Death's Game - Episode 9

 

Previously on Death's game

*****
"I don't like you like this" he mumbled. Thank heavens I could hear well, I almost missed it and just when I was going for a sarcastic remark he held a hand up "let me finish" he sighs and drags air into his lungs like he is about to explode. "I really like the one that was to happy, inquisitive, annoying and caring." He paused looking me dead straight in the eyes before he continued "I know killing changes people but I don't want you to change . That's my job. You have gotten under my skin I can't help it no matter what I try" I am so confused right now my face was a mess, he sighed again and picks off from where he left.
"I want to take it all. Your pain, suffering and hurt. You see I needed a light in my life and Milianda Gramm, you have become that light.
*****

**
"Hey Milianda," a sweet monotone voice reached my ears, I held my breath.

OMG, it was Tom. Tom Stevens looking so perfect as usual. His black hair tied to the back although it didn't stop a few from falling against his icy blue eyes. He was hot with a body that was not too skinny or buff, but you could tell he worked out from the biceps he had under that grey t-shirt. After all he was the captain of the soccer team.

"Hi Tom," I blushed trying to keep my voice casual

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/death-s-game

. It wouldn't be the first time I got a 'hey' from him or even a wink but it was the first time he had approached me and I couldn't contain the excitement boiling in me.

"Um," he laughed nervously, "you are really cool and hot you know." I'm hot? I could die right now. "I was thinking, would you like to be my girl?" A slight smile graced his lips.
First off, please let this not be a dream, let this not be a dream, let this be real. He was asking me to be his girlfriend. I wanted to do a dance, I had been wishing for this since I first laid eyes on him. This was too much and my face was not doing a good job at hiding it, I even wanted to shout out YES.

I tried composing myself and went for a cough. Now I looked ridiculous."Sure." I finally answered, still trying not to sound urgent but then again I failed grandly.

"You are so cute," he smirked. "So we could hang out this weekend then."

It wasn't a question but I still responded anyway. "Yeah."

**

He called me his light. Was he serious? Of course he was. It wasn't even a question because of this cursed sensitivity I had going on. I could smell it, his sincerity, it hit me like a truck. I was speechless. It was almost too rare for me, and the time you need your sarcasm to work to make light of the situation, it chooses to neglect you. Real nice brain.

"Mil, I need that girl back." Derick's hand found my face, his hand strong, rough and comforting. He cradled my face, tilting my head to meet his eyes.

"You are lying." I hit his hands away. This was my denial phase. I didn't need to believe whatever the bond felt. "You are lying," I repeated. I still didn't want to believe the buzzing feeling at the back of my head. "I am no light, you don't even like me." I looked him straight in the eyes. "Remember? I'm a pest." My voice was low.

"I know you can feel it, my sincerity."

"How am I sure you aren't just faking it? After all, you know more about this death thing than I do." Anger and frustration began to boil in me.

"Calm down Mil, I'm not faking. The truth is that I liked you since you slapped some sense back into me." His eyes became distant as his lips turned up into a smile, as if remembering something, before they found mine again. "I couldn't stop myself from falling and I couldn't help the feelings, even after you went rogue on me." He took a step forward and I took one back.

"T-Tom..." I stuttered. "He lied to me." I couldn't control my emotions. "Don't you dare lie to me!" I glared but my voice pleaded. I was desperate because I liked him too, tears pooled in my eyes.
"If you want me to change just say it, I will, but don't say you like me for such a stupid reason." I pushed my two hands through my hair like I had gone mad. I wanted to run. I looked to the left then the right, there was a clear path but just when I was about to dash away he grabbed me by the waist.

"Don't run from me," he pleaded, his green eyes searching mine. My body was shaking violently, I was going to break soon. I struggled out of his hold or at least I tried to but he held me firm and pushed me against his chest. "I made a mistake treating you like that when we first met," he whispered into my hair kissing my scalp. "You are growing on me," he kissed my head again "and I will never lie to you."

Then it happened. I burst into uncontrollable tears. "I killed them."

"And I don't blame you."

"But I killed them!" I cried violently, clinging to his shirt like it was my last lifeline.

"Shh" he cooed, combing my hair with his fingers. It took time but I finally let it out, all of the cold, frustration, anger, betrayal. I was lightheaded and when I turned away from his chest I saw people eyeing us curiously. I was sure they might have been thinking, "Why were they fighting, such a cute couple." To add to the drama, we were still at the front of my house and strangely I found it very funny. I threw my head back and laughed. It was the first genuine one for the past few days.

Derick looked amused with one eyebrow raised.

"People will think it was a relationship thing." I answered his unspoken question.

"And it's funny, how exactly?" He smirked "It is a relationship thing."

"Well I don't know. Don't go ruining the moment," I pouted playing with a finger. He always made me act childish. He rolled his eyes and I stared in fascinated shock.

"Guys roll their eyes too?" I pointed towards the direction of his eyes. "I should have known". My face twisted in wonder. Then the most beautiful thing happened, he laughed. This time he didn't stifle it in a cough, it was full of life. It made my body shiver in warmth. I blushed.
He smiled.

I looked away from the intensity of his eyes and settled on his broad chest. "I'm sorry about your red shirt."

"No problem, plus who said I didn't like your germs?" he smirked.

"Oh no you didn't just call my beautiful tears germs," I shook my head. "You should be happy I decorated that ugly plain shirt!" I turned my face away.

"Yep, I definitely hated the shirt too," he chuckled, bending down to wipe the tears off my face. He smelled really nice. I found myself leaning to his touch and taking a deep pull of chocolate and rain. I could eat him.

"Want to see someplace?" He asked grabbing my hand in his pulling me away from the porch.

"I haven't answered yet."

"Oh, but that's the thing. I don't really need your permission, it was out of courtesy."

"Yep. Chivalry is screwed. Big time." I commented to myself but he must have heard me and chuckled deeply. I wasn't complaining that his big hands wrapped my small ones, in fact the warmth radiating off him was getting addictive. It flowed from our hands to my head, toes and my insides. That was how Derick Stawking made me feel.

"I'm thinking you are planning on killing me yourself." I faked panic as he pulled me into the forest close to my home.

He smiled down at me. He was tall, a little bit over than a head taller that I was, leaving me amazed almost every time. "Wouldn't that be inconvenient for me?" He asked.

"Well yeah, unless you made a deal with death to unbind us. Wait is that possible?" I was thinking out loud. He tensed, I almost missed it, he relaxed almost immediately.

I wasn't going to press. "So where we going?"

"Somewhere."

"Somewhere where?"

"Nowhere."

"Are we seriously playing this game of where?" He nodded.

"Still thinking I plan on killing you?" He asked.

"Yes"

"Just what I wanted to hear," he said picking me up bridal style. I giggled.

"Put me down murderer!" I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Can't let my victim work and tire herself," he moved on and we fell into a comfortable silence with I watching my foot dangle and he looking down at me once in a while.

"Close your eyes. We're almost there."

I shut my eyes quickly, I loved surprises, it was just so exciting. He chuckled. Then
his posture changed, it was almost like he bent down for something and then I could hear something rustle. I clung to him tighter, burying my face into the crook of his neck till he stood straight and tall. I wanted to peep now. I wonder, what will it be? I was jumping in my head like a kid about to get a present for the first time in her life.

"Open your eyes, 'child that is too excited'." I ignored his overly dramatic statement, even though it was a little bit true. Who was I kidding?
I opened my eyes immediately and winced at the ray of light that blinded me for about a minute.

"Careful," Derick dropped me on my feet.

"You should have told me that earlier," I scoffed, slowly adjusting to the light.

"I wasn't the one all excited." He raised his hands in mock surrender with a smirk on his beautiful face. I blushed and kept shut. The boy was right.

OMG. I could see now, and what I saw looked surreal. "It's so beautiful!" I leaned against Derick, taking in all I could see.

There was a freaking waterfall and it gleamed as light danced on the clear blue waters below. Fishes swam and flipped above water, but that wasn't all. The place sang paradise, as light streamed in through the holes the leaves of each tree created with the steady wind. It almost felt like a disco ball except this one was exotic, illuminating every flower, every branch, every bird, every crawler. It was breathtaking even as I moved towards the cliff. I felt like Simba in the Lion King, with a rainbow created by the waterfall. I was standing at the edge of the world. I started laughing, joy gripped my heart as I turned to face Derick who had moved to the edge with me.

"How did you find this place?" 

"I wandered in here the day after my death. Well I was planning on committing suicide."

Derick, commit suicide? Would never have pegged him as a coward. 

"It has been my haven since then," He finished.

"Does anybody know about this place?" My eyes couldn't stay still. I even glanced at woodpecker feeding it's offspring.

"No. You are the first," and for some strange reason I felt relieved. Wait what? I just processed that information. He said I was the first to see it. My heart was beating so fast as I stared into those forest green eyes of his, looking just as beautiful as this place, and I knew at that moment that whenever I looked into his eyes I would see this utopia. Then he held my face with both hands and leaned in.

"I've always wanted to do this," he whispered. Then his lips met mine in soft bliss. The world was no more. We were the only ones that existed at this moment and time as our lips moved against each other in perfect rhythm while his hand slid down towards my waist. Then he stopped, his lips left mine still tingling.

"I really do like you." His gaze held mine and the taste of his sincerity shook me inside out. I spun around quickly, trying to hide my red face when a rock shifted underneath my feet and I started to fall. He caught me on time.

"Don't you dare let me go!" I panicked looking up from him to the not so existent below.

"Just hold on, I'll pull you up," and he did. He pulled swiftly and for a second, I forgot the drop and felt like I was flying till he wrapped me in his arms.

"Come on, let's go home before you embarrass yourself some more," he chuckled then mimicked me. 'Don't you dare let me go!'. I am so screwed. I face palmed myself and walked back home with him, hand in hand.

"I had fun," except for where I nearly fell. I smiled despite that.

"Had fun too," he smirked, "especially when -"
"Yeah yeah we get it, move past it already." I rolled my eyes. He was such a jerk.

"Wanna come in?"

"Nah, I'll pass your parents' harassment for now. Need to do something."

"But you are a jerk, shouldn't affect you much," I teased.

"True, but not today. I'm a little tired after the whole saving the damsel in distress thing. I deserve a break, don't you think so too?" He had a cute pout on his face. Annoyingly adorable. I sighed. His ego needed a thorough breakdown.

"See you in school then," I waved turning to leave but he pulled me back to him and planted a kiss on my lips.
"Something to think about," he whispered then walked off, although the smile never did leave his face.

"Darling! Where have you been? Didn't even know when you left." Mum eyed me cautiously.

"Mum, I'm just coming in. Geez! Let me at least breathe the suffocating air of this house before you start asking me questions. Just so you know I wasn't up to no good, in fact, it was too good." I smiled at my horrible punchline and walked into the kitchen to help out with dinner. I worked on the sauce and meatballs, leaving the pasta to mum. I was a big fan of cooking and I liked my sauce spicy, the way my family liked it.

The food was ready in no time and I was setting the table when the bell rang. It was 7:30pm, so who the hell was at the door?

"Darling get that, I'm going to call your dad for dinner." Was she paying attention to the time? Mothers are supposed to be suspicious, not leave their daughters to get kidnapped, even though I had ninja skills. I sighed and walked towards the door, peeking through the peephole to see Derick standing there.

Read " Eve " by the same author ( Amy Maduka )

. What is he doing here? I pushed open the door and anger, frustration, worry, sorrow, love, and sadness hit me all at the same time. I clutched at my stomach. A deep groan escaped my lips as I met his eyes. They looked distant.

"What's wrong Derick?" I heaved and moved closer, grabbing his face in my hands, searching for what I didn't know. I was Milianda after all. "Talk to me!" I shook him slightly. It wasn't normal for someone to have all those emotions without a severe breakdown. I wanted to cry for him, he was in pain, in grief and I could feel it all.

"They...they a-are b-back," he stammered, his eyes still distant.

"Who?" I swallowed still panting. I couldn't bare it, so I shook his shoulders forcefully, desperately trying to get his attention.
It worked. His eyes were now focused on me, locked with mine and all I could see was pure horror before the words finally left his mouth.
 

"My parents. They've found me."