and helped the woman up. "Dad, why don't we follow brother and have a tour of the house? Then we can choose any room we want.""You're right, Cassie," the man replied. "Sitting here with hunger and lashing at this u
Rob told her to be obedient. He asked her to do her best to make them happy. This way, he would also be happy. Had he ever asked any favor from her before?Hailey couldn't recall that. All she knew was that Rob treated her well. He always tried to make her happy. And she had to return the treatment.Cassie didn't stop throwing bad remarks at Hailey now and then, about how stupid she was or how pitiful she looked in this state. And when they were finally done in the kitchen, Hailey sighed in relief. "I did my best." Cassie shrugged as they both set the dining table. "But in case my parents don't like the food, well, that's not my fault." Then she looked up and gave Hailey a stern look. "And don't you dare say that it wasn't you that cooked. Otherwise, you'll be seeking trouble for yourself.""Oh, Okay." Hailey didn't know if she should be grateful or not, but she smiled at her anyways. "Thank you, Cassie.""Oh, don't thank me." Cassie waved a dismissive hand. "I'm doing this because
It was as if the pills kept increasing. Why did it look like she would just begin taking the pills? They were filled up to the edge of the bottle.Hailey brought the bottle close to her eyes and read the writing on it. It said that she must strictly abide by taking two pills. She picked out two pills and swallowed them before taking a water bottle from the bedside table and emptying its content. And the next thing she knew was the darkness that overtook her. Her head felt heavy and her pulse was frantic. In this darkness, the voice of an older woman and man echoed in her senses. They were mad at her. They were berating her about something she'd done. The woman called her evil and accused her of wanting to destroy her son's life, and the man insisted on taking her away. Hailey could feel her fears in this dream. She could feel herself clinging to someone. A man. His arms were wrapped around her protectively, and he murmured soft reassuring words in her ears. That deep voice. Who d
***Compared to the chaos and disturbances, this was the most peaceful place. This was where he found his solitude. Not a night went by without him finding himself here. No matter how long the day had been; no matter how long the evening was, he'd always end up here. And in the wee hours of the morning, he'd had to bid it goodbye with a heavy heart. His little one. How he wished it was curdling in his arms instead of the cold confines of the ground. The leaves rustled and fluttered with the wind. The moon beamed on the sky, a mocking image of the unparalleled ache in his heart. If only it could be dark all night. If only he'd experience the same kind of darkness that resided deep in the ground. If only the biting wind didn't feel more like a caress, Kendrick would be happy to live with this decision. He'd bask in the regret.Deep in his heart, the feeling was always awakening. He was given two choices and he'd chosen the hardest of all.Not only did his decision lead to more c
***Hailey was awoken the next morning by the blaring sound of her phone's ring tone. The voice from the other end was harsh. Kara sounded very agitated. She reminded her about some arrangements. She told her that they had a deadline to meet. Hailey still couldn't pinpoint what Kara's call was about. But Kara threatened her to barge into the house. She said she would come and drag her out. She would wage a war and Hailey was going to get into trouble."Rob." Hailey hurried behind Rob when he came out of the closet. "Are you off to work? Could you take me to the diner? I want to go and meet Kara.""You want to go to the diner?" Rob asked. He looked slightly confused. "Yeah, I have to go." Hailey nodded eagerly. And she didn't have time to explain to him about Kara's plan to raid the house.It was already morning. Kara must be on her way now. The sun was about to come out. "Hailey." Rob took her hand. "You haven't even taken breakfast yet, why do you want to be at the diner? Are y
"If you want to get better, go to your parents and collect money from them." The woman continued. "Because I'm seizing these drugs. I won't let you waste my son's money when there's no chance that you'll get well.""Also." She walked closer to Hailey and scrutinized her from head to toe. "I'm still waiting for you to tell me that secret you're hiding. If you let me find out by myself, believe me, you're going to regret it."And she turned around and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut.Hailey stood in one spot, baffled and yet confused. Why was Rob's mother treating her like this? Did she hate her this much?And why would she seize her drugs? Rob said that she must take her drugs no matter what.The woman also mentioned her parents. Where were her parents? Hailey stood in the middle of the room for a while before picking up her bag from where the woman had left it on the floor.Rob's mother had also taken the wad of money, so Hailey was only left with an empty bag.No, pr
She hoped not. Hailey had no idea about what to cook.Who was that lady that gave her this job?Did she really eat the food prepared by her? Wasn't she mistaken?"Of course, we have to start practicing, Hailey." Kara sprang to her feet and held Hailey up. "That's why I put the closed sign outside. We won't receive any customers today, we'll only focus on improving our skills.""Okay."Hailey looked around the empty place. So that was why there weren't people here."How about we try out a new cuisine, Hailey?" Kara was literally jumping as she pulled Hailey into the kitchen. "Don't worry, we'll also try out the old ones. But who knows, we might invent a new meal.""Good idea." Hailey nodded. Although oblivious to everything that was going on, since Hailey stepped foot here, she felt at ease.Since she received that scolding from Rob's Mum this morning, her mind hadn't been at ease. She felt as if she'd done something wrong to deserve it. They entered the kitchen and her eyes wandered
Sharelene stood in a corner, watching everything unfold. The family was in a frenzy. She could only see fear in their eyes and hear the fright in their voices.As the staff wheeled Hailey out of the emergency room, a deafening silence fell upon the hallway. And Ken...He hadn't been himself since they came here. He hadn't been himself since a few days back when he learned Hailey was kidnapped. Neither would he speak to anyone, nor listen to those that tried to talk reason into him and advise him to take it rationally. Since a few days back, he was the complete opposite of the man she had met many years ago and had a second chance of getting close to again. The man that would always keep calm no matter the circumstances...He was nowhere to be found. Ken was completely different from that man she knew. In her mind, she'd almost gotten what she wanted... Or more specifically, what her family wanted. But now, staring down at the ring on her finger, it was as if the engagement neve
```````And every day, Kendrick lived in guilt. For the next several months, every minute of his life was consumed by guilt. It took him weeks to gain her mother's favor, and even months to regain her grandfather's. He would come back every day, hoping that her eyes would at least flutter. Her bump kept increasing at an alarming rate. His every day was filled with fear and trepidation. And one day, her eyes did flutter. He was supposed to feel joy, but not at a chance that more trouble loomed ahead. Her pregnancy was due and not a week after that, the babies arrived. His real fear resurfaced at that moment. The fear that they would never be able to hold their bundles of joy together. The fear that he would never get the chance to tell her that he loved her. However, she proved the doctors wrong, chasing away his fears. Now, staring down at the babies, her utmost gifts to him, Kendrick had never felt so much contented in his life. He'd never been able to wipe off his smile sin
***Kendrick paced in front of the Emergency Room. His heart was in his stomach and his hand never left his hair. It was as if she'd been inside there for hours now despite being wheeled in just now.No amount of self-reassurance could calm him. No one attempted to offer him reassuring words even. They've all been in the same dilemma.Her mother wouldn't stop crying and he couldn't find the heart to offer her those words he'd yearned so much to hear. Hadn't it all been his fault? Hailey was pregnant. How was that possible? When they arrived here, it was the first thing the nurses said after taking her vitals. But Kendrick still found it hard to digest.And the fact that the child would definitely turn out to be his only made him more confused. It made him angrier with himself. "Ken, what is going on here?" Rushed footsteps sounded in the hallway and he glanced sideways to find his parents as well as Sharelene. "What are you doing in this place? Is someone wounded?" Asked his f
~~~'Hailey.'Kendrick's hands trembled and his grip on the gun threatened to loosen. Staring up at the balcony where she was being held captive, he fought not to let the rage take over. The rage that became multifold the moment he sighted them dragging her here. Her body was limped. She looked worse than how she'd looked in the video. And an almost similar-looking lady, whose face was cascaded with tears, was being held at gunpoint beside her. Was that her mother? "Don't worry, Mr. Reid." Standing with them were the three shareholders. "She isn't dead yet. But she'll soon be, if you don't follow our commands."Mr. Weimar and the rest. Kendrick's assumption hadn't been wrong. They had a hand in this. "Already, you've broken one of our rules," scoffed one of them. "We thought we told you to come alone. Coming here with your friend is like seeking more trouble. Will Mr. Carter be competent enough to fend for himself?""Shit! Buddy, these stupid old fools are underestimating me," De
***"Hailey, listen to me!" Rob grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look up. "This is important, you have to take it."Nothing was more important to Hailey right now than getting away from him. Not only did she fear these drugs he had brought her, but she also feared the way his demeanor had changed ever since he returned with them.Of course, even if Rob was really trying to save her, there was no way she was going to cooperate with him.Yesterday, he'd secretly taken her blood, waking her up. And he returned this morning, looking agitated and somehow angry at her. "Hailey!" Rob's hold became tighter. "You must take these drugs immediately. I can't get you out here if you don't. Please, Hailey." He softened his voice. "Just take the damned drugs, you'll feel better. We both will feel better.""What exactly is wrong with you?" Her mother's voice faded in the background. "Leave her alone, she doesn't want to take them. Please I'm begging you, don't torment her any further."While he
Maniac.Hailey lifted her hand weakly to send a slap across his face, but her hand went limp and fell mid-way."M–Murderer." She pushed his chest. "Just go, leave me alone.""Hailey." Footsteps approached the room and Rob said frantically, "Please hold on." He touched her forehead. "You're sick. I'll get someone to treat you. I'll get you out, I promise."Then he sprang to his feet and left, closing the door behind him. Hailey was left wondering how such lunatics could be left wandering among normal people. She sniffed and waddled back into her mother's embrace. How blind had she been to associate with these kinds of people in the past?And how could she put a stop to these endless noises and intense headaches? She didn't want to remember? She didn't want to recall whatever they had shared in the past. ***'Ken, you have to save me. These strange men have captured me and they won't release me until you come. If you don't come alone, Ken, they're going to kill me and my Mum.'Kendric
...The hours dragged on, and from the tiny cracks in the wall, it seemed night had come. Still in her mother's embrace, Hailey shut her eyes to keep up with that pain.Both hands were wrapped around her stomach and she'd shiver now and then. As much as she'd like sleep to overtake her, it didn't. The exhaustion weighing her down didn't let her achieve that. The exhaustion caused by the aches all over her body. Her head pounded constantly, the voices also became louder each time she was left to her thoughts. Those hallucinations were neverending, and very soon she was afraid that they'd burst out, damaging more parts of her brain.The darkness slowly disappeared and the creaking sound of the door made her aware that morning had come. Another day of torture and pain."Hey, wake up!"Before cold water or anything worse could be splashed on her, Hailey leaned away from her mother's embrace who was also awake."Take your food!" The man burly man threw a food box and a water bottle at them
***"Ken, you have to save me. These strange men have captured me and they won't release me until you come. If you don't come alone, Ken, they're going to kill me and my Mum. They have laid traps for you, Ken—"Hailey was cut shut by a hard slap across her face. Bound to a chair with ropes, cold water was splashed on her face. She licked the side of her lips, tasting the metallic liquid; the only thing that kept her from fainting."Damnit! Woman. I told you to leave the trap part out! Are you deaf or what!?" The man holding a camera in front of her shouted. "Now, let's take another video. You will say everything you were asked to.""Stop wasting your time, Man," the portly man said and walked forward. "I don't think this lady is willing to cooperate.""I told you she's a stubborn one," Chloe scoffed from a corner."Now listen to me, Young lady." The portly man approached her and lifted her chin. "If you keep acting this way, we can't fulfill our promise to you. Give us your cooperation
***"Buddy, this is serious. How could she just disappear into thin air? Is there a chance that they're hidden somewhere in this city?"This city? Probably not. Kendrick had turned the whole city upside down. He'd deployed every force he could think of. They'd searched everywhere; every warehouse, every dilapidated building. There was no sign of them. It had been three days and there wasn't any traces of them. He'd driven to the cemetery that day, hoping more than anything that she hadn't spent the night there. And his prayers turned out to work. Only that, what actually happened was worse than spending a night in the cemetery. The sight of her phone by the cemetery gates was all he needed to know that something bad had happened. She was abducted. And there was still no traces of the suspects. Her sister and that guy. "Damnit! This is all screwed up." Devon paced for a while before sitting on the couch. "You didn't tell me you've taken her back. You never should have allowed her