THE UNCOVERED MYSTERY

CHAPTER 7

Jane entered the room and began helping me prepare for the day. She transformed me into a stunning work of art, and I felt radiant as I stood in front of the mirror. "Now, let's go, Meena baby," she said, and I made my way downstairs.

As I entered the grand hall, everyone shouted "Happy birthday!" in unison. I was overwhelmed with excitement and happiness. My parents beamed with pride, and the magnificent cake beside them took my breath away. "This is amazing," I said, fighting back tears. Dad threw his arms open and said, "Anything for my little princess."

"I'm not little anymore, Daddy," I said, smiling. Everyone laughed, and I hugged my parents tightly. "I love you, Dad. I love you, Mum." I never knew that would be my last hug from them.

Just as we were about to cut the cake, a group of assassins stormed in, and chaos erupted. "Run! Run! Meena! Gabriel, take her away from here fast!" Dad shouted.

I cried out, "Dad, no! I'm not going without you and Mum!" But it was too late. The nightmare had begun.

Gabriel swept me off my feet before I could even utter another word and ran so fast. The last thing I saw was my mum running in our direction with some other bodyguards safeguarding her. Gabriel was so fast that I lost sight of them immediately. We took an escape route, my dad built it for a matter of urgency and safety such as this.

As we went through the tunnel which would lead us to a graveyard about five kilometers away, we heard gunshots multiple times. At first, my heart skipped, but I refused to accept the terrifying truth my mind was desperately trying to convey.

We ran out of the graveyard and boarded a taxi, which took us to one of our safe houses in another City, Beldine. It was a long drive, and I ended up falling asleep. By the time I woke up, was feeling dizzy and nervous at the same time. I found myself on a bed in one of the rooms in the safe house. Suddenly, I felt a presence, and I looked beside me. It was Gabriel, my dad's most trusted bodyguard.

"How long have I been asleep? Where are my parents?" I asked, suddenly panicked. Gabriel's expression was somber as he replied, "Over six hours." I checked my watch; it was already 8:30 pm. "Where are they?" I pressed, feeling a growing sense of unease.

Gabriel's voice was cold and detached. "I'm sorry, Meena..." He struggled to meet my gaze. "Gabriel, where are they? They should be here by now," I insisted. His response was a single, devastating word: "Dead."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "What do you mean?" I asked, refusing to accept the truth. "They're gone," he said softly. "Gone where?" I persisted, tears welling up in my eyes.

Gabriel's calm demeanor cracked, revealing a deep sorrow. His eyes, once stoic, now held a sad, pitying gaze. I saw the weight of his words reflected in his eyes, and I knew he was mourning the loss of his master.

"No, no, no! but how? The guns... the gunshot, the multiple gunshots. But no, this can't be; Dad has lots of guards to protect him; yes, he does." I struggled to find my words.

More like I was going insane, Gabriel grabbed me and held me to his chest, there, I surrendered to the tears and screams that ravaged my body until I finally drifted off to sleep.

Gabriel took me to Nanny Jane's house in Ajip, another town in Beldine City. It happens to be that Jane is from Beldine; that was why Gabriel brought me to the very safe house so that he could easily take me to Jane. He knew she would be there if she had survived -Where else would I have gone if not her place? We couldn't afford to trust anyone. Not when my grandparents were also murdered two months before the incident.

"Jane!" I screamed as she opened the door, Gabriel's shoulders sagged slightly, releasing the tension he'd been carrying, as he nodded in relief.

"Oh my Meena," she said and stretched out her hands for a hug and burst into tears. "I thought I lost you too." She whispered.

Tears of sadness and gratitude mingled as I hugged her tightly. At that moment, her arms were the only place I wanted to be.

"Jane, how did you get here? What happened? How did you manage to escape?" I asked her a flurry of questions.

She smiled softly and said, "Meena, my dear, it's alright; I will tell you everything, but let's go inside and get you settled.

I glanced down at my birthday dress, realizing I still wore it. My hand instinctively went to my neck, where I found the pendant still safely in place. The necklace had become a priceless treasure, a reminder of my parents. I'd often glance at the pendant, cherishing the memory of my mum.

After Jane helped me clean up and eat a little, we sat down together. Gabriel sat on the couch beside me, while Jane sat on a stool facing us. I gazed at her expectantly, and she began to recount her experience.

"After I helped you downstairs, I returned to your room to tidy up," she said. "As I finished making the bed, I heard gunfire – multiple shots fired in rapid succession. My heart racing, I sprinted back to your room and hid under the bed. I heard the intruders searching every corner, exclaiming, 'We can't find her!' They left reluctantly, but I remained frozen under the bed."

I waited for what felt like an eternity, almost an hour before I dared to emerge from my hiding spot. I cautiously made my way out of the mansion and hailed a taxi, which took me straight to the train station. From there, I boarded a train that brought me to my city"

Jane's hands enveloped mine, offering comfort. "Meena, dear, I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but given the circumstances, I think you need to know. Whoever is behind this might be looking for you too." I felt a chill run down my spine. "But why? I'm just a girl," I asked, confusion and fear mingling.

Gabriel intervened, "That's why I brought her here, Jane. This is a safe place, hidden from prying eyes." Jane assured him, "I'll take good care of her, just like I've always done." Gabriel handed her a wad of cash, instructing her to use it for our needs, and warned that we wouldn't be able to communicate regularly for security reasons.

As he prepared to leave, Gabriel turned to me, his eyes filled with kindness. "Meena, take care of yourself. Be strong. I promise to check on you from time to time." He kissed my forehead, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude. "Uncle Gabriel," I whispered, the word slipping out naturally. I'd never called him that before.

I hugged him tightly, tears streaming down my face. "Please, take care of yourself and don't die. I want to see you visit me like you promised." Gabriel assured me, "I won't die," before quickly exiting the room. He was trying to keep his emotions in check but his eyes betrayed him. They welled up with tears that he quickly excused himself, unable to hide his feelings.

Jane enrolled me in an average school, where I completed high school and college. Uncle Gabriel remained a constant presence in my life, checking in on me regularly and teaching me self-defense techniques. As I grew into a strong and confident woman, I learnt to distance myself from the traumas of my past and live a relatively normal life.

However, certain triggers, like birthday parties, still brought back painful memories. But like the saying goes, 'past is never truly buried.' Birthdays, once a celebration, become a painful reminder. When I turned twenty-five, Uncle Gabriel revealed my father's properties. All the documents were stored in a bank safe, and he gave me the codes and passwords. Though my inheritance made me a billionaire, I had to live a low-profile life, prioritizing my safety and peace of mind over material display of wealth.

I felt the need to be closer to home, so I moved to Agape, since it's a neighboring town to Nevilla, in Medaline, seeking anonymity and a fresh start. I kept a simple job and apartment, visiting Jane occasionally. She'd often remind me to consider marriage, and I would always say, 'It's not my thing'. I was content with my quiet life. As Jane aged, I cherished her every single minute as she played the role of a mother all through my life.

Now the new life that I've found has evaporated into the thin air. My past has finally caught up with me as I'm now on a run.