12 The fire

Rose, Elisa, and Emma were nearby when they heard the ear-piercing scream they ran to the direction in which they heard they scream and when they got there they were all shocked. The girl that was beating up others was the only student that was here on a scholarship and she was quite popular because of her father but she had never caused trouble. Seeing her beating up those girls the three of them had different thoughts in their heads.

Rose who was more compassionate said out loud "She must be hurting right now", Emma "What do you mean hurting, she is just so cool. I bet it is those girls on the floor that are hurting" Rose looked at Emma strongly before shaking her head. Elisa was so happy and voiced out her own thought "Grace deserves what she is getting, competing with me for school beauty, humph. I am rooting for that poor girl, she should just focus more on their face that is all." Rose looked at her in shock but could not say anything.

After Annabelle was done beating up the girls, she looked at them and said slowly "I may be poor but at least I am not as ill-mannered as you all are, money is not everything" she then took out the money they had given her earlier and distributed to them according to the severity of their injuries. When she was done and finally satisfied with herself she continued with her speech "I Believe you would be needing those," she pointed at the money she had given them she turned to leave but remembering to add something stopped in her tracks and turned back to the girls. They were so scared and held onto one another tightly

"Since you all know I have a wretched father then let me tell you this, if you dare report me to the school authorities, I would be sure to beat you up every day, then again who would believe you say that I actually beat up 5 girls. I am being too generous and I can see your money won't be enough for all the treatments you need" Annabelle then walked away coolly without noticing the three girls hidden in a corner.

"See, I told you she is cool and it is those girls that will get hurt" Emma gave a thumbs up to Annabelle in her heart as she pointed to the girls sprawled on the floor. Rose could not be bothered with their reactions and ran after Annabelle. Seeing this Emma and Elisa followed after her. Elisa was really happy with Annabelle and did not even mind that they were running to catch up with her.

Annabelle noticed someone was running after her and decided to stop walking. "Hey!" Rose said almost breathless as soon as she caught up with Annabelle. "Are your hands okay?" she asked with concern. Annabelle was stunned at her question, looking at her suspiciously "Don't worry I am not with those girls" she said pointing in the direction where the girls were.

"They are fine thanks" Annabelle finally answered looking at her bruised up hands. Rose saw her hands and dragged her to the school clinic. This made Elisa annoyed but she had no choice but to follow her friends. Later on, her parents told her to make sure she gets closer to Annabelle which she did. That was how Annabelle became friends with the three girls.

Annabelle had gone out with her friends the day the sad accident had, they were soon graduating and looking forward to getting into prestigious colleges and universities. Well her friends were going to such a school because of her. She always helped with the assignment and tasks given to them in school.

If she had known they were using her then she probably might not have been friends with them. But they had also saved her life that day when they forced her to go out with them. Her mother had smiled at her and told her to have fun.

One of her brothers was not feeling like himself that day and she wanted to stay at home with him because she was very close to him. Seeing this the other two promised to take care of him and told her to leave before their father got back.

How she wished she had not listened. Rose had sent her driver to pick her up and after waving her brothers and mom goodbye, she left. If only she knew that would be the last time she would see them.

They were still partying when she felt something was not right. She went outside to place a call and after dialing all her brothers and mother's phones. Someone picked up but the voice she heard was not one she knew "Hello, who is this?" she asked.

"Bella, is that you?" the person on the other end asked in a stuffy voice. "Yes, I am the one. What are you doing with my mother's phone and where is she?" she asked with a frown.

Annabelle could have sworn she heard crying at the background. "Your mother had plugged her phone with us this afternoon but now she is gone" finally she heard sounds of sobbing intensify. "Where did she go to? I don't understand" she asked a little confused.

"Why don't you come home dear", the woman on the other end of the phone replied. Hearing this Annabelle was even more sure that something was amiss.

Rose who had been looking for Annabelle since earlier saw her outside making a phone call. When Rose noticed she was done asked her what the matter was "I don't know, but I need to go home" she replied honestly.

Rose noticed her panic and confusion and told her to wait so she and the girls could take her. After seeing that she has complied. Rose went inside and soon came out with Elisa and Emma.

Rose's drivers took all of them to Annabelle's place. On getting there the driver was confused and so was everyone in the car. The whole street was filled with a crowd, the sound of sirens and firefighters.

As Annabelle alighted from the car, the woman whom she had spoken to earlier came out of nowhere and dragged Annabelle with her. Rose rushed out of the car quickly to follow Annabelle.

They stopped at the entrance of Annabelle's house or what was left of it. There were several people in uniforms going in and out of the place. The other girls had long been beside the duo.

After what seemed like ages, a man came forward and asked who the family member of those who lived in the house was. Annabelle who was staring into space regained a bit of her senses and replied the man in a small voice "I am, I am the daughter" she didn't know why she repeated herself but she felt like doing so.

The man looked at her and shook his head in pity before continuing "I am sorry, but there are no survivors. All we could see are five bodies burnt beyond recognition. Please accept my condolences" he patted her on the shoulder before walking away.

The other girls covered their mouths in shock before Annabelle was broken out of her reverie by Rose's heart-wrenching cries. Emma tried comforting Annabelle whole Elisa held onto Rose.

Through all these Annabelle never shed a tear but today after learning the truth about the only family she had thought she had left. She felt all alone in the world. The people she trusted the most were actually just using her for their own gains. Anyone in her state would be sad too she thought.

"Belle" she heard someone call her name but she was too weak to stand. She should not have left that day to party, while her family was taking their last breath, she was out partying. She felt like such a failure.

She thought the girls were her friends, her family but they were nothing more than fakes. "Belle" she heard her name again but this time around just beside her. She looked up to see who it was but her tears hand made her sight blurry. She tried standing up and instead fell into a well of unconsciousness.

Grandma Adrian had gone back to Annabelle's apartment to ask about the birthday celebration. When she did not see her, she had tried calling her but she was not picking up. She at first thought she was with her friends but after seeing Rose earlier at Annabelle's apartment, she was more surprised.

She decided to ask for Annabelle's whereabouts but the latter told her she had no idea and she was also here to see her as she left without even saying anything to her.

A while later Rose seemed to have gotten an epiphany and told the old woman about her old house but she couldn't go with her because she had an appointment. Grandma Adrian decided to check the place where Rose told her about and when she got there she was surprised at what she saw.