Chapter 100: Chapter 100

MASON

Mason alighted from the taxi quickly, handing the cab driver some dollar bills and immediately the car drove away, he turned to face the entrance of the family house.

The compound was abuzz, with police card stationed about, and the incessant whirring of their car alarms blaring loudly.

His brows were raised not in confusion because he knew why the officers were here, however he was wondering why his parents hadn’t called to inform him of this situation.

Maybe, the police officers were just arriving. He thought to himself, but from the look of things, Mason knew better.

Every single person on the streets were stationed just right outside their doors, with some men and women talking to police officers and the street was filled up in a way he just didn’t like.

Even reporters and journalists from media houses alike were stationed, talking to strangers and trying to gather whatever news or information they could get just to feed the television screen, and a wave of irritation filled Mason all too easily.

“This is all because of Madison.” He muttered solemnly to himself, his hands on his head as he adjusted his baseball, and fixed his sunglasses well.

He’d suspected that he would meet something like this when he arrived, and so he had dressed up for the cause, wanting to be anonymous by all means.

Dread filled him, as he imagined what his parents would be going through now, and the questions the officers would be bombarding them with already.

He had to go in and make sure things were in…

“Brother.”

Mason froze, his clenched fists unclenching as he did a 360 degree turn and came face to face with Micheal, his younger brother.

“Micheal!” He exclaimed, taking a few steps from where he was standing as he walked towards him.

“Damn man, it’s been so long.” Micheal greeted, pulling Mason into an unsolicited hug.

“Says the arrant prodigal son. The ‘it’s been so long’ is definitely on your part. You’ve refused to visit, and countless times when I want to come see you, you’re never at home. What’s going on with you though.”

Micheal sighed, hands going through his hair as he replied, “I don’t think this is the best place and time to discuss all that I’ve been going through. There are more pressing matters at hand right now, and I’m still chilled about the disappearance of Madison. I’m scared brother, I’m…” He trailed of, a sob escaping his lips as a tear strayed down his cheeks and Mason could only pat him comfortingly.

“I understand brother, and I’m more than devastated. To think that I might even have a hand in this and… Fuck! I really neglected Madison. I’ve carried all the hate I had for her from childhood till this very moment, and now I’m wishing I never did. I’m already regretting every single thing I did to her, but there’s this feeling within me that it might be too late and…”

“Hello there.” Someone called out, and both brothers looking up, Mason instinctively stiffened when he saw two police officers walking towards them.

“What the fuck do they want?” Micheal hissed through his teeth, as he watched them saunter but Mason gave no reply, only watching the officers with hooded eyes.

He looked around and saw that most officers were entering their cars, and it looked like they were about leaving or something.

They must have talked for long, that they didn’t realize that the policemen were done with their questioning and investigation likewise.

“Good day, sirs.” One of the policemen greeted, his hands outstretched for a handshake which Mason took obligingly.

The other policeman already had a notebook and pen in his hand, and Mason could already deduce what was about to happen now.

They were about to be interrogated, and Mason just didn’t want that.

"From pictures shown I know you’re Mason Connor right?” The police officer began, and facing Micheal he added, “And you are Micheal Connor right?”

“Yes that’s right.” Micheal replied curtly, and the officer gave them a warm smile.

“Okay then. Well as you can see, we were just leaving, since we’re done carrying out the checks and investigations in your home, but then… I think it would help us a great deal if you would be able to answer some questions. As the siblings of the abducted victim in this case you might have some valuable additions that might help speed up…”

‘The abducted victim…’ That word put in lightly, had Mason heaving in fury, but he tried to keep his cool as he faced the police officer squarely.

“If you would…”

“I’m sorry sir, but if you can excuse us. We have more pressing matters to attend to inside, and we won’t be able to oblige you right now.”

“But…” The officer began, but Mason paid no heed.

Shooting a glance at Micheal, and grabbing his hands, he began to walk away from the dumbfounded policemen and straight to the rickety house where his parents lived in.

“Why didn’t you stay to answer the questions?” Micheal asked as they breezed away, walking briskly but Mason gave no response.

Safely bypassing officers, journalists and curious onlookers alike, they soon got to the entrance of the house, and only then did Mason say a word, “I wasn’t just deflecting the police officers but the journalists too. I could feel them watching us like hawks ready to pounce and I just had to leave there at all costs. I’m sure you do understand?”

It took a while for Micheal to say something, but then he let out the breath he was seemingly holding and then said, “I understand brother, I do.”

“Okay then. Now can we…” Before Mason could finish his sentence, the front door flung open and surprisingly their mother stood at the entrance.

His gaze washing over her, Mason felt his chest clench when he saw the state his mother was in.

In all the years he’d known her, and came to call her mother he’d never seen her look like this.

So painstaking, with grief clouding her features and hanging on the brink of death itself.

Her eyes were swollen and red from crying so badly, and her dainty frame looked even smaller. Her lips were quivering, and it was evident that she’d been sobbing all through the day.

Coupled with whatever the officers must have asked or told her, Mason could see that his mother was bearing the harsh brunt of everything and he almost cursed out loud.

“Mo…”

“Mother…” Micheal beat him to the chase, arms outstretched wanting to hug her, but she deflected and dropping her hands from the door’s handle, she sniffed and ran into the house leaving them standing.

“Oh jeez…” Micheal mumbled, a hiss escaping his lips as he began to walk into the house and Mason followed suit.

Taking off his baseball cap and sunglasses, Mason raked his hands through his hair in frustration at the same time.

On getting to the living room, he saw his father seated on the couch facing the television, and his mother stood by him, arms round her elbow as they watched the news which kept on showing the highlights of Madison’s abduction over and over.

He felt like walking over to the television and turning off the screen, but he held himself back and instead came to a stop in front of his mother.

“Mother good day. It’s been long.” Micheal quickly did, rushing to their mother’s side and pulling her in a hug despite her seeming reluctance.

As they exchanged pleasantries and spoke, Mason turned to look at his father who still had a blank expression on his face, as he stared at the TV screen.

Even when Micheal greeted him, the old man barely said a thing much to everyone’s shock and his silence seemed to make the whole room tense.

For a while there was quiet, and not able to take it anymore, Mason shot his mother and brother a pained look and then he started, “Father, how have you been doing?”

At first it looked like he wasn’t going to answer but then just after a minute he opened his mouth to say something when suddenly, their mother interrupted.

“There’s no way you’ll open your mouth to answer that question Connor, because it’s evident that you’re not fine. It’s obvious that not one of us is fine, and if you try to say otherwise you’re nothing but a hypocrite.” She spat out, anger clouding her eyes as a tear fell down and Mason widened his eyes in horror as he watched his mother yell and rant.

In all the years he’d known her, she rarely yelled. She rarely ranted too. She was the perfect example of an obedient, shy and loving mother and wife, so now as she began to yell it was all to surprising not just to him but his brother too.

“Mother! Calm down…” Micheal chirped in, but his words fell on deaf ears because she continued to shout.

“I can’t keep calm? I just cant. Not when all of these is happening, and one of my child is out there getting tortured or might even be dead. And this is all happening because of him…” She spat out pointing at their father as she continued, “It’s all because of him!”

“It’s not my fault miss. It’s not. It isn’t my fault that our daughter was kidnapped. If anyone is to blame here it’s that son of a bastard, Damien Daniel or whatever he calls himself. He is to blame for this! If Madison hadn’t been leaving the country because of him, maybe all this wouldn’t have happened and…”

“Oh don’t you dare! Don’t you dare bring that innocent man into this. You caused this deliberately or not. It’s because of the hate you had for Damien, that’s why you chose to let your daughter suffer in the streets all these years. If you’d allowed the both of them to be together, do you think she would have gone through everything she went through? Do you think she would have been trying to leave this damned city that has caused her nothing but misery? Do you not think that she would have been in Damien’s protection and none of this might have happened?”

“What are you saying madam? What are you…”

“It’s because of the hate you had for him, that’s why he tried to seek revenge and had to drag Madison into his silly games. In all these she’s the one bearing the brunt of it all and now that she’s been kidnapped I hope you…”

“I never hated him! Maybe I did despise him, but I never hated him. It was his father I hated with my whole life and I won’t even deny that. All these things happened because of that son of a bitch. He took all the love in your heart, and left me with nothing. He damaged you, and left the broken pieces for me to fill up and not for once did you ever reciprocate the love you gave to him, to me. It’s all his fault, and your fault too. So don’t blame me woman!”

Mason and Micheal stared at each other without saying a word, and then they dragged their shocked gazes back to their arguing parents.

They couldn’t even say a word at because interrupting would just be useless, and so they kept mute.

“You know what you’re dumb.” Their mother began all of a sudden, a laugh bubbling under her throat as she continued, “I stopped loving Daniel a long time ago, but because you were to selfish and had a heart full of hate you refused to see it. Yes at first I didn’t love you, just like you claim but I grew to care for you and soon that feeling materialized into something more than love. You were my husband, and the father of my kids. You cared for me, and my children so why wouldn’t I love you? But even when I told you, you never believed me. You refused to believe me and now you can see what that has caused.” This time she was no more yelling, but her voice was breaking, and Mason’s chest tightened as he watched the outburst.

“You never believed. You let Daniel die even after he got injured in your factory, and you allowed him to bleed to death. You refused your workers from helping him, and even after he was no more you never stopped hating. You transferred that hate to his innocent son and like karma, that young man fell in love with our daughter but what did you still do? You went tooth and nail in making sure you destroyed their relationship for good. You taught your sons to hate him too, and that hate you transferred to your own daughter. You kicked our daughter…” She paused her voice breaking as she started to cry heavily m, “My… my daughter… You threw her out in the streets. Pregnant and alone, you left her to die or whatever you wished for her. You disowned and made her a prey. You banned her from calling you or asking for help of any kind, so don’t come and say stuffs. If I say you have a hand in this abduction, then you have no right to deny it at all!”

By the time she was done, Mason watched as she fell down to the floor, as pain racked through and she continued to sob heartbrokenly.

Every sound and whimper his mother made were like shards of glass piercing in his skin, and Mason held back his own sob.

Micheal couldn’t even hold his, because he was already crying, hands on his face as he choked on the tears.

Everything happening was as a result of what happened in the past, and it had taken them all so long to realize it.

Until Madison was abducted, only then did their eyes open to the truth.

Mason shot a glance at his father, and for the first time in years, he saw a tear fall down the old man’s face.

Dropping his jaw open in shock, Mason watched intently wanting to know what his father would do, and he was met with the shock of his life.

Slowly, his father stood up from the couch and began to walk towards his mother who was still sitting on the floor and sobbing.

“Father…” He began to say but the old man didn’t stop walking until he was at the feet of his wife.

“Oh darling…” He called out, dragging his wife in his arms, and Mason heard him apologize over and over again.

“I’m so sorry love. I’m so sorry, and yes I caused it all. I’m so sorry…” Mr Connor began, tears falling down his grey haired face and Mason finally burst into tears as he watched the exchange.

Not once in his 33 years of living would he have ever imagined this.

His father admitting to a cause and even grieving. He knew how stone hearted his father was, and he had even inherited that from him.

The way his father had single handedly banished Madison out of their life, Mason had done the same without thinking twice.

He wasn’t like Micheal who controlled his temper, and was somewhat meek hearted. He was the complete replica of his father and there was no denying it.

That’s why when he saw this, and everything that was happening, after so many years the walls he’d built around his heart fell apart.

Now, he was determined to find his sister, and if he could just get the chance to beg her for forgiveness.

Only if he could? But was it too late? Just like his mother had said sometime, was Madison already dead?

A bounty had been placed on her head, but still yet no positive news.

Was this the end for them all? Was this the final straw, and would this be something he would grow on to regret in the coming years?

He had so many questions that had just one answer - If Madison could just appear, everything would be solved and… “Shit!”

“Brother, brother…” Micheal called out to him, hands in front of his tear stained face and sniffing Mason turned to face his brother.

“Let’s go meet them. They need our support to…” Micheal urged, and throwing a brief glance at his parents and back at his brother, Mason only gave a curt nod.

They walked together albeit slowly, until they were both squatting down on their knees and placing their arms on that of their still entangled parents.

“I’m sorry mother. I’m so so sorry, for always believing dad, and never seeing it fit to treat Madison well. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for hating on Damien, and… I’m just so sorry mother I really am.” Mason said softly, and began to cry all over again.

“I’m also sorry mother for not fighting for you and Maddie even when I wanted to. I was just so weak and… That’s why I just left mother. I couldn’t bear staying here, and watch the whole family fall apart and… I’m so sorry mother.” Micheal said also, and together they tightened the embrace.

Mason had no idea how long they stayed that way, but after few minutes, he felt his parents hug loosen and they both slowly pulled away and wiped off their eyes.

Their mother’s eyes were rimmed red and she began wiping at her face with her hands, while they all watched.

As for their father, he was staring straight ahead with a blank expression while tears streamed down his cheeks too and the sight had Mason feeling nostalgic all of a sudden.

“So I take it that you’ve forgive me? That you’ve forgiven us all?” He asked his mother albeit quietly and pulling him into a warm hug, she whispered in his ears stroking his hair softly, “You are forgiven dear son. Everyone is forgiven and I hop this would be the beginning of something great for us all.”

“I hope so too.” Micheal chimed in, and hugging their father, once again silence fell through the room.

Finally, they were having a much needed family reunion, and even though they were still not complete yet, Mason believed now that Madison would be found.

He would do everything in his power to look for his sister and all would be well again.

He just hoped…