But these hallucinations, was it a sign of a new different illness? What if she recovered from forgetfulness and fell into a worse illness? Hailey left the washroom and followed the woman into the mall. And as they continued shopping, her eyes wandered around the area to see if she could sight the young girl. But Hailey couldn't sight her in the crowd. Maybe she had just imagined everything. She had imagined that a girl who she seemed to be familiar with had come to her and told her some strange words, and those strange words, in effect, had led her to have weird hallucinations.But the tremors hadn't left Hailey's body yet. The sadness was also still in her heart. "And don't think that I'll let you go free for running off while that stupid woman insulted me," Rob's mother grumbled. "Just you wait and see. I can't wait to tell my son about how you didn't care when that woman bashed at me."Hailey picked up the basket from where she'd dropped it when Ara pulled her away."If it was
"I know you're lying." She grabbed Hailey's ear. "Because I promised you that I'll ask my son to punish you for what you did yesterday at the mall, you did something to keep him at work, isn't it?""No, I swear I didn't do that." Hailey winced from the woman's tight hold on her ear. If care was not taken, she might lose her ear soon."I swear I'm telling the truth, Mum. Even I can't reach him." Hailey showed her phone to her which was still in her hand. The woman glanced at her phone and frowned. Then she released Hailey's ear. And suddenly, her attention was no longer on Rob's whereabouts."This device." She pointed at Hailey's phone. "Did my son give you this? Isn't this those expensive phones spoilt kids carry around these days?"Hailey kept her mouth shut. She couldn't deny that it wasn't Rob that gave her the phone. "You silly brat!" The woman snatched her phone. "If you wanted something this expensive, why didn't you ask your wealthy parents? My son is working hard while you b
"The heck! Hailey." Kara spread both palms on her chest. "Do you want to give me a heart attack or what?""I'm so sorry." Hailey tried to catch her breath as she panted heavily. "I didn't see you right now.""You should be sorry, Hailey." Kara turned around and locked the door. "I almost thought you were not going to come. You didn't pick up my calls yesterday and my damn phone just had to run out of battery. The best part was, I couldn't find the charger. Urgh! These days are hard, Hailey. Sometimes I feel like the whole world is against me."Hailey stood beside Kara and couldn't count how many times she'd thanked her stars in those few seconds. Kara seemed to be going out. If she hadn't arrived here early, she wouldn't have been lucky. "Something came up yesterday," Hailey tried to explain. "I had to accompany my mother-in-law to the mall. I'm sorry I couldn't pick up your phone, Kara. I promise that's never going to repeat itself.""Oh, okay. I understand," Kara said absentmindedl
Well, Hailey didn't know who Kara was talking about. She just came to realize that the lady was super rich. "Hailey, don't be so boring." Kara went on. "Don't tell me that you don't know she's the president's daughter. I almost fainted in shock when I found that out on the internet. It felt just like a dream. The president's daughter ate at our diner! That was mind-blowing!"The president's daughter?Hailey frowned. Where had she heard that name before? And why did it come with an unsettling feeling?The woman that invited them to cook for her party was the president's daughter. That should be great news. "Hailey." Kara tapped her, bringing her back to her senses."This is a great chance for us. As I've said before, we should put in our best effort. That lady was kind enough to hire us. We shouldn't let her down.""Okay." Hailey tried to match up with Kara's excited mood.And Kara talked on about how it was going to be great to meet all the prominent figures that would be invited.
The servants, as if understanding her silent message, gave a slight bow and they all left the place in a single file. "Be rest assured. We'll do our best to make sure your guests are well entertained," Kara replied."That is right," Hailey added. "We are ready, and we'll be happy to be shown around.""That is settled then." The lady turned around and led them to a large door nearby. Hailey followed behind her with Kara. After passing by the door, they walked into another living room, a larger one. And they proceeded to another large room that had a very long golden table with intricate designs. Several chairs that had similar designs lined by its sides facing each other. And there were people inside the room, hanging up decorations. "This is where I will be entertaining my guests," the lady said. "It can be hard for guests to find their ways around here. So please keep it in mind.""Okay.""Sure.""Don't worry about setting the tables later." The lady resumed working in a differen
Kara's suspicious looks had become frequent. Although she no longer asked Hailey if she was alright, whenever their eyes met, Hailey would see those questions in her eyes. Those questions that she was also fighting to get answers for. Something was wrong with her. These hallucinations weren't normal. But why did it keep increasing at a rapid pace even?She didn't know if she'd had similar hallucinations in the past, but it all began yesterday at the mall when she met that strange girl. There was something about her words that triggered Hailey's senses. The girl's words had done something to twist her brain in a strange direction. But who was that girl? And why did she feel familiar? Those voices, why were they so familiar? Hailey finally dropped the spoon in her hand, unable to control the rapid beating in her heart. "Hailey, are you alright?" Kara asked her again. But Hailey shook her head, not sure whether to indicate that she was alright or she wasn't. She just wanted to get
So noisy. Kendrick focused on his phone, blocking out the noises. This was no less than a meeting with the shareholders. He couldn't wait for this event to be over. He'd only come here for one important thing. "Something else?" Someone exclaimed at the table. A female. "I hope you can please elaborate on what you said, Drake. What do you mean by something else? Is there something we don't know about?""Come on, Sister. Stop acting oblivious." Another female chipped in. "During those days, we all prayed day and night to be asked out by the hottest guy on campus. But none of them was brave enough, until one day, a new girl joined us. And who was that new girl, Dev?""Haha." Devon cleared his throat. "You're right, Suzzy." He winked at her. "I know I was the hottest guy on the campus. And yes, all you girls could only hold your hearts out with both hands and beg me to take them. You couldn't voice out your feelings. And unfortunately, I the great king of compassion, already had someon
"Oh, it's nothing at all." Sharlened waved a hand and laughed. "Thank you all for the compliments. I'm flattered."She came to the head chair and sat beside Kendrick. "Mr. Reid," she whispered. "What an awesome surprise. Should I be thrilled or over the moon?""Both depict the same kind of emotion. You can be both," Kendrick answered. "Then I'm thrilled, Mr. Reid." She raised her wine glass and clicked his with it. "Oh, I beg your pardon. I was supposed to call you Ken."The murmurs resumed and someone cleared their throats and spoke up. "This is indeed a great occasion. Although our Dear Sharelene made it a get-together, we get the secret message and we're all happy." He picked up his wine glass and raised it in the air. "Allow me to propose this toast to everyone in this room. To a happy feature, and to the upcoming power couple in town."Glass cups clinked against each other accompanied by claps and sounds of jubilations. "They sure like to jump to conclusions." Sharelene shook
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