Chapter 52As soon as I open my eyes, I immediately realize two things.The nurse is waiting for me to say something, or at least, act excited about being pregnant for a man who doesn't even know he's going to be a father and might not even want to become one, and secondly. . .Night eyes is standing behind her.Judging from the way his widened eyes and open mouth, he heard everything she said to me.Shit!Instead of manning up and owning my reality, I decide to change the game. With a tremulous smile, I take the nurse's hand and pump it vigorously. "Congratulations, nurse, I'm sure you're going to make a fine mother."I pull her to me in a side hug as I break out in another tremulous smile. From the corner of my eyes, I see Night eyes eyebrows draw together in a frown. The nurse wriggles beside me, drawing my attention back to her, so I raise imploring eyes to her, hoping she'll get the message to play along."I'
Chapter 53 The day we are born is the day we are marked for death. Words, father thew at me when I was still a child, echo loudly in my mind, the moment I wake and become aware of my surroundings. Beside me, Hazel eyes tosses fitfully, her full lips parting and eliciting a loud moan. They bring back to mind the situation that took place an hour ago. Thank goodness for the tranquilizers the doctor gave her, otherwise it would have been a different story. The echoes of her screams still fill my ears. The glare from the overhead light cuts directly into my eyes, intensifying the pounding in my head. It's as if someone's hitting a hammer against my cranium. I deserve it anyway. I deserve feeling this way for putting Tanya in harm's way. For getting her killed. Granted, I didn't pull the trigger, but I could have as well done so. I should have been more alert. I should have told her not to go to the apartment she and Alicia stayed. I should have taken more precautions. So many I shou
Chapter 54I turn round slowly, my heart beat, strangely beating in-synch with every turn I make.The first thing I notice is a young woman who can't be more than seventeen. I register the look of shock on her face before I'm taking in the rest of her features at a glance. She has long green hair that looks mussed up from probably a night of debauchery, blue eyes that are presently staring at me from half- closed lids, and blood red shimmery lips, like she just sucked on something wet. I glance down at the short, tight leather dress she's got on and the kitten heels in her hand before looking back up at her face."Looks like you're the one doing the breaking and entering." I say, affecting a bored tone.Her eyes widen and she flicks her eyes up and down the length of my body appreciatively, before moving closer to me. "The difference between you and me is that this is my house, not yours. Give me one good reason w
Chapter 55 I know the exact moment Ash steps inside the room. I know, because I've been feigning sleep for the past three hours since he stepped out of it. I know the moment he cuts his eyes toward me, so I fake a light snore as he walks closer to me. Goose pimples break out all over my body as I feel myself being appraised. I can feel his relief. It rolls off him in waves. He's relieved that I'm calm, that I'm asleep. Just when I feel the gig is up, he moves away and his steps become faint as he heads toward the bathroom. I'm afraid I'm going to have to bust his happy bubble right about now. I wait a few minutes before I slide out of the bed. I pull his bedside drawer open and my hand curls around the handle of his gun. It fills me with power and makes me confident. As I walk towards the shower, calmness washes over me. I know what I need to do. I silently open the door that leads to the bathroom and slips inside. Steam. . . so much of it, clouds the air, fogging up the floor-t
Chapter 56Lightening splits the air, rendering everything in vivid white. Beautiful as well as harsh, exactly like the situation I'm currently facing."... and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death will not exist anymore."The priest's words pierce through my mental ruminations. Instead of filling me with peace, they seem to do the opposite. No one is wiping away the tears sliding down my cheeks right now, that's for sure.As for death. . .Laughter bubbles up my throat and comes out as a loud snort as I stare at the coffin currently lying on the ground at my feet. Like a switch, memories begin to spill, like quicksand, through my mind. Fond memories."Sis, you should wear the red dress for your date, it looks bomb on you." Tanya's impish smile is from ear to ear. "Derrick won't be able to take his eyes off you, not with those hips of yours.""Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." The priest's voice
Chapter 57 The sounds of owls hooting pierce the stillness of the air. Darkness looms suddenly, chasing away the last glimpses of the sun. The walls of the building begin to look like living creatures to the man as they close in on him. He looks around- at the plastered walls where no paint graces them, and then at the floor which is littered with sand, broken blocks, and wood. His eyes sweep across the bare room and beyond it, then cling to the windows and the broken shutters hanging from the rusty hinges as they rattle against the walls. His lips curl in disgust as he shakes his head. "This whole building is a picture of decadence." He laughs and shakes his head once more before settling for a shrug. "It's a price I have to pay for what I'm going to do. I can't fail now." He stands from the stool he is perched on and stretches before walking to one of the windows. Even in the dying light, he can make out the tombstones rising from the earth a short distance away from the house. H
Chapter 58 He's going to kill me. He's going to kill me. He's going to fucking kill me. My breath hitches. My heartbeat kicks up a storm in its cage, and a cold sweat breaks out all over my body. You're next on my kill list. Breath. It doesn't look like my lungs are getting the memo of pulling oxygen inside them. The pressure behind my eyes is almost at a busting level now. It feels like they might pop out at any moment. Sweat pools on my forehead and my hands are clammy- I don't recall ever having sweaty palms before. Dark spots have begun to dance in front of my eyes and I know, I just know this might be my end. . . That is until my eyes land on the China dish. Suddenly, my lungs inflate and I suck in air greedily as my heartbeat slows down by a fraction. I pitch forward and cough raspily, beating my chest, all the while sucking in large gulps of air, my eyes watering from the strain. This is how Clarissa finds me. "Oh, my goodness . . .'lis!" She's by my side in a jiffy,
Chapter 59 "Why are there so many guards? It's like we can't move an inch without one popping up to ask you where you're going." Clarissa laments as we step through the gate. I can sense the annoyance coating her words. Heck - I'm annoyed as well. Wrong! I'm livid. But I get it. Ash is trying to keep me safe. That's fine, that doesn't mean I have to like it. I mean, I'm thankful and all that he cares, but I feel smothered. I'm still ruminating on this as we finally step through the gate when a cab stops directly in front of me. I thank my stars as I flag it down and enter. Clarissa looks behind her, and I wonder what she's thinking, and then it hits me. She's waiting for Night Eyes, or someone else, to come barging out and stop us. Unfortunately for her, that does not happen as she gets inside, her movements slow and sluggish. She situates herself in the front seat, and I think it's just as well because this way I will be left in peace with my thoughts. The cab drives fast, and b