Sparkle!!! Sparkle!!!! Sparkle!!!!
Lucy made one last clean up,it's been ages since she last had a visitor the entire house needed 'ultimate clean up' Satisfied with how the house looked, she went into the bathroom and freshen up, thinking about it, she actually invited an opposite sex who is also her long time crush over. Oh gosh!!!! What was she thinking,she said washing her red face.
Coming out of the bathroom, she dried herself and dressed up, concluding that her body was covered enough,she went to the sitting to wait for his arrival.
Seconds after taking her seat,there was a crack sound of a door opening she turned around but all the door remain shut making her confused,the sound didn't stop until it seemed like the door had been open to it's full limit.
Lucy blinked once and the whole setting instantly changed,she saw herself at the end of a long passage,she turned around and saw on the wall
Lucy is the best
I love Lucy
Lucy is my best sister
Don't go sister
Lucy I miss you
Lucy!!!!
It was all over the place, on the ceiling and floor,just as she was about to touch the a voice echoed loudly
"Ding! Dong! Lucy is here now,we can play now like we always do, ding dong, don't be scared I'm here now,Lucy will protect you, so sleep tight little Lily!" The voice echoed
"Lily….. that name again!!" Lucy said to herself; slowly she started feeling dizzy,her knees gave way and she fell to the floor,several voice rang in her head causing her a mild headache but she couldn't hear what they were saying, the pain in her head slowly increased, she felt as if something was biting her head, it's hurt really bad then her world went blank.
In the forest, birds kept on chipping, flying round the vicinity in different colures.
Tied all round on her arms and legs with chains,Lucy opened her eyes and instantly closed it back, her eyes lashes flickered violently due to the harsh light, she opened her eyes after barely adjusting to the light ray, studying her environment Lucy wondered where she was, this was different from where she was, had she been kidnapped? Panic soon filled her eyes.
Creak!!
The door opened,Lucy eyes was filled with shock and joy, this familiar and yet unfamiliar figure that suddenly emerged from door,a dose of fear filled her heart but was soon overshadowed by the expectation and joy in her heart
"Daddy..."she called but the man did not reply, following behinds him were three men,one she recognized which was Victory dad, the other two she did not know
"Daddy!!!" She called again but this time her voice was filled with fear and desperation
"Shhhh... be good"her father said picking her up placing her on his lap,it was then she noticed her body felt much smaller like a five year old.
"We may begin…" the old man
Lucy felt her sight covered with a black piece of cloth,she had no idea what they were about to do but she felt very uneasy.
Seconds passed but it felt so slow like hours, Lucy felt something warm coming close to her neck but it didn't end there,the heat was increasing until she felt a very hot charcoal on her neck
"Arghhhhh!!!!!" her voice filled the entire passage, she was back here, this dark tunnel filled with weird writing. Lucy felt her neck burning deep into her lungs making her breathless, she had never felt something this painful in her entire life it felt as if it was happening to her for real.
She must not stay here any longer she had to find a way to come out of here, alive!!!
She thought, gathering her strength she took another step but what accompanied it was another hellish scream
"Arghhhhh!!!" Another hot charcoal was placed on the other side of her of her neck, tears immediately began to flow like hot streams down her chin, her shoulders shivered violently as the pain never ended there. On her back, arm,legs,abdomen and sometimes it would be placed twice on the same spot.
Lucy!! Lucy!! Lucy!! Lucy!!
Several voice whispered her name each increasing the pain, like a nightmare Lucy just wished all of this would end soon, her body had already redden,her eyes swollen in tears she panted hardly wanting to catch her breathe
"I have to get out of here" she said desperately. These doors…..one must be the way out
Immediately the doors handle shook violently as if wanting to open. Lucy dragged her body in the door banging each door but they were all false hope
"Ahhhhhh!!!" Another hellish scream escaped from her mouth, Lucy looked up, her face looked pale and lifeless she really want to get out of here
"He…..lp….help"she cried softly, if she felt that pain one last time she doubt if she would make it out of here alive, almost immediately she felt heat radiating not too far from her neck, it was getting closer and closer, Lucy cried inwardly and stretched out her hand desperately, tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed
"Anybody....please…."
Swishhhhh
A bright light suddenly shone in the room destroying any trace of the darkness and the pain lurking in it
Bam
Lucy felt her body wrapped in something warm unlike the first one, the warmness felt more safe and comforting, she moved forward so as to fully wrap herself in this warmness
Swoosh!!!
She was back to the real world, Lucy looked up weakly, she was not on the floor or couch she was... in Thaddeus embrace her tears fell endlessly
"What…. What happened? Why are you this hot?" Thaddeus asked worriedly but his touch and hold on her was very gentle
Lucy felt wordless she did not know what to say other than "thank you…." And she fell unconscious
"Lucy...… Lucy…" Thaddeus desperately called, he then placed his hand on her forehead "she's having temperature!" He said looking at Victory for help
"Let's get her inside first" Victory said and Thaddeus instantly obeyed, he carried her and placed her gently on the three seater couch, Victory already prepared a bowl and a clean towel, she knelt beside her and begin to wipe her body trying to cool her temperature
" Anything I can help you with?" Thaddeus asked his gaze not shifting from the unconscious girl on the couch
"Help me prepare two more bowls filled with cold water and a clean towel and also I need a wrapper and please increase the fans speed" Victory said, instantly Thaddeus performed his duty not complaining, he looked eager to do more, he looked at Victory expecting her to give more orders but for now that was all she needed, he sat still, unmoving until Victory called his attention
" come look" she said and pointed at Lucy's neck and her arms and legs " they look red more different than her skin as if something hot we placed on it" Victory analyze
" I guess we would have to wait till she wake up and if she doesn't wake up by tomorrow morning...we mist take her to the hospital and this place will be locked down for investigation
It was already getting late, the sun had already disappeared from the sky and Lucy was yet to wake up, as time went by Victory felt unrest
"Should we call the ambulance and also it's getting late…. your parents?"
"I know" Thaddeus cut her off he too was also worried and only God knows how many times he had dialed the ambulance number on his phone but if news got out things will only become more complicated and Lucy might never have the chance to live the life she dreamed off.
"I'll stay with her tonight, my sister will be taken care of by her nanny no one cares if I come back home anyways " Victory said
" hmmm" Thaddeus replied expressionless, his eyes not leaving Lucy once he really wanted to be the one to stay by her side but he can't
"If anything happens make sure you call me" he said giving Victory a serious look
" I know I know!!! I will report anything that happens to her to you" Victory said
" good" Thaddeus said he ran his hands through her face giving her one last room before taking his leave.
Victory sighed, finally only girls the first she did was to remove that cage off her chest " arhhh freedom" she said and checked Lucy's temperature
" thank God, it has come down" she said scrolling through her phone before falling asleep.
**********
Victory stretched her arm as she yawned, it was already 6:30 am, she looked over at Lucy, she was still fast asleep, she touched her forehead her fever had gone down fully, she then stood up and head towards the kitchen to get herself a glass of water
She was causally playing with the drawers as she drank her water when her hand mistakenly hit somewhere
"Uhhhh this is a drawer?" She opened it and saw a small book inside with three pages, on the first was
Welcome to the naming ceremony of the children of Mr and late Mrs Adelusi
Victory was confused " children? Lucy is an only child isn't she?" She opened the book and read out loud the names
" Abike, Wuraola; Oluwadarasimi; Opemipo, Lucy and ….." Victory was shocked when she saw the last name "Taiye….."
*********
At Thaddeus house he had just freshen up and was on his way to the dining when he bump into his dad " good morning dad!" He greeted
" you are awake this early, it's Saturday right?" Richard asked
" yes it is uhmmm dad what we talked about yesterday?" Thaddeus asked
Richard rolled his eyes " although things didn't seem to be out of normal but... according to his words something do feels fishes"
" actually victory called this morning!" Thaddeus said taking his on the the sitting room chair
Richard felt confused that he raised an issue eye brow" Victory?" He asked his eyes completing his question asking him why. Thaddeus then explained the whole thing that happened yesterday, how they were shocked to find Lucy in that state and how Victory had to stay with her. Richard felt completely speechless he did not know whether he should praise him first or scold him.
"You should have at least told me about this yesterday,what if the situation was much deeper than the eyes can see and a thorough investigation is needed?" He questioned seriously
" that's why I'm telling you this now dad!" Thaddeus said earning a look of ' ohhh really!' From his dad
" Victory found a card…, a naming ceremony card saying welcome to the naming ceremony of the children of Mr and Late Mrs Adelusi, although it may sound like a typo at first but in the place were Lucy's name were something was wrong, Taiye was written there which also did not correlate with the report -"
"Mr Mohammed submitted!!" Richard beat him at it,nodding his head as he gave it some thought "lets go!! we will head there together!!" He added they both stood up and left.
At Lucy's house, Victory was surprised at the person she saw at the door "Good morning Mr Richard " she greeted, Richard simply gave her a nod "you are early!!" She said facing Thaddeus who had quietly made his way towards Lucy, he placed his palm on her forehead and adjusted her blanket
"Her temperature has gone down I already checked this morning!" Victory said helplessly
Meanwhile Richard who was just witnessing this sweet side of his son for the first time "....."
"What is it?" Thaddeus asked looking at the white envelope in his hand
"It is what I told you about this morning"
Thaddeus and Richard both scanned the small book in the envelope
"Seems like her background information with us is fake!" Richard said
"Are you saying she's a twin?" Victory asked
"Seems like it…..but out only problem right now is that we don't know exactly why the information the police got was wrong especially her medical report Dr Mohammed has been their only doctor that I know of!"
"Except….it was also a lie!!" Victory said
"Why don't you two be the one in charge of this case hmm?" The Richard said a little bit sarcastic which makes Victory giggle and Thaddeus to shake his head.
"Dad we still need proper investigation!"
"I know but how does this proves that she's innocent? I mean in the recent murders starting from her dad,grandmother and even your father Victory she was there how does her background proves that she's innocent?"
"The fact that we have a fake background proves something is not right here, an unsolved problem can be the answer to another problem which is like killing two bird with one stone!" Thaddeus explained
Richard looked at his son with a complicated gaze,his way of reasoning was far beyond what he thought.
In the middle of their conversation a slight groan was heard from behind,they all turned their attention to the now awake Lucy.
Lucy's eyes lashes flickered slightly as she opened her eyes, she tried getting up but her body ached all round with a little help from Thaddeus she was finally able to sit upright, she felt a little dizzy at first but soon it became normal
"What happened?" She asked her voice low due to the fact that she just woke up
"You fainted when we got here yesterday!" Victory explained
"Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Thaddeus asked carefully analyzing her
"My head hurts a little but my body ache a lot!" She said
Thaddeus was about to say something but Victory already beat him to it, knowing what he was about to ask her she already brought out two tablet of paracetamol and a cup of water but she did not give it immediately to her instead she handed her a plate of rice and stew and said "eat this first after you take the drug!"
Lucy was stunned by Victory's new behavior that she subconsciously looked at Thaddeus,receiving a slight nod from him she relaxed her shoulders and ate her food.
The suspected Victory "...." Wow!!!! Just wow!!
Time passed slowly but the room still remained quiet even after Lucy was done with her food. Victory couldn't take the quietness of the room any longer and asked her mind out "Lucy... before we came what happened?"
Lucy bit her lips things were not the way she thought it would be in-fact it felt more disturbing as day passed "I was sitting down in this exact position…." She started narrating it to them, at several intervals she would pause to catch her breath trying not to close so as not to remember that physical torment she went through. The whole room fell quiet only her voice could be heard and it lasted for about 10 minutes
"Then that explains those many i saw on you body" Victory said with a frown,how could one's dream reflect in life so fast as if it really happened?
"Do you think these dreams are your memories?" Thaddeus asked, Lucy shook her head negatively "that's what I thought but at some point it didn't feel like mine " she said
"I miss Lucy, Lucy is the best sister…..do you have any childhood friend or relative?" Richard asked. Lucy was surprised when she heard that voice, if he had not spoken she wouldn't have noticed him
"I….I don't think so!!" She stammered "I lost my memory when I was five in a car accident?"
"Was it really a car accident?" Victory question made the room go quiet for a while, Richard furrowed his brows deep in thought, his son had also said the same thing earlier but if that was the case, then something isn't right here 'cause why exactly would her medical report be false?
"I'm not sure when, I woke up all I remembered was a drip attached to my body and I felt really weak" she said
"What of plaster or Bandage? No broken bone?" Victory asked
Lucy furrowed her brows, honestly speaking she had not forgotten any thing that happened that day till now and she remembered it all, it's not as if she was in coma or anything, she woke a week later after the 'accident' and she was pretty sure the smallest wound would not heal in a week
"See this.." Thaddeus said as he handed a naming ceremony card. Reading it,Lucy face transformed through different emotion suprise, loneliness, pain and bewilderment, she looked at them expecting an explanation "Taiye...I'm twin?" she questioned
"Seems like it...although it is not a way to clear your name but it might lead to something we don't know, I'll be leaving for a while to clearify something you guys stay here till I come back okay?" Richard stood up and took his phone and car key then left with a confused look.
"Do you think he is going to Mr Mohammed?" Lucy asked
"Seem like it!" Richard said adjusting her blanket "it's cold!!" He said. Victory shook her head speechless, what cold in August?
**********
"Sir!" Victor saluted as he approached Richard
"Did you bring what I asked you to bring?" He asked
"Yes sir!" Victor nodded affirmatively then he followed Richard behind walking into the hospital.
Richard looked at the door that had Dr Mohammed on it,he sighed and knocked the door
"Come in!" A male voice sounded from inside, dressed in a black trouser and blue shirt with a white lab coat on him, Dr Mohammed was a 50+ year old man with big round pot belly and shirt height he looked like one of those doctors kids would shed all their tears in to not be treated by him.
A smile rose up on his lip as he looked at the new comer "Mr Richard isn't it? I did not expect you to return this soon!" He said
"Neither do I!" Richard said as he took his seat in front of him with Victor standing behind him "let's not beat around the bush should we?"
"If I may ask what brought you here this time? I believe I've given you all that you need on Lucy"
"Really,is that so?" Richard paused as he looked round the room taking his time.
"Mr Richard with all due respect please can you speed things up I have patients to attend too!"
"No no…no need too I was just informed now that all the patients under you has been transferred to another doctor let's take our time!!" Richard said and crossed his legs reading the document Victor gave him.
Dr Mohammed on the other side looked quiet restless, he cracked his knuckles at a point, started rubbing his palm and also adjusted his collar and from time to time he would unleash a smile at Richard when their eyes met and inhale deeply
"Alright…" Richard said after an unknown amount of time has passed
"you know something has been bothering me lately which does not quite corollate with what you stated here.." Richard said and threw the naming ceremony card on the table using his head to tell him to pick it up "why don't you tell me all that you truly know about Lucy"
"Mr Richard in corporations with your investigation and the law I have truthfully told you what I know,this….." he stammered avoiding Richard eye contact "I know nothing about it pease leave!"
Richard scoffed inwardly,bastard!! " alright, what about the name Lily….Lily Adelusi..." Richard said slowly observing his reaction which completely sold him out. He had no idea why he suddenly thought of asking him that.
Dr Mohammed looked at Richard in surprise, why does he know that name? That chid could she….
Clash!!!!!
He had knocked his mug unknowingly from the table
"Are you alright sir?" Victor asked
"Yeah I am, sorry for the mess as for the question you asked I don't know,I've not treated a patient with that name" he said
"Is that so?" Richard voice carried a hidden threat that made Dr Mohammed tremble in fear that he could not get a word out of his mouth and could only nod
"Alright then, thanks for your time" he said and stood,stretched out his hand which soon came in contact with Dr Mohammed trembling palm. Richard smiled and used his other arm to pat their palm
"have a nice day!" Richard said and left with Victor behind me
Bam
Dr Mohammed crashed into his chair as soon as the door closed, reaching out to a bottle water he gulped down more that half of the water the started at the door
"Richard….." he mumbled and picked up his phone to dail a number
*************
Outside the hospital Victor looked confused at his boss, was he going to end it their like that?
"Don't look at me like that, I already have what I came here for if he is not involved in this alone he will definitely reach out to the others and if not we will be sure of one thing, he knows something that is the answer to the murder case surrounding Lucy!"
"But what if we are wrong and we are just opening his old scar? And...do you think it's worth it?"
"Then he should learn to close it and I trust my son" Richard said returning his gaze back on the computer sitting in front of him on the car trunk
"Sir isn't this illegal?"
"Not when it is for investigation!"
"Hello, Mr Agbebi that guy came again,Richard.He got something on Lily,no he did not say anything else,if he comes again I won't be able to hold on the truth,alright we will meet at the usual spot" the phone call ended.
Richard smiled "seems like nobody's old scar is opening, let go" Richard said
*************
Knock knock
Thaddeus opened the door "you are back and who is he?"
"Grandpa!!!" Lucy's voice echoed from the room,she jogged towards the old man behind Richard and hugged him.
"They know each other" Richard said
"How are you? Did something happen to you? You look thin!" The old man complained
"Nothing maybe school stress!"
"I know you love school but don't take your health to lightly"
"Yes yes I will all you do is too nag me" Lucy chuckled
"Why won't I? Besides who else would do it if not me" the o of man laughed taking opportunity to shove a bag of sweet in her hands "here take this, I just got back and brought you all the sweet I saw on my way no need to thank me,if they are too much share it with your friends and if you refer it it will only end up in the bin, I just came to greet you bye bye " the man said in a breath as he rushes out
Lucy shook her head,he did not even give her a chance to reject it "at least let me escort you out"
"No need no need,stay with your guest" the man said stealing a few glance at Thaddeus before leaving, he would lie if he said the way that boy looked at him was quite strange
"How do you know each other?" Victory asked eagerly, Thaddeus and Richard also looked at her interested to know where they had met but something was off it's Thaddeus gaze , it was something Lucy had never seen before
He was ..... jealous