SECRETS [Part 2]

Ben spontaneously shook in his entangled seat as if to free himself which made Hansel chortled.

"Let me go, dad– I'm really not into this game of yours, please. I guess we already talked about this" Ben stated in a swift, his voice echoed with anger, frustration and pain. To which Hansel inched to his side in a flash, clenching his jaw with his crawled fingers which made Ben groaned, his glaring eyes stared at his face like a piercing arrow which clearly spelt out his anguish and hatred. Hansel smirked, his mouth set in a tight frown~ he gripped Ben's shoulder so tightly that his bones felt pinched even though the his woolen coat covered it.

" Do you think i'm gonna give up so easily?" He chuckled. " No~" He added on an impulse. " Did you really think your brother committed suicide? and Elosie, his fiancee... huh?" He asked which made Ben stared into his eyes with a confused gaze. His eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears as he scanned through his father's eyes which vividly told his mischievous deeds~ his thoughts spontaneously raced through his head ... thoughts of his brother's suicide and the whole story of Elosie's sudden disappearance to which she was later found dead in the school's library a year past came rushing in; suspicion suddenly stabbed at Ben to which he instinctively felt his blustery dignity and pride deflated like a popped balloon as everything became clearer.

" No, no~" He shuttered as he trembled with tears. " This can't be true~ don't tell me you were the person behind Marvin and Elosie's death and made it seem like a suicide" He incredulously asked and Hansel laughed, straightening his back in the process as he stood upright. He intuitively clasped his arms around himself with a sinister smile as he paced across the room with Ben's eyes tailing his every step with a solemn face which eagerly awaited his reply.

Hansel pursed his lips and then spoke up. " Well, yes.... I literally just got rid of they that were a threat to me" He affirmed and Ben's voice instantly trailed off as his tears drown him.

" THREAT?~ Threat you said dad! " He echoed amidst tears and as if on an impulse, added. " How could you call your own son a threat?~ you killed my brother, you killed Marvin and you're here proudly calling him a threat. What on earth did he do to you; why are you so cruel, dad?." Ben shouted, his chin quivered as he shook in his chair with rage. His words angered Hansel which made him land a hot slap on his cheek, tilting his head in the process.

Ben glared at him and Hansel ventured with rage~ his eyes glowed like a lion hunting for it's pry. " And I won't hesitate to do it again if you dare me, Ben" He exclaimed. " Marvin found out something he shouldn't have and out of stubbornness, threatened to expose it after all the warning I gave him~ He basically left me with no choice at all" He explained as he recounted.

Unknown to Ben and his brother, their dad had over the years being dealing in drugs and other illegal business like selling out young ladies for men to have their way with which he mainly operated on the school campus with students who walks in for his help. This went on without notice for years until one-day, Elosie, Marvin's girlfriend had a hint on the said business from a friend who encountered the ordeal,proving it with evidence of a video recording.

FLASHBACK

Elosie gasped, covering her mouth in shock with her eyes still glued on the screen which displayed the ungodly act. " Oh, my God, Elsie~ this is really an eye sore. How can Mr. Hansel, our own Principal stoop so low? " She condemned in disgust, her creased brow showed her displeasure with a frown. " Marvin must know what's going in this school and i'll make sure Mr. Hansel pays for this. I can't believe his dad was behind all these things going on". She cried and with that, took her own soft copy of the information and dashed out. Unknowingly, Hansel had already overheard their conversation as he approached the alley where they had stood.

" Not on my watch, young lady" He stuttered as he watched their backs fade in the distance. With his plot in mind, he drew out his phone from his side pocket and dialed a line. Just with a ring, a male voice answered and Hansel immediately ordered.

" I'll send you a picture, get rid of her without a trace and i'll take care of the rest. She just left the campus"

'' Noted sir, i'll be waiting" The voice answered and the line suddenly went dead. Hansel swiftly scrolled through the phone for a while and spontaneously stopped, clicking on an image of a young 18years old; ebony black curry haired girl whose complexion was of neutral sand undertone with hooded eyes which was sky blue in colour and of round face shape and about 5.4ft. Finally laying hold of his target, he pressed the send command after which he continued his walk to his destination.

The cold afternoon was quickly growing dark, and Elosie could see the lights of the city twinkling like fireflies in the distance as she intuitively came to a halt infront of the school's gate. While other kids hurried home,she picked out her phone and begun a chat with Marvin as she waited anxiously for her ride.

" Have you seen this?~ I just found out your dad's secrets and misdeeds" Her message read which was tagged along with the video she took earlier on.

" Goodness, what's this, Elosie~ Where on earth did you get this from?" Marvin's reply to which she went on.

" Elsie~ I got it from Elsie and she told me everything. We need to report this~ If you won't because he's your dad, then I will" She answered with her eyes still glued on the screen, in wait for a reply when a horn caught her attention; followed by an unexpected grip from the back to which she struggled to free herself as they took her into the unknown vehicle. By then, the place was already quiet with no student around.

********************

Next morning, the whole school was shook with the news of her sudden disappearance after her parents' report which followed a thorough search all over places their guesses told them she could have being. For three days, the search went on but it all gave a dead end since they had no sign of her at all~ not even a call or message. Marvin who had been the last person she had talked to before the sudden incident, became suspicious of his father to which he begun stalking his every move and Elsie's approach to him that afternoon, drew a conclusion to his thoughts.

" Yes, Marvin, I believe your father was behind Elosie's disappearance~ I thought I saw a shadow behind us that day after I had talked to her about the incident but I never took it so serious." She told him. " Why not approach him?"

" Thanks, Elsie~I..." Just then, a loud scream from the library shook the whole school with terror which made almost everyone rush out to it's destination. " What was that about?~ What's going on" Marvin spontaneously exuded, racing off as well to which Elsie dashed after him.

Getting to the entrance of the library, they snuggled their way through the massive crowd who were groaning and moaning over whatever they had witnessed. On encountering what it was, Marvin instinctively halted in his track, unable to move; his eyes wide with shock and his knees suddenly felt numb as he slum to the floor- right beside Elosie's motionless body. For a moment, his voice failed him and he felt his tongue stuck to the top of his mouth as he stared at the body with eyes which danced with unshed tears. Elsie couldn't hold back her pain and anguish as she welled over her friend's body. Just then, a note in Elosie's hand with a small white bottle took Marvin's attention. He swiftly snatched it from her hand and read through.

" I'M SORRY I HAD TO DO THIS " The note stated. With this, he briskly stormed off to his father's office.

OFFICE

With just a knock, Marvin angrily barged into the office before Hansel could ask whoever it was in. By now, the tears he fought back freely trekked down his cheeks to which he spontaneously slammed the note to his face.

" What's the meaning of this, dad...." He sobbed as Hansel glanced at the paper and back at him with feigned confusion." I said what is this? ~ why did you do this?" He cried.

" Listen here, young man, i don't understand what you're literally ranting at, at the moment~ What's this about?" He asked.

" Why did you kill Elosie~ Is it because she found out your deeds and you found her as a threat, huh?" Marvin stuttered which instantly made Hansel's face crowd with anger.

" How dare you accuse your father of nothing i know about" He barked, jerking to his feet.

" I don't just say what i don't know dad; I know you did this and I have all the evidences against you~ I'll make sure you rot in jail for this; for that, i bet you" He stated and with that dashed out.

" Marvin!..... Marvin! " Hansel called but he just went on, ignoring his call. Left with no other options, he planned to get rid of every evidence even if it meant getting Marvin out of the way as well since he shudder at the thought of the damage the truth might cause if exposed.

" You'll regret this, Marvin" He intoned.