THE UNCOVERED MYSTERY

CHAPTER 5

Meena:

I retreated to my room, stunned by Dave's revelation. His admission of liking me was the furthest thing from my mind, making my heart flutter.

He'd spared my life, but what about his father? Would he be understanding or enraged? I couldn't help but ponder. I doubt he'd take kindly to his son's failure, given his already twisted mindset.

I'm consumed by misery and bitterness. Did my father know about his father's treachery before he passed away? The weight of my grandfather's sins took my parents' lives. How could he be so cruel and heartless, taking the life of his own best friend and partner in so many endeavors?

I was devastated by his assassination, and the pain of losing him and grandma still lingers. Now, I'm faced with the shocking truth behind his death, grappling with the complexity of a man who was loved and lost, yet revealed to be a traitor -a betrayal that cuts deep.

My mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. A heavy, throbbing headache began to take hold, a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil.

"Meena" I heard my name followed by a knock.

"Meena, can I come in?" He asked.

Dave's knocking? Since when did he start knocking at his own house and waiting to be let in?

"Yes please," I said, wiping away tears from my eyes.

"Thanks," he said as he walked in.

That was so unusual of him. Did he suddenly learn some manners, or is this truly who he is?

"Can I sit on the bed with you?" He asked with a soothing and gentle tone.

Why sit on the bed with me, there is a cushion where you can sit.

"Sure, why not" I replied, and he came and sat next to me.

"I'm deeply sorry for your grandparents' tragic fate. My grandfather's actions were monstrous, and I feel terrible for what happened," I expressed, grappling with overwhelming guilt.

"No, Meena, you have nothing to apologize for, none of these were your fault. Rather I should be the one asking for your forgiveness on behalf of my family. My father's pursuit for vengeance led him to take law into his own hands by eradicating your whole family. His actions were drastic, and for that, I'm truly sorry. Your parents didn't deserve what befell them." He spoke with an air of authenticity, his eyes reflecting his emotions.

"Now what do you intend to do? I mean your father. If he finds out you didn't...you know what I mean"

"Don't worry I will handle that. You get ready; I will drive you to your choice of destination. Apologies for my earlier behavior."

"You letting me go? Thanks, Dave," I expressed, marveling at his act of kindness.

"You don't need to thank me. Would you like to change into something else?" he inquired

"No, I'll just go as I am" I replied.

We set off in one of his sleek, high-end cars, and he drove me to the train station where I'd catch the train to Beldine. I was struck by his genuine generosity and thoughtfulness, which has left an impression.

"Bye Meena," he said avoiding eye contact

"Bye," I responded as he drove off.

The thought of Jane's warm welcome had me beaming with excitement as I eagerly pressed the doorbell twice and the door swung open.

Her eyes widened in delight at the sight of me.

"Meena!" She exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

The embrace was so emotional that we held on for what felt like forever, savoring the moment.

"Meena, what happened?" She asked as we pulled back "Are u okay? Tell me exactly what happened." Her expression turned serious, and her eyes filled with concern.

"Aunty I'm fine, okay? As you can see, I'm fine, and I'll tell you all that happened," I said with a reassuring smile, trying to keep her at ease.

We stepped in and I recounted everything, watching as her face transformed from concern to shock.

A heavy silence hung in the air. The silence were parable, punctuated only by Jane's ragged breathing before she broke it.

"I've always suspected that things weren't right, but I never could have imagined it to be this deep. So all this is all about revenge," her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Your parents lost their lives at the expense of your grandfather's greed," she said, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes welled up with tears.

The doorbell's chime cut through the tension.

"Aunty are you expecting anyone," I asked anxiously.

"Not really" she replied, her gaze lingering on the door.

Jane cautiously stood up to investigate who was at the door, peering through the window with a mix of curiosity and concern. As I'm being discovered, we need to be on alert.

All thanks to Dave, who spared my life, but how long will it take for his father to figure out I'm still alive? Kendrick has endured so much that forgiveness was a luxury he couldn't afford. His quest for revenge is quite understandable.

My grandfather's insatiable greed has brought about this catastrophic consequences. Even in death, I couldn't help but abhor him for the chaos he had unleashed.

"Oh, it's Gabriel" she exclaimed.

She swung the door open and he stepped in.

"Welcome, Gabriel" she greeted.

"Thanks, Jane. You look a bit uneasy. Is everything okay?" He inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.

His eyes landed on me, and his face lit up. "Meena, you came around." He exclaimed.

"Yes, Uncle" I replied, standing up to hug him before sitting back down.

"I was told you'd moved to Agape, but I couldn't contact you for a meet knowing I live there too," he explained, sitting down next to me.

"Yeah, Aunty Jane told me when you visited," I said.

"So, how's life over there? How are you adjusting to the new environment and your new life? Jane mentioned you've got a Job too." He asked, with a brief smile.

"It's quite an interesting experience throughout. Made new friends... learnt new things and so much more" I responded, my eyes darting between Jane, who sat silently with her head bowed, and Gabriel.

"That's nice; I'm impressed, but Meena, why did you choose to go back to Medaline City, of all places? And Agape?...quite close to your hometown, come on Meena." He queried, his face with a hit of disappointment.

It's no wonder he's furious; Agape and Nevilla are neighboring towns, and Delus, my village is in Nevilla. He fears I would easily be tracked. At the moment, I couldn't utter a word, and I could imagine how he would feel when he finds out that it has happened already.

"But... Uncle, I...I won't be running forever. I needed to go back to my roots; I miss home. Besides, Agape is not that close to my hometown." I protested, trying to find my words. "How could I have known they could find m..." I started to say, but my words trailed off as shock wash over me, leaving me unable to finish the sentence. That wasn't the best way to break the news to him.

Gabriel's face consorted to confusion. "Wait, what?" He stuttered "What do you mean by...I mean, what was that you..."

"Meena had been discovered," Jane cut in, breaking her silence as she swiftly clarified, her voice tumbling out in a hushed tone.

"What?!" He burst out, his eyes bulging in shock.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him, or utter a word.

Jane glanced at me and took a deep breath before speaking again. "They found Meena," she repeated.

"Of course, I don't expect less, when you intentionally moved to the lion's den," he said, his voice laced with frustration as he paced back and forth with his left hand on his waist and his right hand on his forehead. "but if you've been discovered, how did you...how come you're still here and alive? How did you escape?" He asked, stopping his pacing to face me, with a concerned and enquiring expression.

"Dave Jackson, Kendrick's son, kidnapped Meena yesterday," Jane revealed, her face etched with worry.

"You got to be kidding me," he uttered, his tone incredulous.

"She returned a while ago, just before you arrived," she added.

"Oh my...Meena you okay? Were you hurt? Tell me, what happened? How did you manage to evade?"