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

something stupid as usual but he beat me to it; “This is hard to say especially for me but I have to. We believe that Sapph was put here as a mission to get close to you and when the time was right, to deliver you to them. We figured that she was…..she was never our friend to begin with and she gave them inside information” he said the last part in a low tone that was full of so much hurt I would have cried; too bad am not that much of a sentimental person. The news was shocking but it somehow wasn’t surprising.

“Sorry but in a way I’m not surprised; I figured it couldn’t have been the photo that made her to sell us out and even if it was, then how did she contact them? I feel bad that we all trusted the wrong person.” I said in a low tone. Despite the snarky comments she sometimes threw at me, I still loved her bubbly and cheery attitude.

Ash suddenly laughed and I looked at him with furrowed brows, “I just remembered how Le—he almost chew my head off because I let my guard down. He likes you—to keep everything perfect. He hates surprises.” He was stiff, and he looked tensed by the time he finished fumbling with his sentence. It was almost comical despite the fact that he was keeping something from me.

“You can relax; I know you’re talking about Leo. Tell me about him.” I let a reassuring smile slide from my lips and he relaxed for a minute before he went rigid again.

“How do you know him?” he looked at me and I could almost taste his curiosity but hesitation in his voice.

“You spoke about him on my birthday and the name just stuck.” I explained and watched as he relaxed and his lips curved into a lazy smile.

“He’s great, probably the greatest person I know, though he’s really moody and arrogant but he’s the only person I can ever rely on—apart from you of course.” He rectified, making me laugh.

We spent the rest of the morning talking about his adventures with Leo and how Leo would mess up sometimes and he had to save him.

It was fun until Dusk’s voice interrupted our moment “Chloe, I have failed to locate Emma’s last location, the GPS bounces off different locations and is in constant loop. It will take a lot of time to decipher the correct address.” All the laughter died in my throat when I heard that and I lost almost all the hope I had built. This was not looking good but I couldn’t give up, not when I at least had a lead on something. However long it was going to take, I couldn’t give up; I just had to be patient and wait. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

Four months. Four very long, tiring and excruciatingly painful months have gone by without any news about Emma, it’s like she vanished from the earth. I was almost done with training and yet everyone still treated me like a child.

Well, everyone apart from Ashton.

I hated being in the house without anything to do and usually Ash would sneak out with me to go to the arcade or the cinema but today he was busy and I was left on my own to die of boredom. My dad was afraid that we would be attacked any time especially if I was out on my own but I always tried to tell him it wouldn’t happen and besides, I was able to take care of myself but it was I was talking to a programed robot and he never took my advice. Today he would have to ground me further because there’s no way I was going to stay in this big empty house on my own.

I quickly put on my signature combat jeans, a black top and a black hoodie to match perfectly with my combat boots. Watch out night life, Chloe’s on a roll today; I smirked to myself as I walked out of the room.

It was a bit chilly since it was the beginning of fall but I didn’t care that much. I pulled the hood over my head and walked over towards the road. I figured I could just walk to the movie centre, check out cool movies, buy some then come back home to watch them. I walked quickly, head low and I avoided any eye contact with strangers since it could be risky.

I was lucky enough to reach my destination and I headed straight to the back corner where they stored the supernatural fantasy and action movies. My eyes landed on a new movie that I had not quite seen before. I reached out and as I picked it up, another hand also picked up the same movie.

 “Sorry,” we said simultaneously and then both of us let go of it at the same time making it clutter to the floor.

“My fault,” we both called out simultaneously and I felt my cheeks heat up as the guy chuckled. Wow, I really was on a roll to embarrass myself.

“It’s cool.” He said in a casual tone but I had not yet recovered from staring at his beautiful hair and hazel eyes. “Take a picture sweetheart” he commented, his voice full of amusement.

My eyes widened in horror as I realized I had been caught staring. Oh my goodness!

“I know you don’t remember me but I’m Reece, we went to school together, you’re Chloe right?” he tried to start a conversation and all I could do was nod. What was wrong with me?

“Well, for once someone is speechless after meeting me. Am I that ugly?” he tried to make a joke again and this time I smiled at him.

 “Quite the opposite actually, but I don’t to feed your ego now do we?” I countered sassily making him laugh.

I was about to say something when my phone vibrated and I excused myself. I checked my phone to find a text from an unknown number

 Meet me at the corner one block from the movie centre, we need to talk. E.

I stared at the E at the end and kept wondering if it was a trap or if it was really her

Prove it is really you. C.

Who else would know that you hate being home alone? E.

Creepy stalkers perhaps C.

In sophomore year, you had a crush on Ash then he said you’re like a sister and you cried all night while watching The Vow. I don’t have a lot of time so hurry. E

I stared at the last message and I knew for sure it was her because she was there and that was the only time I watched a romantic movie. I put my phone back and decided to meet her. I checked out my movie and walked towards where she was. I stepped into the dark corner and braced myself for any trap.

“I really didn’t think you would come.” A voice that I could never forget called back. I stilled for a moment to make sure it really was her.

“Where have you been? You just disappeared without a warning. I’ve been so worried.” I started to rant off and she just chuckled at me.

“It’s good to see you too, alive and well healed. I used to check up on you but no one ever saw me.” She shrugged like it was nothing. “We need to talk but not here, I’m not safe and I can’t be around you guys until everything I’m dealing with blows over. I’ll call you and tell you when to come.” She explained as she gave me a quick hug and slipped something into my hand. I was still absorbing all this information that seemed to be a lot for me.

“I really miss you bff and I’ll see you soon, I promise.” She smiled at me and felt myself smile in return.

“Don’t disappear like that again, I almost died of worry.” I scolded her like a little kid and she just giggled like it was nothing.

“Don’t tell anyone apart from Ash and make him promise that he won’t tell. I’ll call you” she said as she started walking away and she was almost out of sight when I remembered something very important.

“Em, could you uh—give me a lift back home. Mom’s almost home and I won’t make it on time if I walk back.” I explained making her smile at me.

“Sure, hop on and I’ll drive you back.” She replied and I didn’t wait to be told twice. All though the drive, I kept looking at her like it was a dream; like she wasn’t real and I would wake up any time and realize that I was just dreaming.

I wished I was like her; she was so badass and so cool and she had a car…

“You think I’m badass and cool?” Emma’s amused voice broke me from my thoughts and I frowned.

“I said it aloud didn’t I?” I asked, angry and embarrassed at myself but Em only laughed at me. I was about to think of a comeback when she stopped the car and turned to me

“I’m sorry I can’t park at your doorstep.” She said in an apologetic tone and I could hear her sincerity in her voice and I nodded before hugging her for the last time and stepped out of the car. I watched her reverse then drive off in the direction that we just came from before slowly making my way to our house.

The first sign that gave it away was the light that was turned on, I never left the lights on which only meant one thing, someone was home. I held my breath and prepared myself for the lecture I was going to get for leaving the house alone but when I walked in, the sight that I was met with was scary; the house was a mess and everything had been turned upside down. Someone was here and they were looking for something. I tried to make my way through the sea of people who were doing who-knows-what to find my parents.

“Chloe!!” I heard mom’s shrill voice which happens only if she had been crying and turned around in time to be enveloped in a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you are okay, I thought they took you. Where were you? Didn’t your father tell you not to leave the house?” she tried to scold me but I could hear the relief in her voice.

“I just stepped out for a few minutes to get a new movie.” I explained and waved the movie so that she could see I was telling the truth.

“Okay, I’ll just call your father and tell him you are here. Ash is in your room, I think you should go and see him.” She said in a weird tone and was gone before I could even ask what she was trying to say but I followed her advice and went to find him.

“Hey buddy, what’s up?” I asked in a casual tone but I was quickly enveloped in a hug

“God, you scared the hell out of me. I thought they took you and it would have been my fault.” Ash rambled on and I resisted the urge to laugh,

“Come