The contracted marriage

Escaping death the second time

Daren POV

I checked the time and realized it was some minutes past nine, I don't want to act as if I'm worried but she hasn't called since morning and it's unlike her

I looked out the window before deciding to dial her number

The number you have dialed is unreachable

I cut the call and dialed it again but it's still the same thing, where could she be by this time

I scrolled through my contacts and decided to call Mary maybe peony's phone was switched off

It rang for some seconds before the call disconnected

Something seem odd, I dialed it again and this time she answered

"Is Peony with you" I asked immediately "Hello sir" I heard an unfamiliar voice at the other end

"Who is this" I asked and checked the number again to be sure it's Mary number

"I'm a doctor at the hospital" the person said "Where's the owner of this phone" I asked

"Can you please come over" the person said "Just tell me" I said "please sir, come over" the person said and I sighed "I will be there in a few minutes" I said and cut the call

Peony POV

I opened my eyes and closed it again before I opened it again letting my eyes adjust to the light which was centered on me

I tried to move my hand but I discovered I had been tied up

Annie! Yes Annie I remembered I saw her face before I passed out

"Annie" I shouted and tried to free myself, Did she kidnap me

"Annie" I shouted again "Ahhh you are disturbing my beauty sleep" Annie said and the light centered on me was put off, a dim light illuminating the whole room was put on in his stead

I looked at her confirming that she is the one "Why did you bring me here" I asked

"Use the right words Peony, I kidn*pped you" She said smiling

"Why" I asked "Cus I promised Mary you would join her soon" she said making me confused

"Mary?, what do you mean by I would join her soon" i asked

"She's dead Peony, I killed her" she said and i looked at her again

"Stop with the jokes and untie me, Mary is waiting for me at the hospital" I said

"You think I'm joking, I killed her and you will join her soon enough" she said and took two steps forward

"Patience Peony heaven is just few breaths away" she added and walked out

Daren POV

I stared at Mary's lifeless body again before walking out of the morgue

I reached for my phone and dialed Peony's number but it's telling me the same thing

God, where could she be?, Is she okay?, I hope she haven't done anything crazy cus I'm going crazy now

I've checked the hospital's CCTV camera and it shows that Peony wasn't here in the morning that means she doesn't know yet that Mary is gone

I dialed Ricky number and he picked at the first ring

"Hello" he said and sounded sleepy "Check the estate's camera and find out what time Peony left the estate" I said

"Why anything the problem" he asked "She's missing" I said cus that's what my gut tells me

"Missing?, how come" he asked "She didn't come back and didn't reach her destination" I said

"You can't be sure maybe she went somewhere she didn't inform you about" he said and I wished that was the case

"Just check it and get back to me" I said and cut the call before walking out of the hospital

"Please be safe" I prayed silently as I entered my car before driving off

Haven POV

I looked at everyone in the room and I must say the atmosphere here is tense, why wouldn't it be Peony has been missing for fourty-eight hours

I don't know what's going on with me, I should be happy that she's missing but I'm feeling sad

But who could have kidn*pped me, at the mention of kidnap mind went to Annie

No she couldn't have.... right?, I rushed to my room and picked up my phone before dialing Annie's number

"Yes" she said as she picked up the call "Did you have anything to do with Peony's k********g" I asked

"What do you think" she asked with a tone I haven't hear her use

"So you do have something to do with her being kidn*pped" I said and she chuckled

"Let's say I was tired of waiting for your signal" she said

"Let her go" I said "shouldn't you be happy she's out of the way" she asked making me pause to think why I'm not happy she's gone

"She's my sister, I'm not heartless" I said "She's your step sister and it's too late, she's dying tonight and only you know where she is" she said and cut the call

Only I know where she is, What does she mean by that

Which place is she talking about, I raked my brain but couldn't come up with anything

Could it be............

Peony POV

I heard footsteps coming and I raised my weakly, I haven't eaten anything since and that contributed to my weakness

"How are you faring dearest friend" she said smiling "wa...water" I manage to say

"You won't be needing it" she said and walked out coming back later with a keg

"I'm sorry you have to die this way" she said and started to pour petrol about in the room

"See you in hell, beauty" she said and light a match, she smiled and dropped the match on the floor before walking out.

~Flashback~

"Where are you taking me too" Haven asked looking around for any sight of a house

"We are almost there, be patient" Annie said smiling and increased her speed

"That's what you've been saying for the past twenty minutes for all I know you could be abducting me" Haven said making Annie chuckle

"You don't need abducting" Annie said and suddenly stopped the car

"We are here" Annie said and got out of the car, Haven doing the same

"Come on" She said and Haven looked at her for some seconds before she followed her

After five minutes Annie stopped in front of a cottage

"Here it is" Annie said "Here is what?" Haven asked

"The cottage" Annie said smiling and Haven sighed

"Why did you bring me here" Haven asked "Our secret headquarter" Annie said and smiled again

"Quit smiling you're ridiculous" Haven said and Annie's smiled turned into a frown

"You brought me here to the middle of nowhere to show me this, Who told you we are collaborating" Haven asked

"But I thought....." Haven cut her off "I told you to wait for my signal didn't I?, do just that"

Haven hissed and walked back to the car "Come and get me out of here" she shouted from the car and Annie dragged herself back to the car

~End of flashback~

Haven POV

That should be the place, she called it our secret headquarter or something

But what if it isn't?, well I would take my chances

I was about to go out the door when I stopped, why am I helping them

I should be waiting for the news of her death joyfully

"No, if peony should die it should be by my hands not by a betraying b***h" I thought before I went downstairs

"I know where she is" I said upon entering the room and that all turned to me

Annie POV

I looked at the house again and smiled satisfied, now one more person to go

One more hindrance and that is Haven, she's the stumbling block to Daren

I checked my wrist watch and my lips curved into a smile, she will be gone by the time they arrive

Peony's POV

My life flashed before my eyes and tears fell from my eyes as I looked at the fire

i had succeeded in removing the ropes but I was already weak to move and I'm struggling to breathe

"Please dear lord send someone I don't want to die" I prayed as I felt life sipping out of me

I shouldn't die now, I haven't even told Daren about my feelings he should at least know even if he's not going to reciprocate it

I closed my eyes thinking about Mary, she was right all along but foolish me caused her death

If I hadn't called Annie to confirm about what Mary told me maybe she would have been alive

It's too late for regret now "God please reject my soul" I thought as I slipped into unconsciousness

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Writer's POV

Peony was rushed to the hospital on a stroller and was immediately taken to the theatre

She was found unconscious after they had managed to put out the fire and was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital

Her family and as well as Daren were outside praying for God's intervention

Meanwhile Annie was apprehended as the police were quickly tipped off by Haven

Now everything seem to be going well except for Peony who went into coma after the operation, everyone is praying for her to wake up not excluding Daren.

Two weeks later

Daren POV

"Are you even listening?" Nicky asked bringing me back to consciousness and I sighed

"Yes, you were saying?" I said "Why are you zoning out" he asked and I gave him a 'seriously" look

"Are you really asking me that" I asked and added before he could say anything "Peony hasn't woken up since"

"She will be fine" he said "I didn't say she wouldn't" I said

"The doctor said her chances of waking up soon is high" he said

"Of course I know that" I said and her face flashes through my mind

"You can close early today, I could finish up for you" he said

"You need go and check up on her" he added

"No I'm good" I said "If you say so" he said and started checking some files

My phone vibrated and I picked it up, I checked the screen and saw that it was a message from Haven

"Peony is awake" the message read and I smiled

"I think I will have a rethink" I said and started packing

"Why" he asked "She's awake" I said

At the hospital

Daren entered Peony's ward and met Agnes who was feeding peony and Haven who watched from a corner

Peony looked up and their eyes met together making her smile

"Took you some time" Haven said from where she was

"Sorry about that" he said and moved to the end of Peony bed

"Any complications" Daren asked obviously trying to hide his excitement

"Nothing, he said she would be discharged today " Agnes said

"I will be at the reception" Daren said and walked out making peony smile turn to a frown

"I want to be alone" peony said sadly "Why" Agnes asked "Mum!" Peony called out and Agnes nodded before standing up and leaving the room

"Stop being a baby" Haven said not leaving the room

"I thought I said I wanted to be alone" Peony said "I knew I was making a mistake telling them your location" Haven said and hissed before leaving the room

TBC