Fame

After several minutes of contemplating the pain he endured, Panashe eventually decided to stand up. He dragged his body towards the floor and the added burden of pulling his gear behind him. 'How the heck do I truly use this gear?' He asked himself as he reached the stairs. Everything was back to normal and even the lighting in the whole building had improved.

Munashe had been called by the UAEC to the public hospital and he was getting nervous being surrounded by masked men. He never asked what they wanted but had agreed to meet them.

"Munashe. Care to explain to me how you found that they used the red van?" the captain asked.

"A friend of mine had his network of friends looking for the people who had attacked my diner."

"You think I am going to believe that bullshit. There is a larger game at play here and I am nothing but a side character. You and your friend are trying to solve this quicker before me right? The woman friend who appeared out of nowhere when I had the only operational suspect. She nearly killed me but then didn't. I wonder why?"

"First of all, I don't know what you are talking about and secondly my friend is a white male. Here is his picture and the message he sent.", Munashe showed the message to the captain who cursed out.

"Then who was that woman? Okay new plan. Munashe I don't trust you at all so you will also be under supervision from now onwards. Whenever you leave you workstation you call us and we will send someone over. You are free to leave."

"No I'm not. I feel like a prisoner with added perks. You want me to abide by your rules I will take myself off the case."

"Then we will arrest you as the main suspect of our little case. I don't think your little mistress will like that."

"It's fine. Someone bring the cuffs."

"Someone cuff him. And we are taking him to the UAG. They will lock him up for good once I say so."

"Come on people hurry up. We need to get this out of the way."

Munashe smiled as he placed his hands in his pocket and retrieved his phone. He then sent the recording to Mr Reed without alerting the UAEC members.

One of the UAEC members cuffed Munashe and they walked him out of the hospital hoping to humiliate him. As they waited for the airship to arrive the captain got a call and he answered.

"Hello."

"Yes ma'am we have a certain man in our custody who is a major suspect to the case."

"I am sorry ma'am but I can't do that."

"Excuse me ma'am. How is it possible that...."

"Fine."

After what seemed to be a monologue with himself the captain uncuffed Munashe himself and told him to get out of his sight. Munashe smirked as he walked away knowing that Mr Reed had contacted the council.

"Captain, what just happened?"

"That was from the governors office. He told us to let him go."

"But the governor is under UAG. We outrank him sir."

"You idiot. We don't have any evidence against him. And don't ever think you are above the governor. Apparently Mr PI there is recommended by the governor. He played us but he is not the enemy."

"Well that sucks. Let's call for more troops."

"Nope. Let's disappear for a while. We do nothing to solve this case."

Panashe had managed to get out of the flat and everyone was shocked. They managed to help him back to the diner and reported everything to Ruvarashe who got angrier but couldn't do anything and dispersed the children. She waited for Munashe to come back because it was only him who could solve the case but he came back late and didn't have the time to talk.

Panashe was woken up by the city noise early in the morning. He slept on the couch in Munashe's apartment. He did his usual morning routine and prepared for school before Ruvarashe stopped him and examined him for wounds.

"Okay you are good to go."

"Thanks." he replied but noticed that something wasn't right. "What's wrong Ruvarashe?"

"You children are way in over your heads. Next time you get into trouble please call first okay."

"Yes. Goodbye."

Panashe left the diner feeling lighter. He knew that his option to follow Munashe was quite dangerous but he made peace with it. The thing that weighed him down was the fact that he killed something. All the way to school he couldn't shake it off.

He spent the whole day at school distracting himself using Allen as a way out of his small guilt. Allen had tried asking but was never answered. Allen was happy that nothing had happened to Panashe but he got suspicious when Panashe never mentioned anything to him about what had happened.

After school Panashe didn't go to the diner but went to Mupedzanhamo underground market. He went straight to the old man who had given him the gear. After the greetings he asked the question that bothered him.

"I need to ask you something regarding the gear I have. Is there a deeper manual or any reference to use it?"

"Ask Mr Reed kiddo. I just make things."

"That's why I came to you sir. You probably know more about it."

"Let me send you something that's better than the manual then."

Panashe received a message on his VCB and parted ways with the old man. The several looks he got from people in the underground market made him suspicious. Not knowing why he left for the diner.

Nhamo and Mr Fear were sitting in Mellisa's apartment when the digital witches showed up. They were pretty confident as they greeted the two most wanted beings in Mbare at the moment.

"I didn't think both of you would come here. Anyways we would like to know what you people are doing in the city?" the female who resembled the leader asked.

"That's none of your concern witch. We are here because my man said we owed you." Nhamo spoke as he revealed his anger. He wasn't pleased by the witches at all after the mission they gave his niece.

"I am not asking you Nhamo. I am asking your associate there because you lack the brains to pull this off."

"Nhamo is correct. We will not reveal anything to reckless people such as yourselves. We are here because we owe you and wouldn't want you as enemies since our plan is about to conclude. What do you require us to do for you?" Mr Fear asked as he continued to keep his face from being seen.

"You are an anomaly correct. We would like you to capture a predator anomaly for us."

"You mean the one you angered. I will not do that. I thought you'd be proposing something reasonable because we never asked for you to help. Nhamo we are done here. Let's leave."

"I got what I want creature. All that is left is to bring you with me."

Nhamo didn't wait for an invitation and launched himself towards the witches knocking two out with his bare fists. Mr Fear watched as Nhamo took all the witches down leaving Mellisa and the leader standing.

"Don't worry witch. We won't kill any of your kids who are keeping an eye on the roofs. Mellisa pick a side." Nhamo said as he took his place close to Mr Fear. Mellisa didn't take time choosing as she stood behind the witch.

"I don't think what you are doing is right uncle." Mellisa said but she was also conflicted by her decision.

"Then we are done here. And if you witches are clever enough don't let the UAEC catch you. Ask her how rough they are." Nhamo said and walked out with Mr Fear behind him.

When the two had left the room the head witch spoke into her VCB.

"They refused Humba. It seems like we won't be able to get the predator anomaly."

"I heard everything. My team is spread all over the continent hunting for special anomalies. You will have to come up with a plan of solving this dilemma on your own."

The VCB made static before shutting down. The woman looked at Mellisa and also walked out. Mellisa knew what was required for her now. She had to make up for her failures. She was considered the young captain of the digital witches because her combat abilities and her digital literacy were very impressive. She was trained by the leader herself and had hunted with house Humba before but as soon as she was made captain things were becoming hard.

"Get out of my apartment. Prepare yourselves because we are going to finish what we started on Sunday." her voice had become so cold and determined.

Panashe walked into the diner and saw Mr Reed having supper with Munashe and Ruvarashe. "Hey guys." he waved his hand and turned to face the stairs but Munashe called him over.

"Well aren't you the most motivated hunter in the underworld. Come sit next to me." Mr Reed said.

"Well my boy you are now the most valuable individual on the black market. Look here. You are now on top of the digital witches young captain." a screen had popped up in the air and Mr Reed kept pointing at the number sixteen.

"This is the board for people younger than thirty and guess who would've been number one if he didn't run away. Munashe but right now it's dominated by some guy from house Humba. Since we are not allowed to use names we this all you get."

"Is it a good thing then?" Panashe asked.

"Yes and no. Yes because since you represent Dzimba Dzemabwe foundation a lot of the members who had deserted or were in hiding will be drawn back into the spotlight and the digital deserts will be full of hunters again. No because Humba will target you as the best man Munashe has. So watch yourself out there. Okay off with you the grown ups are speaking." Mr Reed managed to shoo off Panashe and they continued their supper.

"Now then Munashe how will you deal with the UAEC. I don't think I can persuade the governor next time. It seems like helping the police paid off this time."

"The UAEC will get Nhamo and the digital witches. All I need to do is to keep them away from anomalies. We wouldn't want our governments trying to exploit these monsters for their own personal gain."

"Well said but what's the plan here. The actual plan?"

"Catch Nhamo and expose the witches by solving the kidnappings first. That's why I need you to find Nhamo."

"Well too bad for you because they weren't at the power station and they have never been there. They left that van there to bait us and we fell for it. I think they were targeting something else."

"You were outsmart ed Mr Reed."

"I know that. I will keep my eyes and ears aware."