THE ANTONIO'S MANSION
It was already midnight. The moon shone its bright light as the darkness laid still and quiet with the warm breeze brushing through the earth.
Gisella laid, tossing and turning on her bed, deep in thoughts as the words of the strange girl and the old woman she met at the hospital continued to echo in her thoughts.
" oh, God" She mumbled. "What's really going on with me?– Why do I keep meeting these strange people? And they keep speaking in words I don't seem to understand. " She straightened her back while she adjusted herself on the bed. With closed eyes, she exhaled.
"Goodness– I wish my life was just as simple as every normal young lady", she cried. A knock from the door suddenly interrupted and she jolted out of her thoughts, tensed. Her eyes instinctively travelled to the door.
" Who is there?", she called but had no answer from the intruder. She tilted her head with a creased and furrowed brow, her gaze fixed at the door, confused.
" Thought I heard a knock at the door?– But why didn't anyone answer ?", she mumbled and sighed. "I guess it's just my thought", she stated as she shrugged it off and rested back in bed.
Knock, Knock
The knock came again but a bit more louder this time. She trembled while she instinctively jolted out of bed. She wrapped her arms around herself as the deadpan silence sent shivers down her spin.
Her eyes exposed her fright. " Who is there?", she stammered but was replied with extreme silence.
" Gosh, what's going on?", she mumbled. With hunch shoulders and shaky hands, she nervously crept to the door.
Gisella slowly opened the door while she peeped through the corridor but found no one there.
" Is this a joke or something? ", she wondered in fear as she swiftly closed the door and trod back to her bed, lost. She wrapped up herself with the blanket while she rocked from side to side. Her widen eyes, swiftly lurked through the room. A heavy wind, suddenly invaded from the window– which sent it sent it's icy blast, through the room. She shrank back in shivers.
" Didn't I close this window? " She thought with a farrowed brow. " Yes, I clearly remember, I did but –how come it's opened again?"
She kept wondering but her mind couldn't comprehend what was actually going on. There was no one around and she had no choice than to go shut it again due to the bone racking chills.
She trailed to the window and glanced out of it as she scanned through the compound. Nothing seem strange or awkward, everything was quiet normal expect the strange knock on the door. She have a weary sigh and returned to her bed.
Just then, the knock came again. Gisella's face suddenly went numb and pale, frightened.
" Whoever is there should just cut this joke!– It's no longer funny!" She exclaimed with fury as she turned open the door. Her face instinctively turned numb and a sheepish grin, dazzled on her face.
" Gisella?" Lizzy cried. "What's wrong with you– Why are you acting all pissed ?"
She giggled. " Um, nothing– " She fidgeted, high pitched. "Sorry, come in , Aunty" She briskly stepped aside, making way for her.
" Are you alright, Gisella ?" She queried with a creased , furrowed brow as she strolled past her.
" Yes, yea–I'm fine. What brought you here ?", she stammered, faking a smile.
" Oh, nothing– I just came to check if you were asleep just as Gina use to do." She explained with a faint sigh. " Since she's no longer here with us, I deem it my responsibility to be on the check before I go to bed but here you are, all awake like an owl" She faintly chuckled and Gisella smiled.
" Thank you, Aunty– I was almost about to when your knock came in"
" Okay, I'll leave you then– Have a good rest and make sure to lock the door before you go to bed." Lizzy stated with a kiss on her forehead. "You have a long day tomorrow since you'll be going to school early".
Gisella bobbed her head with a smile. "I sure, will– Thanks "
She bid her goodnight and Gisel saw her to the door.
Lizzy strolled back to her room while Gisella locked the door behind. She blushed, covering her face with her hands. "That was really crazy of me", she mumbled.
Gisella scanned through the room and back at the door for the last time, with a nervous gaze before laying back on bed with a sigh. She finally slept off hours later.
NEXT DAY
Natasha was in front of her room, beaming with smiles when Gisella hurried out of hers. She immediately paused upon seeing Natasha before strolling on again. She shuffled towards the stairs with her head bowed and gaze fixed on the floor while she ignored her.
" Good morning, Gisel– I can see you're really in a hurry." Natasha called with a grin which made her pause in her steps.
" Do you need anything? " She asked over her shoulder without looking back at her. Natasha scoffed.
" Not as if i do " She chuckled. "Actually, I just wanted to see how gorgeous were looking, this morning ."
Gisel instinctively scoffed with curled lips.
" Thank you– Can I go now?My bus will be here in no time."
With a half smile, she tilted her head. "Sure– Why not?" Gisella nodded with a forced smile and she sped down towards the hall. Natasha chuckled while she watched her back fade away.
" See you again at school, my dear, Gisel" She howled which made her came to an involuntary, halt.
" At school? –What for ?" She tilted her head with a furrowed brow as she deftly turned to face her. " Why will you be coming to the school?", she queried. Natasha's tongue clicked as she exhaled.
" You'll know when the time is right. But hope you recognize me when I get there", she replied with a grin and trod into her room. Her words left Gisel, pondering.
" Wait– Wait!, Nat!– " She called but Natasha just ignored her as she diminished into her room.
"Damn it, What's she really up to?" She cried. "Why can't I figure out anything? ." Her darting eyes, stared at the door. Just then, the hone of her school bus interrupted.
" Gisella!– where are you? Your bus is in–" Lizzy called from the kitchen. She swiftly answered.
" Okay, Aunty....I'm off then – See you after school!" She briskly pulled the door open and bolted out.
SCHOOL
Loretta and her friends were already in the class as usual; chatting and giggling when Desmond walked in. Paola swiftly nudged on Loretta's shoulder and tilted her head towards his direction.
" Here comes, your "Prince charming" " She wittily eluded. Loretta's lips instinctively curved in .
" Hey, Desmond....how are you?" She exclaimed, approaching his desk.
" I'm good–" She replied without looking up at her as he settled in his desk.
" Can I sit next to you?– I wish to share a desk with you today" She smiled. Desmond deftly glanced up at her, bemused. His subconscious mind wondered what she was up to but shrugged it off.
" Okay, have a seat" He replied with a smile. Loretta smiled with a thanks and secretively crinkled her eyes at her friends whose gazes were fixed on them. They giggled with a thumbs up.
" Go, girl " Bianca whispered. Loretta nodded her response and turned back at Desmond.
" Are you okay?", Desmond queried.
" Yes, I'm good" she replied with a sheepish smile. They continued chatting and laughing, happily.
Hours later, Gisella walked in. Her eyes lurked through the class.
" Look who is here, Desmond– Our little Miss perfect" Loretta called which turned Desmond's attention to the entrance. Bianca and Paola bursted with laughter as they teased on. Desmond instinctively returned to his posture, ignoring her.
" I don't care who's here– let's just continue with our conversation" He replied, his tone cold and unfriendly.
Gisella stared at him with tears in her eyes while she sauntered over to her desk. Her heart felt like it was being pulled out. Loretta glared at her with a grin, a satisfactory smile, dazzled on her lips.
Soon, their teacher walked in. "Get seated class– How are you all?", Mrs. Diana called from the entrance.
" We are fine, Ma'am" the class chorused.
" Good, let's continue our lesson from yesterday but first– Let's remind ourselves on what we treated earlier on."
The class sat attentively as lessons proceeded except Gisella who kept spacing out. Her subconscious mind, pondered over Natasha's words.
ANTONIO'S MANSION
Natasha glanced at her watch and picked up her bag from the table which was seated next to her wardrobe.
" Time to go, Nat" She mumbled with a smile as she stepped out of the room and trailed towards the hall.
Anita was already seated at the hall with the cat when Natasha came down the stairs.
" Ani, where is Lizzy?" She queried. Anita answered, gazing up at her.
" At the back yard, Ma "
" Okay, I'm going out now– Can't tell when I'll be back. Take good care of Lola and tell Lizzy not to make dinner for me–Alright?" She instructed and Anita bobbed her head in response. "Alright, Ma–"
Without further words, she trod out of the door.
Anita gazed at her back marvelled at the pace at which she dashed out.
" What could be so urgent ?" She mumbled but then, scolded herself as she shrugged it off.
" Hey, let me just mind my business." She instinctively turned back to the cat. "Hi, Lola– come here,let's go for a walk. I guess we got a free day today." She winked with a smile and carried the cat along with her as she made her way out of the house.
SCHOOL
Soon, the bell went for lunch break. Mrs. Diana gave their assignment and strolled out of the class. Paola and Bianca joined Loretta at Desmond's desk.
" Hey, girlfriend, let's go get our lunch– I'm famished ", Bianca cried.
" Alright, girls, Let's go " Loretta rose to her feet and turned to Desmond. "Will you mind joining us?" She asked. He stuttered.
" Um, Lore– I..." His gaze swiftly travelled to Gisella's end. Noticing her gaze on him, he instinctively replied. " Yes, let's go , Lore "
Without hesitation, he bolted out first. Loretta called after him as they hurried after him.
" Hey, wait for us!– Why the rush? "
Gisella gazed at his back and buried her head on the her desk, in tears.
************
Natasha arrived at Gisella's school. She packed at the back gate and crept into the compound. She hid behind a pillar while her green eyes, scanned through the students. Just then, she noticed Desmond with Loretta and her friends, gliding towards the Canteen.
" Perfect! – Just the pair i needed", she exclaimed, with a cheerful grin.
Desmond, Loretta, Bianca and Paola got to the canteen and settled on a table at the far left.
" I'll go get our food ", Loretta opted and hurried off.
CLASSROOM
Gisella's head was still buried on the desk when she suddenly fell in a trance . A vision of their canteen displayed in her eyes.
GISELLA'S VISION
Natasha clinked around the food vending point when Loretta, approached.
" Please can i get two plates of yam chips with chicken and an ice cream?" She ordered and the lady mumbled with a smile.
" Sure, miss– Just a minute." Loretta tapped her fingers on the counter as she waited for her order.
"Here you go " The lady handed over her order. She bobbed her thanks and trod off.
Few minutes after she had left, Natasha followed her
and before she could know, Natasha took control over her body. She was literary possessed by Natasha. She instinctively paused in her steps and stared down at the tray. Her lips suddenly curved in a mysterious smile.
" Who will save you this time, Desmond? ", she muttered as sprinkled something over one of the plate. She chuckled and sauntered off.
*********
Gisella suddenly sprung out of her desk, tensed. Her face as all sweaty and pale. Her eyes widened and her chest rose and fell with a rapid rhythm.
" Desmond !– Oh my God, Desmond " She catch on her breath and sped off. "Please wait for me– Please..." She briskly shuffled her way through the corridor, towards the Canteen.