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
Chapter 60Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to care, if I should die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to keep.Wrong prayer.If I die now, father in Heaven please accept my sou-No, no, no, lord, please, no, I don't wanna die, at least not just yet.A shot rings out, and I crank an eye open. I don't feel any pain, still, I open my second eye and pat my body down checking for a wound or even blood. Relief pours through me when I don't find any, but as I look up, shock spirals through me when I see two men squaring off, guns pointed at each other.I wonder if, maybe it's a trick of the light or the dizziness assailing me, but after a few seconds of staring aghast at the scene before me, I confirm it - There are indeed two men.Ash is standing like a white knight in shining armor opposite the man I can now clearly see is not just a look- alike but his split image. Different clothes but s
Chapter 61 "I'm pregnant!" My world tilts for some precious seconds, before righting itself. Pregnant. She's Pregnant. Pregnant. . . with a child. My child. How come? Unfortunately, my brain isn't able to comprehend what she just said. "What did you just say?" Tears slide down her eyes and her shoulders hunch forward like she's carrying the weight of the world on them. I wish I can hold her in my arms and tell her everything will be fine but my brain - it's refusing to boot. "How. . . is that possible?" The words are out before I know it but I instantly regret it when I see her reaction. Her eyes spit fire, and her shoulders that were hunched arch backward. She cocks a brow as she stares at me with pure hatred. "What do you mean how is that possible? It was made possible when you inserted your dick inside of my vagina wayyy too many times to count, so don't just stand there and act shocked, 'cause the baby I'm carrying, is yours." I blink, severally, because she's never rai
Chapter 62 Pregnancy hormones stink. Nah! Actually, they hurt. It's like a brain reset took place while you were asleep, and when next you wake, you realize something inside of you changed - and not necessarily for the better - making you act out. And then you begin to say and do things, totally out of character for you, making your boyfriend wonder if you're indeed the same person he's been sleeping on the same bed with. But within the folds of your heart muscles, you know this is the time for you to misbehave and get away with words you ordinarily wouldn't have been able to speak, even in your wildest dreams. Goodness knows I love Ash to death, but right now he's driving me crazy, treating me like I'm a fragile doll that should not be broken. "Just . . . put the food on the table and stop fussing around me." He straightens, turns and I'm able to see surprise etched all over his face. He rolls his eyes, actually rolls them, and releases a sigh. "Here I am trying to make you mo
Chapter 63You would think that after two weeks of learning how to drive, I would have gotten the basics. . . at least.As I screech to a halt in front of the supermarket, the bumper hits the curb, and the car - the poor car - bounces back, almost hitting another incoming car behind. I realize out of probably ten women, I take the cake for dumb, clumsy driving, because who drives with a pillow underneath them and glues their body to the steering wheel to better see where she's going?No big guess there.Another car cuts in front of me, effectively boxing me, and blocking the shiny new Passat - a car Ash gifted me with when he confirmed I was indeed having his - our - child. We"d both gone to the automobile show where new cars were being exhibited.He wanted to pick the newest, biggest, most-expensive truck they had, because, in his own words - my Queen and Princess have to ride in style - but I hadn't wanted showy
Chapter 64The moment our eyes clash, I realize there are worse things in life than death.It's the hereafter. . .The fear of hell.Staring into the eyes of Ash's look-alike is like gazing into the depths of hell. It's cold as ice, yet devoid of warmth. It's scorching as a furnace.As I said, it's hell.He's a hairs breath away from me now. I watch as the smirk slides off his face and I can almost imagine it's another person standing before me, another pair of eyes pinning me with his gaze as he stares down at me with warmth and tenderness, his mouth parted open, ready to bestow a kiss on me, that is. . . until his hand curl around my elbow, and his fingers dig into my skin."Move!"That one command shatters all my fantasies and unfreezes my frozen limbs. He drags me away - a predator and his unwilling prey. A hunter and his almost-lamb. Tears sting my eyes as I realize what will befall me, what is going to be