Hope

A buzz woke Panashe up from his slumber. He was on the couch and there were several cups on the table in front of him. He remembered police had came over last night to question him and drop him off. The second buzz made him get up.

He walked towards the door half heartedly as he kicked over a few tissues that were on the floor. He opened the door and saw a male in his late twenties holding a recording device in his arms. "Good morning. My name is Munashe and I am a PI working to solve the kidnappings that have been occurring in Mbare. Mind if I come in." Panashe let the man in who just observed the room and stood by as Panashe came to sit down.

Panashe told him everything that had happened and the only part that had interested the PI was the part where bullets were deflected.

"Thank you Panashe. Oh by the way Takudzwa wanted to see you at the hospital." Munashe said as he stood up to leave. "I am sorry about Jess. We will do everything we can to get her back."

"What do you mean get her back?" Panashe thought she was dead.

"Takudzwa said they took her alive. And she wasn't dead."

Panashe begged for Munashe to take him to the hospital and he drove him to the hospital. Panashe rushed to the ward to see Takudzwa who had a few tubes going into him. "Takudzwa are you okay?"

"Yeah man. I would be better if it weren't for you and messing up."

"What ?"

"Jess told me how you were bad news. All this happened because you messed with Ron. We were having a wonderful time until she received the call. Why do you...." before he could finish

Munashe plunged a sedative into his blood stream.

"I am sorry man but this ain't no time to blame anyone. I am sorry kid." Munashe tried to comfort Panashe but his eyes were soaked with tears and he just turned away. 'Wow what a weird family.' Munashe thought as he looked out the window.

The delivery drones in the sky and all the noise from the streets truly revealed that these people weren't truly affected by what had happened the night before.

The kidnappings had been occurring for sometime now that the people didn't care anymore. It was now like a routine because the police had never gotten any close to the kidnappers. Panashe walked away from the bed. A man entered the room wearing a lab coat and Panashe remembered the face.

The man smiled as he drew his rod from within his lab coat. "How lucky I am." the man swung his rod and Panashe dodged by jumping backwards. The man kept swinging his rod trying to hit Panashe who kept dodging.

"Wow. I didn't know you were a good at dodging maybe you could have saved the woman yesterday." the man was amazed as he stopped his attacks. Panashe realised that Munashe had left the room with Takudzwa using the small door at the back. Panashe launched himself towards the man who dodged his attacks as if they were nothing.

"I see you got your fighting training from the police and your experience from street brawls. Let me tell you a hint kid. Experience beat knowledge." at those words the man swung his rod towards Panashe's feet. Panashe jumped up trying to avoid the rod but when he was in mid a kick made contact with his stomach which sent him flying and crashing into the hospital equipment. "Now you see. Experience is everything but sorry kid you won't get to use this advice." the man exclaimed as he lept towards Panashe aiming to strike his head with the rod. Panashe managed to roll dodging the attack but leaving him in a corner.

"Put the weapon down." Munashe revealed himself holding a gun that looked like a revolver. "That won't work."

Munashe pulled the trigger and a thick bullet left the barrel as it cut through the air heading for the man's head. The man just kept his rod close to his face and when the bullet got closer it changed its trajectory and it went into the wall.

"Nice bullets man. I was starting to doubt myself there." the man got into a stance to try and attack Munashe. Panashe picked a tray and swung it towards the man's head and the synthetic material had no effect as the man just staggered a few steps towards the window.

Munashe saw the and advanced forward whilst launching a fist that was blocked by the rod. The block had stopped the punch but a hissing sound came from Munashe's sleeve as his punch propelled forward sending his opponent out the window.

The crashing sound from the man falling made many people rush for the windows. Munashe wasn't shocked when he saw the man get up and leave knowing that Munashe won't be able to give chase.

"Why aren't you chasing him?" Panashe asked he got on the window trying to jump.

"Because he has back up. Look at the roof over there." Munashe pointed at several men who were standing on a rooftop. They were holding rods also. "It's not wise to give chase right now since it will result in our deaths. He came prepared but not well enough."

"Why didn't they all attack us?"

"Trying to avoid raising awareness. Let's leave before the police arrive."

"I thought you were a PI."

"Yes but there are somethings I don't want to explain to the police right now."

The duo left the hospital and avoided all the police officers in the hospital. Panashe had questions he wanted to ask but couldn't figure out how to do it. Munashe kept his eyes on the roof every chance he could get. The men had left by the time he peeked for the last time in the car park.

"Okay kid I won't be taking you home but let me interest in you in an offer. You want to catch those guys right. Here come to this address tonight." Munashe handed over a card to Panashe and he got in his car and drove away. Panashe decided to go to school rather than going back home.