My only addiction - Episode 35

 

Arya's POV
It was enjoying the comfort of my soft pillow when I heard vigorous violent knocks...At first I thought it was a dream until I lazily opened my eyes...The knocks were continuous....

F*ck!!!!!
" Jackie????" I called her softly only for her to pull the duvet over her head....
"Jackie???" I shook her vigorously,"I think there is someone at the door..."

"What???" She sat up and rubbed her eyes vigorously...
"Can't you hear the knocks????"

"What time is it???" She yawned and looked at her phone...
"It's only 1am....I hope that person knocking like this is their house has a very important reason of waking us up..." She rolled her eyes...

"Grab the bat and let's see who is there..." I suggested....
"What if it's a thief????"
"We beat him to death.."

We tiptoed to the door and when I opened it my heart fell right through my flipflops....Andrew's eyes were swollen over and bloody spit drooled over his slack jaw...

"What happened????" I asked his friend Ben who wasn't badly hurt himself...
"There was a riot downtown and Andrew got beaten up by the police...."
" You could have taken him to the hospital..." I scolded him...
"He told me to bring him here...."
"Okay..."

He was more purple than brown.. His arm was wrapped around his guts like he's holding them in

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/my-only-addiction

. His clothes were also an utter mess...

Ben helped me get him to bed and my lips trembled just looking at him..There was a conflict inside me.. How was I to be strong for him whereas there is a raw need to weep welling up inside me...

"Why do you love putting your life at risk???"
He tried to say something but his cracked lips fell at the first syllable..

"You lied to me you were out of town...."

"But can you blame him???? A seven year old was shot by the police yesterday..." Ben tried to defend him only to get a sermon from me...

"Easy for you to say, you are not badly hurt...Look at my brother, he looks like he has been ran over by a truck...He needs to understand he can't save everyone..."

"But this is too much Arya, we have to force change..." Ben wasn't the type to back down from an argument...
"I can't lose him...He has to be selfish for me..." I yelled at him that he flinched...
"I will get going Arya, there is a protest tomorrow morning and I don't want to miss it...This is our community and it's our duty to keep it safe..."

Jackie came back to our bedroom with a bowl of warm water, cloth, bandages, disinfectant and a first aid kit...
We carefully cleaned his wounds and bandaged him up..

"He is gonna be okay short woman...." Jackie squeezed my shoulder and I just nodded wordlessly....

In the morning he seemed slightly better but his left eye was still swollen. I bet he won't see anything with it for roughly a fortnight...

"Hey???" I held his hand in mine...
"I want you to take place in today's protest..." He stammered and I was taken back with his words...

"Andrew it's a high time you understand we can't save everyone...The reason we live on this other side of the slums is because Nick wants us to be better people...."

"What about that seven year old shot yesterday????It's a high time we take action..." He said between clenched teeth, groaning in pain...

"I want you to learn to be selfish...."
"This is our community Arya, if you are in trouble today the same people are gonna help you...I want us to bring change..."

"But you are okay, why do I have to protest????"
"Because if you don't, I will go back to the streets and die fighting for the betterment of our society..."

"If it makes you happy, I will..."

"Thank you Arya...The next time, it might be me..You never know.."
"Don't say that...." I cussed out on him...
"It's the truth Arya....I fight for my people and won't back down...You either in or out..."
"I am in..."

"What????" Jackie thundered behind me...
"If it's what's Andrew wants then I will do it...."
"Then I am coming with you..."
"No, you will stay here and take care of Andrew..One of us three has to be alive to tell the story.."

"But protest can be unpredictable...What if you get shot???"Jackie stuttered...
"Then I will die knowing I fought for our people..."

I could see admiration from Andrew's right eye...
"That's my sister...."

*****
It was a peaceful protest until it got out of control...
"Stop killing us like dogs!!!!"
"We need justice for Samson.."
"The police should stop killing innocent people..."
"Not everyone from the ghetto is a gangster!!!"

Suddenly came flashes of anger, jeers and shouting...

"Arya, stay close to me...." Ben stated.
"Okay..."

When I looked around not only did I see angry faces but there was pain written all over their faces.

Read " Binded by friendship " by the same author ( Fideh Mwangi )

. Andrew was right, we need to force change.. They were sick and tired of their people been killed like dogs and it was our duty to defend our people....Cheers to dying for a good course...

When I searched deep within, I was like an enraged panther as the image of my hurt brother stuck in my mind....We need change...

I wasn't Michelle Obama and I wasn't close to been even a quarter of what Oprah Winfrey is but I am a bitter angry woman....

"My people????" I shouted on top of my voice on top of a car...They all stopped what they were doing and looked at me....

"It's time we bring change...We should say no to police brutality and massive shooting of our people...Let's do what's needed....Our lives are important...Living in the ghetto doesn't make me a thug, gangster, drug dealer or even a murderer.....Something good can come out of it..."

"Yes!!!" There were screams in the crowd...
"Justice for Samson and as a sister my brother Andrew Almasi is nursing his wounds back at home....God knows I am mad and all I want is for none of you to ever lose your loved ones in the hands of the police...Let's bring change...."

"Yes!!!"
"Justice for Samson!!!..."
"Something good can come out of ghetto!!!!..."

"Wow!!!! good job..." Ben whispered to me after helping  get down from the car.
"We need change..." I beamed at him...

My nostrils burned from the smell of burning rubber  and smell of gasoline...There was burning of cars, looting, smashing and destroying property with no thought of whom it belonged to...

The police eventually showed up and there was a violent fight between them and us...
Tear gas was unleashed and some ran for their lives while others were ready to die for change...

The police were finally outnumbered and they had no choice but to retreat....We began singing praises throwing stones at them and returning the teargas back to sender.

  Little did we know thousands of police officers were brought to our streets...

More violent confrontations erupted between rioters, looters and the police. People began falling to the ground like  hails as the police didn't seem they were willing to listen to our grievances....

Gunshots were fired in the air but we weren't moved....

"Arya, we need to go...." Ben grabbed my hand...
"Why????"
"We are going to die....We are outnumbered Arya...."
"But they are everywhere..."
" I know a way...."

It seems forcing change was harder than I thought....We began running for our lives as gunshots cracked into the air as loud as thunder....

Suddenly Ben stopped in his tracks just when the police were unto us.
"Run, I will distract them...."
"You can't do this...I am not leaving you..." I cried out...
"Run!!!!!I will be okay...."
"But...."
"Run!!Run!!! I rather have me hurt than you..I am doing this for Andrew."
"Take care...."

I continued running and when I turned back to look at Ben, he was on the ground his hands over his head as two police officers viciously kicked him and beat him up with a riot baton....

"I can't leave him...." I said to myself...

I turned around like a coward and began running towards them when I felt like someone had chunked a small pebble at me...

I looked at my arm and I was bleeding profusely...

I looked at my arm again and then at Ben who lied unconsciously just few metres away and said to myself,"It's now over..."

I staggered to where he was and knelt beside him...
"Ben???" I tried to shake him but he wouldn't move....
I lied there beside him, fading in and out consciously saying my last prayer.

I was waiting for a white light or the feeling of my soul lifting or a hand reaching out...

*****
I slowly opened my eyes  squinting in attempt to sharpen the blurred images before me...I glanced around and took in the white colour schemed hospital room...

The room was silent apart from my heavy breathing...
What happened???? I shut my eyes to try remember when it all hit me with a bang...

Damn!!  I got f*cking shot ...Where is Ben??? He should be here beside me...The memory of how brutally he was beaten occupying my mind.

I tried to sit up but there was a stinging pain from my arm...

"What are you trying to do????" Nick came running to me...
"Where is Ben????" I stammered...
"He is in a critical condition...What were you thinking????"
"I needed justice for my brother...He was beaten up yesterday..."
"You got shot Arya, what if you died???? You are lucky it's not that serious..." He scolded me..

"Ben saved me....He got beaten up because of me..." Tears dripped from my eyes..

"Do you know how scared I was when I got a call that my sister is on Live News instigating people????" He held my hand in his.
"I can't lose you and Andrew, you mean the world to me..." He added up in a hoarse voice...

"We just wanted to force change..."
"You two will have to learn to be selfish...I am working so hard for you guys so as you don't be nothing...I want you two to be something great in the future not fighting for people's rights..."

"I am sure if I was the one who got shot you would be in the streets..."
"Yeah but until then I don't ever want to see you on the streets.." He said in a commanding tone...

I was about to preach to him about sticking together as a community when we got interrupted...

"Hello???" Malcolm flashed me a charming smile,"I hope I am not interrupting anything..."

"No sir, please come in..." I beamed...
"This is my brother Nick and Nick this is Malcolm Raina..." I added...

"Nice to meet you Nick..." They shook hands gracefully and his attention turned back to me..

"I thought you were smart and beautiful but I never thought you could be crazy and careless. What if you got killed????" I present to you another Nick...
"Tell her...." Nick backed him up...

"I was forcing change...." I said dryly..
"And look where you are now..I didn't literally believe it was you shouting on Live TV.." Malcolm shook his head in disappointment.
"Am I fired????"
"Of course not..."
I sighed in relief....

"I will give you guys a minute...." Nick stated and we all just nodded...
"Miss Almasi???"Malcolm sat beside me and enfolded my hand between his," It's good fight for what's right but through the right channel.."
"But my brother got beaten up yesterday.."
"I know but what you did was reckless and stupid..."
"I was forcing change..."
"That's an excuse Miss Almasi...I want my intern safe and sound..."

"I....."
"Arya are you okay???" I was interrupted by Ethan who slammed the door open with Troy beside him..

"Are you okay???"He ran towards me and Malcolm had no choice but to step back..
"Are you mad???" A tear fell on my hand,"Do you want to kill me???Do you know the torment I have been through???What were you thinking Arya???"

Before I could answer, he continued...
"I said I would fix everything then why would you want to leave me???"
"What if something bad happened to you???" He rested his head on my neck and I could feel it getting wet .
"Don't ever scare me like that...Without you I am nothing...."

"I am okay Ethan...I just got shot..." I rubbed his back soothingly... I could see Malcolm looking at us confusingly. I bet he didn't understand how a simple girl like me had such an effect on a celebrity like Ethan..It happens brother...

"Arya Almasi, we need to have a moment with you..." One of the police officers who were standing at the door requested...

Ethan pulled away and started charging towards them when Troy held him back..
"A moment???One of you shot my Arya..." He raged...Damn, I have never seen him so mad.

"Officers I am Malcolm Raina, her boss...Can we sort this outside???There is no need to bother her, she has been through a lot already..."Malcolm explained as he walked towards them.
"We just needed to interrogate her..."The other officer replied...
"Shut up fools...." Ethan shouted.

"Troy put him in check...Come, let's talk..." Malcolm placed his arms around the police officers' shoulders and walked them out.

"Calm down Ethan or you will get Arya into more trouble..." Troy shook Ethan by the shoulders..
"Okay, let me go...."

When Troy freed him, Ethan walked back to me and sat beside me...
"I am glad you are okay..." He intertwined our fingers...
"Me too...."
"Arya you ever give me a scare like that again and I will strangle you...I literally walked out of a meeting..." Troy said standing beside Ethan...
"I am sorry BFF...."
"It's okay...I will give you guys a minute..."

When Troy walked out of the room, I bursted into laughter...
"What's funny???" Ethan asked confusingly.
"I didn't know you cared that much for me..."
"You are my Arya, if anything would happen to you I would die..."

He bent his head forward and pressed his lips in my forehead,"Thank you.."
"I love you so much Ethan...."
"I know..." His lips dropped from my forehead to my lips, rubbing them soothingly.

His lips crushed with mine when we were rudely interrupted again...
"Miss Almasi???" I heard Malcolm's voice behind me...
  Ethan pulled away awkwardly, raking his fingers through his hair...

"Yes????" I answered in a whisper, rubbing my lips weirdly.
"The police officers will not be bothering you anymore...I sorted that out. I am glad you are fine...My driver will bring you some fruits and foodstuffs required later, see you next week..."
"Thank you so much sir..."
"I want my intern healthy and fit. Remember it's wise to always use the right channels...Bye.."
"Bye.."

When Malcolm left the room, I noticed Ethan had been clenching his fists all along...
"Are you jealous of Malcolm Raina???" I teased...
"Is he courting you????Has he asked you out????" He asked between his clenched teeth...

"No...he is my boss...But I wouldn't mind if he did. He is handsome..."
"Don't dare!!!!" He warned with a straight face,"Or else I will kill him. You are mine Arya Almasi..." He emphasized every statement.

"Hurry up then before the bus leaves..."
"Are you trying to make me jealous????It's working..." He rolled his eyes at me.
"I wouldn't be making you jealous of you didn't make it complicated Captain..."
"Don't try me Arya, I can be a monster when need be...."
"Ain't my business...."

He was about to answer back when Nick and Ian walked in...
"Captain, what are you doing here???" Nick seemed surprised to see him.
"When I heard about your sister, I just wanted to give you moral support..."Ethan answered softly...

If he only knew the nasty things he does with his sister...
My inner goddess giggled just by the thought of it.

"That nice...The rest of the team is also waiting outside...I am glad you all came, it means a lot..." Nick stated..
"I am glad you cheated death Arya..." Ian smiled at me.
"Me too Ian..." I smiled back at him.

"Ian, I guess we should leave now and let coach spend time with his sister..." Ethan placed his arm on Ian's shoulders and before he could open his mouth Ethan walked him out...

What a jealous freak!!!!

"It's seems you are demand little lioness... Three men came running to you the moment they heard you were hurt...I am jealous..." Nick began teasing me.
"They all want me but I only want you...The best brother in the whole world..."
"Mum's and dad's death broke me...If I lose either you or Andrew the remaining strong piece of me would break...Before you do something reckless again, remember that I would get hurt..."
"I promise..." I squeezed his hand.

A/N Hey smile squad...I hope you loved the episode...Have you ever experienced police brutality????