Hera. “Newspapers, get your newspapers at a very affordable price.” The seller’s gruff voice echoed in the dim lit street, interrupting my sleep for the umpteenth time. “Arghh, can you go elsewhere to sell those bloody papers, I’m trying to get some sleep, and who reads newspapers these days?” I rolled my eyes at him, irritation evident in my voice. “Look, homeless girl, the streets belong to no one, if you’re not okay with me selling these papers, you can give me a better job.” He replied in a standoffish manner. I raked my fingers through my hair, burying my frustration with hisses and snorts. He was right, the streets belonged to no one, except if you’re a Flemming, then you owned everything. My stomach let out a low insistent growl, reminding me I hadn’t exactly had anything to eat since dawn. I rose from the bench I sat on, retrieved my bag and made my way to a cafe that was just right across the street. Since I arrived in London, I’d been wandering the stre
Eggust's POV The weather was bright and sunny. I just couldn't believe it. It had started out stormy but sometime between the time we left and when we arrived, the sun had started smiling. "It's lovely weather we're having today." Ezekiel commented as we headed out. "Yes indeed. It seems like luck is finally on our side." One of the policemen concurred. I didn't remember his name even though we'd been introduced. Actually, Ezekiel had told me his name during the briefing last night but with so much on my mind and little interest, I totally forgot. He was a tall burly man that seemed to wear the buzzed haircut like it was made for him. In general, he was the billboard perfect image of a policeman. "With the plan we've hatched out, nothing could possibly go wrong." I almost groaned. Overconfidence was always the bedrock of failure. He must have noticed my frown because he rushed to assure me. "You don't need to worry sir. We'll catch her today." Well, I certa
Marco. I pushed open the creaky door and stepped into the old library, where I had asked Hera to meet me. The bell above the entrance rang out and the few people there peeked up from their browsing. I mustered a smile, as everyone looked in my direction. The last thing I needed right now was attention, but still, I played it cool. I scanned the room, taking in the unfamiliar sighs and smells. Shelves upon shelves of books stretched towards the ceiling, their work covers and yellowed pages filling the air with a dusty scent. I had chosen this this place to meet Hera because it was discreet. I found it yesterday when I happened to walk by and met an old lady who needed help with her bags. It was the first time in a long while someone smiled at me with kind eyes and the memory of that small act lingered, making me feel more at ease here than I had on the busy streets outside. Out there, I couldn’t walk without looking over my shoulders, worried that Eggust’s men would
Eggust’s Pov. I stood outside the station, taking a long drag on my cigarette. Huffing and puffing as the smoke filled my lungs. And for a moment, I forgot about the chaos around me. Ezekiel was inside negotiating with the other man that claimed Hera was his prisoner and not mine. Who knew the poor bitch had it in her to go around causing troubles for herself. I always thought she was the spineless chicken and Isla was the hothead but people are indeed full of surprises. Take my mum for instance, going after my girlfriend who also happened to be her best friend that is pregnant with her grandchild/godchild. The world is indeed crazy. Taking another drag of my cigarette I cackled at my analogy and decided to enjoy this moment as best as I could. However my peace was short-lived. “Eggust!” A voice called out, it was stern and disapproving. I knew that tone all too well. and like you must have already imagined, it wasn’t from my father. No, you see my father wasn’t rea
Hera’s Pov. I sat on a cold metal bench in a cell void of light. The cell wasn’t only dark in terms of lighting, it was also dark because of the people there, people who made my skin crawl. I didn’t belong in a place like this. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and fear. Well, sweat from the bodies of the other women here and fear from me. But somehow, I preferred being here than facing Eggust. My mind raced with thoughts of the past few hours, replaying every moment like a bad movie you somehow got stuck on. I had been here for a day now but it felt like eternity. How did my life spiral out of control so quickly? One minute I was at the top of my game and the next, I was trapped in this nightmare, which had only just begun. I thought about my family, my aunt, Mia, even Isla. were they safe? Had they been released from wherever they were being held? And David…. What about him too? My heart ached with worry, as I thought of all the people suffer
Juss’ Pov I picked a table at the corner of the cafe. It was cozy and surrounded by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, plus no one would really pay attention to it. The sunlight streaming through the large windows brought a sense of warmth to the cafe and helped with the dreadfulness I felt inside of me. There were art works plastered on the walls, each carrying a different but soft meaning, creating a welcoming atmosphere. I chose this place specifically for its privacy and comfort. I hadn’t heard from Eggust since he walked out of the hospital that day and I just needed to talk to him. As I waited for Eggust to arrive, I felt a tingling sensation inside my belly. I couldn’t help but smile. My baby was growing bigger every day and it still felt surreal that I was meeting them soon. I took a sip of the herbal tea I had ordered earlier, savoring the soothing flavor while taking a whiff of the aroma, which helped calm my nerves. I kept glancing towards the door, hoping Eg
Sylvester’s Pov. The news. I sat across from my father, the chessboard stood between us like a battlefield. I tried hard to focus on the game but my mind was elsewhere. In fact, my mind had been swirling with thoughts ever since I left Marlani’s house that day. At first, I was shocked, but after processing the shock, I just became plain confused. “Your move,” dad chimed, narrowing his eyes, his brows furrowed in concentration. The old man invited me for a game of chess whenever he had something important to spill or wanted to get into my head, or both. It was an old family tradition. He often said his dad did it with him as well. But I knew that tradition would die in the hands of Eggust and I. I moved my pawn to e4, “Dad, I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He looked up from the board, his eyes searching mine, perhaps for a clue of what I was about to say. “You’ve never been one to seek for permission, so, go on.” I hesitat
Marlani's POV "I'm afraid there's no other reason to keep you here Mrs Flemming. You're stable enough to be discharged." I looked at the doctor in exasperation. What on earth was his problem? Was he really kicking me out? I’m a VIP patient!! He told me I was ready to be discharged three days ago but I didn’t want to leave yet, so I pretended to feel general body weakness and he fell for it. He'd told the nurse to let me stay two more days so they could observe me and my time had run up yesterday...... I had no more excuses to use. "But I haven't recovered fully!" I insisted. "Would you really send me home and risk something going wrong again? What if I develop something........ something!" He smiled patiently. "I understand your fears well madam, but you're past any crisis or risk of a relapse. And you'll recover more quickly when you're in a familiar environment in the midst of family and loved ones." 'Well, that's the problem!' I thought to myself, I had no hom