Chapter 35: CAUGHT IN HER OWN TRAP.

I was about to go to sleep after trying Seth’s number for the fourth time when I heard the doorbell. Who could it be this late in the night? It's already mid-night; why is someone still knocking at my door?

Peeping through the key whole at my door, I thought I saw Seth, but I wasn't so sure, so I opened the door. It was Seth; he was in a messy state. His hair was all messed up, and his white shirt was stained with blood. He covered most of it with a suit jacket, but it was still visible.

“Seth? What is going on?” I asked him, but instead of responding to my question, he pushed past me and walked in. I followed him immediately to demand answers.

“Can you please talk to me? What is going on, and whose blood is on you?” I asked, but he sat down on my bed, looking blankly at the ground.

“Wait, don't tell me you used that gun. Who the heck did you kill?” I screamed at him.

“Raise your voice at me one more time, and I will make you the fourth person I'm using this gun on today, and trust me, you will not like it." He pointed his gun at me. 

“Fine, but put that away; let's talk. What happened?” I asked and walked up to him, sitting besides him.

“I have made the fucking mistake of my life,” he said, finally dropping the gun and facing me. I noticed the smell of alcohol in his mouth.

“Have you been drinking?” 

“A little,” he replied.

“Did you say a little? You were supposed to threaten Alda’s parents to sign you a hug check to continue your company, and you actually decided to get yourself drunk.”

“I couldn't do it without getting myself high.” He responded.

"Oh, really, let me ask again, whose blood is on you?” He quickly looked away, avoiding my glance. I started panicking, knowing that I already knew what was coming, but I still wanted to hear it from him.

“Whose blood, Seth!?” I demanded to gnash my teeth out of frustration and anger.

“Mr. Barnard's, but you have to believe me, I didn't mean to kill him. He pounced on me, and we started dragging the gun, then it went off and shot him.”

I just sat there with my mouth open wide as I tried to register Seth's words in my brain.

“Did you just say you killed Mr. Barnard? Are you insane!!!? You were supposed to scare him just to get some cash, but instead you killed him. 

What have you done? Why are you even at my house to drag me into your hell? That is not going to be possible; leave now!!”

There is no way I am getting involved in a murder case. He killed him; he should be the one to carry the shame.

“So this is how you are. We are in on this together; we planned this together, and now you want to back away!!” He asked as he grabbed the gun sitting besides him and started laughing like a psycho.

“I never told you to kill anyone.” I said to him, but he pointed the gun at me.

“I will suggest you shut up, or I will make you the third person I will be killing tonight.” He said. He was looking dead serious. I had to do as he said in order not to trigger him to use the gun on me.

What on earth have I gotten myself into? I got up to leave the room, but he grabbed me by the arm, drawing me towards him. He made me sit on his laps as he cupped my right breast, pressing it as he said something to me in a whisper.

“We started this together, and we will end it together. All the conversation I have ever had with you was recorded; one wrong move and I will expose you.” I felt a shiver run down my spine from his threat.

“I asked if you understood,” he said, squeezing my breast so hard.

“Yes, I understand.” I replied, my voice coming out weak and shaky.

“Good, now no one must know I had something to do with the deaths of Alda’s parents. Even though I wasn't able to get my hands on his company documents, I still have another way I can do that, and you are going to help me.”

He said this as he laughed. His laughter filled the whole room; it was the most horrifying sound ever.

“What is the part I have to play?” I asked as I struggled to steady my voice. I got myself into this mess; I will have to find a way out.

“We need Alda; since she is the only heir of Mr. Barnard, I'm sure she has access to his father's companies and other properties. I just need you to lure her into a trap, understand?” I nodded my head in response.

“Good, I need to lay low for the time being.” He said this as he got up and headed for the door.

“Remember, one word from you would ruin the both of us, so make sure you think before you act.” He said this before he left. I closed the door immediately as I felt my legs go weak. What have I gotten myself into?

Alda's POV

“Alda, you're awake,” Xender said. I stared at him in a confused state. How did I end up in the hospital?

“How are you feeling?” He asked, looking at me worriedly. I opened my mouth to say something but couldn't alter a word.

“Should I get Dr. Mike?”

“Xender, I had a terrible nightmare. There was an accident, and my parents died. I want to see my parents; I need to call my parents.” I said, as I began to panic.

"Alda, please, you need to calm down, and it wasn't a nightmare.” I began shaking my head unbelievably as I climbed down the bed. A wave of dizziness washed over me as I fell.

Xender was fast enough to stop me from hitting the ground.

“Alda, you are in no health to move about. Please just stay still without moving an inch until Mike gets here.”

“No, I want to see my parents now.”

“Alda,”

“Now, are you taking me to them, or do I need to get myself there?”

“Fine, I will take you, but let's see Mike before leaving.” I angrily pushed Xender away from me and dragged myself towards the door.

“Alda please”

“Where are they?”

“The hospital down town, the police are still investigating the case. No one knows who got in and shot them.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep myself going. This might still be a dream. I need to see for myself. 

“Which of the hospitals?" I asked, as I tried as much as possible to keep my voice steady.

“Health and Care”

“Please help me call a cab; I need to go there." My body ached all over. My head is in terrible pain, as I felt dizzy with every step I took. I need to remain strong.

“I will take you,” Xender said as he wrapped his hand around my shoulder, guiding me to his car. When we hit the road, I just sat besides Xender as I tried to understand how my life had become a mess.

Who could have attacked my parents and gone as far as to hurt them? They were never the type to make trouble with anyone. When we arrived, we went straight to meet the receptionist, who directed us to the doctor.

“Are you Alda Barnard, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barnard, who were brought in yesterday evening?”

"Yes,” I replied to him.

“Is he your brother or a family member?” He asked, referring to Xender, who had been standing behind me all this time.

“He is a friend, a close friend.” I said.

“I need to talk to you alone, so please follow me to my office.” The doctor spoke as he led the way. I turned, staring at Xender, not knowing what to say.

“Thank you, Xender, for helping me this far. Thank you, but I think I can take it from here. I will come see you when everything dies down.” I said to him, and without waiting for his response, I turned and went after the doctor.

“Please have a seat.”

“I don't need a seat; I want to see my parents.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Barnard, but we couldn't save your parents. The bullet was close to your father's heart, causing him to have a cardiac arrest, which killed him, and your mum didn't make it through the surgery. I'm so sorry.”

I could swear my brain went dead for a while before it started functioning again. I looked at the doctor in front of me and couldn't understand what he just said.

“My parents are dead.”

“I'm really sorry, Miss Barnard.”

“I want to see them with my eyes.”

“I'm sorry, but you can't at the moment; the police are still...”

“I want to see them now!!!” I said this to him in anger.

“Okay, calm down. I'm sure you can see them as long as you don't touch them.”

Wiping the tears running down my face, I followed him. He brought me to a room where two bodies were covered up.

“Are you sure you can handle what you are about to see?”

I ignored the doctor and walked in. In every step I took, my heart shattered into pieces. I walked up to the two beds sitting in the middle of the room, drew the cover off the covered bodies, and met my parents pale faces.

A sob escaped my lips as my knees gave in to the weakness I had been feeling. I tried not to cry, but my tears flowed like a river.