'Wake up, you have to go!'


I was awakened by the voice in my head this time around. The ring was turning green.


Not this again!


I started to move involuntarily, following the light of the ring. It led me out of the room, and then the house.


I walked down the street, still following the guide of the ring.


It led me somewhere into the woods and as I walked farther, it started turning red.


The more I walked, the redder the ring got.


Like I said that I was moving involuntarily, the ring was leading me to some forest, and after a while, it hid me behind some bushes.


I pushed a few leaves out of the way and spied. That's when I saw them standing right there in the open in a circle.


It was my mother, Karabelo, Detective Daniels, Lwandle, Jessica, and... Mrs Martins?


What was she doing with them?


I thought she hated my mother with every cell in her body.


The last time they saw each other I could have sworn there was unresolved tension between the two of them.


"What is this old lady doing here?" Lwandle asked begrudgingly. She was never really a fan of Adelaide Martins.


"I'd watch myself if I were you, Eleanor and I go a long way," Mrs Martins said in a dark voice I couldn't recognise.


"How is it going on your side, Riley?" Mom asked.


"Ryan," The detective corrected her. "Well, I can't say it is going well, because your daughter is a closed book, she does not reveal much." He sighed. That bastard!


"Well, don't worry, Karabelo will take care of it. But you must come to the house tomorrow evening, we need to make the next move," Mom explained. Oh, so this is what she has been doing, huh? "So, you come to the house, you know that your presence will make Lesego uncomfortable. You know, just make a grand entrance. And you, Ri– Rian, you cannot leave just yet, we are going to need you."


So, my mom was just playing with my emotions, this was part of her plan all along. I mean come to think of it, she wasn't even worried about Dineo's disappearance.


"I just don't understand why you keep bringing in new faces, Eleanor, especially after the Helen drama," Mrs Martins butted in.


"What happened with Helen was not supposed to happen at all!" Mom shouted.


"Yeah, she was exploiting us and was threatening to tell Lesego everything," Karabelo said, and they all hymned in tune. "She had to die."


The old lady scoffed. "And you just had to make sure of it, didn't you? After all, it is your speciality."


Things were getting heated, and mom was forced to jump in. It was only a matter of time before Karabelo lost it and used her power, because her energy engulfed the entire forest. "You better watch yourself, Adelaide."


"No, you watch yourself, Eleanor, because if you ever think of screwing me over again, you are done for!"


"What is she talking about?" Jessica asked.


"Eleanor and I worked on a mission together many years ago, but she betrayed me and framed me for murder, and then took all my money," Mrs Martins said, and the tension that followed her revelation was cold as they all started to exchange distrustful stares.


"We have company," Karabelo whispered while looking around.


Oh, no!


"What do you mean we have company?" The rest of them grumbled in question.


"There is someone watching us. We got to find them," Lwandle warned.


'Don't worry, they will remain where they are until you get home!'


"I can't move," She grunted.


Karabelo scoffed in annoyance. "What do you mean you can't move? Let me–" she argued, trying to move. "What's happening?"


Soon, everyone was complaining about not being able to move their limbs, and that was my cue to leave.


'Run!' The voice in my head yelled.


I didn't think twice about following the order, I ran home and before I knew it, I was opening the front door.


I tiptoed up the stairs, making sure that no one saw or heard me. I finally reached my room and rushed straight to my bathroom for a quick shower.


Once I finished, I went to bed. 'They have just been released, just pretend like nothing happened. Be prepared for tomorrow night!' That was the last thing I heard before drifting off to sleep.