The Hunt Began

EPISODE 5: The hunt

He stood up and started pacing round the room, ignoring the men.

"But come to think of it, if I killed you all it would have been nice cause I haven't tasted blood in a while."

He slowly turned to look at their terrified faces, taking in the pleasure and then returned to his leisure pacing. "However, if I killed you, I would be short of hands and men... and I need men. So see," he smiled at them. "you are lucky." He bursted out laughing.

The room was a bit dark and the light from the table lamp that laid on the floor— when it caught his face in the broken mirror, it reflected a scarred man. A quarter half of his right face wrinkled down to a part of his lower lip.

When he saw his face, he frowned but didn't look away like he usually did. Instead, he stared right into his eyes which dilated and said, " I want you all to get that bastard for me. I want him alive so I can give him a living hell. I want to know who he is and the hell he hailed from. I want to know if he thinks himself to be a god; I shall bring him before the CYCLE and decompose his body for him while he is still alive. He would beg for death but it won't come!"

He crushed the mirror and shattered it to the ground, his knuckles already bleeding. He ignored it and turned to the men. "Fail me one more time and your punishments will be worse than his!"

And with that, he walked out from the room.

........

Who ever said "blood is thicker than water" must have not had someone close to them who wasn't related by blood—someone they deeply cared about. Someone they could go an overly extra mile for...

This was the case with Clara. She cared deeply for Sai that she had now considered her a sister she never had. Since the first day she was brought in by doctor Hither, she had always bonded with her like a mother to her nursing child. She would protect her from anything...and anyone. Sai's pain was her pain, her joy was her joy... and tonight, she was just as hollow and quiet as Sai was in her bed.

She looked five years younger tucked under thick duvet and her hair packed back with pink furry head band. She wore no earrings; the nurse had removed them earlier on. She said it would make her uncomfortable and Clara had been asked and tasked to engage her in a convo.

With that in mind, Clara dragged her stool closer to Sai's bed and took a closer look at her face. She was so beautiful, and even more beautiful when she slept like a baby.

When Doctor Hither told her that Sai was pregnant, she was stunned at first, but seconds later, she had this unfounded joy she couldn't interprete.

"My Sai is pregnant?" She asked Doctor Hither.

She didn't know if it was habit or reflexes but doctor Hither always pulled down his glasses a bit with his index finger to look at someone out of curiosity. He did that now as he asked Clara, "You didn't know?"

She shook her head.

He adjusted his glasses back to his eyes. "I find that surprising as I know you to be very meticulous and you always thread with precision." He switched his bag from his left to his right hand. "She is three weeks pregnant and her reaction to the stress made her lose consciousness. Nothing serious for now. But if by tomorrow morning, she isn't awake, I will send an ambulance to bring her in. She's on normal saline. Patricia will be checking her through the night."

"Yes, doctor."

He set to go, "Don't forget to drop by my office."

"I will."

•

She picked up Sai's hand which had on the IV fixed into the vein and it felt really warm to the touch. She caressed her fingers and spoke with a scuffy voice.

"My beautiful Sai... you won't believe what I heard today." She sniffed and swallowed. Her throat felt dry. "You are pregnant Sai. You are pregnant." She smiled.

Her voice was very low and a soft lullaby was playing on the background as per Dillion's orders.

"There is a beautiful baby in your womb. You are about to bring a life into this world. Don't you want to wake up and feel it? You need to wake up, Sai. You need to wake up."

She removed the rosary over her head and tucked it into Sai's palm. "I will pray for you." She cleaned her tears and sat up straight, adjusting the scarf to ensure it covered her hair.

"Dear Father in heaven, I know you are ever listening and compassionate. Forgive us our sins and hear our prayers.. watch over those who are sick... give us strength to overcome our hurdles..."

....

Dillion's hands were at the door handle. He listened intently to Clara's prayers. He was not a believer and didn't plan to be one– ever. But he felt at peace with this prayer tonight, knowing fully well that Sai was not alone. If there was a supernatural being, he was watching over Sai and his unborn child. It was a comfort in this unfortunate point in time.

The nurse Patricia was in the adjacent room. She had checked on Sai about four times since doctor Hither left and had called him about twice to give her report. Though everywhere was silent, he could tell that she wasn't asleep in the guest room.

He let go of the door handle and turned back to the living room where sat on the couch and picked up a book and pretended to read, but in his mind, he was calculating his next move and forging his offence and defence mechanism. Those guys have it coming. Matrix.

Two nights from tonight was the fashion opening gala of Deeper Height brand he had been invited to. He had no intentions of going until he discovered that that man would be there. The heavens was smiling at him. The wolf he wanted to lure out with meat decided to come out on its own to find grass.

He changed his mind and set his schedule to be able to attend the gala. The problem was now for him to choose who will accompany him to the gala night. A chaperone.

.......

"Tell Lorin to come in." He told Fred.

Fred was his personal assistant in the office and was competent with his job.

"Yes boss. Anything else?"

"No. That will be all."

Fred bowed and walked out of the office with long strides.

When he was out, Dillion relaxed his back and crossed his legs. He picked up the shiny hard back card on his desk and looked at it from side to side. It glittered with light.

A slim, tall and pretty lady with her hair packed in a ponytail, black office trouser and blazer worn on white Chiffon shirt underneath, walked into the office and stood before him.

He handed her the card.

She collected it with both hands and looked at it. "What is this sir?"

He uncrossed his legs and stood up, adjusting his coat. "It's an invitation to the Gala opening of Deeper Height."

"Oh..." She said. "I still don't..."

He looked at her straight in the eyes, "I want you to accompany me to the event."

"Oh!" She smiled. "Oh...okay boss. When...?"

"It's tomorrow evening."

She looked excited and she didn't even bother to hide it. "Alright boss. I will be there."

"What's your size?"

She looked at him confused for a moment. "My size?"

He raised a brow.

"Oh! My size?" She asked and faked awkward laughter. "It's a size small. It's—"

"Alright!" He abruptly cut her off. "Fred will send an item to your home this evening. Courtesy for the short notice." With that, he picked up his phone and walked out of the office.

She looked at him all still stunned by the play of event. Dillion wasn't one to engage in long hearty conversation. So this little chitchat today was a shocker for her.

She grinned wide. Was she just asked to be his companion? She looked at the card in her hand. DEEPER HEIGHT GALA NIGHT was boldly written on it.

........

The dark blue limousine pulled up to the Ford mansion in front of the red carpet. It made people turn their heads as they wondered who it may be.

The driver adjusted his white suit as he hurriedly walked around the vehicle to open the back door.

Everyone's eyes watched, expecting to see which celebrity or person of high class was present—something that wouldn't be unusual in this event.

When the driver opened the door, the long leg of the occupant touched the floor, showing off his black pricy leather shoe.