Chapter Four

Lilian

Friday, September 30.

12:15 pm.

"Jane the hand is not square." I said staring down at the toddler, she laid down on the floor, colours and pencils scattered around. I just loved the fact that this kids are not lazy and they take their homework serious.

Still, they can be very stubborn and they do what ever they want, she ignored what I said and continued to color the rubbish she drew.

I'm just glad that they went to school throughout my stay and the only time they had to disturb me was in the evening, and then they would be so exhausted.

"Help me park my hair, add this pins and make it look pwetty." Jade said walking towards me with a comb on her hand, I spared her a deadly glare, she moved back a bit staring at me.

"What?" she asked looking confused as a small smirk crawled to her small lips, frustrating me gave them a nice wave of happiness.

"Magic words." I said before facing my phone, if she doesn't say please I'm not helping her look 'Pwetty'.

"It's not like you are vewy good in hair styling." She said raising her hands, she hissed and turned back.

What the fuck!

It's not like I want to be here, teaching this annoying toddlers.

A call from my mom came in and I picked it immediately.

"Hey mom" I uttered, I just can't wait till she returns tomorrow, I'm tired of these kids.

'Lilian I'm on my way.'

What!

My jaws dropped and I held my head after trying to think clearly.

Today is Dad's funeral and if she comes back today, she'll have to go through with the widows rites  because the villagers are attending the funeral.

And that means she'll have to go to the village and it may take a whole year.

I'm not spending the rest of the year here and I'm not going to stay at the village, those people are wicked and heartless and they will force her to follow them to the village.

'Mum the village people, they sure are going to come an–'

I said looking worried.

Is this woman thinking?

'I want to see my Mike one last time and I want to make it up to you, I don't care about the rites again.'

She said her voice was shaky and it was as if she was crying.

The woman is very confused right now, but still that's not a good idea.

"Lilyar what shape is the head." Jane asked, I turned my head to see her beside me, her hands on her waist and if you saw her posture right now you will think I'm owing her money.

"Triangle!" I snarled, before totally ignoring her and what she said.

"Can't you be a little more nicer?" She uttered rolling her eyes.

One more word and I'm placing that slap on her tender soft cheek.

"Mom that's not a good idea, I don't want you to go there–" I did not finish when Aunty Betty collected the phone from me.

She was already dressed in her black gown and black hat too, I wore a black top and trousers too...

I can't believe Mike is gone, he is leaving TODAY.

"Are you even thinking Stace, I know you want to see Mike, but who will take care of Lilian when you leave for the rites, there's a high possibility of you not coming back here. Most people die in the process."

Aunty Betty uttered, an angry look spread across her face.

Not only that, they'll ask her to do ridiculous things like shave her hair off, and drink the water used to bath the corpse.

It's not fair in anyway why does she have to suffer and she's not sounding fine.

Work

Orphanage

Dead husband

Depressed daughter

Wicked Villagers.

She might pass out!

It's just too much for a person to handle, let's not forget while she's going on with the rites, she might get tired of it, and then she can choose to commit suicide straight away.

"Stace do you know your husband's last words... No you don't, well according to the police, Mike was facing the assassin and some people saw him through their house window, Your husband said something like 'don't hurt Lilian, please don't hurt Stace' so do you know what that means?!!" Aunty Betty screamed her voice laced with anger, my mom is just too stubborn.

"Why would you draw a triangle as the head of an human being?" I asked Jane and she looked up immediately, giving me those 'You've got to be kidding me' look.

She stood up from the rug, and placed her hands on her waist again "You told me it was twiangle, I simply did what you said." She uttered trying her best to start an argument.

"Well I was on a call." I replied defending myself.

"With your boyfwiend, talking about what?, the birth mark on your bweast" She uttered looking angry.

What the fuck!

Did she just say?...

How did she?...

Has she been?....

"What birthmark!" I asked pretending to be confused as I suddenly became furious.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm saying, I still saw it this morning." The minute she said that I learnt that you should never dress up in front of kids irrespective of their age or sex.

Then Jade and Jeffrey started laughing, with Jane smiling like she just accomplished something.

I just ignored them after trying my best to suppress the anger that was burning in me.

"Well it means you and Stace are in trouble and those people might have plans to murder you guys, I have told Lilian I'm not gonna let her go to the funeral and you too, those people might plan to do something today... So please, do not come, just stop at an hotel or something." My aunty said looking very very serious.

What she's saying is right, those people are after me and mom.

But who are they?, and why are they after us?

"Good so just take good care of yourself, eat something and please don't come... The villagers and the assassins have plans to pounce on you." Aunty Betty said as I gave her all my attention.

And after that she ended the call and placed my phone on the table before giving me a pat on my back.

"Look sweetheart, I don't think you will be able to attend the funeral but don't worry, you'll get to see your dad okay?" Aunty Betty asked, I nodded, and right now I felt like crying my eyes out but I really don't like to cry in front of people and especially these annoying kids.

I just nodded my head as we both stood up.

Where?

To go and see my dad for the very last time, I still don't believe it... It feels like a dream, well if it is I want to wake up now, but I keep pinching myself and I'm not waking up just the way my dad is never going to wake up.

"Kids behave yourself, if you need anything ask Biola." Aunty Betty uttered as she walked into the dinning room to get her bag which was on the dinning table.

Biola their Nanny was busy in the Kitchen, she's not really a nanny because she helps in the chores too, but Aunty Betty is comfortable with her because she's nice to the kids and the kids love her so much and they don't trouble her.

I stood up from the couch, staring at the rug, I'm really sad I have never been this sad.

I followed Aunty Betty as we both  moved towards her jeep, the driver greeted her again as he started the car.

Just one last time....

I suddenly lost my balance as Aunty Betty patted my back, cotton wools were placed in his ears and nose, his eyes were shut forever!

  I started crying again as a tear drop fell on his eyes, although they were shut, his face ain't fresh like it used to be.

Don't worry Mike, I won't let those people go Scott free, they won't get to me, I won't let them hurt me or my name ain't Lilian.

But please just wake up, I know it's all a joke and you got me, I fell for it so now stop the act and wake up, wake up!, please don't leave me in this world, you are the one that made me strong so please don't leave me....

"Lilian we have to go now." Aunty Betty said, was it weird that I kissed a dead body on the forehead.

Not caring If it was not hygienic, of it was disgusting, but I did it because even if his body decays he is still my Mike and no one can ever replace him.

"What of mom... Won't she see him one last time?" I asked, aunty Betty moved closer to me and whispered in my ear.

"Those people are after her, so she will also get to see him, but in disguise... Or do you want to loose your mom?" Aunty Betty asked and I shook my head immediately .

"Okay where is she?" I asked looking curious as I stared at all the nurses one by one, they a had this nose covers and I was trying to spot my mom, because she might be amongst them.

"She's here, but other people are here so you can't communicate with her, the assassins can be any where." Aunty Betty whispered as she patted my back.

No wonder she lied that I'm her daughter, so these assassins mean business, but why me and why is it my family?

"Okay." I uttered before cleaning my face, trying to make it look like I was not crying.

It was time to go as some men came to carry the dead body followed by some of the villagers.

Too bad, I can't attend my dad's funeral even though I really want too.

But I keep wondering, those assassins do they recognize me?

I really don't want to die so it's better we leave soon.

I followed aunty Betty as we walked out behind the Villagers, hiding my face from the villagers was also not easy, but they were too busy giving my dad's corpse attention as some of them spilled fake tears.

Thank God we wore a hat, hiding your face would be very easy.

We walked back to the car and the driver started the car, I faced the tilted window staring at the people that were around also the villagers that stood outside.

Wicked people! They will all pay!

"It's okay Lilian." Aunty Betty uttered and I just nodded, still facing the window, thank God it's tilted.

The driver started to reverse the car, then I saw this strange looking man, I strained my eyes and watched him as he looked back continuously.

You know how thieves walk when they want to steal and how criminals act when they want to commit a crime, that's exactly how this man was walking and behaving.

He was a bit chubby, hefty and I think he had scars on his face, he was dark skinned and he wore black, rhyming with what other people wore.

Then my instincts just told me, more like it asked me...

Is he an assassin?

How did he know we would be here if he is an assassin?

"Aunt Bett, look!"  I yelled tapping aunty Betty as I pointed at the man that was about to enter the building.

Aunty Betty narrowed her eyes at the man who kept looking back to make sure no one was watching him, but we were watching from afar.

"Stop Gansha." She told her driver and immediately he obeyed, doing it in a less obvious way.

My eyes followed the man.

What Is he up too?

"Jeez... I'm calling Stace, I think she's in there." Aunty Betty said as she quickly went through her contacts.

I stared at the man till he entered the building.

"Stace where are you?" Aunty Betty asked, my heart was racing and It felt as if my whole world was going down the drain.

"Okay Good, I'll tell you what happened when I get home, please don't attend the funeral and do not! go home yet." Aunty Betty said, my heart slowed down and I faced her looking way too curious.

"She's at the hotel, she said she came here earlier. Let's go Gansha." She said I sat down calmly resting my back as I held my forehead,

What is all this nonsense?

"We should tell the police." Aunty Betty said, I just nodded and faced the window, my head was aching and I was feeling really dizzy.

I think I'm going to fall sick, I just want my parents now, I don't want to loose my mom.

I tapped my phone, it came on so I turned on the data. Messages trooped in again, and the sound irritated me.

I might just leave the group chat, who even added me?

I saw another message from the unknown number and I was eager to know who the person is.

Who are you?

I sent it and turned off my data after going through my class group chat, they were all gisting and joking around, not caring if I was not in school.

Who knows why Lilian is not in school?

Blair asked, like I said before I don't have a best friend, but I don't have a problem with Blair, no one has a problem with her.

Ask google.

Someone replied and after that no one cared to ask about me except the unknown number that messaged me, well just a greeting though.

I'll be resuming school on Monday, I can't hide from the assassins forever.

I switched off my phone and rested my head, my head was pounding and I was not myself, then I drifted off....