**
My jaw dropped open. "How do you know about Mac?"

She shot me an apologetic look. "Sorry, I used to spy on everyone. I stalk too. Then, you were dating this Mac guy no one knew. Josh was hurt and I decided to find out because... I love him."

I held my head in my palms. "Go on.

"You always went to De LaNupe. Then Kelvin will join you there. You once jam talked that Mac gave you a foot shaped pendant, well I saw it and it matches the footprint tattoo on Kelvin's back an--"

My head shot up. "Mac also has a footprint tattoo on his back!"

"The day you disappeared, Kelvin was watching a movie with me when he received a phone call. He said he needed to drive his girlfriend and her friend somewhere. He got home late that day too and threw the polo shirt he wore inside the trash outside. Chichi later asked if I was the one that dropped a bloodstained polo shirt there."

"Why were you stalking everyone? You seem to be finding something interesting."

She sat down. "I wanted a prove that you were really seeing someone so Josh would stop liking you. I figured you were seeing Kelvin. It was when you disappeared that I knew it was becoming dangerous."

"Did you stop after then?" I asked.

"No. I wanted to find out what was going on."

"Why were you mean to me then? Don't tell me it's because Josh liked me?!"

She nodded. "Kelvin was becoming suspicious. He was acting weird."

I agreed. He acted weird a lot.

She continued. "He always stalked you after you disappeared. Then he'll sneak in and out of your room too."

I was confused. "If he's Mac, why would I be dating my brother?"

She hesitated for sometime. "Because one of you is a bastard and both of you got to know. So it was normal, probably."

What?? "Who's the b-astard?"

She sighed deeply. "That I don't know, Karleen. Why are you crying?"

I didn't even notice I was crying. "Everyone is just fake. I don't want to believe you. Why am I in the middle of all these?"

"Because you're Karleen."

Really, as if that would make me better. "Christmas is in two days, right?"

She eyed me for minutes like I just lost my mind. "So?"

I wiped my face with my bare hands and forced a smile. "Then let's focus on Christmas."

She shrugged. "Shouldn't you be focusing on who the bastard is? Then, we'll know if Kelvin is Mac or not."

I felt a chill run down my spines, I was scared. I just wanted to sneak into my room, hide under my blanket and sleep like an innocent baby. But that will never happen, at least not yet.

I shook off the Christmas feeling that was creeping into me. "And after?"

She smiled widely. "We'll bring Josh...ua back."

"And after that?"

"Everything good will come!"

Everything good will come...

***
I smiled at Joshua and threw the key at him. He caught it. "Agbana Avenue."

He froze and I saw it. "Why?"

I frowned at him but Jumoke replied. "When did you start asking us why?" she seemed unsettled, "let's just be fast about it. I don't like missing my classes."

I laughed. "Serious mama."

We entered into the car and it took Josh minutes to ignite the engine. One of his hands held the steering while the other held his phone. He was texting someone.

"Would you please concentrate or stop the car? We can wait."

Josh looked back to eye Jumoke before stopping the car. "Madam rules and regulations, well--"

I snatched his phone, opened the car door and ran out. I would really read the message.

"This joke isn't funny. Hey, my phone."

But I ran. And read as I ran.

D: Where are you?
Me: You don't need to know.
D: One mistake, one finger.
Me: Damn it. She wants me to take her there. I guess she found out.
D: How could you let her? You were supposed to be a distraction, fool.
Me: Not when she has a more interesting brother, Dread. You really thought I won't find out? I'm not that daft.
D: You need to stop her.
Me: Tell him to, you always chose him over me.
D: Not after your father told me that you aren't his only son!
Me: Kelvin is my...wtf...how...
D: Stop her first. I don't trust him with her an--

A slap landed on my face and the phone was snatched from me. I looked up to see Josh, as angry as ever...

I felt a hand squeeze my head aggressively before everything went black.

***

"Wake up! When did you start sleeping off like that?"

I opened my eyes and I saw a shadowy figure. "Kath?"

She jerked me. "You've been sleeping for hours. I've got an idea about how to find out the ba--"

I shook my head. "He's the bastard. Don't ask me how, we need to find Josh..."

She sat beside me and scratched her head. "You confuse me all the time. How do we see Josh? I can't drive far, you know. He's phone's off too."

"I need to be in my room."

I didn't wait for her to ask why before running up the stairs to my room and locked the door.

"Who or what are you?!"

F replied. "I helped you and this is what I get?"

"Help? I think you're using me! You only show me what you want me to see. How am I sure they are my memories?" I yelled.

"Calm down."

"I won't. You're the one blocking out my memories!"

I waited for a reply. It finally came, like I wanted. "Actually, I am."

I closed my eyes tight. "Why?"

"Because if you remember everything you'll act reckless," F replied.

"Who made you my guardian? Who implanted you in my head?!"

F's voice saddened. "I can leave...if you want."

"I'll be glad if you can. I don't need you anymore."

"Karleen, are you sure? I'm your friend, I'm trying to help. We're in this together."

I narrowed my gaze. "Not if you don't tell me where you're from."

"I'll just leave."

Immediately, I felt my intestines muddle up and twist. My lungs were squeezed and my throat tightened. I felt a movement in my head and fell, screaming. Then... I became calm and my body was as light as feather.

I was still for seconds, ignoring Kathy's knocks. I let the cold tiles calm me. F has gone, now what next? Should I have told F to stay?

I walked over to my shelf where I kept the knife and gold necklace. I unlocked the draw and stooped. I rubbed my hand over my face over and over again but the drawer remained empty.

Now, everything was falling in place...in a complicated way.

***
LhoneSatrrh.
😉