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

“Sapph, she set us up, Ilana attacked us but we got free, I lost Emma, we need to find her.” I cried, I attempted to move forward but I stumbled into Ash’s arms.

“Oh my God!! You are bleeding!!” Ash cried out holding up his wrist that was full of blood, well, no wonder I felt drained. It was at this point that my body finally gave up on me and I collapsed with everything going dark.

^^^^^

We were all getting impatient with those three. They were supposed to be here an hour ago so that we could surprise Chloe but once again they failed to show. I didn’t know I was glaring at the entrance until Mr Elroy; Chloe’s dad placed his hand on my back.

“Relax son, they’re just running late; after all they are girls and we know girls are never on time.” He tried to console and I nodded but deep down I knew something was amiss. I tried to contact either of them but both of their phones were out of reach. That was weird since Emma never switched off her phone. I was getting pretty restless when an idea popped into my head.

“I’m going to get them,” I said confidently as I walked towards the entrance but I was pulled back by a very strong arm.

“You can’t leave or they will start suspecting you.” A young man, maybe a newbie mattered in a low tone. I didn’t want to accept but I knew it was true so I walked back with slumped shoulders and a lowered head. I almost gave up hope when new idea popped into my head. I took out my phone and dialled a number I knew would never be switched off.

“What? I’m off duty today.” A voice growled from the other end. The anger made me chuckle since I instantly knew I had interrupted something.

“Speak Kyle or I’ll end this call” the voice growled again bringing me back from my thoughts.

“I think something’s wrong, triangulate the last place Chloe and Emma were then check on her.” I ordered formerly, all jokes aside.

“Get Jared to do it, I’m busy at the moment.” He tried to sound formal but I could still hear the irritation in his voice.

“Jared can’t help; he is out of town at the moment.” I replied and waited for a snarky comeback but all I heard next was a sigh and a small ‘fine’ before the line went dead. I stared at it before I finally decided to put the phone away and await the results of my genius idea.

Three hours later and I was almost tearing out my skin. I had gotten no reply from him and Chloe’s parents had worried faces but were trying as hard as they could to put on smiles. The shrill sound of my ringtone blared out and I answered immediately.

“It was a set up, they were betrayed by one of their friends. She’ll be there in ten minutes max, brace yourself, she looks horrible.” He muttered before ending the call. I stared at it, unable to comprehend what he had said. As if something had snapped me out of my horrible thoughts, I looked at the time before rushing off to the entrance of the park. I knew it looked bad but I wanted to be the first person to see how bad it was.

After a few minutes, Chloe appeared running towards me, he blue dress had black patches and she looked like she would pass out any minute. I panicked.

“Chloe, What the hell happened, why are you guys so late, it’s been five hours,” I wanted to scold her not aware that her parents had seen her.

“Emma, where’s Emma?” she cried out. She looked so scared

“I haven’t seen her, what happened Chloe?” I tried to keep my voice low and neutral but from the look she gave me, I was failing miserably. I was seeing red, who would dare do this to her?

“Sapph, she set us up, Ilana attacked us but we got free, I lost Emma, we need to find her.” She cried frantically and tried to move forward but stumbled and would have fallen but I was quick this time and I caught her. Her dress was wet around her right side of the stomach. I took out my hand to examine what caused the wetness and my face paled, blood; Chloe was bleeding and that is what I exclaimed and moved my hand to show her. Realization seemed to sink in and her body finally caved in making her collapse onto me.

I’ve never been more scared in my life and it took all my will not to cry but I was losing that battle. Everything else went bleak after that and I didn’t notice as her dad took her from my arms and people started rushing about, where to, I really didn’t care at the moment.

“Ashton Kyle Jacobs, get your head together and snap out of that shitty dream. My daughter is injured and I do not want to lose her, not today and certainly not on our watch!” her dad almost screamed at me bringing me out of whatever trance I was in. he was right, we were not going to lose her.

“We’re taking her to HQ and I want you to join me and her mother there in the next hour with new information that could shed some light on this shenanigan.” He said more calmly as he looked at me and didn’t even wait for my response before he ran off and entered the black SUV that was carrying her. I took out my trusted phone and dialled a number.

“What now?” the other voiced almost whined at me.

“She was shot. They want answers now.” I remained as nonchalant as I could and waited for a reply which came after a short pause.

“Fuck! I’m on my way, meet me at the rendezvous point in ten.” He said before the line went dead. What is it with these people and hanging up on me, was my voice that bad or did I sound like an answering machine? I snapped out of my stupid thoughts as I headed off towards where we were supposed to meet with him and hoped that by the end of today I would have some strong sense of direction.

Three and a half hours later I walked into HQ where all eyes were focused on me for a brief second before everyone resumed their business. I walked up to Sammy, the nice lady at the front desk.

“Hey Sammy, how’s it going?” I tried to sound casual but my voice betrayed me. She looked at me with sad eyes and I saw something I always hated; pity.

“Hello darling, I guess you’re here to see her? Room 416 in B1” she said in a comforting tone. I smiled at her and walked briskly towards her room, I wanted to see how she was doing.

“Finally, you’re here. Did you find anything?” her dad asked and I almost freaked out at the tone he used. It was pure danger.

“I found a footage that points to us that Sapphire betrayed them and Emma was kidnapped. It was taken by the CCTV camera across the street. Nobody knows where Emma was taken and from the looks of it, it was planned from the beginning.” I tried to sound casual but fear was seeping in slowly.

“What are you trying to say Ashton?” her mother cried out and I couldn’t contain the guilt I felt.

“I think Sapphire was planted into Chloe’s life for this reason. She was never really her friend. I had a suspicion but I never persuaded it until recently.” I answered in a low tone. Realization finally sank in and the guilt overwhelmed me.

“I’m so sorry I failed to protect her, if only I had acted on my suspicion then maybe this would never have happened. I’m so sorry.” I lowered my head in shame the guilt gnawed at me like pebble in a shoe.

“No sweetheart, we were all too trusting and didn’t do background checks on them. We’re all at fault here.” Her mother spoke in a soft yet tired voice.

“I think you should get some rest honey, it’s been a long night.” Her dad told her mom in a soft and loving voice. She was about to resist then he shushed her

“Ashton and I will watch over her then you can come in the morning.” She agreed after he pleaded. I admired their relationship and turned away when he escorted her out. All my concentration turned to Chloe who although was pale, still looked beautiful and peaceful. I couldn’t believe her friend had betrayed her.

How could I have not seen it coming, the looks, the snarky comments hidden under the bubbly and cheery voice, her soft smile, how could I not see it coming.

“It looks like you were hurt by her betrayal.” I turned to look at Chloe’s dad with a horrified face.

“I said that aloud didn’t I?” I mumbled embarrassed by my actions but he only chuckled.

“We’re only human Ashton and we’re all bound to make mistakes at some point in our lives. Sapphire made a fool out of all of us even Chloe but we’ll make sure that never happens again.” He tried to comfort me and for once in a very, very, very long time, I felt some fatherly admiration towards Mr Elroy.

“Thank you sir, it means a lot to hear that.” I mumbled in a low voice and we both fell silent as we watched Chloe and sent silent prayers that she wakes up soon.

“It was a nine millimetre calibre to the abdomen. Thank God no organs were seriously damaged. That’s all the doctor could tell us but right now I wish I had access to Dusk so that we would know more.” He said in a low tone but I heard it.

“Thank you.” He said in a low tone. I looked at him; shocked, but he continued;

“If you hadn’t told Leo to go there then it would have been worse. You have great set of skills there.” He had a faint smile which made me smile more.

“I was just doing my job sir, especially since I hadn’t seen her since breakfast. I love your daughter sir, she’s a really great girl.” I confessed. He looked at me, and nodded

“That she is my boy.” Silence befell us again but it was cut short by a voice I really didn’t want to hear.

“You had one job to do, just one but you failed at it. How is that possible?” we both turned to face the man I hated the most, anger filled my blood and I fisted my hands which were at my side.

“It’s not his fault Jacobs, we all never saw it coming.” Chloe’s dad replied in a calm tone.

“How could you be so foolish to let her out of your sight, haven’t you failed her enough but I forgot I was talking to a fucking idiot! You are a disappointment to the organization and it would do everyone a great deal if you weren’t part of it anymore.” The man seethed; his voice full of anger. I was about to make a