Marrianne laughed open-mouthed at Yuna as she was thrust even closer to the water, her small child's body squirming mightily against the ropes as the chain dragged the chair closer to the edge. Yuna's eyes popped in her face as the water loomed closer. The cold shock of hitting the water snapped her into a frantic struggle on hitting the water; the weight of the chair drew her down swift—.Stephen watched at the doorway, his fists clenched. **Now's the moment for me to act.** He caught sight of a black coal-dust pile not far off, and without pausing to think about it, he ripped a strip of cloth off his shirt and rubbed at his face with the dirt. **This should help me blend in, but I need a distraction.His eyes shifted quickly to the two guards at the entrance, riveted on the struggling girl inside the well. Stephen could feel his heart pounding. **They'll intercept me fast if I go charging in. I'll need a plan.** He slid out of the room and, unseen, down to where the waiting car was
Enoch came out from the camera room, his heart racing, as he nodded at the security man who was still explaining to him how the camera worked. **There's no time for this.** His mind racing, he went swiftly down the hallway towards Marriane's office. **I have to plant the camera before she gets back.**Transpired into the office, and he slipped noiselessly within, closing the door behind him. The room was chill and dark; the one light there was upon the desk threw a dim shadow on the walls.He hurried toward Marriane's desk, produced the little camera from his pocket. **This has got to go under the table, where she won't see it.**He knelt down, placing the camera carefully under the table and trying to hold it in place. But just as he was trying to adjust it, the door creaked open. Enoch froze; his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach."Enoch?" Marriane's voice was cold, cutting through the silent atmosphere. "What are you doing in my office?She's back already? I didn't even hear
-She sat at the edge of the bed, bathed by the soft light of the hotel room as she puzzled it all through. **How is Mr Stephen here? He vanished .** Her eyes strayed into his for the answers.Stephen saw the confusion in her, weakly smiling back. "I know it's confusing, Yuna, but I have to remember who I am." There was a deep tone of urgency behind his firm voice.Yuna's eyes narrowed at his. Something was definitely wrong. That faraway look in his eyes; he hadn't fully come back into his memory. "How am I going to be of help?" she asked softly but firmly.Stephen eased his gaze as he looked into her eyes. "I don't yet. but I need you to trust me."Although she nodded, she truly had no idea how she was going to help him actually regain his memory—short of some kind of medical intervention—but she did have to try.Stephen's expression suddenly changed. His eyes lost focus, as if he saw something she couldn't. **What is happening to him?** thought Yuna, her heart racing.Here, Stephen
Victor flung his body into one of the armchairs, a grin stretching from one ear to the other. Enoch felt as if his heart had skipped a beat. "Victor? What in God's name are you doing here?" His voice quavered more out of fear and surprise.He leaned back, crossing his legs as if he had never been away. "Is that how you address one of your own breed within his own walls, Enoch?"Enoch squinted his eyes slightly, but the quick return didn't come. His throat visibly gulping, realizing he had nothing in return. "I. I'm sorry, I didn't expect you." He needed a moment to compose himself. "I'll just be right back."Enoch went to the wine rack, hands a little shaky as he topped up two glasses. He needed time, time to work out what Victor wanted. Time. He turned back, forcing a smile. "Wine? You look like you could use some."Victor’s eyes followed Enoch’s every movement. “No, thanks,” he said, his tone casual but with an edge. “I’m more interested in what’s been going on around here. Like thi
Charles was seated in a dimly lit room, the rain pounding on the window without pause. Heaviness hovered above the night, one of those nights that seemed to choke someone and seemed as if everything was closer. Physically, he felt it gnawing at his skin. Victor hadn't come back home from the search for Stephen, and now silence in the mansion grated at his nerves, bit by bit.He unlocked his phone; the light beamed back into his face, an eerie sight in the dim light. Charles hesitated for a second, his thumb hovering over the call button. Just maybe—just maybe—if he could get Stephen on the phone, he might know where he was. He had to know. The unknown was tearing him apart.If Stephen wouldn't, someday someone else must. But just as his thumb extended to push the call button down, he remembered that last look in Stephen's eye. Something about the look obsessed Charles-desperation laid over determination. He was quite sure Stephen wouldn't be cooperative. All the same, he had to try. H
The tension was alive in the dimly lit room in the way Victor and Charles were standing facing each other. Victor's eyes held some type of definite tension, just waiting for any lead. Charles slowly paced the floor, his mind racing with possibilities."What should we do?" came out finally from Victor and broke the silence.Charles stopped and turned towards him. "First we need to find Stephen. It is the only way we're going to get to him before Clarke does.Victor nodded, but his expression remained dubious. "And how do we plan on doing that?"Charles ran a hand through his hair, thinking hard. "We'll follow Marriane. She's bound to have contact with Stephen, either directly or through someone who knows where he is."Victor's eyes lit up slightly. "I think I know where Marriane lives. But it's going to be risky just walking in there. If she sees us…""I know. We have to be careful. If she spots us, everything could fall apart."Victor crossed his arms, thinking. "What's the plan if we
Clarke sat at the back of the van with his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Two of his guys, Tony and Rico, sat at the front in deep thought, their minds caught up in theirs, silently focusing on their mission. The van crept along at a snail's pace, maintaining a safe distance from the one man who had continued to walk on the sidewalk and look over his shoulder every few steps."Don't get too close," Clarke ordered, his voice low but firm. He leaned forward, squinting down at Stephen through the windscreen. "He's paranoid. He'll know if we're tailing him."Tony nodded, adjusting the speed of the van. "Got it, boss."Suddenly, Stephen cut across the road and headed into a narrow alley. Clarke tensed. "Follow him," he commanded. But as they reached the mouth of the alley, Tony hesitated."Boss, the van can't fit through here," Tony said, looking back at Clarke for instructions.Clarke cursed under his breath. "Stop the van. I'll go on foot. You two stay here. Keep an eye out in case he cir
As Marianne came out of the building, just like that, the principal was at her elbow, face concerned. The oppressive soupy air was thick with the day's remains, and the late afternoon sun was edging its way across the parking lot."Mrs. Marriane," she started with a soft but serious tone, "I used to feel some disturbing symptoms of late in Ariane's behaviour; she always used to lag behind in studies, but it was pronounced after she lost her dad. She is inconvenienced; I feel it to some extent because she misses a father figure.She gave Marianne a peculiarly sharp look. Marianne stopped by her car, thinking over what the principal had said. "What do you propose to do?" she asked, her voice not quite so even at the effort to keep concern from revealing itself.The principal sighed, her arms busy folding. "I think she needs more of your time. She is really trying to manage, and with your presence, she might feel safer. Maybe consider spending more time with her in finding ways at home t