KAZMIR
Ever since I got back from the office to see her gone, I haven’t slept well for once. How could I reach her? From the look of things, it had become an impossible mission – especially when she didn’t have a phone with her or even a tracker.
Another mornin’ in the penthouse, back to bein’ alone. I woke up with a headache that looked out of control. My legs led me to the bathroom after grabbin’ a towel and dumpin’ it back. Who was I coverin’ up for? Nyssa was gone from the house and even my life, so why should I go back to usin’ a towel to bath?
In the bathroom, I wondered ’bout the possibilities of where she could be. What if Ember has her? What if the woman is in the residence of Ember? I thought ’bout the possibilities and a smile came alive on my countenance, my spirit waitin’ to be out of the bathroom so I could place a call to her.
But why didn’t she call me if that was what happened? What happened to lettin’ me know, as her boss who employed her to watch over the woman? I finished bathin’ soon and was in the room, stark naked. There was nothin’ to run from, unless of course, runnin’ in the direction of my phone.
I caught up with the bedside soon, snatched the duvet off the bed, and wrapped myself before takin’ a seat.
“Ember!” My lungs screamed as though she was in the same house with me when she wasn’t. “Where is my wife?! And why didn’t you tell me she was with you all along? What is the matter with you?”
“Mr. Draven,” she called from the other end. “Good mornin’, Mr. Draven but I don’t quite get you.” She let out and there came a sound from the background. “Is your wife missin’? I was at the apartment the last time and you directed me to the new room she was in yourself. What’s happenin’?”
What’s happenin’?
Was she sayin’ Ember isn’t with her?
Since many nights ago? “What are you tryin’ to tell me? That my wife ain’t with you? Why should I believe you and what’s that noise in your background?”
“I am cookin’, Mr. Draven. Why would I lie to you? Would I switch to FaceTime so you can see for yourself? I ain’t tellin’ no lies, Mr. Draven.”
Was there a need for FaceTime?
It was better I got there when she least expected and searched the whole house. “You had better be tellin’ me the truth!” I shouted before endin’ the call and throwin’ my phone on the bed, anger evident in my countenance.
What was I goin’ to do?
How was I goin’ to search for her? I let go of the duvet and walked to the wardrobe for a piece of housin’ outfits. By the time I was done, I had made up my mind to stay back at home and look for my wife. Out of the many ways to go ’bout it, I made up my mind to check on the CCTV room before any other thing.
When I caught up with the livin’ room area and my gaze fixed on the dinin’ table, I realized how hungry I was. I didn’t have enough to eat a night ago, due to the thoughts I was havin’ and fear that overwhelmed me for no reason. I walked into the kitchen and prepared somethin’ for myself to eat, after which I remained in the kitchen instead of eatin’ in the diner.
When I finished my food, I started my journey to the camera room after doin’ the dishes.
On arrival at the door, I noticed a few changes but wasn’t sure. Even if Nyssa wanted to go into all the rooms, this would be the last place she would step foot in. What does she even know ’bout a CCTV room? I used the key on the door and it unlocked.
“Yes.”
A tired sigh escaped my mouth and I walked in the next moment, lookin’ around and notin’ changes that ne’er existed.
Did she come into this room?
Definitely not.
Does she even know where the key to this room is? I looked at the door, and then at the large screen in the space. After makin’ up my mind, I walked to the chair and took a seat on it. By the time I activated the computers, I was relaxin’ on the chair, waitin’ patiently for the house area to load.
Cannot load.
All of a sudden it cannot load.
Why and how?
I sat up, wonderin’ what glitch must have occurred and at the same time, not havin’ an answer to the many questions runnin’ around in my head.
What happened here?
I jumped to my feet and checked the cables. Everythin’ was intact, but somethin’ still seemed off. What was I doin’? How come I didn’t notice there was nothin’ on the screens when I turned them on?
Normally, footage from the last time I came here should be shown but none did. How is that possible? I stopped in my tracks to think, but the beepin’ of my phone cut short the moment and I took out the device from my pocket to see a call from Ophelia, my sister.
What does she want?
“What do you want? I’m in the middle of somethin’ very important, Ophelia.”
I ended the call before she could say somethin’ and it dawned on me.
“The general cables!”
I ran in the direction and caught sight of it.
Someone had disconnected it and it was none other than Nyssa who I’ve lived with.
Why did she do that?
Why didn’t she do that? I connected the cable and walked to the chair, takin’ a seat as I got ready to check out who did it, and when exactly also.
When seated, I started checkin’ back to the last date it functioned. There and then, I caught sight of a tall figure in black and without heels.
It didn’t for one moment look like Nyssa, and this was a long time ago.
This person, whoever he was, had disconnected everythin’ except the art studio.
Why? I zoomed in a bid to see his face, ’cause at this point he looked like a man but even after zoomin’, nothin’ could be captured.
Who is he?
Why did he do this? I wondered, scared for myself at this point. How did he even walk in?
While I was thinkin’, I was searchin’ down to the date when this happened.
And it turned out to be a few days before the arrival of Nyssa to the penthouse. Who and how did this person get in? I hit one of the screens, lookin’ around and jumpin’ on my feet. I rushed to the door, opened it, and walked back to take a seat on the chair.
By the time I was done, I had turned back on all that was turned off, with access to everythin’ in the house.
There was no way I could know where my wife went, due to what happened a few days before she came into the house. Disappointed, I walked out of the room and locked it, leadin’ my way to the livin’ room for a moment with the television screen when somethin’ unexpected took place.
My phone had beeped and I didn’t want to look at it. I imagined it was Ophelia who called to ask for some money I wasn’t in the mood to give, but I took the phone and looked at its screen anyway.
It wasn’t Ophelia.
It was a number I hadn’t saved, nor had I interacted with before now. “You think too much, Kazmir. Don’t worry, I’ll help you find your wife. Give a reply to my text message and see what you’re lookin’ for.”
It looked like a joke but I sent a message, anyway, only to be given the answers to all my questions. Right at that moment.