THE HIDE OUT

Forty-five minutes later,.


I reach this seemingly three-story house located in a secluded area on the outskirts of Nairobi. It's a gated area, and it's surrounded by a jungle. There are no neighboring houses, not even one. It looks a bit old from afar, but not that old to be termed abandoned. This doesn't look like a house to live in. Maybe it has its purpose.

It is the time! It's that ominous time when the clock for this whole nightmare is ticking. We are going to end this today! If all goes well, we are kissing goodbye to this mystery today, and we will embrace peace.

I dialed Damian's number.


"Ellie?" He picks up the first ring.

"I can see it. I am going in now." I say this through the microchip.


This was his idea. I also have a gun perfectly hidden on my back, and the back is just around. They needed to keep their distance to avoid any risks. We can't afford to screw this up.

"Before anything, love, your safety comes first. You remember our deal?" Damian speaks.

"Yes, love. Don't you worry. I got this." I respond.

"Okay. How is the scene? Anything you can see? Security?"

"No. I can't see anyone, and that's so weird. Anyway. I will update you once I get inside."

"Okay. Be careful."

Just as I was about to end the call, I noticed the monster's figure appearing on the balcony.

"Guys? She has appeared on the balcony. Don't come in until I alert you." I say, feeling the alert around my waist. I don't even know its name. I only know that I have to press the green button for the "go ahead" signal and the red one for the "danger" signal. Police and stuff, my!"

"Okay. Better go in before she notices you." That's Drew's voice.

"Alert us in case of any slight danger, okay?" That's Damian.

He is extra worried. Getting him to agree to let me come here alone would have been impossible if the police didn't back me up in soothing him. I also wouldn't have made it here on time if only the police hadn't shown us the shortcut to this area.

"Okay, guys. I gotta go." I step out of the car just at the same time Gracia turns in my direction.

Our faces meet, and even though I can't see her reaction from here, I know she is wearing that look of victory, thinking that she will win this. And I'm wearing the same look as hers, and I topped mine with confidence because there is no way I'm losing to her.

I start walking in towards the gate. After knocking several times on the gate with no one opening, I nudge it open, and I take my first step inside the battlefield. Clean compound. More than what you can presume from the outside. There is even a swimming pool. Strangely, though, there are no soldiers around. What's this, Gracia? A trick? Nelly told me that this place is always guarded. So where the heck are the guards?

I walk in further, my eyes fixed on her from above. No one is around her either. So weird! I lose her sight as I get to the front door, which is a bit of a jar, but before I get inside, I tiptoe to the end of the small corridor and take a peek at the back of the house.

I hear voices even before I can peek, but I do it anyway. I catch an interesting sight of a squadron of heavily armed goons in black attire packed here. 123...12.

"Can you hear me?" I speak as I rush back to the door with my toes again.

"Loud and clear. What's the situation?" Drew speaks.

"Twelve heavily armed guards are behind the house. They might be waiting for me to go in so that they can come out. I also have a black gate behind it. It could be a back exit." I say.

"Copy."

"I can't talk again." I say this as I saunter inside the horribly quiet house.

"Okay, but stay connected." Drew says.

I don't respond.

The house is fully furnished. Clean and beautiful. But deadly quiet. The silence makes it scary. So scary. I start upstairs, hoping the hallway will lead me to where I say, Gracia.

She could have chosen to live a quiet life here with her daughter. But, no! Her obsession had to haul her into our house and rob us of the peace and happiness she never had. What dangerous...

"Aaaaah!" A heavy blow from nowhere lands on my nose, making me almost raptured in a cry of agony, but I bite my lip to suppress any alertness.

Luckily, I was fast enough to grip the hallway fence; otherwise, I would be rolling down the long stairs. Shit! The reason why I am screaming with pain right now is that I don't want to alert Damian. He will go wild if he senses anything alight.

I place one hand on my nose as I jerk myself up, and I feel blood. Her chuckles echo in the whole hallway, and I snap my eyes at her. I swear, if only I knew where this monster has kept my friends, I would pull my gun right and blow her brains out. Fucking monster!

She pointed a gun at my head. A smile darns in her eyes as she celebrates her beckoning victory. "Ellie! Ellie! Fucking Ellie! You are embarrassing your parents even in their graves, you know! Didn't you swear that I would never see even a single drop of your blood, bitch? Then why the hell are you bleeding right now? Why? Are you all talk with no action?"

"Blood? What blood? Are you bleeding, my love? Has that monster already hurt you, Ellie?" I hear Damian's voice on the microchip.

Damn it! He will rush here without a second thought, for sure, if he knows this. Damn, you, Gracia! And if he storms in here, all hell will break loose!