Chapter 57 MALL IS ON FIRE
Ixora's car screeched to a halt when she arrived at KBK Mall. She was there to do her monthly shopping. She always does it once a month.
She would have done it a long time ago if not for the person who tried to rape her.
She had thought about asking Nelly to accompany her, but changed her mind. She was well aware that Drexton would be in the office, so he wouldn't trouble her.
As for Blake, he did reply to her text, saying he was not angry. She only stopped pressuring him when he assured her that he wasn't angry.
She reached the automatic door, but stopped feeling as if someone was watching her. She looked back but saw no one.
"Did he follow me here?" she thought, entering the mall.
The door automatically closed behind her.
From the shadows, a person tapped on his AirPods.
"She just entered KBK mall," he said, staring at the mall's name.
"Good. Finish her."
He nodded, disconnecting the communication.
He walked closer to the mall, thinking of ways he'd end her.
He drew out a gun from his pocket and made to enter the mall when his eyes caught hold of a metal detector.
"Fuck," he cursed, going to dispose of the gun.
Lorraine's words crawled into his head. "The life of others doesn't matter as long as she dies."
"I know what to do," he muttered, going inside the mall.
\[NELLY 'S ROOM\]
Nelly emerged from the bathroom, dressed in her usual long skirt and shirt. She froze, seeing a person seated on her bed. Her heart sank in fear. She took a backward step, her back hitting the door.
She hid her hand behind her, balling a fist as she stared at Maddox.
"H... How did you get in here?" She stuttered.
Maddox stared at her without saying a thing.
"I... I will call the police and arrest you for always breaking into my house."
She clenched her jaw when he didn't reply.
His lips curled into a smirk.
Nelly shifted, seeing the smirk. She had no idea what was going on in his mind, and the smirk—had he uncovered her truth?
No, she made sure to get rid of everything that would ever bring the truth to light. Then, why was he smirking?
"Water," he said, pulling her back to the present.
"Huh?" Nelly asked, staring at him with slackened jaws.
Maddox stared back, not saying anything further.
Nelly nodded and went to the kitchen to get the water.
Maddox smirked, tracing his gaze to the door.
He stood and left.
Nelly returned with the water only to find him gone.
She looked at the water, tightening her grip around the glass.
Those haunting voices echoed in her head.
"Come on, Nashira, shoot him."
"That's it, Shira."
"We need you, Shira. You are the strongest among us."
"Y... you are part of the..."
"No!" Nelly yelled, throwing the glass on the door.
The glass shattered into pieces.
"F... Finn."
"Don't touch me!"
Nelly placed both hands on her ears as she slowly sat on the floor.
"Finn!!!!"
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!" Nelly screamed, holding her hair from the sides as tears slipped down her cheeks.
She was gasping for breath, her chest rising and falling.
She shut her eyes tightly, remembering her doctor's words.
"Always remember, you are Nelly, not Nashira."
Like magic, her breathing returned to normal.
She removed her hands from her ears and wiped the traces of tears.
She stood and picked up her phone from the bed.
She went to the window and dialed Ixora's number.
From the door, Maddox stood with a knotted brow as he watched her.
He slid his hand into his pocket and took out his phone.
He checked the time, took a last glance at Nelly before leaving her house.
\[KBK MALL\]
"I'm at KBK mall, why?" Ixora asked, checking out the gowns.
"I just felt like seeing you, that's all," Nelly replied from the other end.
"I will be done in about ten minutes. You don't have to bother."
Ixora admired the gown, thinking it would be perfect for Nelly.
"Are you okay?" she asked when Nelly didn't say a thing.
"Sure. I will see you when you get back," Nelly said.
The call ended.
\--
"Ma'am, I'm in the electricity room," the guy from before said.
He wore a face cap and a nose mask to hide his face.
He had tampered with the security cameras, and, thankfully, the security men didn't notice.
Initially, he thought about stabbing Ixora, but changed his mind when he saw how crowded the mall was.
Lorraine said she didn't care if others died.
"Plan?"
"Set the mall on fire," he replied, using a pair of pliers to cut a wire.
The automatic door was now shut. No one can enter or leave the mall using that main door.
"No mistakes."
"Trust me," he replied, and disconnected the communication.
He used the pliers and cut the wire connecting the electricity.
Everywhere turned dark.
\--
"What's going on?"
"What happened to the lights?"
They began turning on their flashlights, Ixora included.
"Some on, turn on the lights."
And soon the mall turned into chaos with customers' frustrated voices.
"EVERYBODY, PLEASE CALM DOWN. WE WILL FIX THE LIGHT IN A FEW SECONDS." An announcement was made, and that seemed to put everybody at ease.
Their shouts became reduced to low mumbling.
Ixora was making her way up the stairs when another announcement came.
"THE MALL IS ON FIRE!"
\[BLACKTHORN AUTOMOBILE, CONFERENCE HALL\]
Drexton tapped his finger gently on the table as he listened to the board members talk. He hasn't said anything since the meeting started. Just listening or not.
The only thing he wanted was for the meeting to end. He needed to go back to watching Ixora. His mind was spiraling with thoughts about her. It felt like she was in danger.
He had never felt this way before. He knew she had gone to KBK mall, but for some reason, he wanted to check up on her.
"Mr. Blackthorn, we'd love to hear your thoughts on our contributions so far." One of the board members said.
On the other side, James sat, barely saying a word. He had been observing Drexton closely. Drexton was the type who'd indirectly reply whenever they criticized him, but he hasn't said a word. His body was there, but his mind was somewhere else.
He had always suspected Drexton to be more than who he claimed to be. Maybe this was his time to find out.
"Blackthorn?" James called, exchanging glances with the rest of the board members.
"Sir," Kian whispered, bringing Drexton to earth.
"Adjo..." A call came to his phone, interrupting him.
Checking the caller's ID, it was Maddox.
He answered the call.
"News. Pet's Mall is on fire," He heard Maddox say, and for like a second he couldn't say a thing.
"KBK?" he asked, rising to his feet.
"Fucking yes," Maddox replied.
Drexton immediately disconnected the call. Without bothering to take his suit jacket, he left the conference room in hastened steps.
"This is the very reason we need to replace him. Did you guys see how he walked out on us?" James began his usual rant.
Kian checked his phone and saw the news.
"He might have left because KBK mall is on fire," Kian said, and left the room.
James' head ticked, thoughts coming in.
Drexton left a meeting because of a mall that was on fire. He knows Drexton does not have anyone he cares about, from the little research he was able to find.
Then why would he rush off because the mall was on fire?
He stood and stared at the rest of the board members who were whispering among themselves.
Drexton wouldn't leave over a burning mall... or could he?