Chapter 48: Karma

" Thank you for coming." Lauryn, Malcolm's mom said to his departmental director, Soheey, who was visiting for the fourth time since the mysterious incident.

" I'll take my leave now." he said with a small smile.

" Ok. Goodbye." Lauryn replied.

" Bye ma'am." Soheey said as he turned to leave.

" Mom I got_ ahhhhh...'' Kate exclaimed as she bumped into Soheey who grabbed her by the waist. Her head was bent to the side while she was tucking some change at the back of her Jean pants pocket, while holding a styrofoam cup with her left hand.

The two stared briefly into each other's eyes before Kate straightened up.

Clearing her throat Kate opened her mouth to speak. But before she could do that, Lauryn who had already walked up to them spoke up first.

" Is everything okay?'' She asked, since she didn't witness when Kate almost tripped after bumping into Soheey who was a broader figure.

" Yes ma'am. I accidentally bumped into this miss." Soheey replied.

" I'm sorry, it's my fault, I should've watched where I was going." Kate countered.

" Kate, please be more careful next time." Lauryn said softly.

" Yes mom. Sorry Mr." Kate said to Soheey who was looking from Lauryn to the 5 foot 3' Inches tall brown - haired Kate.

" No problem miss Kate. I assume you're the sister of Malcolm, correct?" he asked Kate who simply nodded.

" I must say you have quite beautiful children, ma'am." said Soheey who had only seen Jade the first time he visited.

" Thank you sir." Lauryn replied, while Kate blushed a little as she looked elsewhere.

" You don't have to address me that way ma'am, just call me Soheey. You're old enough to be my mother." Soheey said to Lauryn who smiled at his words.

" That's so sweet of you. Malcolm has the best boss, doesn't he darling?" Lauryn asked Kate who smiled before nodding.

" Thanks ma'am."

" Oh you can just call me Lauryn."

" Ok madam Lauryn. I have to take my leave now" Soheey said with a smile.

" Ok Soheey. Bye." Lauryn said with a two seconds wave.

" Bye miss Kate." Soheey said to Kate who mouthed a '' Goodbye." in response.

While Lauryn watched him leave, she smiled before speaking up,

" Isn't he such a gentleman?"

" Yeah. He is." Kate replied with a small smile as she proceeded to go sit for a few minutes to wait for Jade to join them, before leaving the hospital, since it was already night.

Lauryn then joined her almost immediately, also waiting for Jade.

*

~ Planora ~

[Where are you? I've been waiting since forever. 10 minutes more Lily!] Gwen texted Liliana.

The girls had 'agreed' over the phone, (via text messages) to meet up at a park, close to the garden they usually met, that evening. But Lily was no where to be found. Gwen who was wearing an almost knee-length armless hoodie, was feeling uneasy and a little cold as well.

8 minutes later, 'Lily' replied,

[A minute more Gwenny]

" Ugh... This guts of this lady." Gwen murmured.

[It's getting late young lady... Hurry up] Gwen replied.

" I wonder why she didn't tell me whatever it is via a simple phone call. Or does it have to do with what we discussed yesterday?" Gwen said to no one in particular.

" Yes it does." Someone behind her replied. Gwen jolted before turning around immediately, only to see a bald, tall 43 year old looking man, who looked like he applied mascara on his eyebrows and lashes.

" Who are you?" Jade asked with a creases on her forehead, while her heart began pulsating.

" I'm here to take you to your friend." the weird looking man said with a smile that disgusted Gwen.

" No thank you. I'll be fine." She said before taking steps to walk pass him. But she felt his rough palm on her shoulder almost immediately, pulling her back.

" Leave me alone." She said, highly alerted.

" And if I don't? Listen young lady, your friend sent me to pick you. I can't and won't play tricks on a beautiful lady like you." the weirdo said with a small smile.

" Ok fine. Let me text her." Gwen said, pretending to buy his lies. But that didn't stop her hand from trembling while she typed, such that she misspelt a couple of words.

How did he know about what they discussed? And if he didn't, why did he say yes? Red flag. But there wasn't much she could do about it, so she typed to the best of her ability.

[A mean(man) said you send (sent) her(him) to take me to yourself (you).]

" What did she say?" the man asked seconds later.

" She hasn't responded yet." Gwen replied, literally grasping for air through her lips. Now that she thought about it, Liliana wouldn't have asked her to wait outside, when she was already close to their usual spot. Liliana would only ask her to MEET her there or better still, sit there and wait for her.

Just then, Liliana's message came in.

[Yeah I did. Follow him, I have my reasons.] Another red flag alert.

The Liliana she was familiar with would've questioned her wrong choice of words and would never tell her to follow a mysterious person just like that. She would either ask for his description or she would even speak to the man over the phone.

Better still, he would've spoken to Liliana himself, at least, using Gwen's phone for make-believe. Liliana wasn't foolish and neither was Gwen.

But she had no choice at this point. It was either she played along with the scumbag who could easily overpower her, or she suffered through unimaginable torture.

With that in mind, she flashed a second smile after raising her head to look at the man, before she gestured him to proceed.

" After you, young lady." the weird man said.

But by that time of the night, the only way they could clearly see the path they took was using artificial light sources. Or better still, a torch or the street light.

At the moment, since Gwen was previously around the garden area, they were walking on a very green lawn.

The lights hung on the wire gates was what illuminated the road they were taking, at least till it couldn't anymore since the man was directing her to a more quiet and eerie place at every turn. Kinda like what she and Liliana let Morticia suffer through when she suggested Liliana kick Morticia out by any means.

Karma.

When Gwen fully confirmed her suspicion about where exactly the man was taking her, she stopped walking.

" Hey, why did you stop?'' the man asked with a smile that was very off.

" Nothing much. It's just that I feel like using the restroom." Gwen replied.

" Oh is that so?"

" Yeah."

" So what do you suggest we do now?" he asked.

" I don't know. Maybe we could go back to the garden so I can ease myself. I'm sure Lily wouldn't mind." Gwen said with a shrug, while she held tightly unto her the hem of her hoodie.

" Nooooo. That's too far from here." the man said like a child, dragging every word.

" You can do that over here. I'm just gonna turn around and close my eyes." the man said again as he used his both hands to cover his face, again, like a child.

Seeing that she literally had no other option, Gwen who was getting even more disgusted by the minute had to agree.

" Umm.. okay. But you'll have to promise that you won't turn around."

" Of course beautiful lady. I won't." the weirdo said after dropping his hands to his side.

" Ok. You can turn around now." said Gwen.

Like a dancer, the man placed his right foot by his left, before swaying his body, taking a turn by his left as well, before using his hands to cover his face, again.

' Such crazy idiot.' Gwen abused inwardly.

Now, she also turned and took two steps forward before squatting down.

Since she didn't really want to ease herself or anything of that sort, she looked ahead while thinking of the best way to run.

Bending her head a little, she noticed something a little conspicuous, small and grounded. Touching it with her index finger, she discovered it was a pebble, seven pebbles precisely, as she browsed further with her finger. Then her eyes lit up.

It was right in front of her, such that if she adjusted forward a little, her right foot was going to touch at least one of it.

So she turned her head backwards and reconfirmed the man was still holding his hands up to his face while facing the opposite direction, before she looked ahead, without even looking downwards.

She then picked the pebbles into her hands, while making sure it didn't make a sound to the best of her ability.

Four pebbles was all she could take into her right hand. Turning to look at the man who was a couple feet away, she picked the rest before she turned to look ahead.

As she attempted to stand to her feet, she heard his voice.

" Drop them before you stand up."