Lionel drowsily stood at the door, weak and brutalized.
"Riley..." he cried as he fainted to the floor, unconscious.
"Lionel..." shouted Riley nervously, rushing to his side, followed by Lian.
She quickly sat beside him lifting his head and gently placing on her laps.
"What happened to you, Lio? Say something." exclaimed Riley as she stared down on his bloody face, startled.
"What's wrong with him Uncle?" she queried, tears running down her cheeks.
"Calm down Riley. Let me see." he answered, kneeling beside Lionel as he checked his pulse.
"He is still alive. Let's take him to the hospital." he uttered, gazing at Riley.
"No Uncle." she mumbled hastily.
"I don't think it's a good idea. Let's keep him here, I'll ask Kate for help." she added, searching for her phone.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Uncle, I think he will be much safer here since we don't know what happened to him."
"Okay, I will take him to your room." he answered, carrying him up on his arms.
"Sure." she added, following after Lian as they glided the stairs to her room. She quickly sneaked passed Lian and pushed the door opened, making way for him to get in.
"Over here." she uttered as she stood beside the bed.
"Get a bucket of water to clean him up." said Lian as he gently laid him on the bed.
"Okay Uncle, I will be back soon." she replied and rushed out.
"What happened to you Lionel?" mumbled Lian worriedly as he stood beside him.
In no time, Riley came running in with the bucket of water. She rushed to the bed and sat beside Lionel, cleaning him up as she gazed intensely at him lost in thought.
"Have you called Kate yet?" asked Lian.
"Huh?" she mumbled, jolting out of her thoughts.
"I'm yet to." she added, putting the towel down as she reached for her phone, teary eyed.
She glanced at the screen, searching Kate's number.
"Don't worry Riley, he's going to be okay." uttered Lian assuredly.
"Okay Uncle." she nodded as she dialed Kate's number.
After a short ring, Kate answered the phone.
"Hello Riley, what's up?" she mumbled gleefully.
"Kate...." cried Riley as her shaky voice hit Kate up through the other side of the phone.
"Riley...?, Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" she questioned anxiously.
"It's Lionel, Kate... I don't know what happened to him. He came here all brutalized and fainted."
"Oh my God." she uttered, stunned.
"So where are you guys? Have you taken him to the hospital? Okay, Okay, I'm coming over right now." she hastily added.
"Hold on Kate..." replied Riley, cutting in.
"We're not at the hospital."
"Oh? Then where are you?"
"We're at home. I don't think it's not safe sending him to the hospital. The whole incident looks kind of strange. It looks like he was attacked."
"What..?" exclaimed Kate
"Yeah Kate..."
"Okay, so how can I help?"
"Well, I need you to get me some drugs for his wounds and also come along with your family doctor."
"Okay Riley but I'm not too sure of coming along with Mr. Louis but don't worry, I try contacting him and see. There is no harm in trying, anyway."
"Okay Kate, thanks so much."
"Don't mention, I will be there soon. I will call Lora and Nancy to ask for their help too."
"Sure Kate, thanks."
"Welcome, I'll see you soon."
"Okay..." she answered and hanged up, gazing at her Uncle.
"So..., what did she say?"
"She will be here soon." she answered with a sigh as she gaze at Lionel on the bed.
*************
It was already 12am now, Mr. Dickson stood worriedly in the hall, gazing expectantly at the door as he glanced down on his watch.
"Why is he still not back? It's so late or is he still angry with me?" he mumbled still glancing at the door.
Nichole was descending the stairs to the kitchen for a glass of water when she noticed Dickson at the hall. She smiled smugly to herself and strolled to where Dickson stood.
"Oh dear, you're here. I thought you were in your study room." she uttered from behind him as she neared her.
Dickson quickly turned to her with a sigh.
"No dear, I had wanted to have a talk with Lionel but I went to his room and noticed he has not been back since our misunderstanding. I'm so worried now. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to him."
"No need to worry dear. Sorry I forgot to tell you that he called earlier to inform of sleeping over at a friend's house for a while. I know you worry about him but give him some time to clear his mind. Trust me." she uttered, slightly smiling.
Dickson gazed at her with a nod, smiling.
"Okay..." he muttered and strolled off to the bedroom, feeling quiet relief.
Nichole looked on, smirking as she watched him glided the stairs to the bedroom.
"I won't let that brat destroy all my years of hard work with his inquisitive attitude." she mumbled smugly as she reached for her phone, dialing Zed's number.
"How did it go Zed..?" she questioned as soon as he answered the phone.
"It has been accomplished."
"Good job Zed, how about Riley?"
"Sorry ma'am.., we were not able to bring her now but we soon will."
"Okay, okay, I trust you guys. I'll leave it to you then."
"Sure."
"Okay, call me if anything."
"Thank you ma'am..."
"Talk to you later." she muttered and hanged up, smiling.
"One down, one more to go." she mumbled with a smirk, slightly flicking the phone in her hand.