I peered out from behind the tree and saw a girl dashing toward Max, wrapping her arms around him, and hugging him tightly.
I suddenly heard a whisper.
“Chloe, Chloe.” I turned around and looked around, but no one was there.
When I looked at the direction where Max and the girl were standing, I noticed they had left.
Frustrated, I gave my head a nod.
I then sat under the tree.
Max looked happy with her.
He did not mention that he has a girlfriend.
I was thinking about that.
I am thinking more like this.
It could also be that she is just a good friend of Max’s.
A while later, I walked out of the forest.
I started walking on the sidewalk.
My eyes were fixed on the ground.
When I kissed him, why didn’t he stop me?
If that girl was his girlfriend, then he should have stopped me.
I made a fist and threw a punch in the air.
Meanwhile, I saw the light coming towards me.
I jammed my hands in my pants pockets.
When I looked to the right, a car reached me and stopped beside me.
The car window was down, and I recognized the person inside.
“What are you still doing here?” Lydia asked.
Her voice was steady.
“You left long ago.
And till now, you have only reached here.”
I ran my hand through my hair.
“Um…
I do not know the direction, which is why I am still wandering around.
I spoke with a firm voice.
Lydia leaned forward, opened the door for me, and asked me to get in the car with an eye gesture.
I hopped in the car, and Lydia drove me to Cicil’s house.
In a few minutes, we arrived at Cecil’s house.
I opened the car door and got out of the car.
I walked up to the house and stood in front of it.
Lydia came and stood beside me.
I glanced in Lydia’s eyes.
“Hmmm.
So, this is her house.
You know, one thing is strange: she told everyone that she has no relatives.” Lydia said.
Her voice was laced with surprise and suspicion.
Lydia knotted her brow, her face the picture of intent concentration as she worked to solve the puzzle.
I lowered my gaze for a second and then looked at Lydia’s face.
“She might not have trusted people enough to tell them everything” I delivered my words with firmness.
Lydia moved her eyebrows upwards.
Lyda weakly chuckled.
Lydia touched the back of her head and started rubbing it.
“How can you say that with so much confidence?
And what is the need to keep it a secret from everyone that you are her great grandniece?” Her tone was firm.
A smile crept on my face.
I was feeling irritated now.
It seemed like she was pressing me for the information.
I adjusted my shirt.
“Why are you also making a fuss about it?” I spoke.
My voice was strong.
Lydia looked at me with narrow eyes.
Lydia gave her head a slight nod.
“I am not making a fuss about it.
You are making me confused, which makes me believe that she was hiding a dark secret.” Lydia said.
Her voice was a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
“Do not tell me she was a werewolf and pretended to die,” I said.
She was staring at me angrily.
“Hmmm…
I do not expect this behavior from you.
She was an old woman, and she deserved some respect.” A hint of anger colored Lydia’s voice.
The expression of my face suddenly changed.
The smile on my face faded away.
I made a straight face.
“I am sorry.
It was just a joke.” I said with a quiet tone.
I looked down, my gaze focused on my feet in an attempt to escape the uncomfortable attention.
Lydia then walked up to the front door of the house and opened the door, which was unlocked.
“You can come inside.
Do not worry; it is not a crime scene,” Lydia said while entering the house.
As I was walking inside, I felt someone watching me.
I turned my face and looked behind me.
But no one was there.
“Are you coming in?” Lydia asked again.
Her voice was excessively loud.
I clenched my fists.
“Umm…
I am coming,” I said.
My voice was subdued.
A minute later, I walked inside and sat on the couch.
I was looking around, and I noticed that the house was squeaky clean.
I felt it was odd.
I was suspicious, touching the surface of the tables.
“Umm…
what are you thinking?” Lydia asked.
There was an edge of firmness in her voice.
My hand hovered over the vase, the slight indication of my mix of curiosity and caution.
“Hmm.
You do not think it is odd that this place is so clean, like there is no dust on anything?” I spoke.
My voice was low.
I deeply sighed.
Lydia walked into the kitchen on my left, peeked through the door, and looked over at me.
She sucked her teeth while placing her hands on her waist.
“Yeah, we thought it was weird too.
We found this place that made us pretty sure Cecil was not attacked in the house.”
I cut her off abruptly.
There was urgency in my voice.
“I know what happened.
She was kidnapped, and then they tried to kill her, and she escaped.” Lydia looked at me with furrowed rows.
I heavily chuckled.
“What?” Lydia asked.
She delivered her words with firmness.
She then walked towards me.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Huh…
I think it is the only explanation.
I spoke.
My voice was low.
The impatient laugh appeared on my face.
I would not leave you here alone.
But what should I do?
I have to go to the hospital.
I have to take Hailey’s statement because she did not wake up after that accident,” Lydia said.
I crossed my legs.
“Yes, you can go, and do not worry about me,” I said while leaning against the back of the sofa.
Her eyebrows shot upward, her interest piqued, a clear sign of her curiosity.
Lydia spoke.
A low rumble came out of her mouth.
“Why am I feeling like you want to get rid of me?” I suddenly stood up.
“Hmm…
No, no, no, I am just being supportive,” I said.
My tone was firm.
“I know how busy you are, and it is important that we find the attacker before he strikes again.”
Lydia pressed her lips together; it was signaling her controlled anger.
Lydia placed her hands on her waist.
“Well, I am going to the hospital,” Lydia said while walking out of the house.
I stood up, ran quickly, and closed the door behind her.
I came back and lay down on the sofa.
I did not even know when I fell asleep.
I jolted awake, a sound like slamming doors echoing in my ears.
I scrambled off the couch and raced towards the kitchen, the apparent source of the noise.
I stood in the doorway.
There was no one in the kitchen.
I gave my head a nod.
”Um… It was my imagination,” I mumbled in my mouth.
Suddenly, my gaze fell on the wall clock, where it was 9 o’clock.
I quickly took the jacket off the couch.
And went out of the house.
I started walking towards the police station.
When I arrived at the police station, I saw a group of teens coming towards the police station.
A girl was leading them.
The girl walked towards me and stopped in front of me.
She then glanced into my eyes.
Standing 5′ 4″ tall with golden-brown skin.
She has knocking, puffy, pale grey eyes, neat eyebrows, and a triangular face.
She has elbow-length, wavy black hair.
“So, you are the new girl in town.
Look, guy, she is that princess.
Ohh, let me introduce myself.
My name is Abagail Greenhalgh.” Abagail said.
Her voice was steady.
After saying this, she started laughing aloud.
I was simply staring at her.
I silently lowered my gaze.
As I was walking away, Abagail clutched my hand firmly.
Do you think you could steal my boyfriend?” Abbigail said, gritting her teeth.
I was gazing at her.
I was confused.
I have never seen her in my life.
And why is she saying this to me?
Who is her boyfriend?
The people around us started laughing.
I was confused.
As I was lost in my thoughts, Abagail slapped me across my face.
I fell to the ground.
When this happened, I saw another group of teens coming towards the police station.
I was sitting on the ground with my hand on my cheek.
I saw shoes in my line of sight, glancing up, I realized Damon was standing over me.
He offered me a hand, and I took it, pulling myself to my feet.
In that instant, Max stormed over to Damon and grabbed his shirt collar.
Suddenly, a bag dropped on the ground.
It was filled with jewelry.