"Let her go or I'll shoot!" Hakim yelled.
"She's killing Grace shoot her!" Joana yelled.
"Stop it Uncle Kim," Cassandra said with her hand still pressing down Grace's neck. "We both know you won't shoot."
"Please, I don't want to hurt you." Hakim said in tears. "Veronica, please."
Suddenly, it seemed like Cassandra's mood changed, but Veronica was now awake.
"Kill me, please, I'm begging you."
"You heard her, shoot."
"No, d-don't." Grace said even as she choked. "We can help her... Put the gun down."
Hakim slowly lowered his arm as he with Margret and Joana watched in anticipation of what Grace meant.
"V-Veron-ica... li-sten to me..." Grace said. "She's got nothing on you, it's your b-body... You can take back control."
"I-I can't." Veronica replied in tears. Her hands were still strangling Grace, she couldn't stop herself. "She's stronger than me."
"That's a lie and you know it... You're one of the stronge
The atmosphere outside was gloomy in the aftermath of Hakim's death despite the huge relief everyone had that the girls were still alive. Two ambulances had arrived minutes later in addition to the five police cars already on the scene. They all went to work immediately, gathering pieces of evidence and tying up loose ends as Hakim's body was taken out on a stretcher. Joana and Margret were by the other ambulance, receiving medical treatment. Grace and Veronica sat by the stairs leading to the front door of the house as Officer James interrogated them."So let me this straight," He said. "Hakim was behind all of this? He was the killer?""Yes." Grace answered as she and Veronica stared at each other. Veronica tried nibbling at her fingers to keep her composure but it wasn't working, her knees were shaking badly and Grace could feel it."Is that true, Veronica?" James asked.Grace's eyes were sharply fixed on hers without blinking, warning and pleadi
A week has passed since Hakim's and the day every senior student at Ketu High finally came. Graduation. The four girls stayed in June's house that morning to do each other make-up and hair to look absolutely stunning for the event. Grace stared deeply at the small dressing mirror she sat in front of while June brushed her hair.Everything wasn't quite back to normal yet. They were still the talk of everyone in the town as well as in their school but they were not going to let it bring them down as they looked to put the event behind them and make the most out of the day."How is it?" June asked, admiring her masterpiece."I look like Barbie princess," Grace replied with a little sarcasm in her tone."You look beautiful, you mean." Joana said as she gazed at Grace, monetarily taking her eyes from Margret who she was helping with her make-up."Let me say what I want to say," She retorted then took a moment to look at herself again. Every other
All of Grace's friends could tell she was the least enthusiastic about their graduation coming up in two months. Of course, she was glad and eager to leave high school after six years of tolerating "irritating teenagers, frustrating teachers, and a silly excuse for a principal" as she fondly puts it. Bottom line, she was angry and it didn't help to see everyone happy about it. There was nothing she could count as memorable in all her years in Ketu town. It was a boring school and a boring town and although she didn't want it to end that way she had no choice but to settle in for what fate gave her until she saw a tiny opportunity to turn it all around and she was damn well going to make work. "Something's got you in a good mood. It's a boy right?" June teased. "June, Haba even if it's a guy, it's not your business." Joana countered "Or are you jealous that you might soon be the only one among us without a boyfriend?" She added and shifted her attention to John, the captain of the foo
Hakim Bello had always been grateful to the Badmus family for assistance after his father who was Mike's driver, died of a tragic illness. So it didn't cause any problems when he got a call from them asking for a favor in return, especially when he was going to be compensated for all his troubles. He was a lanky man in his forties, had a small mouth and pale eyes that could keep one staring at his face for a long time but somehow, the boss had chosen him as the perfect guy for the job. He just had to act as a guardian to their only child, Veronica while she proved she could handle settling back in with her peers by proving it in a town she didn't know anyone. Easy, he had thought had first. Veronica although from a rich background wasn't a brat. She was as respectful to him as anyone younger could be and she always minded her business but Hakim was starting to get worried. It was already two weeks and from what Veronica had told him, she wasn't fitting in, rather she was being isolate
"Joana!" John called softly from the end of the chair where he sat opposite Joana. He had taken her to a fast food restaurant- the same place they had special dates like Valentine's day and birthdays. It wasn't too much for a small town but Joana seemed to like the food there so they always went there. Ever since they got there, she seemed lost in her thoughts and oblivious of everything else that was going on. 'What's going on with her.' He thought as he watched her. Her eyes were fixed on the menu she held in her hands. He called her name again."What?" She said taking her eyes off the menu."What are you ordering?" He said with a concerned look in his eyes."Huh?""This man has been standing here for a minute now waiting for you. What are you ordering?"Joana's attention came back immediately as she saw the man standing impatiently by her side."Oh my God! I'm so sorry... Just give me what he is having."The waiter shot a glare at her which she wasted no time to return. He then ro
Grace, June, and Margaret let themselves out of Veronica's house that night. None of them thought about going up to check on Veronica, they were all busy wondering about what happened and what it meant. As they trekked home in silence, Margret was angry that she allowed herself to believe Grace's preaching on wanting to do something exciting before Graduation. "What the hell was all that?" Margret asked Grace after she couldn't bear the silence. "Was that the excitement you were yapping about all these while?"Grace didn't know what to reply, she was busy being sorry she led her friends into whatever was going on."I-I don't know." She said."You don't know? We just told that bitch our deep dark desires and you're saying you don't know?" Margret raised her voice."I'm sorry."Margret scoffed."Sure you are... Just so you know, whatever happens from here on, it's all on you." She said pointing a finger at Grace's face.June was the worst of all of them. She could feel herself shaking
Margret felt a tad bit hazy as she woke up. She had no idea why she had a kink in her neck. She rose a little, supporting herself with an elbow and massaging her neck with her other hand. Struggling to open her eyes, she wondered why couldn't feel her pillow, or why her bed felt hard like the floor, and why her shirt felt soaked. Slowly, she opened her eyes to a shocking realization. The cold eyes of a lifeless Sylvester staring back at her! She became fully awake instantly. Sickened by a pool of blood all over her, she quickly jumped to her feet, tossing the stretched arm of the body wayward. She started walking backward, her steps in sync with the rhythm her pounding heart was making till she reached the bookshelf separating her from the wall. Immediately, images began flashing to her head, and the pounding in her chest increased with every horror she saw. The horror of what she had done. * * *It was very unlikely for Margret to ever miss school. She was the most serious st
The ride to Veronica's had been a silent one. Grace had nothing to say to her and neither did she. And she understood why they were all angry at her. She had lied from the very beginning and now it seemed like everything that was happening was her fault. She knew that Grace had been keeping a close eye on her since that night, and she had used it to her advantage, acting loose so she could figure out what they would do next. She wasn't expecting a dead body when she trailed the girls from school to Margret's house, but she had hoped that this would help take some of the guilt away but it was clear from Grace's expression that that wasn't going to happen.Veronica didn't bother calling Hakeem, he was always at home although often left the house when she was around to give her space. She was counting on the former and it was indeed so. "Veronica, what are you doing home by this time? The game is over?" Hakeem asked as Veronica and Grace barged into the living room. He threw a curious