C7 Guess What?!

“Shall we?”

The buzzing of my phone interrupted whatever response I had for Cole. I rummaged around in my bag before locating the device. I brought it out and a grin spread across my face the moment I unlocked it. I looked up at Cole who already raised a questioning eyebrow.

“We shall Cole but first, we must make two stops”. Even though Cole appeared confused, he didn't ask any more questions. He walked to the car and got inside, waiting for me to do the same.

“So where to first?” Cole asked, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel.

“To the nearest ATM,” I commanded still grinning from ear to ear.

Cole started the car, sceptically eyeing me. “If you keep on grinning that way, I fear your face might split into two”.

I sighed in contentment. “I'm just happy Cole”.

“And what made you happy all of a sudden?”. I unlocked my phone again and shoved it into his face. He flinched at the sudden action but adjusted himself and peered ahead trying to focus back on the road. He glanced at the phone I was still holding to his face for a second. “Oh you got paid,” he stated giving his attention back to the road. I nodded happily and he responded with a smile.

There wasn't a queue like I had expected at the ATM when we got there. Even with the number of ATMs in the city, there always were long queues at each but it was just my lucky day. I waited, tapping my foot on the floor impatiently for the mother of two before me to finish whatever business she had there on time. It was quite a difficult task since her twins made sure to rip the card off her hands every time she tried inserting it. Three minutes and my patience snapped, I snatched the card from one of the twins who was currently letting it fly in the air and helped the mother out. Her words of appreciation filled the air whilst she grabbed her bag and tried to tame her twins at the same time.

Kids

I quickly did my own business and made my way back to the car.

“Where to next?” Cole asked starting the car again. I smiled at the envelope I had somehow managed to find in my bag at such a convenient time in my hands before stretching my phone out to Cole. He collected it calmly and looked at the screen.

“Now, to that address”.

“Who lives there?”

“Someone I need to pay as soon as possible”. No other word was exchanged as Cole drove through the city to the lonely house far away from any form of life.

“I'll be fine from here,” I told Cole as I got off the car.

“Just yell the word if you need me.” I laughed remembering the word Cole asked me to yell if I needed saving the second day he drop me off at work. The safe word was 'Jollof' which, unfortunately, never worked no matter how many times I chanted it in my head or screamed it out loud. Not that I had needed saving of any kind. I just wanted to test the word. A really rare safe word if you'd ask me. It was just proof of how much Cole loved the food.

I could remember Cole was not very friendly to Brainard on that very day and thought I would need saving from the latter at some point. He kept shooting deathly glares at Brainard when he saw him and even with Brainard's stone face, I could pick that he was not exactly keen on seeing Cole. And based on what I had gathered so far, Cole didn't seem to be on buddy or acquaintance terms with Brainard and the same for Brainard too. They both seemed not to be able to handle breathing the same air.

“I'm sure there will be no need for that Cole”.

I closed the door gently and made my way toward the gate of the house. I pushed the gate a little and it gave way. Figuring it was unlocked, I headed to the front door. Holding the envelope to my chest, I knocked lightly on the door, the grin slowly making its way back to my face. There was no response, I knocked again and waited for a few seconds before a gruff reply came.

“If you are here to ask me for my hard-earned money then you may gladly return to where ever you came from”.

“It's me.”

Silence

“Daphne”.

“So?”

My grin widened. “I brought money”.

One

Two

Thr......

The door flung open disclosing the one and only Mr Gollum in flesh and blood.

“Where's the money?” he demanded

“Well good day to you too Mr Peter”, I grinned at him as I let myself in. “You look well”.

A grunt was the only reply I got from him. He did look well seeing as his semi-bald head was now completely shining reflecting the light from the bulb in his parlour. His other features, however, remained the same; his cologne that to me, I would describe as something in total competition with the depths of a latrine—and the stench that emitted from his mouth.

“Where's the money?” he demanded again.

“Not even a seat offer? I thought chivalry was still breathing”.

“Well then. Sit,” he commanded and I took my seat across him. “Now, where is the money?”.

Such an impatient man when it comes to money. Nah, he's impatient when it comes to anything.

“How about a cup of tea and some biscuits?” I innocently fluttered my eyelashes at him but he was having none of that. He glared at me until I had no choice but to give in.

I placed the envelope on the table and watched amusingly as he grabbed the envelope, tore it open, brought the money out and began counting in lightning speed. After seconds of counting, he hummed in satisfaction, looked at me and smiled revealing his burnt set of teeth for the first time since I got there.

Well that just made me lose my appetite

“Would you like that cup of tea now?”

I cringed inwardly. “No thank you. I should be on my way now”. I stood up and headed to the door.

“Well then. Nice doing business with you. I looked forward to seeing more from you.” He grinned and I almost gagged. I nodded and walked out closing the door behind me. I hurriedly walked to the car, yanked the door open and plopped down on the seat startling Cole in the process.

“Should I assume it went well?”

I rested my head on the headrest and exhaled in relief. “Yes it did”

“To work now?”

“Yes. To work”

“I think you're a bit late,” Cole pointed out as he drove us out of the lonely environment back to life.

“Yeah I know,” I admitted

“And you're not scared you might be punished?”

I raised my head and looked at Cole. “And who is going to punish me? I'm always the only one in that building”.

“Brainard is always there too”.

“Brainard doesn't count. He's always at the gate and he hardly talks. It's like he doesn't exist”.

Cole scoffed. “That's because he doesn't”.

A comfortable silence spread out in the car for a short while before I decided to break it. “Tell me, what is this Mr Ogden like?”.

Cole was silent and I thought he hadn't heard my question. I was just about to repeat it when he spoke.

“Uhmm. Well, Mr Ogden is........Interesting,” he answered with a slight shrug.

“I'm not quite sure you believe that yourself”.

Cole let out a small laugh causing me to grin. “You're right. I don't but hey, I was able to come up with a word to describe him, not many people can do that. I deserve an accolade”.

“And an accolade you shall get.” I laughed bringing my hands up to clap. Cole joined in, laughing heartedly and it was a sight to behold. It was my first time in weeks seeing him laugh that way and I never knew how good-looking he was until that day.

“But honestly, he is interesting,” Cole said. “Not interesting in the way you're familiar with but interesting in a more mysterious way”.

“Well then, I'm looking forward to meeting this ‘interestingly mysterious creature’ ”. And I was looking forward to it, a curious mixture of amusement and anticipation surging deep within me.

~~~

A strong feeling of strangeness loitered in the atmosphere that I could almost taste in my mouth. Something was off. Something was eerily off.

I heard the sound of the speeding car fading off in a distance and that was my cue to abandon my thoughts and head inside.

Seems Cole has somewhere urgent to be

The gate was slightly opened when I got to its front and there was no Brainard to open the gate for me nor his familiar face to welcome me when I eventually entered. Something was certainly not right.

There must be an intruder or better still, a burglar inside.

Wait.....

A burglar?

A burglar?!

I stood there for what felt like forever inwardly shaking down to my bones debating whether I should head inside or make a run for it. As always, I chose the stupid option. I made my way inside, trying my most to be discreet about it. It wouldn't be the best of ideas to make my presence known to the intruder.

There was nothing strange about the inside; it was the same as always: quiet as a graveyard. I shook my head at my dumbness and was about to discard my thoughts when a sound resonated from up the stairs. My feet carried me to the storage room against my better judgement and before I knew it, I was searching for the perfect tool for defence in a frantic yet quiet manner. Lastly, my choice was a shovel. It was the only simple and strong thing I could easily carry without passing out.

Quiet as a mouse, I made my way to the stairs. With the never-ending stairs, the burglar would have made an epic escape through the back before I would even get close to where it was.

I was running out of breath and there were still a few steps to go. The dark passage did nothing to help my fear or nervousness. I glanced at the shovel in my hands and wondered if it was the right choice. I quietly sat on one of the steps to devise a new and better plan.

What was the worse that could happen? What if the burglar was holding a gun or a knife? God! What was I thinking?! Was I that dumb? And why was I even sitting?

Well did you think you were Jackie Chan?

I mentally mocked myself. Why did Jackie have to make it seem simple?

I'm too young to die and I just got my first salary; I need to spend it! That's it, I'm making a run for it.

I attempted to stand up and run for my life without looking back but then it happened.

“And who might you be?” a deep resonating voice asked.

Is this how I'm going to die? Is my dumbness finally going to end my life?

My eyes shot up and towards the direction of the voice. A tall figure stood powerful in the darkness that enveloped the passage and the entire upstairs. His powerful aura radiated through my body to the entire building, bouncing off the walls and back to my body. I was visibly shivering now.

Shortly, heavy yet calculated footsteps broke the pregnant silence that followed the question asked. The figure started to get closer till a pair of black shiny shoes stood at the top of the stairs. A few seconds passed and the shoes descended the stairs until they were a few steps away from me.

Breathe Daphne, Breathe. You're not going to die

Slowly, my eyes trailed up the legs it covered to the torso that was covered in a shirt tucked firmly in a pair of trousers and finally the eyes of the figure which appeared to be shooting out icy glares at me. The tall and dark figure stood with arms folded behind it. Its face wearing an expression that would put Brainards' to ultimate shame. If I thought Brainard's poker face could make a thousand soldiers pee themselves, then this figure's face was much worse.

Goosebumps rose from my skin as the aftermath of the cold voice and icy glares that momentarily sent me to Antarctica. I gulped down the fear that was beginning to make my throat hurt and slowly rose to my feet. With legs wide apart and feet firmly glued to the surface of the step I was standing on, I held up the shovel in defence ready to swing it in full force at one wrong move of the intruder as I began attacking the figure with questions.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you from? What is your mission here?”.

He stood there calm and collected, his glares unwavering.

“Last time I checked, this property belonged to me. Now, the real question should be: what are you doing on my property?”.

Well shit!