Chapter Twenty-five

Bridget had a bad girl reputation. She was a really nice person don't get me wrong but she loved to run wild. That was her only problem. We played around when we were much little. I was always drawn to her because she was different from the rest of my cousins and somehow she liked me too. Our immediate and extended families used to gather to celebrate thanksgiving and spend occasional holidays together in the large family house in London. We hadn't done that in like five years and that's how long I haven't seen her since. I last heard that she was sent to a boarding school. According to mom, her dad which was mom's only brother became extremely worried on how she was turning out after he had caught her and some friends in the backyard pretending they were smoking matchsticks like cigarettes at only ten years. He had thought boarding school would straighten her out but that must've not been the case seeing as she was being sent here. Even as a kid among four brothers, she was the most troublesome. She was the one who would wander off on so-called adventures alone and I remember we were always forming search parties to find her.

I loved her though, she was always fun so I was thrilled at the thought of being with her twenty four hours. Mom and Dad were a little worried that she would corrupt me, that's why they were not too thrilled. I would allay their fears later but first I would satisfy my curiosity. "Did something happen back in New Jersey? I thought she was in school, why is she coming here?"

"Something happened that made her parents withdraw her from there". Mom explained. "Your uncle wants to change her environment and separate her from her friends. Apparently they are no good. Bridget needs to be watched closely and you remember both her parents are busy medical doctors. He asked us for the favour and after much thought and deliberation, your dad and I have agreed. She's family and it's for a good cause". She finished.

"You both are okay with it right?" Dad asked William and I.

"Of course! You need not ask me that. I'd finally be getting the sister I always wished I had". I gushed.

Mom and Dad visibly relaxed. I narrowed my eyes at them. Wait, were they initially worried I'd be against the idea? "What was that?"

"Nothing. We're glad you're open to the idea. Since she will be sharing your room we thought you'd kick against it".

"Aw, no. You were not worried she was going to influence my behavior?"

Dad chuckled. "We are sure you will influence hers instead".

I giggled happy to know they trusted me.

Mom faced William who had not said anything since Bridget was brought up. He was focusing on being sick. "What about you, Honey? You okay with this development?"

"I guess. She's cool and not anything like Alex".

My eyes automatically rolled itself as Dad hid his smile behind a glass of water.

Mom pursed her lips. "William, she's your elder sister".

"Mom, let him be. He just doesn't know it yet but I'm the coolest person there is for putting up with his nonsense for six straight years and still counting".

Mom sighed in defeat. "Whatever, you two, tear out your throats if you please".

Dad laughed and said sounding proud of himself, "I've since learned when to stay out of their spats and when to step in. Now is so not one of those times to step in".

Thank you for that, Dad. I thought as I bared my teeth at William who took one look at mom and started shivering.

"Alex, that's enough. He's sick". Mom ordered.

I did not even do anything. I said I should have told her that I passed out.

After dinner, I started working on my assignments. In like three hours, I was done with them. I closed the books with a wide unladylike yawn. If you know how that looks like you know. Hahahaha.

My phone buzzed with a message. A smile came to my lips when I saw that the sender was Sam. I opened up the message with familiar tingles.

"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦?"

I laughed, he has gone mad. "𝘓𝘖𝘓. 𝘔𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴". I sent the reply to him.

He replied instantly. "𝘓𝘖𝘓. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭? 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?"

I didn't want to tell him about the football accident so he wouldn't worry but one of his player friends who were present on the field must've told him. He met me when I was coming out of the clinic so yes, he knew about it. "𝘐'𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺"

"𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸. 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦"

"𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴". I dropped the phone on my study table imagining him dropping his too and smiled.

Time for a shower! I selected comfy pajamas and walked into my bathroom. My muscles and whole being completely relaxed one I stepped under the warm running water. After taking my sweet time, I stepped out, toweled and changed into my PJs before walking back into the room.

I halted as I realised that the room which I had left with the lights on was now pitch black. A churning feeling formed in the pit of my stomach at the familiar feeling of a pair of eyes staring at me. Very slowly but surely, I turned my head to the side with squinted eyes and jumped when I saw the tall figure of a guy all dressed in black and blending in with the darkness sitting on my windowsill.

"W-who are you?" I asked with trembling voice. No response.

Instead he shoved a hand inside the pocket of his jacket. He shone a torch under his face straight at me. My hands instinctively rose to protect my eyes from the bright light. I still couldn't see his face. I discreetly took small steps back. 𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳.

As if he had seen my movements, he abruptly jumped down. He made a deep growl in his throat as if mad at me.

With a yelp, I turned and made to run but another figure stepped out of nowhere and blocked the door. This one was a lot shorter but that did not matter if he was holding a knife...or a fucking gun!

Without another thought, I let out a blood curling scream and just like that the guy by the window let go of his torchlight and flew at me sending us both to the ground. He covered my mouth with his hands muffling my screams.

"Lock the door". He commanded the smaller guy.