"It was the norm in the organisation where part of the package for placing an 'order' was that they would do the research by themselves without the client's help.

But not in this case.

Geraldine does not have the money – or rather, she does not have enough money – on her to pay the real price, so she had no choice but to do so. She had to get the information.

And in order to get the information she needed, she had to do some spying... Spying on the victims. Not a very easy task to do... Not without being spotted anyways. Considering that the victim lived in Geraldine's hometown and that she was supposed to be studying in Paris.

She got an early break from school – about three months before the summer holidays – claiming that she had some 'family problems' that she had to attend to and that she can't not attend to it as she is the oldest child in the family.

Stupid as the school was, they accepted her reason and she got to come back 'home'."

Okay... I'll bet this is just to stall me. It sure seems like it.

But... I don't really get it all. Why in the world is Desmond telling me all this? Doesn't he want to 'keep me in the dark' like everyone already has? Wouldn't that be easier to 'eliminate' me? When I don't know anything, rather that when I know everything?

He really is creepy. And he's giving me the chills. The quicker he gets out of my life, the better. But the only question now is how can I get him out of my life?

"However, a few months before she was dismissed from school, she got a part time job as she desperately needed money. She needed to get a flight home and she was pretty much broke, and she had to get a whole new closet, or else people at her hometown would easily recognise her.

Well, that wasn't really a piece of cake. Considering that she is extremely popular when she was still schooling there."

Hmm... Now that I think of it... I do remember hearing the name 'Geraldine Lopez' here and there before... Hmm... This is very suspicious... I was never really a fan of gossip, so I don't really know who's popular and who's not. But me hearing someone's name before and actually knowing they're popular means that they're really, really popular.

But... I can't remember hearing the gossips of someone who looks like Geraldine come back... Nor have I heard any news about her coming back before...

And I can't believe I did not know that I am going out with her brother! This is really... Epic... People really do keep me in the dark. Either that, or I purposely keep make myself distant from everyone... The former seems more likely though...

 "After buying all the things necessary for her 'return' to her hometown, she was, once again, pretty much broke. After all, things in Paris aren't exactly the cheapest of them all.

And this is where Desmond comes into the picture.

He offers to follow her back to her hometown, and ultimately, buying the plane ticket for her as well. So, she boarded the flight as a whole new person... With new clothes, new fashion sense, new hair style, new name, new age. She even went to the extent of getting a fake ID.

And that just proved how serious she is at the job.

Whilst at her hometown, her name changed to 'Lily Evans'. No one knew that this newcomer was actually 'Geraldine', the same 'Geraldine' everyone was talking and craving about."

Okay... So... She went broke, and Desmond bought her plane ticket for her and yada yada yada. That does not interest me at all. What interests me is that Geraldine changed her name to 'Lily Evans'.

I know that name... I've heard of her before. Gossips in this town spread like wildfire. Even though I am not one for gossips, I will always eventually know the latest and hottest gossips in town. Not school gossips, but mostly the ones around town.

I've heard of her before because... Why? Well, I can't really place it, but I think it was something about her trying to imitate Geraldine or indirectly insulting her or something... That's not very important... Not to me anyway.

To some people around here, gossip is their entire life.

Not to me, though.

I firmly believe that there are much better things to do besides gossiping. Like going to church for example. Honestly speaking, that was what indirectly kept me going after the— the– accident... I always knew God was there – and still is there – for me... But, He felt so distant that time around.

So, when Gray came into my life, he brought me to church, and helped me strengthen my relationship with Him... So... Yeah! You get the idea. Pretty self-explanatory, if you ask me.

Well, back to the topic.

Lily Evans... Lily Evans... Lily Evans... I reckon I've heard of her before. But, I can't remember why? I can't remember if it was for a good reason or not... Hmm...

Suspicious...

Ah well!

"Everyone treated the newcomer 'Lily Evans' like trash as they claim that if she changed her hair and eye colour, she would look exactly like Geraldine. People started to spread rumours that she did a plastic surgery to change her looks to look just like Geraldine.

Some even joked that Lily was Geraldine herself.

Little did they know how right they were.

But all this did not trouble our dear little 'Lily Evans', as it just helped her to not stand out that much, since she does not want to stand out that much. Correction. She can't stand out, at all. Because if she did, the plan will fail.

She and Desmond rented a motel to sleep in during the night as they were rarely there at all during the day time. They spent most of their awake time spying on the victim and gathering as much information as they can. She even went to introduce herself to them to slowly gain their trust.

And hopefully, she would be able to get everything she needed when the time came."

Who is this 'victim' of hers? I can only remember her talking to a few of the kids in the neighbourhood, my sister included.

So... Who out of the few is her victim?

Curiosity started creeping up to me.

Who? Who? Who? Who? Who? Who? Who?

The one word question kept on repeating itself inside my head. Pathetic, I know, but hey! Everyone is curious at one point or another, no matter what. It's just human nature to be curious. We are meant to be curious beings.

And, how much does she need? And what does it mean when he said 'when the time comes'? Well... Here comes the curiosity strike again...

"She only gave herself one month, no more. One month to get everything that she needed. All the information, that is. And she managed the whole thing very well.

Desmond went through all the information Geraldine managed to produce by the end of the trip for several days. Not only that, he was also thinking of ways to murder the victims without it being too obvious at the same time.

As he kind of figured out – in that one month of staying at her hometown – that everyone there was very close knit.

Everyone just knew everyone, so it would turn into a wildfire gossip if someone just disappeared."

Oh, you got that right! Everyone knows everyone over here. And this is... I don't know what to say. Or rather, what to think. Nothing is really that easy, honestly speaking. But he's also right when he says that it would turn into a heated gossip if someone just disappeared.

I don't understand what Desmond is trying to achieve by doing this. I just can't... I just can't figure it out. I just can't!

But what I read next surprised – and scared – me a lot, lot more. I can't believe it. All this is not true. Brain, it's all just an illusion, all just a figment of your imagination. Nothing real here! But my eyes proved otherwise.

Why oh why does this have to be true?

I felt a shot of pain stab my heart after I finished reading the next few paragraphs. I can't believe it... After all those years...

My hand found its way to wherever my heart is supposed to be. A tear started rolling down my cheek. This is just impossible. But then again, don't they always say 'expect the unexpected'? This is a great time to try that out.

But, it's too late. I wasn't expecting the unexpected, and now, the unexpected had jumped out and scared me right in the face. And I have a feeling that this is not about to leave me so easily, not when I just found out about yet another thing that really kills my spirit.

"After hours – and days – of head cracking planning, the whole – and final – plan ended up being so simple. A plan that even a middle scholar could think of. Not carry out, but can think of. It didn't require a lot of people and materialistic resources as well.

It only involved a car and about two to four people who are willing to risk their lives if the plan fails. However, Desmond had already thought of a back-up plan all those months ago when Geraldine first 'placed the order'.

He had already planted one of his younger, teenage workers to become the best friend of the youngest daughter. And her name... Is Alexandra Rose."

________________________________________

Did you like it? I hope you did! :D Obtw, can you please tell me something? Do you want a spin-off for this story or not?