In the early, beautiful dawn, the warm sunlight peeked through the blinds, casting a golden glow on Brandy's room. Brandy an 18 year old law student, quite the sweet scent of blooming flowers wafted through the open window, filling the air with a soothing calmness. Suddenly, a loud gunshot shattered the peaceful morning, making Brandy's heart skip a beat.

Brandy bent down and started shivering in her room. The soft, fluffy carpet beneath her feet provided little comfort as fear gripped her. After a while, she summoned courage and rushed outside, the cool morning air enveloping her like a chill, her long curly hair whipping in the wind.

As she stepped onto the porch, the creaking wooden floorboards beneath her feet echoed through the silence. The neighbours' concerned voices and the distant factory engine created a cacophony of sound. Brandy's eyes scanned the scene, locking onto a lifeless body lying in front of their house. A man with a pool of blood spreading from his chest, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare.

The metallic smell of blood and gunpowder hung heavy in the air, making Brandy's stomach churn. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, but her determination to uncover the truth kept her grounded.

She ran quickly to check who could that be?. The neighbours also came out to check who could that be? When she came out of the house, she ran inside again and the thought of her lovely dad came to her memory. She asked herself "Where could dad be? I think he should be in his room at this moment. If he is there, he should have heard the gun shot and also ran out."

She kept talking to herself. Mrs Briggs came out of her room, "Good morning Mrs Briggs, did you hear the gun shot?" Mrs Briggs in her early 50s, Brandy's nanny from criddle now that she is grown, Mrs Briggs is taking care of the house as a cook and housekeeper but she stays with Brandy's family.

"Good morning child, I heard it." Mrs Briggs replied reluctantly. "I was so scared. Have you seen dad this morning?" Brandy asked looking curious. Mrs Briggs answered with a soft tone "No, I haven't seen him. He should be in his room, you know he likes privacy. He wouldn't want to be disturbed. He is fine in his room."

Brandy was still worried she wants to go and check her dad's room. She turned towards her dad's room. "Allow your dad to rest for a while please!" Mrs Briggs asked her "what do you want for breakfast?" I don't have the appetite until my dad comes out from his room to see me. You can give me a cup of coffee".

Despite the size of the compound, they heard when people were screaming outside. "Mrs Briggs, have you gone outside?" Brandy asked with her face looking anxious. "No my child, what is happening outside?" Brandy answered looking very frightened "I think..... I think someone's been hurt. I saw a lifeless body from afar after the gun shot, I don't know whose body is that?"

"What! you mean a dead body is outside this compound, how? could that be as a result of the gun shot? Did you go outside?" Mrs Briggs exclaimed and looking worried. Brandy was afraid, "eh....eh.....! No, I didn't." Brandy lied. "Bu... but... don't you think we should call 911 for this?" Brandy requested.

"Let's go outside and see that person, what if is dad?" Brandy insisted. "No, when your dad comes out of his room and find you and i outside there, he will be very angry at us. I can't try it. That's not your dad. God forbids!" Mrs Briggs refused.

"Mrs Briggs, that person might need help. What if is dad?" She insisted. "Brandy your dad warned me right from your childhood never to let you go outside and discuss with neighbours. You know he doesn't like it whenever we go out and started discussing with neighbours or even see neighbours around us. God forbids!

After a while, Brandy was not still relaxed because she hasn't seen the person properly. She wouldn't want to disobey her dad's order and her nanny that was why she ran inside when she remembered her dad doesn't like her to associate with neighbours.

She pondered on it... "Dad said our neighbours are cruel, I don't really know because I spent all my life as a border. When ever I'm back from school, I'm always inside or dad will take me out. Dad's the only close friend I have around here except when I go back to school what if is him? I haven't seen him this morning."

She kept meditating on that. All of a sudden, she heard a siren (wa uh! wa uh!!) Brandy yelled "Mrs Briggs, 911 are here already let's go outside!" She ran to her dad's room to inform her dad about what is happening.

She couldn't find her dad. "Dad!!!" I think he should be outside with the 911. May be he passed through the back door. Please don't let me loose my dad!" She kept calling Mrs Briggs and she didn't respond either, she decided to go outside to see what is happening since the FBI is here already.

When she got outside, she started crying.

"Did anyone see my dad?"