Green lands stretched towards far distance before me like green yarn, climbing and dropping like strong surfs on an ocean. The sun was radiant with the heat of late spring, its rays splashing to every part wrapping the region in warmth. The orange jeep wrangler drove down curvy roads past green hills and mountains that rolled like breakers. I put my head out of the jeep feeling the clean warm air on my skin and breathing in the scent the air carried. English music blasted from the stereo booming loud in my ears. The villages with thatched, slate or stone roofed houses, cattle grazing on green fields, the farm houses, forest green vegetation, farms were unique in a way that feels like living in nature is more relaxing and quiet than the bustling city and modernization.

The jeep wrangler rode down a bridge. Beneath it was crystal blue water flowing gently. The distance between the bridge and water was fearful. I sat back in the car. My phobia for height and deep waters caused that. I would feel as if I would fall into it. It had been a childhood problem, something I could not overcome as I grew up.

“The country side is beautiful” I said looking at the villages we passed. There were more of cottages and small houses.

“It has always been” Amir said as I stared out at the forest that had no end.

Few minutes later, the jeep wrangler stopped in front of a small farmhouse. We got down as I took in my environment. As we walked to the farmhouse, I said “This is a farm”

“Yes, a merchandized farm. We plant virtually everything” Amir answered holding my hand.

“You did not tell me you own a farm”

“That’s true. I forgot to. My grandfather started it. Every month, we send food stuffs to orphanage homes. It was something my paternal grandmother had started and my mother took over. I continued”

A man neither tall nor short came out of the farm house with a thin woman and two little girls who held their mother’s hands, their eyes on us.

“Welcome sir” the man greeted walking down the wooden staircase.

“How have you been Justin?”

“Fine sir”

“Meet my wife” he pulled me to his side.

“Nice meeting you ma’am” I smiled as a reply.

“Hayati, he manages the farm with other co-workers”

“Hi” I waved.

“We will be at the horse stable. Enjoy your stay at home” we turned and left.

“How long has he been managing the farm?”

“For years now. There is poultry, cattle ranch. The food for the manor comes from here” he took me down a tarred road leading to a big white building with brown slates as its roof. Green sea of grasses spread out like water, barred with short wooden fences. I assumed the place to be a stable. It was very big.

“When did you know how to ride a horse?”

“Since I was young. Abu taught us. Ammi sucks at it. She has phobia for horses, something Ali took from her. Sherifah loved them. She had a white stallion then. It was her favourite. My horse was brown, a beauty” we moved closer to the building.

"Was? Why?"

"It's is late but I got another one"

“I do not know anything about horses. I can say I barely saw real ones twice in my entire life. I have only seen horses on the television”

“You will see lots today and choose one. It will be yours. I am teaching you how to ride a horse”

I looked down at my clothes. I was putting on white trousers and a royal blue long top that top almost at my ankle. I had wanted to wear white stiletto pumps but something changed my mind so I changed into white flat sandals I saw in the closet.

“I can’t wait for it” we entered the white building.

“This is the horse stable”

There were stalls lined on both side of the stable with horses of different furs in them. Few of the horses had grooms attending to them. There was one horse that caught my eyes. It was white with mane of white silky hair and finely polished white fur. A man dressed in faded trousers and shirt brushed its fur. I did not know when my legs moved underneath me. I found myself running my hand through its body.

“This is beautiful” I voiced unknowingly.

“That was Sherifah’s horse” Amir said behind me. “This is mine. I named it rocket” he touched the brown horse in the next stall. I laughed. Who name a horse rocket? “I do not know what I was thinking when I gave it that name” he laughed.

In the midst of other horses, Amir’s horse stood regal with silky black mane that cascaded down its neck, tail swinging like a flag, and a posture that oozed confidence and good posture.

With a little smile on my medium size full lips, I said “It is a beauty” Amir fed it carrot running his wide palms over its strong back.

“Wanna see me race?” he asked, the corners of his lips quivered and his ocean of honey and wheat bore into my dark eyes.

“Yes” I shrugged.

Amir jogged over towards me where I stood by the wooden fences after he got down from the horse. He coursed a hand over his forehead, the movement of his firm chest evident. The race was….was….was….I don’t know how to describe it but the horse was just too good. I have never seen a horse race. Rocket shot through the wind like a thunderbolt with long legs twilled with muscles and hooves. It stomped the land leaving behind thunderous sounds. It muscles ripped under its brown coat with strength. With a mane of black glorious hair that danced in the warm wind and a tail that swung like a banner, it was a majestic.

“It’s your turn” Amir shouted clapping his hands. I looked back at the horse held by a groom then gulped. I have never ridden a horse and now that I wanted to, I could feel fear soaking my bones. “Hey, what’s wrong you are shaking” Amir tapped my shoulder.

“I am not riding again. I am scared”

“Okay then I will show you around the farm” he said.

“You have no problem with that”

“No” he moved his shoulders. “We have someone to meet but while we do that, I will take you to the poultry.

By the entrance of the poultry where nothing filled the air except the cries of chickens, a tall man about seven feet tall with very strong and wide chest stood under a shade away from the sun. His athletic rugged body gave away his strength. He had a mane of hair that stopped at the end of his muscular neck. Short beards grazed his hard square jaw. I caught Amir’s hand shifting closer.

“Giang Duong” Amir called stepping further away to meet his visitor.

“Amir Hussein” Giang Duong called with an accent I had never in my entire life heard. Giang brought out a tough hand and grasp Amir’s hand. The height different between Amir and him was great. I wondered where I will reach him when I stand by his side.

“Long time, my dear friend” they shook hands.

“Very long time, you called me and I was surprised” Giang’s Asian eyes narrowed as his thin lips stretched further.

“Meet my wife Noorie” Amir pointed his hand at me. I ambled to them. “Noorie, meet Giang, my friend, an ex-cop and a PI”

“PI?” I said in a tone that says I don’t understand.

“Private investigator”

Giang and I exchanged pleasantries.

“I hired a private investigator habibati and this is him”

“You need my help?”

“Yes, we need your help” Amir’s face became serious. “We want you to do something for us”

“How may I help you?”

“We want you to search for a man called Leonard Fernandez”

We left the farm late in the afternoon. The sun was still bright but yellow rays of luminous light had painted the blue sky. I decided to drive back home while Amir sat beside me. We said nothing as we rode through the country side back to the city. It was a peaceful moment with a very comfortable silence.

“Ramlah Aunty and her children have moved out of the manor” Amir said slipping his phone into his pocket. The soft flesh of my lips twitched a bit into a vibrant smiled.

“Finally, I think there will be peace”

“Sure there will be peace at the manor but the fact that they left behind a lot of damage had been caused. The damaged they left behind is something that will forever be there. Look at Tubassum. She is pregnant for that bastard” he jaw tightened and the hand that lay on his lap curled into a fist.

“You should not allow him anger you. It has happen” Amir stared ahead, his elbow on the door and a hand kneaded his temple.

The little bend on the road leading to the bridge we had once drove through appeared. I pressed the break expecting the car’s speed to reduce but nothing happened. The car kept shooting forward at the same speed. I stomped on the break constantly expecting a change.

“What’s wrong?” Amir asked noticing my discomfort.

“The break is not working” I voiced, my voice croaked.

“It is not possible. It is a new car. Step on it harder” he said calmly.

I did but got the same result. By chance, the car passed the bend. I was able to control it but that did not dampen the fear that was beginning to twist my gut like a knife. My throat clamped as my head became damp with sweat. I stomped harder on the break faster and faster but nothing happened.

“This can’t be happening” Amir said getting alert. He had his eyes on me.

I lost concentration on the road and looked down at the failed break. I could feel sweat roll down my back wetting my clothes and fear clogging my throat and trapping me in its web. My trembling grip on the steering intensified. Even single pound my heart made against my chest echoed through my raging ears. My lungs compressed reducing the flow of air.

“Watch out!” Amir thundered.

I whipped my head up at the road to see a truck, hooting continuously and driving towards us. A fearful scream left my throat. Amir twirled the steering to the left. The car moved to the left but close to the end of the bridge we had gotten to. In terror, I turned the steering to the right loosing focus and balance of it. The car swung from left the right like a ball bouncing around a closed room, springing forward like a bullet. Our bodies moved left and right at the drive of the faulty jeep.

In the heat of trying to get the car stable, my shaking hand loosened around the rolling steering and the car sprung forward, off the bridge like a rocket then down. Everything happened in a blur. I knew what was coming. We were falling into water. I screamed with every ounce of power in my terrified body, my eyes wide with terror and face immobile with fear. When the car dipped into water, my eyes rolled behind my head then I heard nothing and saw nothing.

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This is something I should have said at the beginning of this book that I am just saying now. This book has not been written on any other platform except Wattpad. It is my original work and something I have spent months writing and I am still writing. I have gone far on Microsoft word nearly close to the ending.

Please, please, please if you see it on any other platform except Wattpad or if you see it somewhere else, inform me. I will be so grateful and happy. Thanks.