When Misfortunes Starts To Strike
Clifford was on the phone with Lian talking about an upcoming business trip when she heard Rosita screamed
"Will call you later Lian." she said and hanged up.
Clifford quickly rushed down to the living room where his wife was and met her standing motionless with her phone.
"What is it Rosita? What happened? Why the scream?" he asked turning her to face him.
"Cliff..., It's mum."
"What has happened to her?" He asked anxiously
"I just received a call from the house that she has been rushed to the hospital unconscious."
"What...!?"
Riley also rushed downstairs on hearing the loud voice of her dad.
"What's it dad?" she asked on getting there
"It's your grandmother dear, quickly get dressed and let's go see her at the hospital. I will go get the keys."
"Hospital...?What happened"
" There's no time for that now dear, quickly go get dressed. We will get to know when we get to the hospital but for now, we have to leave."
"Okay dad..." she answered and went back to her room to get changed. Like a flash of light, they all rushed to the car and speed off.
*************************************
The spy from Nichole saw them and called her to inform her about what was happening
"Hello..Ma'am.."
"I'm all ears." she replied
"I can see the Hollands rushing out of the house and they seem to be in a hurry."
"I can see my first strick has given positive feedback." she said with a smirk
"So what do you want me to do now ma'am? Should I follow them?"
"No Zed...., Now is the chance to plant the secret cameras. Get in and do that fast so I can know their moves and when to make my next move."
"Okay ma'am.. it will be done."
"That's good." she replied and hanged up.
Zed looked around and when he was sure that they were gone and with nobody watching, he sneaked into the house, quickly planted the cameras at vital spots and sneaked out again.
********************************
After few minutes drive, It dawned on Rosita that they have not phoned the others if they've heard the news.
"Sweetheart, have you phoned Lian about this?" she questioned
"No dear..., please do that for me."
"Okay.." she answered and phoned Lian first.
"Hello...., Lian...?"
"Rosie...., have you guys heard what has happened?"
"Yes..., So where are you guys?"
"We're on our way to the hospital."
" Okay..., let's meet over there."
"Okay..." she answered and the line went dead
"So.., what did he say?" questioned Clifford anxiously
"They're are on their way to the hospital" she answered
"Okay.."
THE HOSPITAL
Within no time, they all pulled up in front of the hospital and rushed in to meet Aunt Anastasia and two of the workers sitting in the waiting room. Aunt Anastasia raised towards them when she saw them approaching
"What happened Aunt?" asked Nicholas
"I don't know what really happened Nico, she was on the phone with someone but I don't know who the caller was and what he/she told her. She just exclaimed all of a sudden, and collapsed."
"So what did the doctor say?" questioned Houston
"We're still waiting for him to come out and tell us what happened."
"Okay." they all nodded in unison
"Hope grandma is going to be fine?" asked Riley
Just then, the doctor walked out of the emergency room. They all rushed over on seeing him
"Doctor, how is she now?" questioned Clifford
"Please..., calm down, she is out of danger now and responding well to treatment but still unconscious."
"But what happened to her doctor?" asked Kathie
"She had a heart attack and her blood pressure was also high. Did she get any shocking news or anything like that?"
"We're not so sure about that Doc, she was just on the phone with someone and suddenly collapsed." answered Melissa
"Okay..., but she is fine now. The nurses will transfer her to another ward so you can go see her.
" Okay.." they answered nodding
After few minutes of waiting, the nurse came out of the ward where they transferred Mad. Flora to
"Please, you can go and see her now." said the nurse
"Okay.., thank you." answered Clifford and they all went into the ward. After staying with her for a while, Rosita turned to her daughter
"Sweetheart..., I think you should leave for school now. You will be late."
"No mum..., I want to stay with grandma."
" No dear, we're all here for her. You heard from the doctor that she is out of danger. She will be fine dear."
"Yeah..., I think you kids should go to school first. She is fine now. You can come and see her after school, okay?" said Houston
"Okay...." they answered in unison and left the hospital to the bus terminal.
*********************************
Riley and her cousins arrived to school late
"I will leave to my class now, see you guys after school." she said to her cousins and dashed off to her class.
Riley got to class and met the first lesson already in session
" You're late Miss Riley" said Mr Max, her English teacher
"Sorry sir, I had an emergency."
"Okay..., go take your seat."
"Thank you sir." she replied rushing to her seat.
After long hours of studies, the class finally came to an end. Riley closed her book and sighed in relief. Kate, Loretta and Nancy moved over to her
"Riley..., why were you late..?" asked Loretta
"Grandma was rushed to the hospital so we all went over to see her."
"Oh.., what happened?" asks Kate
"The doctor said she had a heart attack and her blood pressure also went up."
" So how is she now? questioned Nancy
"She is better now but still unconscious."
"Don't worry Riley.., she will be fine." said Loretta patting her shoulder
"Okay.." she nodded
"Let's go have lunch now., I have calculus as next lesson. I don't want to be late so we better get going." said Nancy
"Okay..,okay.." Riley answered and sighed raising from her chair
"Let's go..." she answered with a smile.
*********************************
They moved over to the counter and took their tray of food and found a spot at the corner of the canteen. They sat around and put their food down. They were about to dig in when someone approached them
"Hi girls..."
"Hi...." they answered in unison, raising their head to see who it was
"Oh...Lionel.." called Riley with a surprised look
"Can I join you ladies?" he enquired
"Sure.. sure.." they chorused
"Thank you.." she answered and sat next to Riley
Kate, Loretta and Nancy looked anxiously at Riley in expectation of introduction
"oh.., sorry girls. My bad..." she said with a smile when she noticed their anxious gaze
"Kate..,Loretta.., Nancy.., this is Lionel. My new friend whom nearly ran into me with his car when I unconsciously walked into the street. And Lionel.., this is Kate, Loretta and Nancy, my childhood friends."
"Wow..., nice to meet you girls..." he said with the brightest smiles
"Nice to meet you too." they answered in unison
They chit chatted for a while laughing and giggling while eating. Suddenly, Nancy checked her time and exclaimed
"Oh....my....God..., I'm so late for class. I've got to go guys." she said slowly lifted up from her seat and dragged her bag along
"See you later girls..."she called as she left them.
"Okay..." they answered
" We also have to go Riley, We have a research assignment to complete so we're going to the Library. See you later."
"Okay"
"Bye..Lionel" they chorused
"Bye girls..." she answered with a smile and looked on as they left.
Just then, the bell rang.
"I have to go Riley..., will call you later."
"Oh....? You have my line already?"
"I guess not. Here, can I have it?" he answered giving Riley his phone.
"Okay..okay.." She said smiling, took the phone and dialed her number
"Here you go" she said giving back the phone.
"Sure.., thank you. So...., I will give you a call"
"Okay.." she replied with a nod
"see you.."
"Bye.." she replied and watched on as he left.
Riley wasn't having any class so she sat in the canteen for a while and left to the computer lab to complete her thesis. She spent almost an hour and a half at the lab. She sighed on completion of her work
"It's all done." she murmured, packed her things and left back to her class. After hours of studying, the bell rang and all the students rushed to the bus. Riley stood outside waiting for her cousins
"Riley..? aren't you joining the bus? asked Loretta
" No girlfriends.., I'm waiting for my cousins so we can go visit grandma."
"Okay...,then we'll go first" said Nancy
"Okay..., see you girls tomorrow."
"Okay..." they chorused
After minutes of waiting, her cousins finally came out
"So what were you guys doing?" she asked as they approached
"Sorry....., they were waiting for me" answered Florencia.
"Okay..., can we leave now?"
" Sure," answered Florencia and they left to the bus terminal.
***********************************
It was already 5pm when they got to the hospital. They went up to the ward where their grandmother was and met Lian and Kathie already there
"Uncle Lian....., you guys are still here?" asked Riley
"Yes dear...we are waiting for Aunt Anastasia to come and look over your grandma."
"Okay..., so are my mum and dad still here?"
"No dear.., they just left"
"Oh okay..."
They sat over Mad. Flora for a while then Aunt Anastasia came
"I'm here now.., you can go home with the kids now. It's 7pm now and I guess none of you have taken in anything."
"Okay Aunt..." answered Lian as he hugged and pecked her on the checks.
"See you tomorrow kids.."
"Okay nanny.." they chorused and left the ward to the car
"Join us Riley..." said Lian
"No...Uncle.., I have lots of errands to do before getting home. First, I dropped my laptop for repairs so I have to go for it. Also,I have to pass by the cafe downtown to do some assignment then the grocery shop for some things."
"Okay...okay.., then take care and don't keep too long in town because it's getting late else your parents will get worried."
"Sure..." she replied with a smile and dashed off.
*********************************
It was around 9pm when the bus pulled up at her stop. She got off and headed home. It was about 40mins walk from the bus stop to her house. She walked for a while humming and singing to a rhythm on her phone when she felt someone following her. She turned and saw a strange man dressed in all black with a cap on. She got startled and doubled her steps. She turned again and the strange man was still following her and this time he has also double his steps.
CLIFFORD'S APARTMENT
Rosita and Clifford were worried sick about their daughter. Rosita tried her line but there was no answer
"Is she still not answering?" asked Clifford
"No dear..., am scared Cliff."
"Keep trying, maybe she is busy."
Clifford keeps pacing in the house worriedly while Rosie keeps trying her line.
"Should I go out and look for her?"
"Let me try again, maybe this time she will answer."
Rosita tried her daughter's line again and suddenly stood motionless with a pale and startled look
"What is it Rosie...?"
"Her phone..., it suddenly switched off." she answered stammering