A rush of panic swept through Tina's face but instinctively masked it with a smugish gaze, rolling her eyes in the process while folding her arms. "And what makes you think so?" She asked as she jutted her hips, trying her best not to look obvious. "We have our differences and all that but that doesn't mean I want her to vanish? Come to think of it," She scoffed. "Isn't it obvious she might be having fun somewhere else?" Tina asserted, turning on her feet to leave as she gesticulated her friends. "Come on girls, let's go. We have a class to attend." Tina added as she gave him a scornful gaze and strolled off.
Roxy and Bella in turn, seized Rowan up and hurried after her."I don't even understand what he sees in her." Rowan heard Tina muttered as they turned the corner to the class.Watching as their backs faded through the distance, he sighed. "I hope this is just my thoughts Tina?" Rowan affirmed and left off to the locker room.******Shuffling out of the school into the yard, Martin wrapped his hands over Emma's shoulders, encouraging and assuring her of his strong feeling that Phidelia will be found but Emma had her doubts.Walking up to their car, Emma sighed, about to pull the door opened when the ring of her phone brought her to a stop. She deftly glanced at the screen and instinctively looked up Martin on noticing who the caller was.From her gaze, Martin needed not to be told who the caller was. He could sense the fear and panic in her eyes."I think you should answer that." He encouraged, bating his eyes in the process. "They should also know what's going on. I bet they might be very worried."Emma gulped down a loop of saliva as she glanced back at the phone in her hand and with shaky hands, answered it."Hello?" Jerome's voice hastily rushed in from the other side of the phone which was a clear evidence of how worried she had been. "Emma, I...""I'm so sorry Jerome." Emma snapped in, cutting Jerome off. "I'm sorry I couldn't take good care of Phidelia as promised." She continued, her voice choked with tears."Wh–what are you talking about Emma?" Jerome stuttered, her voice shaky with anxiety. "What's going Emma?" She asked.Hearing those words, everything became just unbearable for Emma. Those tears she had been trying her best to hold back freely trekked down her cheeks. "It's all my fault Jerome." She sniffed, raking her hands through her hair. "It's my fault Phidelia went missing. I ....""Phidelia did what?" Jerome exclaimed over the phone, cutting Emma off."I'm sorry Jerome." Emma muttered amidst tears. "I have done my best since last night to find her but it's just useless. Jerome I..." She added but suddenly realized Jerome was unusually silent over the phone. "Hello? Jerome?" She inquired but then the line went dead.Emma swiftly looked from her phone to her husband with a tear drenched face."Come here." Martin instinctively muttered while gliding over to her and pulled her in a hug while she buried her face into his chest. "It's going to be fine." He assured.******Back in Australia, Phidel and Randy stared in anticipation at Jerome as she slowly brought the phone down from her ears, standing motionless as she gaze into space."What's it mum? What happened?" Phidel hastily muttered.Tears effortlessly trekked down Jerome's face as she slammed into the sofa, dropping her phone by her side. "Mum–" Phidel mumbled in panic while she rushed over to her side, settling beside her as she took her hand into hers. "Please say something." She pleaded."What's it dear?" Randy inquired, settling beside Jerome, leaving her inbetween Phidel and himself.She instinctively turned to Randy at his question, wrapping her hands around his neck as she broke into tears over his shoulders."Phidelia has gone missen Randy." She busted. "They can't find my baby. What kind of mother am I?" She blunted.Phidel's eyes widened as a flush of shock wept her face at this piece of information. Though she knew something had happened to her sister, she never expected something like this."Was it not only three days ago she was on the phone with her?" She grumbled mentally to herself. "What kind of sister are you?" A voice of guilt echoed in her mind. "How come I never saw my sister's pain? I never fought hard enough for her." The voice kept echoing, blurring out everything happening around her.Subconsciously, she jolted up and hurried off to the door."Where are you going Phidel?" Randy questioned but Phidel just kept going.He knew from that instant Phidel was out of herself. Just when she was about to pull the door open, he rushed over and held her back."I need to go to Phidelia Dad–" She muttered, staring blankly into Randy's eyes. "My sister needs me." She added as silent tears trekked down her cheeks."No dear." Randy snapped in, curbing his daughter's face as he knelt before her."You don't understand Dad–" She said, finally busting into tears. "We were never there when she needed us. Have you ever imagined how lonely she might have felt?" She mumbled amidst tears. There was no about of words to explain the pain in her heart. It felt like a thousand knives been pushed into her heart at a go.Randy feeling responsible for all this instinctively pulled her into a hug, brushing his hand through her hair. "I'm sorry Phidel. I know this is all my fault too." He affirmed over her shoulders. "You need to hold yourself dear. I promise we will find her." He assured.
It took all the effort Randy had had left to get Phidel calm.
Finally being able to calm both his wife and daughter, Randy did what should have done a long time ago. He called the airport, booking the next flight to Netherlands.Without waiting to be told, Phidel hurried to her room to pack few of her things for the journey. Jerome was no different either, she briskly hassled past Randy who was still on the phone to their room; not in the slightest way interested in what he was blabbing over the phone about as her only interest was getting their things.Randy on the other hand, had through quiet an effort been able to attain an intermittent leave from the work place though it came with a cost.Finally getting off the phone, he hurried to get all the necessary travelling documents they would for their trip. By then, Jerome and Phidel were all done.“Have you called Emma that we're coming? ” Jerome hastily muttered as they glided down the stairs.“I will do that when we get into the car.” He answered, stepping down the last stairs while Jerome and Phidel followed suit.They trod into the corridor and Jerome helped Randy lock the door. To how long they were going to spend in Netherlands, they ha
It was almost dawn when Phidel and her parents’ flight touched the soil of the Netherlands. Martin was by then already waiting for them at the waiting terminal when they sauntered in.“Hey–” He called, instinctively waving them over on setting eyes on them. Though the mood was not a good one, both Jerome and Randy managed to put on a smile as they got a glimpse of him except for Phidel who was still in a bad state.“Hello Martin.” Randy uttered, exchanging handshakes with Martin as they neared him.They exchanged a few pleasantries and finally headed to the car. Phidel and Jerome settled in the backseat whiles Randy and Martin took the front. After a few seconds, he sped off, hitting the main streets of Netherlands.The night lights coupled with all those 5star shops and fancy cafés along the streets were quiet a sight to behold; not to talk of those huge bridges they drove by but in all, Phidel found no delight in them as she stared out of the window in silence.Jerome understanding w
Bella and Roxy on the other hand were looking for Tina, having no idea where she had left off to as they had earlier on left to their lockers to return their already used textbooks. They walked into the classroom to meet her absence and was told by one of their colleagues that she was called to the Teacher's Staffroom by Mr. Mark so they decided to meet her up.They sauntered through the numerous students moving to and fro the hallways to the path they knew Tina would definitely use. Just as they got there, they saw her coming. Though her steps were briskly, it never came to their minds that something may be up with her. All they could think about was paying her back for the last prank she played on them.So they quickly hid at the corner, ready to give her the scare ; having no idea what was going on with her. They giggled while waiting patiently. After a few minutes, Tina pulled up her head.“Boo!” They shouted, making Tina almost jump out of her skin. T
Nanny Betty had just staggered into the yard when she heard Tina’s scream. A flash of panic instantly swept through her face and she zoomed into the house.She hurried through the hall directly to the kitchen and found Tina crouched beside the cabinet with her arms wrapped around her knees; shivering vehemently.“Tina–” She muttered and Tina deftly glanced up at her with tears lingering in her eyes.“Nanny Betty...” She cried, swiftly sprang up and hugged her. “I was so scared nanny.” She grumbled. “I thought I was going to die.” She fringed.“Calm down dear.” Nanny Betty snapped in as she drew her back. She slightly hunched forward, drying the tears that had escaped her eyes. “It’s okay now. I’m here.” She affirmed and Tina nodded.She could see from Tina’s eyes how scared she was. Though Tina was calm now, nanny Betty could still feel her shivering within
Few minutes after Nanny Courtney left, she came rushing back with the whole first aid kit; not really knowing what to take nor leave out.“Here sir,” She muttered amidst panting, handing over the kit to Bella’s Dad as she joined the rest of the family standing beside the bed with anticipation written all over their faces.“Is she going to be okay?” Her mother asked, watching as her husband passed the inhaler Bella’s nose. The intensity of her panic evident in her voice. “Is that..” She went on about to say something when Bella sneezed; regaining her conscience. “Oh Bell–” She grumbled in relief while she hurried over to her.A whippy cry escaped Bella’s mouth on seeing her mother and she instinctively curled into her bosom, wrapping her hand around her. “I’m so scared mum–” She cried.Mrs Lassey deftly glanced up at her husband at her daughter's words then back to Bell
When he was sure Tina was no where in sight, he hastily travelled his gaze to the laptop seated on the table– hunching forward for the drive resting beside it. Unfortunately, Tina’s phone rang at that instant.“You dare not touch that Lucas–” She warned, darting out of the kitchen; as it was usually one of his habits of getting on her nerves.But as determined as Lucas was, he was swift enough to take the drive before Tina got there.She spontaneously threw a scornful look at him, reaching for the phone–unaware that the drive was gone. Lucas thought of taking his leave before Tina becomes conscious of herself over the drive but then, leaving suddenly was surely going to raise eyebrows or suspicions on him so he laid low; hiding the drive while he pretended to play along.“Hey Roxy.” Tina muttered over the phone, throwing Lucas the last glare before turning away.“We need to meet Tina.” Rox
After several minutes which seemed unending, the drive finally appeared on the laptop. Lucas hastily hunched forward with a satisfactory smile dancing merrily on his lips.“Let’s see..” He muffled, clicking on the icon but was a bit surprise to see only one file from the drive. “What’s so special about this?” He commented, clicking on the file while he waited for it to load.After few seconds, the video started playing. At first, Lucas thought he was watching some sort of horror movie– not until he saw his sister.He instinctively gasped, covering his mouth with his hand as a flush of shock swept across his face.At that moment, their mother walked in– making the slightest sound. She was instantly swept up by the same shock when her eyes involuntarily rested on the screen of the laptop upon stepping into Lucas' room; following his gaze.“Wh–what's going on?” She stuttered, making known of he
Seeing how things were heating up between father and daughter, Cizer tried to interven but then, Austin held up a hand– bringing her to a pause inbetween words.“Do you know what this might cause us?” He pointed out, staring at Tina as he welled up with agitation– his face clouded with anger. “Do you even know how...” He escalated but then, Tina’s voice snapped in.“Ah right,” She sniffed, trying to sound as calm as enough “I even forgot you care about your business and reputation more than your children.” She retorted– being sarcastic.“Tina!” Cizer barked.“What mum–” She hastily muttered in one breath with a straight face. “Is that not right?” She shouted as silent tears trekked down her eyes. “What you two only think about is yourselves. You are so selfish!.” She blunted.At instant, Cizer’s hand graced her