DUSK by Esther Machethe (top books of all time txt) 📕

All this time, Sapph never talked to me and it was getting pretty annoying when she ignored me or only addressed Em but I decided to play along with her.

“What’s taking you so long in there, do you need help?” Em asked from outside the bedroom door and I told her to chill am almost done. I stared at myself from the bedroom mirror and I didn’t really like the dress.

It was almost eight at night and I was currently trying to find the perfect dress because Em said there was a surprise I still had to unravel and we had to leave by eight. I took a deep breath and walked out of my room to meet Emma whose disappointment was written all over her face when she saw me in that dress.

“I look like a potato.” I frowned at her and she nodded solemnly.

“You look horrible but luckily we have three more dresses for you to try.” She tried to sound cheery but even I could see that she was running out of patience. Out of all those clothes, a blue dress caught my eye and I pulled it out of her grasp.

It was a beautiful royal blue lace strapless dress that had beautiful flower patterns on the left side breast and waist. It was perfect. Em’s look matched mine when I walked out of my room.

“Great, now let’s go, you’re late” she said as she shoved me out of the house. I was lucky she didn’t notice I was still wearing my combat boots or else she would have flipped.

“I call shotgun.” I shouted as I ran towards the passenger side of the car but Sapph got there before me.

“No way, you stole my boyfriend and now you want shotgun, not on my watch.” She spat at me and Emma’s eyes widened in shock, I think my jaw was on the floor by now.

“What on earth are you on about, she didn’t take your boyfriend.” Em tried to defend me making Sapph laugh bitterly.

“Really, then explain this, explain why he’s looking at her like that, not even I get the same look.” She spat as she shoved a photo in Emma’s face. I simply had to see this because I didn’t think it was true.

“Can you explain this?” Em asked as she showed me the photo which I guess was taken today of me and Ash standing outside my house; were smiling but Ash had a weird look on his face.

“Where were you that he even had to change clothes?” Sapph asked; her voice was like poison.

“I swear that was how he was dressed when we left. We only went to the arcade and nowhere else. I swear.” I tried to defend myself.

“I hate to say this but they were all right, you’re a slut Chloe and you always use your miserable story as a pity party. Stay away from Ashton, he’s mine.” She warned before she walked away in the opposite direction. I could only stare at her. That was the second time I heard that.

“What the fuck just happened?” Emma asked behind me.

“I have no idea. Let’s go before I change my mind” I mumbled and tried to cheer myself up though it really wasn’t working.

“Forget about her, we’re going hunting for a surprise!”  Emma cheered making me chuckle. The drive was quiet and that’s what I needed at the moment.

“Chloe, are you alright, I can trace some sadness in your thoughts” Dusk’s voice sounded in my head.

‘Everything is fine Dusk, sapphire said some hurtful words but I’m fine.” I mentally told her.

“Wow, Sapph really got to you huh,” Emma questioned without looking at me. I didn’t know what to say so I just nodded.

“You didn’t even ask where we’re going?” she complained making me smile.

“What’s the point when you’re only going to tell me it’s a surprise.”

“Smart ass.” She scoffed but I could hear the smile in her voice. Few minutes later we pulled up at an empty building. And I bit my tongue before I could start my usual rounds of complain.

“You do know how to get out and walk into the building, right?” Em asked as she stood outside and waited for me to join her. I hurriedly got out and followed her so that this day would end quickly. We walked in together and found something we really did not expect; it was empty, complete darkness covered the gigantic room. Using the torch from my phone, I located the switch and turned on the lights which confirmed my earlier discovery.

“It’s empty, is this the surprise?” I turned to Em who looked more confused than I was. She took her phone and showed me the address she was texted by Sapph two hours ago.

“I’m on the right address, maybe we’re early. Let’s wait for a few minutes then we’ll call Ash.” She assured me but I couldn’t shake off this sick feeling from my stomach and my gut twisted into knots.

Ten minutes later we decided to call Ash but the surprising thing is that there was no service. I was about to start complaining when the door burst open and I relaxed momentarily before I saw two faces and one was unfamiliar.

“Thank you ladies for waiting for us, sorry we had to take a little detour.” The older lady said in a high pitched voice.

“Who are you?” I blurted without hesitation.

“You really don’t remember me do you? How could you when last I saw you was when you were born.” She explained but Emma and I just stared blankly at her, not sure what or who she was talking about.

“I’m your mother; Ilana, I don’t suppose you have heard of me.” At the mention of that name, my body went stiff. Sapph smirked at me.

“I am sure she knows you very well” she commented in an unusually cold voice making Ilana grin and me to tremble.

“Now, that aside, I believe you have something that I need. You see, it wasn’t fair for Elroy to give only you the best chip, I need one to and imagine what I could do with it.” She said it like it was a good thing.

‘Dusk, send an SOS to dad and Ash and give them the address to this place.’ I ordered mentally and heard Dusk’s Affirmative before I turned my attention to my ‘mother’.

“What makes you think I will give it to you?” I sneered at her making her frown at me.

“Looks like you’re adequately lacking in manners. Is that how you speak to your elders, not to mention your mother?” she scolded. A bitter laugh sounded across the room and everyone turned to me. It took a minute to realize the sound came from me.

“You are not my mother, you don’t even deserve the title Ilana and don’t dare tell me what I do and do not have. As for Dusk, you’ll never have her.” I seethed at her. Her face darkened in anger before she let out a dark smirk.

“Fine, I’ll let the boys take care of this. Martin, please be a darling and get me that darned chip from her. Take as many men as you need and do not underestimate her. Sapphire and I have other issues to take care of.” She motioned to a guy who looked like a giant who turned and called other two guys. This was not a good idea. I heard Emma’s soft whimper which reminded me that she was still here. As the guys advanced, I pulled her behind me and took a fighting stance.

“Dusk; switch to Defence mode. Make sure Emma is safe.” I said in a soft and panicked voice.

“Affirmative; defence mode activated.” Dusk’s voice rang clear in my mind.

Martin (the giant) was the first guy to throw a punch but I blocked it automatically like it was the natural thing to do. Before anything else, another punch landed to my right side from one of the other guys which made me stumble back two steps. I didn’t get enough time to recover before another punch was thrown but I blocked and retaliated with a right kick which got one guy straight in the face making him grunt in pain.

I felt my body lift up and my left hand stretched to deliver an awfully strong superman punch that knocked out the same guy and probably broke his nose beyond repair. The others paused and looked at their friend on the floor before they turned their eyes to me and I could note the anger that radiated from them in waves. They stepped forward and got ready to attack while I took one step back and almost collided with a frightened Emma.

“Run Emma, hide somewhere till I come for you.” I turned to look at her so she could see the seriousness in my voice. She didn’t answer but she took off running to the dark corner of the warehouse. The guys took this sign of distraction as a chance to attack and before I knew it, I was held captive and received blows from every corner. I tried to wiggle free but I was held tightly, my resolve weakened and I almost gave up before I felt my hands suddenly come free and Martin was laying there unconscious.

“What the hell—” the other guy started before I threw a punch straight at his face making him grunt in pain. I turned to check out who had rescued me but I couldn’t see anyone there. I turned and run towards where I last saw Emma heading.

“Emma, are you out here?” I asked trying to keep a neutral voice. What if she was kidnapped? What if they got to her? All these questions were answered when I heard her soft but panicked voice call out my name and I found her being held at gun-point by the guy I had knocked out first.

“Well look who decided to join us; I sure am glad you finally showed your face Chloe Jade.” He sneered at me; his voice cold and harsh.

“Please don’t hurt her, what do you want?” I tried to sound courageous but I was really failing.

“I want a trade, you for her. You come with us and she’ll go scot free and unharmed.” He bargained and I immediately accepted.

“No Chloe, you’re too important, don’t do it.” Emma cried but I just gave her a sad smile and shook my head.

“It’s okay Em, I’ll give you a head-start then I’ll catch up. I walked towards the guy with raised arms and he reluctantly let her go and she took off running. I stood perfectly still as he held a gun to my head.

Before I could exclaim what happened, my elbow connected with his stomach and he grunted, loosening the grip on the gun but his hold tightened as I reached for it. I tried to take control but the sound of gunshot rung through the dark warehouse, his hold didn’t loosen and I wasn’t going to bulge. It wasn’t until the second shot rang through that he let go and fell to the ground. That was my queue to get out of there.

“Dusk, give me directions to where Ashton and my dad are. Locate the GPS on their phones.” I called out to Dusk as I got out of the warehouse.

“According to their GPS, they both are at Hollow Amusement park, five blocks from here.” Dusk’s robotic voice answered and I did not hesitate as I sprinted towards the place. It wasn’t far but I felt drained as I walked in the park to find everyone staring at me.

“Chloe, What the hell happened, why are you guys so late, it’s been five hours,” Ashton ran towards me followed by my parents.

“Emma, where’s Emma?” I panicked; she was supposed to come here.

“I haven’t seen her, what happened Chloe?” Ash asked his voice