Chapter 30: Twenty eight

Fear was such an abstract concept that it was sometimes underrated, sometimes overrated, but one thing that was certain about it was that it was better understood when experienced. Raymond'd had a lot happen to him, to the extent that he'd come to believe there was only so much that could rattle him. He had been very wrong.

They'd reached out to Hope's friends and as they'd feared, none of them had heard from her. It left him feeling extremely stupid and shortsighted. He'd made her all sorts of promises and even gone as far as asking someone to spy on her. All for what?

"We probably should contact the station again. Why have they not gotten back to us yet?" Sophie demanded, shooting up from her seat and pacing, becoming increasingly restless the longer time passed.

"We could, but they left here less than an hour ago, Sophia," Alex reasoned.

"So? Are we supposed to just sit here and do nothing then?" She demanded, a bit harsher than she'd intended.

"No. We've talked to the police and everyone else we can," Alex stated, careful not to match her tone. Sophie and Raymond were extremely riled up, although both showed it differently, with Sophie being very vocal about it while Raymond remained silent, battling his thoughts. Alex was left with no choice but to be the only voice of reason. One person at the very least needed to keep a clear head. "I'm just saying, there's really not much else we could do right now."

"Easy for you to say since she isn't your sister," Sophie snapped, glaring at her husband.

"I can't believe you would think that of me, Sophia." He tried for nonchalance but even he couldn't disguise the fact that her words had hurt him.

Raymond was taken aback as well. He also was a bit resentful with how Alex managed to be reasonable and rational about the situation when he felt like he was losing his mind, but he couldn't deny everything Alex said made perfect sense.

It'd been almost twenty four hours, but it felt much longer. They'd done everything they could think of, but everything led them right back to the beginning. Nowhere.

None of them had been able to close their eyes even the slightest bit. Raymond was especially worried for Hope's mum. They'd managed to finally coerce her to at least rest a little less than fifteen minutes prior, but even he knew that was only going to keep her calm for so long.

"I'm so sorry, Alex. I didn't mean any of that. I didn't mean that at all." Sophie sounded and looked defeated as she plopped back on the seat she'd previously been on. "I feel extremely terrible and confused right now but it's not fair for me to take it out on you."

Alex was instantly crouching in front of her as he took both her hands in his, his concern finally shining through his seemingly unaffected demeanor. "I know, and I'm sorry as well. I'll go make that call, find out if there's anything new."

She nodded, finding it hard to say anything over the lump in her throat.

He smiled, the back of his hand rubbing against her face gently. "We'll find her, okay?"

She nodded again, forcing herself to return the smile as he stood and walked away to make the call.

Raymond followed the whole exchange, all the while feeling even the more guilty about what part he'd had to play in all of it.

"Are you okay?"

It took Raymond few seconds to realize Sophie had addressed him, even more so to process what she'd said. "Are you seriously concerned for me right now?"

She shook her head, as if she couldn't quite believe it herself. "I know I'm not in the right mind to care about anyone else right now, but it's just that you look the worse of the both of us. You've been standing unmoving for almost an hour now."

Raymond hadn't even been aware of that, but thinking about it, he realized she was right.

"I wouldn't even be talking to me if I were you," Raymond admitted, shamed as his messed up conscience hit him again in full force. It was bad enough he was extremely terrified about what could have possibly happened to Hope, but pile on the mountain of guilt and all you had left was a hopeless wreck.

Sophie sighed, understanding immediately what he meant. He'd been left with no choice but to come clean to them about everything that Hope had been keeping from them. It went without saying that they'd not taken it well.

Sophie had just sat there for the longest time, seeming unable to believe anything he'd said while Alex had only stared at him in disbelief and disappointment. Her mum had burst out crying and even after they'd calmed her down, she'd not been able to look him straight in the eye afterwards.

Their reactions had wounded him deeper than a knife wound would have. He'd have preferred it if they'd yelled and cursed and hit him. Anything would be better than that silent disappointment and the overwhelming feeling of guilt.

He'd been desperate to explain to them that he had planned on telling them everything and had only been trying to protect her but it all sounded like excuses in his head. He'd been wrong and was now down to regretting his decision. Maybe if he'd handed it all differently, the whole situation would have played out differently.

"I won't lie that I'm not disappointed, Raymond, and I won't pretend to understand either." She chuckled, although it sounded anything but. "I know however that you never meant to hurt anyone by keeping it away from us."

"Sophie--"

"There's no assurance this wouldn't have happened even if you'd told us, and there's no point dwelling on the possibilities right now either. Let's focus on finding Hope first. That's all that really matters right now."

It sounded halfhearted, and Raymond knew there was no way she was forgiving him so easily, but he was grateful, even though apologetic at her attempt at making him feel better, especially when it should be the other way around.

"I'm sorry, Sophie."

"I know."

Neither spoke again, not until his phone went off and Hope's name flashed on the screen, he almost died of a heart attack right there as he stared at the notification of a text. From Hope.

He opened the text, heart in throat. It was simply an address, one that he wasn't farmiliar with, but enough to have hope budding in his heart. If she'd sent this . . .

He clutched the phone so tightly, mind reeling and Sophie must have noticed it.

"Is everything okay?" Sophie asked, confused and a little interested.

He debated showing her the text. It was bound to raise her hopes if he showed her, but what if it was nothing? The last thing he wanted was to raise her hopes only to let her down again, especially not after everything he'd put them through.

"Yes--No. I . . . It's . . ."

He must must have given himself away because next thing he knew, she was on her feet. "Is this about Hope?"

"No, I . . . I just . . . "

"Raymond?" She pressed. "Don't lie to me again."

"What's going on?" Alex asked as he appeared, immediately sensing that something was up. He tucked his phone into his trouser's pocket, his gaze settling on and taking in Raymond's even-the-more agitated state. "Did something come up?"

Raymond caved. The decision had been made for him anyway. If there was anyone that could read him like a book, it was his brother.

"I got a text," Raymond admitted.

"Ah . . . ?" Coming from Alex, it seemed more of a question.

Exhaling harshly, he handed Alex the phone so he could see for himself. He recognized the exact moment Alex realized what'd happened in the way his eyes suddenly bulged and his gaze shot back to him.

"She texted you her address?" Alex asked, surprised.

"What? Does that mean her phone's no longer off?" Sophie interjected expectantly. She didn't wait for a response before immediately diailing her number. Raymond watched her deflate when she found it was still off.

Sighing in defeat, Sophie said, "We have to inform the police about this."

Alex and Raymond exchanged meaningful glances, thoughts aligned. Alex was the one who spoke, "I guess . . ."

"What are you both thinking?" Sophie asked, picking up on their silent exchange.

"The police is good, but we might be faster," Alex suggested.

"Nonononono!" Sophie exclaimed with an ardent shake of her head. "That's not happening."

"Babe--"

"No! Please. It's dangerous. I'd die if anything happened to you as well," Sophie declared, eyes welling up with tears.

"We don't actually know if anything's happened to Hope. I mean, if she sent this text . . . " Alex trailed off, letting the probabilities sink in.

Sophie however wasn't willing to listen. "Do not tell me what I do and don't know. My sister has probably been kidnapped by some psychopath, and you want to what? Walk straight up to said psychopath. Does that make any sense to you???"

"Keep your voice down!" Alex chided. "We don't want this waking up your mum when we barely got her to fall asleep in the first place."

That succeeded in calming her a bit, but only so much. "I'm not letting you go," she whispered angrily.

"All we want is a few minutes headstart, to check things out."

"No," she insisted, but with less willpower. "The police will take care of it."

"With their blaring sirens without proper survey? You know we can't put it past them. You don't want to risk Hope's safety, do you?" Alex bargained. He could tell he was wearing her out already. "We won't do anything stupid. I promise."

"Then I'll come--"

"No. Someone has to look after the kids and be here when your mum wakes up," Alex pointed out. "We'll be fine, Sophia."

"Don't do anything stupid," Sophie warned, her gaze shifting to Raymond who nodded in response.

She exhaled heavily, finally succumbing. "Okay, but I'm informing the police right now."

"Fine."

Raymond was out the door before anyone could get second thoughts, stomach flipping in apprehension and excitement. He couldn't and wouldn't trust the police if Hope's safety wasn't guaranteed first, and he was glad Alex felt the same. At the very least, he wanted to be there to see her being rescued. They both got in his car and he imputed the address in the navigation system, praying it wouldn't choose that day to direct him in the totally opposite direction.

Before he could kickstart the car however, Sophie ran out, signalling for them to hold up.

"What is it?" Alex asked, whining down the side window.

"I forgot to mention this yesterday. It must have skipped my mind with all that was going on. It's about the man who stole my phone . . . "

•    ~   •

The first thing that registered as Hope slowly regained consciousness was her comfort. She was lying on something very very soft and whatever it was felt extremely fluffy and comfortable.

The next was that whatever it was causing that comfort wasn't her bed.

Bolting up, she immediately regretted it when she was hit with a bout of headche. She groaned as her hands shot to her temples, rubbing them even as her eyes took in the expanse of the room.

It wasn't . . . anything. It was painted a dull grey color and there was absolutely nothing in the room save the bed she now realized she was lying on, covered by what she recognized as a very fluffy velvet bedsheet.

How did she get there? The last she'd been conscious, she'd hurried to the address her tormentor had texted her and gone in as instructed, then what?

Her head really hurt, and her mind felt foggy. Even her memories seemed to be eluding her. What had happened to her?

She inspected her body and was relieved to see she was at least fully dressed and there was no sign of physical injuries, thank God.

Had she been drugged?

It worsened the headache, but she strove for something, anything to explain why she was feeling the way she was.

She'd entered the house, then . . . she'd been attacked. Someone had attacked her and a hand had gone over her nose. She'd inhaled something and that was when she'd lost consciousness. She had been drugged!

She struggled to her feet, wobbling slightly. She felt extremely faint, probably due to the effect of whatever he'd used on her or the after effect of sleeping for how long? How long had she even been unconscious?

She managed to regain her footing and cautiously closed the distance between herself and the door. Her fears were confirmed when she found it was locked. She looked around and there was absolutely nothing she could use as a weapon. It was almost as if the room had been emptied on purpose.

The exhaustion from everything catching up with her, she sank to the floor, curling up as her tears flowed freely. She'd gotten herself in this mess. She'd gone and done something stupid again on her own and now, her family were probably going crazy looking for her.

Her mum. Sophie. Alex. Raymond. She didn't even want to think about what they could be going through at that moment. The thought terrified her. All she'd wanted to do was protect them, ironic how she'd probably done the exact opposite instead.

It could have been hours or mere minutes as she laid there, wallowing in her tears and self pity, but she soon felt herself fading again; the effect of the drug hadn't completely worn out afterall.

The next time she opened her eyes, the headche was slightly less intense but what really surprised her was that she was once again lying on the bed. Only this time, there was someone sitting next to her, staring down at her.

She bolted out of bed, falling off in the process. She groaned in pain, her headache back in full force. Hands reached out to her but she jerked back, hands thrashing in front of her. "Don't touch me!"

She didn't look up as she struggled to stand, delaying the inevitable, then she heard a sigh, a second before a voice spoke, "You're going to hurt yourself."

That voice. She'd recognize it anywhere. It was the same one that had tormented her for years. Her gaze flew up, eager and dreading finally putting a face to the voice, and for the first few seconds, all she seemed capable of was to stare, so many thoughts fighting for space in her head.

She'd imagined what he'd look like more times than she could count. She'd imagined him as a beggar on the street, some sort of wasted away druggie, and so much more so many times but never had she imagined him so . . . normal.

He looked so casual, standing there in plain white tees and jeans and looking down at her with a blank expression. He was tall and dark skinned, a bit buff but what really got to her was how tidy he looked. She'd expected unkempt, dirty, shabby, hungry even, but never would she have even imagined that the young man standing in front of her was the same one that'd been extorting money from her for years. He did not in anyway look like he'd struggled a day in his life.

If she hadn't been scared before, now she was terrified. The normal looking ones always turned out to be the craziest.

"Are you going to get up or what?" He demanded, annoyance evident.

Scared he could decide to take his anger out on her, she hastily sprung up to her feet, instantly regretting it when she hit the floor a second later, her ankle screaming in protest. She hadn't realized she'd twisted it and now it hurt like a bitch.

Hot tears returned in full force and with it her anger at how helpless she was. She hated feeling sorry for herself but how could she not? She was weak, hungry, helpless, alone and as if that wasn't bad enough, she couldn't even stand and was totally at the mercy of a normal looking lunatic who held her sister and nieces hostage.

"I don't deserve this!" She yelled, taking the kidnapper by surprise, furious tears streaming down her face. "Why are you doing this to me?! I've never done anything to you! I've never even met you before in my life! Yet you kidnap my sister and then bring me here. Why?! I've been through enough in my life already. I do not deserve this."

At that point, her voice broke and she was full on wailing, her head coming to rest in the crook of her elbow. All she wanted was the nightmare to be over. She deserved peace already.

She heard her kidnapper exhale, in that way one would when they were dealing with a tiresome child.

Hope jolted when she felt arms enclosing around her. She struggled to struggle, as she barely even had the willpower for it. What had happened to her fighter spirit?

"You don't want to test me. Don't forget who has your sister and nieces."

Hope went still, the fight completely going out of her. She let him pick her up bridal style, his hands against her eliciting mixed fractions of fear, resentment and disgust in her. She watched in confusion and awe as he laid her back on the bed, straightening immediately.

He bent to pick up a tray she'd not seen lying at the foot of the bed; at the opposite end to where she'd fallen. He placed it before her on the bed. "Eat. Do not make me have to come back to force you."

"What about my sister and her children?" Hope demanded, hiccups forming as she tried to rein in her tears. "Please let me s-see them."

He stared at her for a while, and Hope thought he might give in. His countenance suddenly turned angry and he looked away from her. "No. Eat that and don't try anything funny."

"Are y-you at least going to t-ell me why you're d-doing this?"

"I'll be back in five minutes. Do not try anything funny," he replied briskly before stalking off and out the door, steps as brisk as he looked. She heard the lock turning afterwards.

She sat there for the longest time, staring down at the food as if she could find her answers in it. That hadn't been the encounter she'd envisioned. The whole of it left her floored. Had she imagined it or had her captor actually been . . . nice to her? Did that even make sense?

And why did his face keep replying in her mind even as it nagged at her that she was missing something? Something about him was screaming for her to notice it, but she had no idea what it was. It was frustrating because she felt she was missing something extremely important.

But most importantly? How was she going to find her way out of there? Would anyone really be able to come save her? Would Raymond come? Did she even want him to take the risk?

She missed him. It was crazy how the thought of him filled her with warmth and hope even with how messed up her situation was. Yes. The answer was yes. She wanted him to come. She wanted to go home, back to her family. The only ones with whom she really ever felt safe.

Home. With Raymond, and her mum.

Resolve building up in her, she wiped off her tears as she drew the tray closer to herself. Her family were probably somewhere doing everything to rescue her. The only thing she could do for the time being was try to keep her head on her neck for as long as possible, and try not do anything to rile up her captor.

•   ~   •

It was the longest journey of his life, and it was about to prove the most disappointing as Raymond stared at the building a few houses in front of him. It was a small bungalow, fenced only a bit high such that it would be easy to jump over. A 'for sale' sign was plastered right in front of the gate. There were no cars around, and even from some distance away, it looked uninhabited with the grasses that had grown around the house, looking like they'd not been attended to for months.

The neighborhood itself was not only unfamiliar, but Raymond could tell it was dangerous and rough. He didn't like the idea that Hope might have been or even worse, be there.

They'd parked a good number of blocks away to avoid attention and were only now a few houses to the address, making sure they were not in direct view of the house, but their efforts were proving to be pointless as they stared at the house Hope was supposed to be in.

A man was walking past and Raymond stopped him. His eyes were red and Raymond could tell he was high.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know who lives in that house over there?" Raymond asked, pointing to said house.

The man looked at him like he'd just fallen from the sky butt naked. He opened his mouth and it took all of Raymond's restraint to keep his hand from going over his nose. "Abi you dey mad ni?"

Taken aback, Raymond blinked, lost. "Sorry?"

"No be only mad. You dey blind. Shey you no see the 'for sell' sign wey dey for there? The house wey don dey empty for like one year, you dey ask me who dey live there. Na your grandfather."

"But-"

"Abeg commot for my face before I gbos you," He dismissed, not waiting to hear the rest as he shot Raymond a menacing look before stalking off.

Raymond stared after him, lost for words.

"Let's just check to see if it's open," Alex suggested, waiting for acknowledgement from his brother before taking any step forward.

"We promised Sophie we won't do anything stupid," Raymond reminded him. His words didn't align with his thoughts as all he really wanted was to barge in, find his girl and take her home, but he had to think of her safety first. "If Hope's really in there, do you think it'll be a good idea?"

"I guess not," Alex agreed.

"Why would Hope send us this address if it was empty though?" Raymond pondered, every bit frustrated. "What should we do now?"

"I have no idea," Alex admitted, the telltale sign of stress finally revealing itself in his slightly crunched up brows. "I'd hate to go back home and tell Sophia this was a dead end."

Raymond didn't want to have to do that either. He'd witnessed all sorts of crestfallen expressions in the past twenty four hours. He didn't want to put her through that again.

Was she there?

Out of options, they both just stood there, leaning against their car, overly conscious of each second that passed.

"Are you looking for the tall and dark skinned lady?"

Both of their heads turned simultaneously as they took in the lanky boy who'd just addressed them.

"Excuse me?" Alex asked, pushing himself off the car. "What did you just say?"

"If you're looking for the dark skinned lady, I might be able to help you."

•   ~   •   ~   •

Hello, beautiful people!

So . . .

2021 is done and gone, but not without some lessons learnt.

One of which for me, is to not make promises since I apparently suck at keeping them.

It also left me grateful for all the engagements and encouragements; the reads, votes, comments, shares, DMs . . .

. . . And even the complaints, especially those about how slowly I updated. Some were nicely worded, some not, but at least it showed that you cared about the book enough to even bother.

Please understand though that there's no one who could have been as affected as myself at my lack of consistence. It bothers me a lot that I wasn't able to deliver as much as I'd planned, and I'm really sorry about that.

I hope to do better this year, but I don't want to make promises so fingers crossed.

All said, happy new year!

I hope you stick with me through this year as well❤️ .