Beautiful Mask - Episode 23

Simon:

"What the-" caroline's brother's words get cut off as he sees me. He

lip is cut and i smile in satisfaction.

"s-s-s-ir"he stammer.

"You animal. Why the fake tears? I know everything you did to your

sister." I say punching him again.

"Am sorry. I really am. Please lets talk else where. I don't want my

mom to hear this. She just had a heart surgery she isn't strong enough

to hear more badnews" he pleads while clutching his bruised jaw. I am

tempted to tell his mother about everything he did but i don't want

her to suffer because of this miscreant so i agree.

"Follow me, i have been wanting to reach you for some time now but i

am so scared of sir kelvin. I don't want to end up like khalifa." he

says. At the mention of kelvin i stop following.

"Wait! What do you mean kelvin? What does he have to do with all this?"

"come with me and I'll tell you everything." he says. I hesitate for a

minute. Who knows if he is trying to trick me or set me up.

"Look, i watched khalifa get beaten half to death. If i didn't

interrupt the bastard who was beating him up

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/beautiful-mask

. He would have died."

"What are you talking about? Khalifa isn't dead? I didn't kill him?"

"he wasn't dead the last time i saw him. Few days after he tried to

rape Caroline and failed, khalifa came to me and said sir kelvin wants

to give him more money. He asked me to follow him. For protection."he

says

"so he survived the beating i gave him?" i ask and he nod.

"i followed him there and hid behind a house. I watched as the scary

guy brought out a gun and shot khalifa's left hand. I was so scared. I

couldn't do anything even when he started beating him to a stupor."

"oh my God. Where is khalifa now? I have to see him."

"i don't know where he is now. After the scary guy left him to die, i

was able to drag him home. But, b-ut i left him there. I was so scared

so i went into hiding."

"Have you seen him recently?" I ask. If i can find khalifa, i would be

able to prove that i didn't kill him.

"No sir. I went to his house some days ago and he wasn't home. The

door was open and no one was home. I think kelvin might have taken

him. I am next. I can feel it." he ramble on but i don't pay him any

attention. I still cant believe that kelvin can do something like

this. We have been friends since childhood. Even when his father

betrayed my father, we still treated him like family. How could he do

this to me? To Caroline? To my baby?. I cant believe Beatrice was just

the smaller of two evils. Kelvin is the real master mind. He turned my

mind against Caroline. God, i want to strangle him right now. He must

pay. I turn around too fast and i almost plant my face on the ground.

I am still drunk but this whole thing has sobered me up alot. I steady

myself and storm off.

"Sir. Where are you going? You have to help me!. Please don't tell the

police about my involvement" caroline's brother yells but i don't turn

back. I hail a taxi and make sure i give him the right address this

time. Kelvin's address. Its time i get some answers.

**********

"kelvin! Come out." I yell and start hitting the gate continuously.

"come out you bastard. You are going to pay for all you have done come

out. Damn It!" my knuckles are already sore from knocking on the iron

gate so hard. Doesn't kelvin have a gate man?. I have been calling the

bastard and he hasn't been picking up. Beatrice! Yes, I'll call

Beatrice. She should know where kelvin is. I find her number quickly

and video call her. I want to see the look on he face when she lies to

me about kelvin. It rings for a while that I think she wouldn't pick

up before she answers.

"Hello" she says. Her voice sounds strangely familiar. I hear her clear

her voice.

"Simon are you there?" she asks and my anger returns. I look to the

screen and see her face. She is wearing a hospital gown and her face

looks different but i don't know what's different about it. My drunk

state must be the reason why she looks different to me.

"Where the heck is kelvin?."i ask and she looks stun.

"what?! Why would i know where kelvin is?" she asks, shrugging nonchalantly.

"stop the act okay? I already know about kelvin's involvement in that

video, Beatrice. So you better start talking!" i yell down at her.

"Calm down Simon. You don't understand."

"Then make me understand, Beatrice. Why are you and kelvin so hell

bent on ruining my life?. Do you even know what that bastard is

capable of?" i ask. Beatrice may end up like Khalifa. I may not be in

love with her but i care about her.

"Listen to me Beatrice. You better tell me where he is or I'll call

the police" I threaten. Her face contort in horror and she stands up.

"Simon no! Don't call the police, promise me" she plead

"are you that scared of going to jail?"

"reporting to the police would do more harm than good". I am about to

say something when i hear kelvin's gate open. I turn to look who it is

and come face to face with Beatrice.

Read " Intoxicated Romance " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I clean my eyes to make sure my

drunken brain isn't hallucinating. She is still standing in front of

me looking shocked. What the heck is going on?

"Simon please, promise me. I'll explain when i come back to the

country"the voice on the phone says and i look down at the screen.

Yeap Beatrice is still on the screen. I look to Beatrice again then

listen to the voice talking on my phone. How many Beatrice are there?

"Beatrice? Aren't you in America?" i ask.

"umm. I-- do-. Bye" she stutter and run off. I don't run after her

though. I look down at my phone and see the call has ended. What the

heck is going on?!

I came here for answers but i am now more confused than i came.