GINA

6: 30PM

Finally, the day was over.

God, how I hate Friday because of the heavy workload that comes with it. I was so glad that I was through with everything and I could go home now.

As I washed my face with the water from the sink tap in the restroom, my fingers trembled lightly.

I looked up at the mirror opposite me that was above the sink and studied my features.

It was a miracle that I didn't look as exhausted as I felt. My brown hair which was in layers around my neck still nearly looked the way it had when I left my apartment that morning. My green eyes which I have always thought to be my most arresting feature still twinkled when I smiled wearily at the mirror.

I was relieved I was not going to go out into the street looking like a nightmare. Thank goodness for genetics. Having an draining day was one thing. Coupling that with the knowledge that I looked like a mess was certainly one hell of another thing. It was certainly what I could not afford to deal with. So here, I was grateful for the genes of not really looking like what happened to me even though the parent that gave me those genes was certainly not one I adored.

I picked up my strap bag from the sink, checked inside to make sure my personal items were intact and then wrapped the strap around my arm before walking out from the restroom into the kitchen.

The place was opposite of what it had been just two hours before. Then, it had been a beehive of activities; now it was as quiet as a graveyard.

Only one of the chefs remained. She was sitting on a chair, her head on one of the recently cleaned kitchen table.

"Hey, Marie" I called and she raised her head up, looking at me with exhausted black eyes.

"You are not going home yet?" I asked with concern. She was pregnant and should not be doing so much work but she insisted because she needed to help out with the bills at home. I could relate to that but I just hoped to God that the stress was not affecting her and the baby.

"Peter is coming with our car to take me home. Man, I really am too tired to board a bus and then walk from the bus stop to my house. I tried all the online cab services I know and they said they were tied down with work. It's that busy time of the evening, you know."

"So sorry, Marie. I hope Peter is not going to take much time coming. "—I glanced at my wrist watch —"it is already a few minutes till seven pm."

"It is okay, Gina. He said he will be here in ten minutes. At Least, we know Mr Smith is still in his office till nine o'clock. I will be fine. You go home."

"Alright. Let me go before I crumple here on the floor out of exhaustion." I said.

Marie gave a small laugh, waved goodbye at me.

I smiled and turned on my heel to walked into the dining area.

The maids were still cleaning the dining area for tomorrow work as I walked in.

It was customary for the restaurant to tidy up the place no matter how late it gets. It was good policy only I wished they would employ more hands to make it faster. I sighed as I waved good night at them before leaving the restaurant through the entrance door.

Outside, I instantly felt the evening wind chill my face making the beads of sweats that had formed around my forehead to evaporate instantly. I wrapped my coat tighter around me as I began to walk to my apartment.

My apartment was about three miles away and was basically a forty five minute walk if I used my usual route.

I would have considered boarding a cab but the evening traffic would have made me stay on the road longer than I would if I had trekked so I forgot about the option.

Since it was a Friday evening, the roads were more busy than usual as people who were coming from work and those who were going to places of relaxation for the weekend crowded the roads with their cars.

I frowned when I saw that I could not really see more than twenty feet ahead of me because it had gotten pretty dark. Not that I was afraid to walk in the night but because there have been a lot of small robberies after dark lately on my usual route. The reason was it usually look lonely immediately it was 7PM and it was getting dark.

I didn't have much money on me, just five dollars because I usually don't like to walk around with much cash. But I had my phone, a gadget that I had bought only two months ago and which was important to me because I had started writing lyrics again for songs in my phone and it was something I couldn't afford to lose. I also had my ATM card with me so yeah

I didn't want to risk it at all. Because of it, I turned towards the left direction to walk the longer and safer route to my house. That direction had more houses and therefore was less lonely than the shorter route. I was exhausted, yes but that does not mean I should lose my phone as well.

Barely able to put one leg in front of the other, I walked down the street. There were opened stores lined on both side of the street which was the main reason the street could still be busy at this time. Lights from the stores spilled out from the street.

I hummed to myself as I worked; my strength being fueled by the idea of a long luxurious hot bath and the glass of wine I had promised myself.

While thinking about how Ken and how I had not talked to him on phone today because of my

busy schedule at work, a sharp movement made me turn my eyes to the other side of the street. At first, because it had become more dark, all I could see were silhouettes walking in the same direction that I was going to, then my eyes got accustomed to the darkness and I could make out the outlines of the persons who I counted as three; two tall persons with a shorter one.

On finally seeing their faces well, I froze, my blood running cold immediately.