A woman's dilemma - Episode 32

 

Daniel:

 Claudia doesn't say another word even after we enter Tina's hospital room and find her curled up on her side. I bite my cheeks mildly to try and stop from spouting things she doesn't want to hear right now. Oh, how I wish I can just tell her to hell with the acting. I want the real deal with her. If only people will stop showing up when we are having our moments and stop giving her the impression that all my show of emotions are all acting . Me being an actor doesn't help my case. She thinks everything I do is acting.
"She's asleep I think." I say quietly when I can't stand the silence anymore.
"Yeah. I have a feeling your sister is hiding something." Claudia looks up to tell me and I frown. I look back at my sister's still form then back to Claudia.
"What are you talking about?"
"The burn on her chest. Hot water burnt her? Really?"
"What are you getting at?" I almost snap at her for calling Tina a liar. I mean the kid has been through too much already.
"That isn't an hot water scald. It's fire. I think."
"Fire? Really now." My lips form a harsh line at where I think Claudia is going with this.
"Listen to me. It makes more sense than the story she gave us

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

. Her hands were shaking too much. She got up at the crack of dawn for a drink and you didn't see her? Did you even sleep at all that night?"
"I might have been awake but that doesn't mean I was aware of her every move that night." I defend.
"Listen to yourself! Your sister is connected with Francis! She might have--"
"Drop it!" I scream to shut Claudia up. Her eyes shine with anger but I don't back down. This is my little sister we are talking about. I've known her all my life.
"My. Sister. Has. Gone. Through. Enough. For. You. To. Accuse. Her." I grind out every word so Claudia doesn't miss anyone of it.
"You're being blindsided." Claudia stands up from her spot on the chair so she doesn't have to look up at me.
"No. You are blindsided. Your friend died in an accident. Give it a rest!? My sister does not have anything to do with that. Hell, maybe your friend should have thought long and hard before marrying a monster. She wouldn't have died if she---" Claudia's hand comes down on my face in a hard slap, blinding me for a few seconds. I barely catch the movement of her hand the second time and grab it before it makes contact with my face. Both our eyes clash and as usual, her angry face only increase my want for her lips.
"That's enough." Tina's weak voice breaks the bubble. I drop Claudia's hand and move a step backwards. Claudia's eyes pin Tina on the bed. I shake my head to warn her not to push it. She doesn't seem to see me though.
"It's enough huh? Did you think about that when you and Francis killed my friend?" Claudia's voice is as cold as ice water.
"Claudia--" I say in a warning tone. The hardheaded woman doesn't spare me a glance. 
"Were you even raped or you gave yourself willingly to a married man. Now you kill his wife to get to him." Tina's broken gasp ignites the bubbling anger inside my chest.
"Claudia!" I yell and the room goes quiet. But not for long. One look at Tina's tortured face stained with tears and my big brother instincts comes up. I can't let this woman hurt her further.
"I think you have to leave Claudia." Saying the words break my heart but I swallow the bitter pill. Claudia's eyes snap to mine and I falter in my anger. A stray tear falls down Claudia's face and I feel like someone is squeezing my chest. Claudia breaks the eye contact.
"You and Francis killed my friend. Was it so you both can continue your affair. To give your bastard child a father?" Claudia's voice sounds calmer than she looks but I can't let her remain here.
"That is enough. Leave. Now." I get all up in her face and point to the door.
"I'm going to make sure I get you and Francis locked up for life. You guys are animals. He would not be a free man by the time the election rolls over. Get my message down to him." Claudia tells Tina who is sobbing into her knees like a little girl. I feel torn between two of them.
"You are just like your sister. A murderer. Don't ever call me. I'm done with your charade." She says to my face before storming out of the hospital room as fast as she came into my life. 
 The door is slammed close but I can't take my eyes off it. I should just let her go. She's too hardheaded to see the truth. Tina, a murderer, impossible.
"Daniel---" I release a long breath before turning back to my sister.
"I'm sorry about that. She lost her friend and her sister is having some issues in her family." I make my way to Tina's bed, my mind still on Claudia when it shouldn't be.
"I want you to drop the case against Francis." I absentmindedly arrange the pillows on the bed.
"Don't worry we'll lock him behind bars and--wait what?" My head snaps up from my task to Tina.
"Drop the case." She says quietly, I feel I've misheard.
"I should drop the case." I repeat dumbly. She nods and I see red.
"Are you out of your mind?!" I yell at her. I practically see her face harden like I've never seen it before.
"He's the father of my child." She says like it is supposed to mean something to me.
"He raped you and six other girls. Probably killed the others. And you call him the father of your child. Are you out of your goddamn mind??!"
"Don't yell at me! I'm not a freaking kid anymore."
"Maybe you are! God! Tina!" I slam my fist into the pillow I was holding.
"Excuse me?" A manly voice interrupts my fuming and my head snaps back to the unfortunate person who couldn't choose a better time to interrupt me. My mouth practically hits the floor when I find Francis standing idly by the door. I really wouldn't have recognized him with his eyes looking so red and his face pale but the news has been so full of his face today, and I really can't forget the face of my sister's rapist.
"What the fuck are you doing here!" I lunge at the bastard and knock him down to the ground.
"Daniel!" I think Tina is screaming but I can't hear through my rage. I slam my fist into his face. Once. Twice. The third time, he dodges and my hand slams into the floor. Sh*t! Pain receptors shoot impulses to my brain, dizzying me with its intensity.
"You bastard!" I make to grab his collars but a pair of beefy hands clamp unto my neck. Francis pulls up to his feet, his face bloodied while I struggle to get free of the huge hands cutting the oxygen to my brain.
"Stop! Let him go! Please." Tina's cries filter into my hazy brain.
"Let him go." I'm pushed to the ground but thankfully released from the hold on my neck. Air rushes into my lungs with every forced breath. I have to shake my head to clear out my vision.
"Tina--" I cough out. She's clutched to Francis' side while a huge man throw all her things into a small bag. 
"What are you doing? Is he threatening you? I can help you candy." I use the nickname she always liked when we were just kids. We were so close back then. Our mother was emotionally absent at that time when our father walked out on us. He was gone for a decade without a trace and so was my mother, at least emotionally. Yes, he came back a few years ago to mend his family but the between Tina and I will always be there. I'm her protector.
"I'm sorry." She sobs but I notice she doesn't let go of Francis. 
"Why?" I have to know. 
"I love him. You'll understand if you love me. If you love the baby in my womb. He deserves a father. You can't let him grow up like us. Without a father." She says.
"That's just fucked up. He raped you and killed all those people. You said it. I already told the police. Don't go with him. I know he's threatening you. Don't do this. Please."
"He never raped me." Her voice is so small when she says this but I catch the words.
"He did." I insist.
"Raped?! What the heck is he talking about Tina and murder? Hell!" Francis sputters and I throw him a hateful look.
"I'll never do something so hateful." He says but I look to my sister. 
"He's saying the truth.

Read " Redemption " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I said all those things to defame him. If I couldn't have him, I wanted to hurt him. To---" Claudia's voice interrupts her in my head. I have to ask.
"Did you kill his wife?" I ask her.
"Wh--don't accuse me. That woman is crazy for thinking that. I was with you all night. How--how-- I can't believe you think I'll---" I rub the back of my neck to try to relieve the ache. I feel like a load is on my shoulders.
"Tina I--"
"No, I can't talk to you right now. Please get me out of here Francis." She looks away from me.
"Tina? Tina! Wait!" I try to get to her but the huge guy blocks my path with his mammoth size till they are out of sight.
"Drop the case." Is all the man says to me before he leaves as well. I'm left staring at the blank door.

SO I'M THINKING OF TAKING UP REDEMPTION 2 BACK AGAIN SINCE YOU GUYS SEEM TO WANT ME TO. I SUGGEST WE ALL GO BACK TO IT AND READ UP THE FEW EPISODES I HAD POSTED BEFORE TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE STORY AGAIN. 

# REDEMPTION 2 IS COMING BACK SOON.