Thought I knew him

So excited to be back home and aunty Jane will be so happy to see me.

      I pressed the doorbell two times before she opened the door.

      "Meena!" She screamed as she gave me a very tight hug.

      The embrace was so emotional that we couldn't let go for some minutes.

      "Meena, what happened? Are u okay? Tell me what exactly happened?" She asked as we lose from the hug.

      "Aunty, I'm fine okay? As you can see am fine and I will tell you all that happened" I smiled.

      We entered inside and I told her everything and all I can see on her face was a great shock.

There was a moment of silence before she broke it.

      "Have always suspected that things weren't right, but I never could have imagined it to be this deep. So all this is all about revenge" she paused and continued

      "Your parents lost their lives at the expense of your grandfather's greed" she started weeping

      The doorbell rang.

      "Aunty are you expecting anyone," I asked anxiously.

      "Not really"

      Jane stood up to check who that was, she tried peeping through the window, cause this time, extreme caution will be taken for safety reasons. Now that I have been discovered by my parent's killer.

All thanks to Dave who spared my life, but for how long will it take his father to figure out I'm still alive. I don't blame him at a point, he only seeks revenge. He went through a lot, and now it's so hard for him to forgive. All these commotions were caused by my voracious grandfather who brought this to us. Now I abhor him so much even though he's already dead.

      "Oh it's Gabriel"

      She opens the door and he steps in.

      "Welcome Gabriel"

      "Thanks, Jane, why the uneasy look on your face? Is everything okay?" He asked with an anxious look on his face.

      "Meena! You came around" he said immediately he took notice of me.

      "Yes, uncle" I replied and stood up to hug him and sat back.

      "The last time I came, I was told you moved to Agape town but you know, I couldn't just come for a visit even though it's in the same city where I stay" he explains as he sits beside me.

      "Yeah I understand, Aunty told me when you came"

      "So how is life over there, how are you coping with the new environment and your newfound life? Jane told me you have got a job too"

      "It's quite an interesting experience, the period of months I've lived there. Made new friends... learned new things and so much more"

      "That's nice, I'm impressed," he said now turning to Aunty Jane.

      "I've not forgotten the question I asked you"

      Aunty looked at me and then took a deep breath.

      "They found Meena"

      "What! How? I don't get it"

      "Yes uncle, they found me"

      "Meena was kidnapped by Dave Jackson, Kendrick Jackson's son, yesterday," Jane explains with a depressing expression.

      "You got to be kidding me," he uttered in a shocked voice.

      "Meena came back not a while ago before you just arrived"

      "Omg, Meena hope you are okay? Were you hurt in any way? Tell me, what happened? How did you manage to evade?" He asked so confusedly and troubled.

      "Uncle, you need to calm down as you can see I'm fine, do I look hurt? I'm perfectly fine. You know what, let me get you something to drink, coffee?"

      "Water please," he said being so uneasy.

      I brought him a glass of water and explained everything.

      "Wow, I can't believe this, after all these years...that's why I and Jane persuaded you to change your last name but you refused, if not I don't think they would have discovered you. Dahm it!" He exclaimed as he stood up placing his hands on his forehead "As it stands now, Dave is at your side?"

      "Likely" I responded uncertainly.

      "Any idea on his motives? Cause I don't seem to understand why he would let you go just like that" he asked as he sits back.

      "That I'm not sure of, but Dave is not like his father"

      "Then you need to move, cause here is no longer safe for both of you. It won't be long before Kendrick will start looking for you, and it won't be hard for him this time since you have already been discovered"

      "Gabriel is right, we should move but to where?" aunty Jane shipped in.

      "That's not an issue, maybe you both should relocate to Deli City cause the whole of Medaline and Beldine is no longer safe for now. I will make arrangements for an apartment over there so that three days from now, you'll move.

      "Uncle? If I heard you correctly...you said "you both" are you insinuating that you are not coming with us?"

      "Meena, don't be furious okay? I won't be relocating with the two of you. Remember I've family, I can't possibly..."

      "But they can effortlessly come with you"

      "Meena, don't worry will always pay a visit just like I have always done. Visiting from Medaline to Deli is not a hard one"

      The thought of moving did hit me hard cause I'll be missing a lot of things. I've lots of wonderful memories both in Ajip and Agape. My job...my friends, they're part of me now.

      "Uncle"

      "Yes Meena"

"How long do I have to keep on running?"

"As long as your safety is assured"

"You knew about this the whole time and kept it hidden from me, why?"

"Cause you were too young to know" he replied.

"And what happened as I grew up?"

"Thought the whole crisis was over and you finding out the truth behind everything that has happened would break you, never knew he will still come back for you.

"For real uncle? I deserve to know everything about my family, no matter what. You taught me how to be strong, why do you think I won't be able to handle the truth?" I said subbing inwardly.

"I'm so sorry Meena, I was only looking out for you" he apologized.

"I thought I knew my family... thou...thought I knew grandpa...but I knew nothing about him. He was so evil!"

I burst into tears and Jane came to cuddle and console me.

      "Did my father have any idea about the dispute between grandpa and Jackson's family?" I asked wiping out tears from my eyes.

      "Yes he did, when he found out how his father murdered his friend William, he made some discoveries also on lots of things his father was involved in out of desperation of becoming the Medaline most affluent man. Along the line, he uncovered a lot of atrocities which his father was pertained in"

      "What are the discoveries? And did my father in any way get himself involved?"

      "I will tell you everything, but not now. I have to go it's late already"

      "Won't you spend the night here?" Jane asked out of concern.

      "Not at all, I will inform you when the apartment is ready but surely it will be ready in two days" and he left.

"Meena, let me go clean your room cause it will be dusty"

Wondering in my thoughts, I cry in silence.