She spent the rest of the day in her old house outside the room where Ann was locked. The next morning Cruella went to the Cafe which her father owned. Her father, Richard, was fat, bald and from his eyes, nobody can calculate what he was thinking, it was empty, almost reddish. A black chain was seen even though he was wearing a full blue sleeve shirt. That chain was worn by the devotees of Oen. Cruella used to wear that, she took it off for the big Anastasia play. Richard mumbled something to the waiter in the bar counter and walked towards her. They both moved to a table in a far corner of the room full of people but nobody seemed to notice her. Soon the waiter arrived with Double Espresso and Latte.

"So?" Richard asked.

"Went there, did the ritual."

"Mmhm."

"To my surprise, both of them were there. Did what I had to do." Ella snapped and a spark of ice on her fingers.

"Oen chose you, so I knew you'll get powers but this is...this is ice. Ugh." He shrugged. "No good can come from this."

"We are up to no good anyway and don't underestimate my powers." She held the teacup in her hands and crushed into pieces of ice.

"See? I got half of Margaret's powers too." She said.

Then the news bulletin started on the cafe tv making everybody silent.

"The famous Hollywood actor Austin Barlow was reported missing from a hotel in Paris two days ago and the investigation agencies have reported that they haven't found a single clue on the case yet. The actor was on a vacation after the shooting of his upcoming movie, Repels. The last person whom Austin Barlow contacted was Anastasia Reyes. The cops are in search for her all over the city."

Cruella and Richard looked at each other, "Cover your face, Ella. You don't wanna get caught," Richard said.

She took a handkerchief and placed it on her face showing her red eyes.

"Set her free," she said.

Richard was confused for a moment.

"What if I say that I don't intend to do it? Are you outta your mind, Ella?" he asked.

"If you set her free now, the cops will catch her before she leaves the city. She'll be arrested no matter what she says. She's the only clue for them to get to Austin. They will reach nowhere with her because she wasn't the one who received the call, it was me. And then I can go to Berade."

"But what if Dex see the news."

"He'll probably be whining beside the stream thinking about his girlfriend and if he does see the news, I'll say that it's my sister."

"Well, I have a strong feeling that we should get moving. There's a room behind the cafe, Ella. Don't get out until we are sure that she's arrested."

"Yeah. Okay."

Richard got up and paced out of the cafe. Ella walked to the back of the cafe and went inside the room which was dark and had a tv. She switched it on waiting for the news that she wanted to hear.

He got on his car and drove to the old home. The car tires made a trail on the ground and crushed leaves. He ran into the house, the floor still made creaks. Turned the doorknob and saw Ann half asleep. He was panting a little. She was weak. He walked towards her and untied the knot in her hands and removed the black tape from her mouth. She looked at him wide-eyed but was too weak to ask anything.

"Go," he said.

"Why?" She asked in a broken voice.

"I didn't know that you are pregnant. I can't do this to you. I'm your dad."

He was pretty good at lying. She believed him and staggered her way out.

Richard ran out and said, "Here, take my car." He gave her the key.

She nodded and took the keys. Her eyes were drooping. She ran to the car and drove away. An evil smile spread on his lips, just like Ella's. Her eyes were closing. She tried her best to stay awake. Before she knew it she lost control and the vehicle crashed to a tree. She became unconscious.

The constant sound of murmuring and yelling woke her up. Everybody was fighting to get a glimpse of her. The media had already marked their place and took pictures of her. Her eyes were drooping again, she doesn't want to but all she had in five days were few pieces of bread, sleepless nights, anxiety, and fear. She clutched to her stomach when she woke up again. This time in a vehicle with two cops accompanying her. They came to a halt in front of the police station. They took her inside and held on to her as they walked through the hallway. They stopped in front of a door which said 'Interrogation Room' in white letters. She didn't understand why she was brought here but opted not to ask anyone.

They gestured her to go inside. She went in and closed the door behind her. It was a medium dark room with two chairs, a table, and a lamp. The table was full of food. From where she was standing, she could see a cupcake, hamburger and English tea. And one of the chairs was occupied by a dark, slim man. He had a mustache and looked young, at his early thirties maybe.

"Help yourself. I'm Ronan by the way," he said.

She sat on the chair and took a mouthful bite on the hamburger. Her eyes widened like she had seen heaven.

"When was the last time you saw Austin Barlow?" He asked.

"He was the hero in my last movie. Like five days ago. Why are you asking me about him?" She forgot what her sister told her about Austin for a moment but when she remembered it she chose not to say that and swallowed her burger.

"Because you were the last one who talked to him," he said looking for any change of expressions in Ann's face.

"Me? No way. He never called me. I bet he doesn't even have my number. Everybody know we hate each other," she said.

"And that's the reason why you are here. We have witnesses of the fight between your boyfriend and Austin the exact day he disappeared."

She chocked her food.

"He was...he just..." She stammered.

"Look. You are an actress, we respect you. But nobody is above the law. You're not going anywhere until you tell the truth, Anastasia. The sooner the better or else we have our ways. Mind it," he said.

Anastasia sat there bowing her head down, unable to talk. He stood up and walked to the door.

"You have time. But not much."

He closed the door behind him. Ann sat there in dead silence. Every memory of Austin came rushing back to her. She sat there thinking, What is the point of saving Ella anyway? Will he believe me if I say that because nobody knows that I have a sister. Why on earth would Austin call me? Where is Dex? And hundreds of other questions followed.

                
                      To be continued...