Within minutes, the driver delivered Carol and Charlotte to Mr. James’s residence, and then drove back to the house, after Carol told him to go, that she would give him a call when she was ready to leave. She was still not sure about bringing this Melissa lady along with her, especially as she had not informed Mr. James that she was doing so first, but they were already here and even if she wanted to change her mind, it was already too late. Carol glanced at Melissa, wondering at how strangely she was acting all of a sudden. She had a strange look on her face and was quiet … very quiet, especially for someone who was always talking.“Hey… Are you okay?” Carol asked, pausing and turning to face Melissa, who stopped and faced her too, staring at her blankly. They were standing between the lush lawns that led to the house itself.“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” Charlotte asked, visibly shaking herself out of whatever stupor she had been in.“I don’t know. You were looking strange j

There was a tense silence in the room for some more minutes as the man and lady stared at each other. Charlotte stared at him without saying anything, not that there was anything that she could have said. It wasn’t every day that she was at a loss for words. Mr. James stared back at her, waiting her out, until she finally became uncomfortable with the silence and the staring competition, and just had to say something … anything.“How do you know who I am?” She asked him finally, her voice hard. If he thought that he could outsmart her, then he had better think again. She had come here on a mission, and she must fulfill it before she left.“What are you doing here?” He asked in turn, annoying her greatly.“No, no. We’re not going to do that. That is not how this is going to play out at all. I’ll tell you how it’s going to play out, though. I’ll ask the questions, and you’ll answer them. Got that?”“If you say so. Can you please stop being so loud, though? I’m getting a se

"I was the one who kidnapped and tortured Jessica,” Charlotte said, watching him closely and mischieously to see his reaction. He looked shell-shocked at first and then she saw doubt and pity creep into his eyes. He thought that she was crazy. Fuck him! She did not need his pity! “Excuse me?” “You heard me. I kidnapped and tortured Jessica, after which I lied to her that you were the one who asked me to do it and she, in turn, told Sebastian about it.” “Charlotte, why would you do that to poor Jessica?” Mr. James asked, beginning to realize just how much of a maniac this person was. It did not matter that she was related to him. She was a stranger and an evil one at that. “Why do you think? To get revenge against you, of course, and I can see that it’s working very well. To think that Sebastian caused you to have the heart attack that worsened your condition is really the best thing to happen to me in a long while. Oh, don’t look so surprised. Carol i

Jessica was lying on the bed, seemingly asleep. The guard got up, nodded at the two women who were standing by the door as though they were afraid to go in, and walked out the door. “Wait,” Charlotte called out to him as he proceeded to go sit in the corridor. “Is she talking yet? Can she talk yet?” “No, not yet ma’am. She’s able to recognize people now, though. The doctors are hopeful that anytime from now, she would be able to start talking. As it stands, she’s trying to make some sounds, although most of the sounds are gibberish. The doctors don’t want her to exert herself or force it.” The man explained, seeming surprised at such a question. “Oh, thank God for that. The earlier she can talk, the better, so it’s good that she’s already making sounds. Stay with her for a few more minutes. We’ll be b

Charlotte’s whole body was tense as she saw that Jessica recognized who she was. She could literally feel the panic and helplessness that the other girl felt, and could see as her eyes widened in absolute terror. Charlotte herself was terrified, and at her wit's end. If only she could complete this last task without a hitch, then her mission would be accomplished and none would be the wiser. She could already envisage the look of shock on Sebastian’s face when she came in all her full glory to claim what was rightfully hers. Realizing that she was beginning to zone off again, she shook herself to find that Carol was looking at her expectantly and with a sort of pleading look on her face. Since Charlotte did not know if Carol had said anything to her or not, she took her gaze back to Jessica who was now staring hard at Carol, trying to give her a sort of signal with her eyes. The medications they gave her must be making her boneless because Charlotte was sure that if she was the one, s