ANTONIO'S MANSION
Natasha sauntered over to the door. Her eyes lurked across the corridor, furious as she earnestly glared for the culprit but found no one.
" Who dared spy on me..?", she thought to herself." I need to find who it was" She instinctively took a step about to leave when realization hit her.
" What are you doing, Nat?" She stuttered to herself as she paused in her steps. "This is not the time for this–you can find the spy afterwards . " She smirked, her eyes travelled back to Antonio.
" I'll find that out later, let me just finish off with this first and get back to the who ever it was." Her lips curved in a mischievous grin as she sauntered back to the room.
Gina stood in Gisella's room, her breath kept racing rapidly as she peeped through the door. Her hands covered her lips and her knees felt numb. She looked tensed and terrified. Just when Natasha diminished into the room, she instinctively let out an inaudible sigh.
"Oh, God, that was so damn close." She mumbled, creeping out of her hide out." She finally left–I really need to get out of here before she returns"
She swiftly gazed out of the room again for safety. Convinced it was safe, she quickly fled to the kitchen.
KITCHEN
Agnes was as usual, busy with Lola while Lizzy kept nagging about her obsession towards the cat when Gina dashed in. Her frightened and tensed state written all over her face which made Lizzy and Agnes race across the kitchen like scared cats.
"God!, Gina !!" Lizzy exclaimed, her eyes exposed her terrified state. " You scared me to death–Why did you sped in like that? Is someone pursuing you or something?"
She mumbled as she hurried to the door. Her eyes searched through the hall for whatever Gina was running from.
Agnes drew closer to Gina from the corner she hid, trembling in fear.
" Gosh, Gina, you almost caused the cat to scratch out my eyes. " She stuttered. "What was all that about?–What's it with this, pale, tensed and frightened face of yours? Have you seen a ghost or some horrible creatures like zombies? "
Gina instinctively glaced back at her. She took a deep breath and eluded. " You won't believe or understand if I announce what I heard and saw. It's so scary, dear." Her voice was trembled.
" It's okay, calm down." Lizzy gently patted her back to calm her. " Come, sit here and take this water....", she added, handling over a glass of water to her. Gina nodded her thanks and gulged down almost half glass of the water. She gazed around the kitchen with a blank gaze as she placed down the glass. Flashes of what she had witnessed kept playing in her minds eye.
" Now, Gina–Can you tell us what you saw? "Agnes queried. Her anxiousness written all over her face.
" Leave her alone, Agnes. " Lizzy exclaimed. "Can't you see she isn't in her senses at the moment. Let her calm down, when she recovers, she will tell us what happened. " She sauntered back to what she was doing.
Agnes instinctively raised her hands in surrender. " Alright, alright !" She eluded, sauntering off. "I was only concerned about her– i guess that was wrong then, let me just mind my business and find Lola now" She exited the kitchen. Lizzy exploded in anger as she yelled at her back.
" Right!! – that's all you're good at. Go ahead!!"
DESMOND'S HOUSE
Desmond's mother was busy preparing dinner when She heard the door swung open. Mrs. Catherine expectantly gazed back at the entrance of the kitchen.
" Desmond?– is that you?" She queried.
" Yes, mum" He answered in a weary tone as he sauntered over to the kitchen. " Good afternoon,mum" He greeted as he took a stand beside his mother. Mrs. Catherine gazed up at his face with a smile.
" Hey, missed you so much–How was school?" She queried.
" Missed you too mum " Desmond replied with a kiss on her cheeks. "School was great."
He lurked around, looking exhausted and stressed up. He sighed, settling on a chair by the dinning table." Um,mum?" He called, his eyes still searched around for who know what.
" Yes, what is it, dear " Catherine answered without looking up from what she was doing.
" Uncle told me he would come around today, has he already left?"
Mrs Catherine instinctively dropped what she was doing and gazed back at him, surprised. "Your uncle?" She queried and he tilted his head in response.
" Yes, uncle Ben"
Catherine chortled, astonished by his question." Desmond?" She stuttered. " If i could remember, clearly – I informed you when your uncle was travelling out of the country three days ago so how will he come here when he's not even yet in the country" She queried. Desmond stared at her with a confused gaze.
" But I'm sure of what i'm saying, mum– He was the one who dropped me off last night." He sauntered. Catherine scoffed as she slightly tilted her head.
" Are you sure it wasn't a call?–Or maybe one of those dreams of yours?" She chuckled, turning back to her work.
" No, mum !! " He exclaimed with stun gaze. "I saw him with my very own eyes, mum"
Catherine immediately turned towards him with a confused expression. Desmond had never been so persistent with stuff like that.
" Where did you see him again and when?"
" I already told you, mum " He sighed. "He was the one who drove me home last night. I asked him to come in and he hesitated saying he was in a rush so he'll drop by today."
" Are you kidding me, Desmond? Catherine eluded.
" No, mum, I'm not– I'm damn serious."
Catherine just stared at his face, confused as she kept trying to put the pieces of what he just told him together but nothing was adding up. " Wait, I'll call and find out"
She swiftly reached out for her phone from the table and dialed Bernard's line. With just a few rings, he picked up. Desmond stared at her with fixed gaze. Catherine put the phone on loud speaker as she answered.
" Hello, Catherine ?" Ben's voice came through. " Why? We just finished talking and you've called again, is everything alright?" He queried..
" Oh, yes, bro but why didn't you tell me you were back in town and will visit today?"
" Me?– who told you that?" He queried, surprised. "I'm still here in Paris. I just closed from work and returning home."
She swiftly gazed up at Desmond before answering again. " Oh, never mind bro–It's a wrong info. Let's talk later, I've got to attend to something, bye."
She hanged up and glanced back at Desmond who just stood, lost in thoughts.
" Then who could that uncle be? " He thought to himself, lost. " And how come he looks exactly like my uncle? He even knows my name and my house." He kept thinking.
" You should stop playing jokes like that." Catherine scoffed as she returned to her chores. "God, you're so unbelievable." She exclaimed. Desmond instinctively rose to his feet.
" Um, talk to you later, mum." He stuttered as he turned to leave. "I've got to rush out now" He sped out of the house as soon as his words exited his lips.
" Wait, Desmond, won't you eat something before?", she shouted but he was far gone.
HOSPITAL
Gisel laid on the bed still in coma. Sasha, the nurse Natasha employed to inject Gisel to death, slowly crept into the ward and quietly closed the door behind her.
She trod to Gisella's bed with a tray of medicines. She stood by the bed, gazed at her for a while and picked a syringe from the tray. She drew a liquid substance from one of the small bottles on the tray and slowly raised Gisel's hand from the bed. She pressed the syringe on her hand.
GISELA IN COMA
Gisela stood at the bank of a stream, tears kept streaming down her eyes as she gazed down. She suddenly felt someone appear before her. She just stared at the foot of who ever it was.
" Gisel ? Gisela? " She heard the voice call. "What are you still doing here?" She queried.
Gisela instinctively raised her head only to find Fiona, her mother, staring down at her. She sprung to her feet. "Mum?–Mum !" She cried, about to hug her when Fiona stopped her mid way.
" Wait, you can't hug me at the moment. " She eluded. Gisel stared at her, tears closed up her chest as she queried.
"But why, mum?–Why can't i" She cried.
"Because you need to return to your world now!– your father and your friend needs you." She explained. "I was able to save Desmond once for you but I don't think I'll be able to do it the next time."
Gisela gazed at her, confused. "what?– Desmond? what happened to Desmond?", she asked, nervous.
" Natasha wants to kill him because he had become an hindrance to her. And you're the reason why she wants to get rid of him"
"But why?–Why doesn't she just come to me– only me. Am I not the person she needs so why does she involve them! " She swiftly cuts in amidst tears.
"Because he had been your protector ever since you were admitted at the hospital– Don't you get it!? Fiona shouted. Gisel just stared at her. Her feet felt numb and she crunched to the ground with her face buried in her hands as she shouted in tears.
" But how?–How can I protect him when i'm just a timid, weak and scared, wired girl who is so useless to the extent that she couldn't even protect herself?–How?" She cried. Fiona instinctively shouted in tears. Her voice trembled.
" Find yourself, Gisel –Find yourself and believe in what you have" She shouted. " If you're able to find your real self, your reflection, then you can fight to protect who you are and Desmond as well. Don't let people determine who you should be." She stated. Gisel stared up at her and sauntered back on her feet.
Fiona titled her head, a faint smile dazzled on her face.
Hurry, go now. Is up to you to find your reflection or lose everything that you own including Desmond and your father." Gisel nodded
"Go–Go, Gisel and always remember that you are the best thing that ever happened to me" She smiled. "Mummy loves you, Gisela " She eluded and slowly disappeared.
ANTONIO'S MANSION
Natasha stood beside Antonio by the bed. Her impatience written all over her face as she kept glancing at the clock from time to time. She couldn't wait to witness his last struggle for life before he passes out.
Natasha had kept watch over Antonio from morning to evening. She took a final glance at the clock and her lips curved in a broad smile.
" Ah !, finally!! " She chuckled. " Time to join your beloved bitch, dear– Wish you a peaceful, safe journey." She laughed.
Antonio instinctively gasped for breath as he helplessly struggled for life but his lungs couldn't push through. They were too weak to pull up a fight. Within the next second, he felt numb. His eyes slowly closed up and his hands fell freely on the bed. His breath gave up on him.
" One down , two more to go " Natasha chuckled. " By the close of today, your Gisella will also follow. " She chortled and sauntered out of the room." Is now time to find out who dared to spy on me..", she faintly muttered as she exited. Her gaze was roguish.