A woman's dilemma - Episode 30

 

Claudia:

"We don't have to go today. You have so much on your hands!" I try to reason with Daniel as his long legs eat the space between us. He's standing before me in a few strides.
"You have to meet your sister to know what's going on with her. I promise you that I'll be there for you." His hand touch my cheeks gently and I find my eyes fluttering close with the feeling. I should not be feeling this now . It's been a hectic day. My eyes stray to Tina sleeping on the bed beside us. She doesn't look peaceful even in sleep. I can still hear her broken voice when she told us the tale of what she went through in the hands of that animal, Francis. Rituals. That's all I can think to explain why seven girls will be tied, raped and slaughtered. The thought turn my stomach. How the hell did she escape all that. For some reason, she kept that out of her story.
"Look at me." Daniel's fingers gently pull my chin so I'm looking up at his eyes. His sad eyes. I inhale a shaky breath at the intense feeling of wanting to protect this man.
"I need this. Please. Let me take you to your sister's. I don't think I can look at her in this state and not murder someone." He says gently and I find myself nodding. The smile he gives me doesn't quite reach his eyes and I yearn for the carefree guy who was so hellbent on getting into my pants just weeks ago

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I can't believe I've known him for a few weeks and I'm feeling like this.
"What are you thinking." His soft whisper breaks my thoughts and I shrug lightly. I can't possibly tell him that I'm falling too fast for him so I pull away and grab my bag.
"I'm thinking that we can't just leave her alone. She can't be alone." I point to his sister and he nods.
"Of course. Our mother is just at the doctor's office getting her released. She'll take her home. Come on." His huge hand cover mine and he leads me out of the tiny room. I notice him release a long breath when I close the door behind us and I know he's suffering. I cover his hand with my free one and squeeze it lightly.
"We'll make him pay." I say and mean it because I'm not letting the man who killed my friend go scot-free.
"Thanks Claw." The familiar nickname puts a weak smile on my lips. I don't know what I'll do today if not for this man.
We fall into a comfortable silence as we make our way out of the hospital.

****

Tina:

My weak eyes flutter open and I squint at the suddenly dark room. How long have I been asleep? I can't find Daniel or anyone else in the room. I'm partially thankful for the reprieve. I really can't have them look at me like the victim when I killed Mrs Francesca. I'm horrible. I sit up on the bed and draw my knees up to my chest to bury my head in my hands. Daniel already called the case in to the police. I'm relieve that he didn't let his rage push him into taking the law into his hands. I could see his anger fighting to get free while I plead that he stays away from the evil man. He'll crush Daniel. I can't have that. My head snaps up when the sound of my door opening reaches my ears. I freeze up in fright but release my tense shoulders when I see that it's just a doctor.
"Can I have something for my headache? I feel like my head is splitting into halves." I say drily to the unfamiliar doctor.
"You can have whatever you want." His voice is cold and hard.  For some reason, his smile raises my hackles.
"What are you doing?" I eye him nervously when he pulls an injection out of a small case.
"Shhh. This will make you feel better." He coos. When his hand goes up to check my IV, the sleeves of his coat slips down and a tattoo of a scorpion peeks out at me. I gasp.
"No." His eyes flies to mine then follows my eyes to his wrist and his eyes harden. He's one of them. The men who took me. I can never forget that tattoo in my life. I don't stop to think, I don't let my fear freeze me in place but rather I throw my legs off the bed and set for the door. Strong hands grab my waist before I can pull the handle.
"I would have loved to do this the easy way." He whispers in my ear. I open my mouth to scream but a cloth is stuffed into my mouth, gagging me. My eyes goes wide when I feel the prick of a needle going into my neck. I kick against the door which is only an arms length away.
"Sleep now, doll. You won't feel a thing." Those are the last words I hear before I lose control of my eyelids and my consciousness.

****
Francis:

I take a long drag off the weed between my fingers and let out a strangled cough. I'm not use to smoking marijuana but alcohol doesn't do it for me today. I down the last content of my glass and throw the cup against the wall. The men standing around me say nothing. I put the weed to my lips again and take another drag. This time it goes down my lungs and dulls out my thoughts. I'm already feeling woozy as hell. I don't know how long I smoke the wrap before one of my goons comes behind me to whisper in my ear.
"Boss, they are here." I throw the remnant of the weed and crush it under my shiny shoe. Remind me to throw these out. The filthy warehouse floor has totally made them a turn off.
"Let them in." I say when I remember that my consent is needed for the girl who is currently costing me more than she was worth to be brought in. Few moments later, a familiar cry rent the air as Michael or whatever his name is drag a tiny woman in.
"Let me go, please. I don't know anything. Please. Stop! You're hurting me!" Her small body is thrown on the floor at my feet. I move my eyes from her shaking body up to Michael.
"That wasn't necessary." I shake my head at him.
"She--"
"Shut up. Take this scum out. The rest of you, get out. I need time alone with her." I say without taking my eyes away from the woman on the floor.
"Did he hurt you?" Tina flinches away from me when I try to touch her and my lips turn down into a thin line.
"Please let me go. I won't say anything." She doesn't even look me in the eye. Against better thought, I light up another wrap of weed and inhale the poisonous smoke. She coughs violently beneath me.
"You shouldn't have stayed alive." I say after a while.
"I'm sorry." She sobs and I place my finger on her lips to quiet her. She crawls back away from me. I frown at my hanging hand.
"You used to like my touch." I say quietly.  Of course she was just part of the ritual that needed to be done but we easily formed a connection, the both of us. She reminded me of Claudia just before she birthed Ola and I found myself giving her preference treatment. She never complained when she was treated better than the other six girls and even gave herself up to me. That's until she escaped! I thought she loved me. Even animals deserve love. I can feel myself getting angry. She was supposed to wait till the next day. I would have gotten her out. But she ran away. Just because I gave her a little freedom.
"Why did you leave. I thought you loved it there. With me." My voice softens a little as I pull her face up to look into my eyes. She shivers at my touch and I like to think that is because she misses my touch.
"You shouldn't have let your brother report this. He has to die now. Poor thing. Your mother as well." Her hand flies up to her mouth at my words.
"Shhhh." I pat her back when she starts to sob.
"You shouldn't have disappeared on me then steer trouble." I drop my weed and pull a small pistol from behind me.
"I didn't!" She yells when my hand linger on the trigger of the gun.
"You didn't what Tina?"
"He was going to rape me. I had to run." I lower the gun and blink at her.
"Who?"
"The one with the scorpion tattoo. As soon as you left, he tried forcing himself on me. I had to run." My eyes narrow at her words while she sobs beneath me. I think back to Michael making suggestive passes at her that fateful night and rage peaks.
"Don't lie to me." I growl at her.
"I swear to God. I didn't want to leave. I loved you. Till do. I only managed to get away from him that night and ran till I got to an highway.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I never told my brother or anyone what really happened. He just assumed--"
"Michael!!" I scream even before Tina finishes her story. The bastard comes running into the room like he's been expecting me to call him. Stupid Bastard. I raise the gun at him and for the first time in my life put a bullet into a man's chest. Three bullets actually. His body hit the ground with a thud before I look back to Tina.
"Call your brother. I need that case dropped." I instruct her.
"Promise me you'll never let me go again." She says and I nod. I'm not. She might not be Frances but she's my redemption. I'm going to give this smaller version of my wife all the love I couldn't give Francesca.