Chapter 78: The Awakening

Kingston's POV

“Do you mind telling me what this madness is all about? We both know you're lying to me, and you cannot deny it,” she confronted me.

She was so sure that I wasn't telling the truth. Even if I decide to play a fast one on her, my facial expressions will surely betray me.

I am literally shivering like someone who saw a ghost. That's enough to prove that I am hiding something from her.

“Okay, I'll tell you everything you need to know about my next move without omitting any information. But please — promise you won't scream or act funny,” I forced her into making promises I know she cannot keep.

“I promise to be sane. You have nothing to be worried about,” she gave me her word.

That came so quickly. I assumed she would need some time to think about it.

I exhaled, “Where the fuck do I start telling you now?”

“I don't give a damn how you do it, Kingston. Just spill it. I'm losing it. I am,” she fumed at me.

I'm messing with her head with my delayed response. I would have done worse if I were in her position.

“I'm meeting with Amira's Kidnappers now. One of them texted me the location where I'm supposed to bring the ransom before releasing Amira to us,” I spoke tirelessly without taking a break.

If I slow down, I will never have the courage to speak any more.

“What are you saying? Is this a joke?” She giggled. “How did we get here? Please tell me you're not pulling my legs,”

“Oh my goodness! You aren't kidding,” her eyes popped out when she saw how serious I was.

“How did they reach out to you? Is my daughter alive? Did they let you speak to her over the phone?” She didn't stop bugging me with her questions even when she promised to control her emotions.

I knew her promise was a lie. That's precisely how I reacted when the Kidnapper introduced himself to me.

“Maggie, can we not do this now? We have a bigger task ahead of us as we speak. I need to go bring our daughter back home,” I politely avoided her question.

I don't want her to feel sidelined or deprived of performing her motherly duties.

“I'm coming with you.

You dare not leave me behind,” she insisted with a commanding tone.

“This is an order and not a request. I don't have to remind you that Amira is my daughter too. Her safety is my priority,” she blasted me even before I had the opportunity of declining her request.

“I'd be in the car when you're ready to depart,” she said to me before her departure.

I gave up trying to overturn her decision. This is the reason I never wanted to tell her about Amira's kidnapping case.

“What are you still doing there, Kingston? Get into the fucking car now. We have to save our daughter. I'd not forgive you if anything bad happens to her,” She screamed at me from the car.

Instantly, I regained consciousness while rushing to join her in the car.

I know the consequences of keeping her waiting for too long, especially in a critical moment like this.

“We should get the cops involved in this. It's dangerous to do this without any support. I doubt if we can handle the risk that comes with this,” she suggested while I was halfway to the location.

“Hell no,” I kicked against her decision with an immediate effect. “There's no way I'm taking such a risk. I care about my daughter's life a lot,”

“He threatened to kill Amira if the cops ever got involved. Do you wish for that to happen? Believe me when I say those bastards are more dreadful than you can imagine” I disclosed further.

“Oops. It's so unfortunate,” she belched.

That's the last time I heard of her. That's enough to get the answers I need.

I proceed with the ride while ignoring her completely. I like her being silent.

“We are here now,” I informed Margaret the minute I arrived at our destination.

“Where's the ransom? How much is it? Is it too small that you aren't holding any briefcase? Because I know for sure that's not inside this car” Too many questions from Margaret.

I don't even know where to start, even though they all seemed important.

“I got this under control, Maggie,” I flaunted the check to her face.

Although I desist from telling her the exact amount the Kidnapper requested. She would definitely use that as an excuse to call the cops.

I didn't descend from the car due to fear of getting shot.

I scanned the environment, hoping that I could find someone outside the abandoned building. Like a graveyard, it is empty.

I picked up my phone to call him. “I am the location. I can't find you anywhere. Can you please step outside?”

“Plans changed, Kingston. Drive down to The king's close off eland road. Walk straight to an old warehouse by the roadside,” He directed me, and ended the telephone conversation before I had the opportunity to ask more questions.

“What did he say to you? Are we seeing him soon? Is he stepping outside with our daughter?“ Margaret became extremely inquisitive after the call ended.

The conversation wasn't on the loudspeaker, making it harder for her to grasp what was discussed between Lucas and me. The desperation to know has taken over her soul.

“The son of a bitch dared to direct me to a different location. Who the hell does he think he is to keep ordering us around like his puppet?” I mumble in utmost disappointment.

Perhaps, Maggie might be right about getting the cops involved. It's starting to seem like the Kidnapper wants to play a fast one on me.

“What are you still waiting for? Let's leave immediately before it gets too late,” she charged me.

Coming from someone like her, I am more than surprised. I thought she'd be more than hyped about calling the cops. Perhaps, I was wrong for judging her wrongly.

Amira's POV

“Surprised to see me, huh?” I asked Lucas.

The answer is boldly crested on his face. He must be regretting not killing me when he had the opportunity.

I still haven't forgotten how he peed on my body. The memory still lives rent-free in my head. I doubt if I would be able to erase it from my head.

“How did you escape from the warehouse? You were in chains when I left you. This doesn't seem right to me,” he almost wept while expressing his regret. He wishes there was something he could have done differently.

I laughed, “I had waited for you to ask me that question,”

“Let's just say I always have my ways around situations like that,” I ended up speaking without making any sense.

I want him to figure it out, since he claims to be a smart champ.

“Oh, and the cops, right?” I saved him the stress of asking.

“I ran into them on the highway. It turns out that I'm not the only one you have offended,” I taunted him.

He couldn't speak further. His energy is gone. I just rendered him speechless.

I'm pretty sure he's already imagining how gorgeous he would appear in his prison uniform.

“You whore. I should have ended your life. Sparing your life was my worst mistake ever,” he gnashed his teeth out of frustration while setting his punch.

If he has a second chance to get close to me again, I'm definitely not surviving it.

“That's it! I have heard enough. Take him away,” Sheriff Maurice instructed some of his cops. He must have been bored with our long talks.

“Not so fast, Sheriff,” Lucas pulled out his gun and positioned it to his head.

“Just so you know, I am not afraid to die,” he giggled

I thought I'd seen it all until I met Lucas. He's worse than a psychopath.

He really needs to visit the rehabilitation centre and have his brain checked.

I don't need to be told before believing that Lucas is a drug addict, and it's already making him act crazy.

“Oh, welcome to the party, Kingston. You came at the right time,” he points in a direction to welcome someone.

When I spun around, I saw my father and mother edging closer to me.

Bewilderment

Goosebumps

Tears

Those are the three words that best describe my situation right now.

I never imagined that I would ever set my eyes on my mother again after she got separated from my father when I was ten.

And my father?

I had no idea that he was the one Lucas was speaking to over the phone.

“Amira!” My mum exclaimed as she rushed to embrace me.

I didn't reciprocate her energy. How do I react to a mother who abandoned me when I was a child?

She practically messed up my childhood. She's the reason my father was unnecessarily overprotective towards my existence.

“Come here, my baby,” my father embraced me.

He stylishly pulled away from me when he perceived the smell of Lucas's urine on me.

“I'm happy you're here. It's time to do the revealing,” Lucas spoke to my father.

“You must be a fool to believe I'm going down alone. Your family and the cops need to know the real you,” Lucas didn't stop singing like a bird as he vowed to expose my father's atrocious acts.