Matthew,” I hesitated when I said his name, “was taken. He was kidnapped.” I heard a few gasps, but mostly I saw heads nodding, obviously the word had gotten around. I went on, “There hasn"t been a ransom demand, and we don"t really expect one. He was taken by someone who despises me. He was taken to punish me. He was taken by someone most of us know well: Malina.” There more murmurs and gasps as I continued, “Until he"s found, both Carlos and myself will be absent frequently from the compound, but please be assured that we will keep in close contact, and that you will all be in the very capable hands of Billy. And Ramon will be initiating some increased security measures to keep you all very safe.”
Several voices in the crowd spoke up,“Be safe in your travels, Miss Sarah,” said one, and I heard several, “We hope you find him quickly,” and even, “Is there anything we can do to help?” said another.
“Thank you so much,” I said. “I will carry your good wishes with me always. At this point, the best thing you can do to help is to keep yourselves safe. We really have no idea what else she"s up to. And most of us who have dealt with her know that she"s capable of great evil and horrendous pain. Now, I have a video showing the break in and the kidnapping. I need you to watch it very closely, study her movements, listen to her voice. Malina got in because she was somehow able to change her appearance to look like me. But, while she may look like me, if you look closely you can definitely tell it"s not. And her voice does not sound like mine,” I pressed play on the remote, pausing it at strategic times to point out her differences. I paused it just before she entered our bedroom and just stared at the screen for a few seconds. I heard Carlos" chair shift slightly as he started to stand up. He stopped, halfway up, and we stared at each other for a second. Finally I smiled slightly and mouthed, “It"s okay.” I thought to myself„I can do this," and I turned back to the screen. I forced my eyes to watch the final scene play out. I took a deep breath and turned back to the crowd. “You all know my voice. I know everyone"s name and will always greet you by it. And she can"t duplicate my scar, so please don"t be afraid to ask to see it. I"d rather you be safe than sorry. I"ll gladly raise my hand anytime to show it to you,” I said as I did just that. Confusion filled my face as I heard loud gasps from the crowd. Carlos sprang to my side as my head turned to look at my hand. My brows furrowed and my head tilted as I slowly brought my hand down onto the podium in front of my face. I stared at the blood trickling out of my scar.
Carlos leaned down to the microphone and said, “Thank you all for coming.” He turned and quickly led me out of the room.
“Carlos? Why? Why is my scar bleeding?” I mumbled as I stumbled out of the room while Carlos steadied me. Once in the hall it hit me. “Musetta! I have to speak to Musetta right now, Carlos. I know what she"s doing!”
Ramon spoke up, “She"s waiting in your office, Sarah.”
I ran down the hall with Carlos by my side, and burst into my office, startling Musetta and her daughter Marie. “I"m sorry I scared you,” I said as I held my palm up. “But it"s Malina, she"s trying to duplicate my scar! Can you do something to stop her? Please?” She took my palm and ran her finger over the scar then she sat down and started chanting and digging through her large bag. She pulled out a mortar and pestle, poured a few items in it and ground them up. She lit some incense and let the smoke fill the room as she sang. She dipped her finger into the bowl and spread the concoction over my scar. I felt it burn slightly. She stopped singing and touched her hand to my forehead– this was how Musetta communicated with others because she was unable to speak. She sat back and I stared at her. “Really?” I said. “It"s invisible to her now, she can"t even see his
Several voices in the crowd spoke up,“Be safe in your travels, Miss Sarah,” said one, and I heard several, “We hope you find him quickly,” and even, “Is there anything we can do to help?” said another.
“Thank you so much,” I said. “I will carry your good wishes with me always. At this point, the best thing you can do to help is to keep yourselves safe. We really have no idea what else she"s up to. And most of us who have dealt with her know that she"s capable of great evil and horrendous pain. Now, I have a video showing the break in and the kidnapping. I need you to watch it very closely, study her movements, listen to her voice. Malina got in because she was somehow able to change her appearance to look like me. But, while she may look like me, if you look closely you can definitely tell it"s not. And her voice does not sound like mine,” I pressed play on the remote, pausing it at strategic times to point out her differences. I paused it just before she entered our bedroom and just stared at the screen for a few seconds. I heard Carlos" chair shift slightly as he started to stand up. He stopped, halfway up, and we stared at each other for a second. Finally I smiled slightly and mouthed, “It"s okay.” I thought to myself„I can do this," and I turned back to the screen. I forced my eyes to watch the final scene play out. I took a deep breath and turned back to the crowd. “You all know my voice. I know everyone"s name and will always greet you by it. And she can"t duplicate my scar, so please don"t be afraid to ask to see it. I"d rather you be safe than sorry. I"ll gladly raise my hand anytime to show it to you,” I said as I did just that. Confusion filled my face as I heard loud gasps from the crowd. Carlos sprang to my side as my head turned to look at my hand. My brows furrowed and my head tilted as I slowly brought my hand down onto the podium in front of my face. I stared at the blood trickling out of my scar.
Carlos leaned down to the microphone and said, “Thank you all for coming.” He turned and quickly led me out of the room.
“Carlos? Why? Why is my scar bleeding?” I mumbled as I stumbled out of the room while Carlos steadied me. Once in the hall it hit me. “Musetta! I have to speak to Musetta right now, Carlos. I know what she"s doing!”
Ramon spoke up, “She"s waiting in your office, Sarah.”
I ran down the hall with Carlos by my side, and burst into my office, startling Musetta and her daughter Marie. “I"m sorry I scared you,” I said as I held my palm up. “But it"s Malina, she"s trying to duplicate my scar! Can you do something to stop her? Please?” She took my palm and ran her finger over the scar then she sat down and started chanting and digging through her large bag. She pulled out a mortar and pestle, poured a few items in it and ground them up. She lit some incense and let the smoke fill the room as she sang. She dipped her finger into the bowl and spread the concoction over my scar. I felt it burn slightly. She stopped singing and touched her hand to my forehead– this was how Musetta communicated with others because she was unable to speak. She sat back and I stared at her. “Really?” I said. “It"s invisible to her now, she can"t even see his
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