Devon wasn't exaggerating, it tasted good. He took a second spoonful and frowned. The time traveling, was it true? Not only did he find Devon's words sensible now, but also... Kendrick could relate to his words. Nostalgia hit him and he dropped his spoon. His wasn't an unknown destination. It was an all too familiar destination. Only one person could cook his favorite food like this. Then his thoughts went back to that lady. Was she perhaps—"You've stopped eating." Sharelene's voice brought him back to the present. "Is the food not to your liking?"That wasn't the case. There was something about this food. "Buddy, it tastes familiar, right?" Devon whispered. "Now I remember where I've tasted this before. Remember that night..." Devon trailed off and coughed. "Sorry, we're not supposed to talk about her, right? Especially in the presence of—""Dev, you're acting mysterious," Sharelene said. "Is there something you want Ken to remember? Forgive me for butting in though."Clearly,
"I'll excuse you now, Ma'ams," the female staff said. "There are cosmetics and make-up on the table. If you need anything, a staff will be outside to help you out. She will also lead you to the hall when you're done."Both Hailey and Kara nodded to the lady's words, then she turned around and walked out of the room.Hailey changed into the new dress and looked in the mirror. It sure looked perfect on her. The peach design was not too showy, it complimented her skin and blended in with her fairness. Kara had also changed into her purple knee-length dress which outlined her curves and brought out her skin shade.She helped Hailey apply makeup before working on her own face. "You look like a princess, Hailey," Kara said. "This new look makes me think of your last birthday before graduation. You wore a similar peach dress.""My last birthday before graduation?" Hailey voiced out her thoughts. "Have we known each other for that long?"Hailey didn't know that she was murmuring her though
Hailey shook her head. And now, she was the one holding Kara's hand, tight. "H– He's not my husband." She didn't know why her voice was shaking. "Rob is," she added.And this man was her former Boss. He was that evil Boss that cost her a lot. Kendrick.She needed to get out of here. She had to. Maybe to blow out her anger somewhere else. Or to just not see his face."Hailey, wait—" Kara didn't get to hold her back.Amidst all the compliments, Hailey yanked her hands off and fled out of the room. Her legs took her in a random direction, she blocked out the voices of the staff who were calling out to her. Moments later, Kara's voice came behind her. She called out to her to stop. But Hailey couldn't stop herself from running. She wasn't supposed to run. She was supposed to confront that man and make him pay for the things he had done to her. ..."That was strange." Sharelene chuckled, struggling to keep the smile on her face. "I guess our guests are shy. This must be their first ti
Her words sent him laughing more than he should. Kill him? Was she going to fight him in this washroom? Would she even be able to? Surely, she was still stupid. Her newfound confidence would definitely be her destruction. "Let go of me!" She warned again. "You pervert. Did you think following me here is going to be of advantage to you? I will give my life to bring you down. Tonight, I'll avenge all that you have done to me."And Kendrick let her go. Whatever he did next, she surely had it coming. He didn't need to take any action, she surely had it coming. She started it first. And she was going to get it. He didn't fight women, but he'd love to see what she could do.And for a moment, Kendrick was taken off balance. The moment he released her, her fist made contact with his jaw. He didn't see it coming."This is for harassing me." She threw another punch at him. "And this– this is for my baby." She aimed for his eye but her fist ended on his jaw. "And this one is for calling me
~~~All Hailey could remember of last night was being in the car with Kara. The things that happened after were blurry. She couldn't recall them clearly. Kara must have given her something to calm her headache. Because she woke up this morning, and instead of feeling like rocks were being thrown at her head, she felt lightheaded. The voices had stopped. She was again back to normal. "Hailey, thank God you're awake." A door opened and Kara walked inside. Hailey frowned and looked at her surroundings. Did Kara bring her to her place? This place... This apartment. It looked familiar. "Are you feeling alright, now?" Kara sat beside her on the bed and touched her forehead. "I stopped by a pharmacy on our way back and bought you some drugs. I hope they worked, Hailey."They did work. Hailey was not having headaches anymore. "Hailey, what is going on?" A big frown appeared on Kara's face. "I'm still confused about those things you told me last night. Is there something you're not tell
The car soon arrived at the silent neighborhood and as it drove deeper into the area, a new fear emerged in Hailey's heart. The fear of coming face-to-face with Rob's parents. She held on tight to the straps of her bag and when the car came to a stop in front of the gate, she paid the driver and walked out hesitantly. Hailey took some minutes pacing in front of the gates. She peeked inside the house through the narrow opening of the gate. She couldn't see much. All she could see was a car. Rob was at home, there was no doubt. He didn't even put his car inside the garage.But the knowledge that Rob must be at home didn't ease Hailey's fears a bit. It didn't make any difference if Rob was around. His mother could roast her anyhow she wanted.And his presence at home also meant that they could incite him to hit her.Even though Rob promised not to hit her again, Hailey wasn't sure about that. She wasn't sure that his parents wouldn't make him do that.But standing here at the gate w
"W–Well." Hailey shifted away and cleared her throat. Then she told him about the event and how she'd left home to go to the diner. She told him everything including those hallucinations and headaches. She didn't leave anything out from the start to the finish. The only thing Hailey left out was her encounter with her former Boss. She knew Rob wouldn't like to hear that. Rob would have preferred she stayed far away from that man."Hailey." After listening to her silently, Rob looked more confused than convinced."You said you met a strange girl at the mall?" He asked and Hailey nodded."You also said a lady invited you to cook at her party. The president's daughter?"Hailey nodded to his question again. "And you also mentioned that this morning you woke up in Kara's apartment and came back home by yourself?" "Yeah," Hailey answered. "That is the truth, Rob. I didn't want to make you worried. I'm sorry I left without informing anyone. I was just scared that your parents would stop
"Get some rest, My Love." Rob made her lie on the bed and tucked her under the blanket. "I'll take you to the hospital later and the doctor will address your problem."But Hailey wasn't feeling sleepy. But as Rob's soft voices floated in her ears, her eyelids slowly became heavy. A cold soothing breeze drifted by and sleep took over her. Hailey fell into a deep slumber. And the noises began... This time, she could make out each voice. This time, that deep voice was prominent. It told her harsh words and called her horrible names. Sometimes, the voice was low and sometimes it was high.Then in the dark hollow of her dreams, a blurry building began taking shape. Inside the building were so many rooms. And gradually, rays of light shone on the surroundings. There was a long narrow hallway. There was a bright light coming from the ceiling. Standing in the hallway, strong hands were pinning her to the wall. Those hands felt familiar, and that voice sounded familiar. "You are not sup
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