Alicia's POV

What happened to my brother?
*Crying loudly*.

"Alicia, calm down. I'm sure nothing happened to Andrew, not under God's watch," Nani, my good friend, tried to console me.

*Crying gets louder*

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have ignored him," I blamed myself.

"Sweetheart, you don't know what happened. Stop blaming yourself, okay? Now please stop crying," Nani said, her voice breaking as if she was holding back tears.

I looked up and saw Nani shedding silent tears. Should I calm her or... pray. Thank you, Jesus, for that idea of prayer!

"Nani, let us pray." I stopped crying and looked at her.

We knelt down and began to pray.

I prayed for direction to find my brother, for his safety, and, most of all, for forgiveness for ignoring him, a brother God had given me.

Both of us started speaking in unknown languages. The Holy Spirit spoke to me as we cried out to God for help for Andrew.

'My dear child, I forgive you. Now, go to the security man in charge of security cameras. Ask him to show you the video of what happened in that room,' the Holy Spirit said with a sweet, melodious tone.

"But Lord, security cameras aren't in people's bedrooms. How would he show me a video of what happened in that room?" I asked mentally.

'Just ask him. Trust me!' The Holy Spirit said humbly.

I stopped praying. When I opened my eyes, I saw Nani smiling and shedding tears of joy, I think.

"Lord, I want to thank you for everything. Thank you for keeping us alive. Lord, I thank you. I pray that as we find Andrew, we will find him successfully. Thank you, Jesus. In Jesus' name, we have prayed." I ended the prayer.

"Amen."

"Amen."

I checked the clock, and it was 6:43 am. Already!

Since it was Sunday, we had time to rest, but as slaves, we had to work at night.

"What did you see?" I asked, assuming she saw something.

"I saw your brother. God said that we will find him. He said we should be patient. Tears of joy. And you, did God say anything to you?" Nani said, still smiling.

"Yes, He said that I should go to the security man in charge of security cameras. He said I should ask him for the video," I replied to her.

"Okay, let's get ready then so we can go start our investigation," Nani said, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Okayyyyyyyyyy," I replied awkwardly.

I ran inside the bathroom first because Nani is so slow taking her bath.

I have the gift of prophecy and hearing from God directly, while Nani's gift is the seer's anointing. We have really gotten to know each other in just a few days; we are like sisters.

I came out, and Nani went inside immediately after I came out.

By 9:15 am, we were ready to go, but we hadn't stepped out yet. Someone knocked on the door, but this time it was more humble and gentle, yet sounded proud and flamboyant.

*Whispers*. "Who is that?" Nani asked me, becoming scared.

I looked at her, and then I knew why she became afraid because she didn't know if it was a kidnapper, remembering the news we heard this morning.

Luckily, we have a see-through door; we can see you, but you cannot see us. It was the coordinator, Miss Anisa The Arrogant.

I opened the door. She gave us a small brown envelope which looked as if there was a note inside, but I wasn't sure. I AM STARTING TO GET NAUSEOUS!!

I mumbled 'Thank you.'

"You slave idiot, you don't know how to say thank you or what," she said arrogantly, as her nickname is The Arrogant.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make that mistake," I apologized.

She walked away proudly as if she owned the whole earth. Is she deaf? I literally thanked her, but she just wanted me to beg for mercy.

She is so proud and annoying; one day, God will be the one to teach her a lesson if she doesn't change.

"What is it?" Nani asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I opened the brown bag, and what I saw there was a paper inside it.

I became mysterious and nauseous that I just froze. One thing is when I am mysterious or nauseous; I become so sick that if I move, I feel like vomiting or fainting, and that's why I just froze.

Why am I becoming nauseous? Oh, I know it's because of what I saw during the time we were watching a movie in Jessica's office. HORRIBLE!!

Nani snatched the bag from me, and I came back to reality; I think she noticed I became mysterious. Ha! Friends.

Nani opened the envelope quickly and found a note; I looked at her with a look that says what-is-it. She looked disappointed; I think she thought there was money, not knowing it was just some petty note.

She opened the note and read it out;

Dear Alicia,

I am sorry to tell you this, but I think Andrew is gone. Please be careful. I am so sorry that as a aunt, I cannot look after my own. Please forgive me, and I love you. Greet Nani for me.

~Love, Aunt Jessica💖

"What the heck?" Nani asks, annoyed from what she saw. I, too, thought she wrote something serious and something like that, but I love her still.

Sometimes I wonder if this woman is the same person I see punishing people and being so harsh, is still the same person saying she loves me and Nani. I can feel her emotions as I read that letter.

"Alicia, shouldn't we be going?" Nani asked after the 10-second silence.

"Sure... let's go," I stuttered, trying to reduce my nauseousness.

We went to the security man's building. We entered the security room. Thank God it was my friend who was on duty today.

"Good morning, sir." We greeted simultaneously immediately we were given the permission to come in.

Immediately we entered, I felt the air conditioner hit me like a heavy wind trying to raise me off my feet, but I didn't have time to relax.

I told him about my brother's case immediately. Then I asked him if there was any recorded video of anything that happened in Andrew's room. He started whatever he was doing on his computer, (anything computer science I ain't good at it). When he was done, he turned to us; I expected him to say 'sorry, I don't have any,' but he said...

"Here is the video," he said it so friendly.

I looked at the man, and right there, I told God 'I am sorry.'

We watched it; I saw a group of bad boys in Andrew's room, and they were beating him, but sadly, there was no volume to hear what they were saying.

The video ended with Andrew being carried out of his room.

I almost felt like screaming, asking God where the evidence was, but I calmed down and watched the video again and got the message.

"Thank you, Master Jason." I call him master because he is literally older than me but he isn't married. *Fake sobs*. Not like I am mocking him; I am just pitying him by fake crying.

I went to Andrew's closest friend, who automatically became my friend.

I saw him at his duty post. I went there with Nani always by my side.

"Hi Carl. I need to ask you something." I say after giving him a nice hug.

"The beauty of the world wants to ask me a question with... an angel behind her..." He says, as he always addresses me and Nani, but I had to cut him off.

"There is no time. Was Andrew owing anyone, and please straight to the point." I put on a serious face.

He dragged me to a corner. I almost started becoming nauseous, but I remembered that You are with me and Nani is there too.

"He owed some bad people things I don't know..." I became infuriated because he was obviously lying to me. I wanted to talk, but Nani beat me to it.

"How wouldn't you know what he was owing the guys when you are the closest friend he knows..." I think Nani broke him down.

I was a little bit surprised at Nani's flamboyant behavior; she isn't that kind of bold person.

"Fine, fine, fine. I will tell you." He sighs in defeat.

"He was owing them money. Since he didn't have money to pay for what he collected from them, which was... hard drugs. He said he needed to clear his mind. He said he misses his sister, his best friend. It was as if you guys were avoiding him, so he started taking drugs." When Carl explained, I broke into tears, knowing it was because of me he is going through this bad process.

"So, I think those bad people are the drug traders. They live far away from here, but where they are taking your brother is farther than where they live. I heard they are taking him to Emerald Kingdom." He added.

They are taking him to my father's Kingdom. This is bad! This is bad!

"Since you knew all this information, why didn't you go find your friend?" Nani asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I don't have the courage to go anywhere," Carl replied, and I remembered that he is nauseous when he is in an unfamiliar place, and he also told me he wasn't a Christian... huh.

"Okay," I said with a shaky voice.

'Go! I am with you every step of the way,' the Holy Spirit said.

'You read my mind,' I thought, smiling.

I cleaned my eyes and dragged Nani after giving Carl a big hug and thank you and telling him God Loves him.

"We have to go look for Andy." I faced her after a minute of silence.

"How? Look, I know you are desperate and frustrated. I am too, but you can't go wandering off to God knows where," Nani says a little bit harshly.

"Why are you throwing your useless frustration on me? You are talking to me like I didn't lose him too," I reply, frustrated too.

"You are literally the one who caused all this mess. I have just been your sidekick, but not anymore," she says, walking away.

I looked at her retreating figure leave; I felt so angry that I felt like slapping her. Like who the hell does she think she is?

I left for my room but luckily didn't find Nani there. I needed the space to think.

I took a quick shower and changed into loose trousers and a long-sleeve shirt then laid down on the bed and took a nap but remembered the meeting we are having this evening by 6:30 pm, so I set the alarm for 6:00 pm.

I woke up with a loud knock on my door, that was not enough, the alarm was ringing. I stopped the disturbing alarm and looked through my door and saw Miss Anisa. Again!

I went to open the door; normally what hits me is arrogance and pride.

"Shouldn't you be up by now, or you are just catching cruise on your bed. Look, get out before I show you what it means to be a slave... SLAVE GET OUT NOW!! She walks out flamboyantly with her beautiful red royal maid clothes with her black shiny sneakers.

As expected, always shouting.
I quickly picked out clothes and dressed up speedily in the slave's red gown with black spots on it and my very long brown hair; I just quickly combed it and packed it in a donut hairstyle. I am worried about Nani; why hasn't she come back?

********

I hope you liked this chapter.

What do you think happened to Nani or where she went?

If you know, just comment, and vote if you liked the story. And don't forget to share to tell your friends about this beautiful puzzle.

Bye🤗,

~giftedFortune