Chapter Thirty One

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." ✝ Psalms 23:4

I wouldn't think of anything else. "The shadow of death." Was Anabelle in the shadow of death too or is she really dead. I was home alone again and I have a lot to clarify. First, I needed to get to my dad's chatroom again. I had seen it by chance the other day and I knew surely that Jude's laptops would be locked with a code. I was desperate. Who wouldn't be? I thought of asking my robot, I knew he'd report to Jude when he comes back, he's been programmed to be a parrot.

I knew it was going to be very difficult because I haven't hacked before. Then I remembered I had a smartphone, thanks to Damien. I hurriedly retrieved it from the drawer I had hidden it. It had dozens of messages from Damien. Poor guy, he really cares and it's overwhelming. I still ask myself, even till now if I deserved it. I searched the internet for hacking tips. I tried all guides but they didn't worked. Stressful? Yes. The anxiety alone was killing me. I was scared he'd walk in anytime. I had no other choice but to ask for help from someone. Someone, Damien.

"Hey there."I sent him a text. He replied in an instant. Sometimes I wonder if he's ever busy. I had thought he would be, then I'd be doomed. But Damien would always be my knight. 

"Hey Paige. What's up?"

"I need your help. Can you hack an apple laptop?"

"Are you trying to hack?"

"Uhm. Yes. Don't ask more questions."

Then it seemed like he had left me hanging.

"Can you?! Please!"

"I can help. I was just thinking. Bring the laptop to school. I'll help."

"It's urgent. Give me the instructions now!"

"Huh. Are you okay?"

I wanted to scream NO! but I knew that would cause more trouble. 

"I'm perfectly fine. I just forgot the password to my laptop."

"If it's your laptop. You don't need to hack? Answer the security questions!" He added a questioning emoji 

"I lied. I'm sorry but you need to help!"

"Are you home?"

"Don't come!!!"

"Okaaaayy" he sent. " Let's do a video call. I'll help."

And that was it. I opened the laptop in no time, then ended the call with him. I knew deep down he was going to ask questions, and more questions and I wasn't gonna give any answers, not one answer.

I saw the chatroom.

{Miss Annabelle escaped from the rehab. A few weeks ago. We caught her and the woman who helped her out but there is a big problem. She gotten her memory. She keeps asking for her daughter, her family. The rehab is concerned, she's making trouble Master."

...

Interrogate her! I want to know every single person Anabelle met with while out of the rehab." He paused. " Tell the nurse in charge to make her comatose for sometime. I need time to think about what next to do. She won't stay there again. I'll send an helicopter next week to take here away from New york City. You should not be here asking me what to do. Simple injections would calm the witch down. How irresponsible!"}

My dad knows Anabelle, he keeps her in a rehab and he's so insecure about allowing her out. Something seemed fishy. I had to search other files. Just to find something related to Anabelle. A thought popped into my head. "Just search "Anabelle".

Then I saw them: All Annabelle Steele's files except the Divorce Certificate which had Formerly ANNABELLE KAM. It showed me exactly what I was looking for. Annabelle Steele, the once famous reporter is my mother. 

Then, I saw her Hospital reports. First, I wondered why he still had them in his system when she'd died ten years ago but I was shocked by my next realization. The hospital reports had recent dates. Anabelle Steele is alive!

Jude never told me Annabelle was sick. He told me she died after the divorce! He didn't tell me how she died. He detests discussing her.

I clicked on one of the hospital reports as the spirit leads. Then I saw it. "Temporary memory loss accompanied with schizophrenia." I really would have loved to look through but the horn of a car stopped me. I shut down the computer and ran to my room. 

I was dead scared. I heard footsteps, expected my door to fly open but it didn't. I sighed, he had gone straight to his room. 

"Hey, what's the shadow of death?"

"Saw it in the Bible."

I sent to Damien and returned the phone back to its home.

I craved to know more though all my head could tell me was that I was in big trouble. Jude Kam must have been notified of an exclusive intruder. Oh my...

CCTV!

He knows everything!

What did he do to my mother?!

What the hell is schizophrenia?!

And why is he keeping her away from me?

My life is so damn complicated. I cried.

I read her letter again and again. I had flashbacks. She didn't spend much time with me, because of her job. She was always travelling from one country to another to write reports. I remembered watching her on TV with Natalia, my second mum.

I remembered our family holidays. How loving and cheerful she was. She might not have all the time in the world but when she did, she gave it to us, I and my dad.

Then suddenly she quit her job ad then she fell ill and then...

I was having a panic attack. I still had the drugs Damien got me so I place sone tablets in my mouth. A new me.

Her words recalled in my head; "

... Of how you're able to keep everyone around you inspired and happy..."

Did I ever have that part of me?

Who knows?!

The door of my room flung open, followed by Jude's yell. 

"PAIGE!"

He had a wire in his hands and I knew I was in for more flogging than scolding.

The words from that book tease my brain; "...for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."