Chapter eleven

Laura POV.

It was a warm and cozy Saturday morning, with an atmosphere that enveloped my skin in a welcoming sensation that exuded love and care. I sat on an iron bench, wiggling my legs with excitement, as the chirping of birds entertained my ears with melodious sounds.

The gentle rustle of leaves in the trees and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers added to the serenity of the moment, making it a truly peaceful and idyllic start to the day.

"Hey, Laura Smart Bee!" a chubby, short girl called out, waving enthusiastically as she jogged out of the compound.

I smiled in response, accustomed to the nickname that had stuck since the incident with Frank.

"Did that chubby girl just call you a smart bee?" Valerie asked, stretching out languidly, her bones making a loud crackling sound as she arched her back.

I nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, that's my new surname, courtesy of Frank's mishap."

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Well, at least it's a unique nickname!" she said with a chuckle.

I giggled, tossing a pair of sandals in her direction. But my smile faded as memories flooded back. "That's not funny, Valerie," I said, furrowing my brows.


"Remember the implications of that name for my wellbeing? It's trending everywhere, Valerie." My voice was barely above a whisper, revealing my lingering unease.

Valerie's expression turned apologetic, and she nodded sympathetically. "I forgot how much that name still affects you. Sorry, Laura.”

Valerie's apology was sincere, and I knew she didn't mean to stir up painful memories. I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the lingering unease.

"Let's change the subject," I suggested, forcing a smile. "What's new with you?"

Valerie's face brightened. "Actually, I have some exciting news. I've been asked to lead a new project in school, and I'm really thrilled about it."

I congratulated her, genuinely happy for my friend's success. As we chatted, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the ringing tone of my phone. I glanced at the caller's ID, but instead of a name, only a string of numbers flashed on the screen. My face contorted in a mix of concern and curiosity, my mind racing with possibilities.

"Sorry, Val, I need to take this," I said, already feeling a sense of trepidation.

Valerie nodded understandingly, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Go ahead, answer it. Maybe it's a new adventure calling!"

I smiled weakly, my heart pounding in anticipation. Who could be calling me from an unknown number? I hesitated for a moment, then finally answered the call, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hello?”

"Laura, it's Aunty Catherine," the voice on the other end said.

I snapped to attention, recognizing the voice and name of the unknown caller. "Aunt?" I called out to confirm, but the network connection faltered, restricting the caller from continuing.

The line went dead, leaving me in a state of confusion and concern. I tried calling back, but the number was no longer in service. I turned to Valerie, my face etched with worry.

"That was Aunty Catherine, but the call dropped. I need to find out what's going on," I said, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

Valerie's expression turned sympathetic. "Try calling her again, or maybe reach out to her with my phone, she suggested, her voice laced with concern.

I nodded, feeling a sense of urgency. "Good idea," I said, taking Valerie's phone, since mine was still trying to connect to the network.

But as I reached for her phone, Valerie muttered under her breath, "Silly Smart Bee," which instantly flushed my face with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. The nickname still stung, and I shot her a warning look. "Valerie, not now, please," I said, trying to keep my focus on contacting my aunt.

I leaned forward, my eyes fixed intently on a small insect nearby, my gaze scanning the surroundings as a sense of unease settled over me. "I'm not sure... I just have a feeling my aunt is in trouble," I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to brush off the nagging feeling in my subconscious. But it only seemed to intensify, refusing to be dismissed.

Valerie's expression turned concerned. "What's wrong, Laura? You're starting to scare me," she said, placing a reassuring hand on my arm.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "I just have this feeling... like something's off. And that phone call... it didn't feel right," I explained, my eyes still fixed on the insect as my mind raced with worst-case scenarios.


The phone rang again, and I pounced on it, my eagerness to answer palpable. I couldn't wait for her to speak, and the silence on the other end of the line was deafening. Then, suddenly, I heard the unmistakable sounds of sniffing and sobbing in the background. My heart sank.


"Aunty Catherine?" I asked, my voice laced with concern, trying to keep my composure. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

The sobbing grew louder, and I could sense the distress on the other end of the line. My grip on the phone tightened, and I felt Valerie's eyes on me, her expression mirroring my own concern.


Within minutes, we boarded a cab and headed to my aunt's house. The drive took over an hour, and my eagerness and suspense grew with each passing mile. As we finally arrived, I jumped out of the cab and rushed to the door, my footsteps echoing through the silence.

I grasped the door knob, but it felt loose in my hand, as if it were broken. My gaze shifted to Valerie's face, her expression stained with worry and concern.

"What's going on? Is your aunt okay, Laura?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head, my heart racing with trepidation. "I don't know, but something has happened here," I replied, trying to push open the door, my mind bracing for the worst.


"Cl... Cla..." she tried to say, but her voice trailed off, her words lost in a faint whisper..