Merged As One

“Have mercy, sir! Please, I know nothing of the stolen money. I don't know how it crept into my bag. I have no hand in this.” Old Mr Johnson cried out in pain as he reached for his handkerchief in his chest pocket so he could wipe off the blood coming out of his nose. “ You don't know anything about the stolen money, huh?” Mr Greg motioned towards him, giving his bodyguards a signal, by nodding his head to strike him again. He continued, “Out of all my staff, you are the most trusted and faithful one. You are the only one most likely to know the password to my safe, because you don't look like you could hurt a mosquito, not to talk of a fly. You have been stealing from me repeatedly, but today marks the end. “I have never and would never steal from you, sir. It was…it was”, Mr Johnson stuttered. “It was who?” Mr Greg said, almost yelling at him. “Sit him up”, he told his bodyguards as he continued. “ The only way to redeem yourself is to pay back the rest of the money you stole and spent, or else be prepared to rot in jail.” “You have to believe me, sir.” Mr Johnson said as tears rolled out of his eyes as he pleaded continuously. Mr Greg is a very powerful billionaire in the city and his words are not to be joked about. Mr Johnson knows he meant every word he said to him and that his life is in great danger. Mr Greg walked up to Mr Johnson, with his hands shoved in his pocket. “I give you five days to return the money you stole, or else you won't like the end of the story. I give no room for thieves and liars. If by the end of the fifth day, you haven't paid back a penny, prepare to rot in jail.” Although Mr. Greg didn't mean every threat he made to Mr. Johnson because he was still in shock and doubted that of all people to steal from him, it had to be his favorite and most trusted staff member, Johnson. He liked Mr Johnson because he was down-to-earth, loyal, and faithful, despite him being a mare cleaner. He grew fond of him and decided to make him his cleaner, cleaning only his office. He also increased his salary twice. Mr. Greg would randomly invite Mr. Johnson to his office to seek advice concerning issues going on between him and his wife, considering that Mr. Johnson is older than him and has been married for a long time. “Ahha,” Mr Greg sighed in disappointment. “You were the last person I expected this from.” He said as he strolled out of the room, still in disbelief. Poor Mr Johnson was left there, groaning from the excruciating pain that was caused by the slaps he received from the bodyguards. He thought to himself, “If only I had acted quickly, I wouldn't be in this state right now.” “But what can a mare cleaner like me do?” he thought as he stood up, dusted his trousers, and wiped out the stains of blood off the corners of his mouth, Walking down the road in pain, a tumultuous, dark, ragged cloud sets in, accompanied by a heavy sound of thunder and lightning. Mr Johnson struggled in pain as he searched for shade. Soon after, the mild shower turned into a heavy downpour, leaving Mr Johnson drenched in rain. He finds shade and comfort in a pick-up station. **** Silence from the cold fresh morning, as Mrs Kate, the wife of Mr Johnson and the mother of Emily, wakes up in her bedroom, gently yawning. The trees dangled heavily from the morning dew; there was no wind or sun but just a few raindrops. Not a bird in sight, as she stared out through the window. She saw no trace of her husband as she scanned the room with her eyes. She became worried. “This is unlike him, no calls, no texts, nothing.” She thought deeply. “Where is he? He never spends a night out. Where could he be? This is strange“ She stood up from her bed and walked towards the bathroom to freshen up. Mrs Kate, still worried, gets dressed and heads to Emily's room. “Maybe he slept off at Tom's, his friend, or maybe took another shift.” She thought, trying to calm and assure herself. “c***k, c***k, crack.” the door sounded as she opened the door to Emily's room. She looked at her daughter, who was sound and safely asleep. Memories of Emily when she was a toddler flashed through her head. With a mild smile on her face, she sighs. She gets distracted by a noise from the living room. “Who's there?” She said, “Who’s there?” She echoed. She takes two steps down to the living room.” Ahhh! Hunnie!” She exclaims. “ What… how… where… when” she stuttered. Tears roll down her eyes as she sees her husband in great distress. She rushed down to him. “What happened?” She asked as she sat down next to her husband. “ I have been worried sick about you. Did you get robbed? Talk to me, Johnson” “No, I wasn't robbed,” he replied. Mr Johnson. He continues, “There was a misunderstanding. I was framed.” “Framed?” Emily and her mother chorused. Emily, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson is a reliant, strong, and hardworking lady. She is in her early twenties, twenty-three to be precise. She works at their farm with her mother. Emily stood at the front of the passage in shock, hearing her father was framed. “Emily, you are awake,” her mom said. “Yes. Umm… i…” she stuttered. “ Dad, what do you mean by 'you were framed?” She asked as she moved towards them. “I was accused of stealing forty thousand dollars,” he replied. “Forty thousand what?” Emily and her mother chorused again in disbelief. “Unbelievable!” Mrs Kate exclaimed. “This is absolute nonsense,” she said. “Why would anyone do such a thing? Who in the world would be this wicked?” Emily asked with a look of uncertainty. She looked at her mom with a mild frown, her eyes narrowed and furrowed eyebrows. She bursts out in tears. “What are we going to do? We've spent all our savings on my education and the farm. Where are we going to raise that amount of money?” “Emily, calm down,” her father said while still in pain. “ In every situation, there is a way out,” he assured them. “ Now go get me a glass of water, I'm thirsty.” After he drank the glass of water, he said, “The only way out of this mess is to sell the farm. That way, we can come up with part of the money.” “No! We can't!” Emily opposed. “The farm is our only source of income and means of survival. Mr Greg knows you too well. Why would he believe you are capable of stealing, especially from him? There must be another way out.” “There is no other way out. He gave me five days. After the fifth day and there's no sign of the money, we are all doomed. I pleaded with him but to no avail. Selling the farm is our only option for now. You and your mom will have to stay at my sister Kimberly's place,” he concluded. “But what if there's a way out?” Mrs Kate said.