Chapter Twenty One

Tonight looks like a busy night. Many customers trickle in and the club feels hot even with so many fans around the temperature is still high. Am sweating and I decide to go for a quick spray of water in the washrooms to wash my face.

"What plans do we have for that Alexa bitch?" I heard a familiar voice ask and I was alarmed. So I changed my plans and got into one of the empty washroom.

"I was thinking we should waylay her one of these fine days." The other replied. I guess they were just the two of them.

"What do you mean, you want us to kidnap her for the second time?"she asks before she flushes the toilet.

"No we just beat her up this time just to teach her a lesson. But I won't mind killing her to keep our secret safe. I mean no one knows what we did to Mercy. So in case she suddenly gets her memories back we are in for a big trouble and I can't let my reputation go in a drain just because of an idiot who refused to die," she furiously flushes the toilet too and I could hear them wash their hands.

"So when are we doing this coz we are working different shifts with her."

"The weekend will be perfect. I will have someone follow her around and inform us of her whereabouts before we strike. Do we even know where she lives?" She asks as they leave the washrooms.

"We have never thought of finding out," the other replies and I follow them hastily I need to act normal and present myself like I didn't just hear someone plan on kidnapping me.

"What took you so long girl, do you have a running stomach?" Trini asks

"I guess I ate too much," I reply faking a smile and she notices.

"Are you sure you are okay Alexa? You look like you are hiding something," she pries.

"As far as am concerned this is a fine version of me. You worry too much mummy dearest," as soon as I mention mummy, my mind literary stops.

Do I have a mother and is she a nice person? Does she worry about me the way Trinidad is worried right now?

I need those memories back. Speaking of which I haven't seen Lee anywhere in the club and am tempted to ask Trini but then I brush it off coz she will make a big fuss over it.

"Hey your friend over there is asking for you,"Lyn tell me as she moves over.

"Which friend?" I ask and guess who he points at... Lee

Now I believe in miracles.

I head straight to Lee with this smile on my face. Just so happy to see him. Despite everything I walk straight to engulf him in a hug burying my head in his chest. He smells good and I feel safe right here. He holds me tightly to him and asks if am okay. I guess I took him by surprise that he can't believe am hugging him in the presence of all these people. I also can't believe I did that so I untangle myself and tell him I was happy to see him.

He looks at me confused and I took advantage of that to walk away before he could say anything else.

The girls look at me when I get back to the counter and they hit me with a series of questions that am unable to comprehend.

"Are you dating him?" Trini asks

"When were you planning to tell us you finally fell in love?" Lyn asks

"How long has this been going on?" Trini asks

When did you two get engaged and where will the wedding take place?" Lyn asks

One question after the other and I have no chance to answer so I just walk past them and helped myself to a glass of water while they just follow me with their eyes waiting for me to answer them. And am not planning to answer them coz its none of their business anyway.

They finally give up when Mandy and Christie came for more rounds for the customers and am left in peace. The rest of the night moves smoothly.

Today will be a busy day for me. So my schedule is quite tight such that I won't get time to nap. I need to start with Lee its my highest priority. So immediately we finish the morning duties I snuck out without the girls noticing. I gotta be careful with everyone around me coz of what transpired in the washrooms last night. So I head to the station and hopped into the waiting bus and it zoomed off immediately. I sat there anxiously wringing my fingers until the guy who sat next to me had to ask if I was okay pointing at my now red palms. That's when I had to take deep breaths trying to convince myself that everything was okay.

I hop out of the bus and looked around for a minute. Anything suspicious. Saw non and I literally ran towards the house.

I went straight to bathroom to bath before anything. And few minutes later I had my sports wears. Fitting yellow sports wear and white sport shoes. I picked my bag and went into the kitchen to take a bite of breakfast before I head out. I ran into the girls coming in and they were surprised how fast I got here. I didn't tell them where I was really going, to run errands was a perfect excuse. Off I went headed to the bus station to take me to Lee. I was so nervous but eager. Today something good will happen. I will get a hold of who I really am. A part of me doesn't want to be Mercy hopefully I won't be her.

Am outside Lee's hospital and as I take measured steps towards the elevator I could feel the temperatures rising with each step. The elevator dings and opens I press the 3rd floor button and it swallows me for few seconds the dings to open at my destination. Lee's office is situated at the furthest corner on your right.

The office door is open and Lee is busy in his phone when I knock he gestures me to go in while he tells the caller he has a client waiting.

"Alexa! Nowadays you are quite punctual I suppose you can't wait to get your old self back huh.." He crosses over to hug me.

"Am just a patient like any other who can't wait to get better. Isn't that human enough?" I tease and he laughs lightly before ushering me to a seat.

"So far we are making progress and by the way I worked all night trying to fix my machine to be able to let you hear the conversation. But one major thing is that the machine can sense when someone is nervous just like I can tell through your sitting posture." He points out

I look at my posture with embarrassment and try to adjust and sit comfortably.

"Damn, you really are nervous. I can't believe you are just sitting there quietly. Its so unlike you. Did anything happen yesterday-night?" He asks and I shake my head.

I don't know what is wrong with me. Am too nervous and paranoid at the same time. Maybe I should have started at the gym but its too late for buts.

"Here," he hands me a glass of iced water, "take this and try and calm yourself down otherwise there is no going in the machine, you will have to go home just the way you came." He says and I panic. I can't go home without finding things out just anything. So I have to do this.

I rise up and walk towards the window holding the glass.

I take two huge gulps of water, closed my eyes, took deep breaths and counted all the way to a hundred. That's how much nervous I was. Fortunately by the end of it all I feel my calmness is back and I signal Lee to begin.

He comes immediately takes a syringe and saps the contents and empties it on my arm.

It immediately kicks in and I swim to the world of mystery.

Am in class, I guess a medical college because the lecturer is dressed in the white over coat and has the clinical stuff hanging over his neck, his hands are covered in gloves and has eye glasses. Looking around everyone in our class is dressed in uniforms. Ladies wearing blue dresses and half sweaters while the guys are in grey trousers, white shirts, and maroon cardigans.

The class ends and we head out, am accompanied by four familiar humans. Guess who?

They seem harmless and so happy around me you can't tell their plot.

"Hey, Mercy we know you are heading to the library to study, the rest of us are heading to home to change from this stupid uniform then we will be heading to town to get some weed. Should we bring you some?" Damn! I can't believe that Miriam just called me Mercy.

No! No! I can't be Mercy, I just can't be her!

Am still connected to the machine so that means I can still continue.

I get back and close my eyes again. This time I find myself in a dark place, in a certain familiar bed. This is Tyson's place where we used to pick our junk for sale. So what am I doing all strapped up in a bed with several drips connected to my system? Then comes the unmistakable voice at the door before it cracks open.

"Sixty thousand is the deal. Are you sure if she wakes up she won't remember us? We don't want trouble," she asks

That's when it all comes back to me. Now I have my memories back the most important ones.

I called out to Lee to disconnect the machine. And he comes looking surprised.

"Did something happen in there?" He asks as he disconnects.

"Yes Lee, my fucking memories are back and I have to go now," I gritted my teeth that got Lee scared.

"Alexa, you look so murderous now. Please calm down and explain to me what happened in there," he asks kindly.

The name Alexa now sounds ridiculous to me I almost shouted at him that am not Alexa but Mercy. But I need to slow down.

"Am sorry Lee, I have to run somewhere. How long have I been here? My schedule was quite tight," I ask reaching for my bag.

"Close to two hours I suppose," he replies dejectedly

"Hey, I got some of my memories back, just a crack of it. I still don't remembered so much stuff but I have to be somewhere right now, preparing for a war. See you tonight at the club." I peck him and hurried off.

"Alexa, did you just say war?" I heard him call out just before I close the door. And whispered "am not Alexa in the inside baby. This is Mercy in disguise".

I boarded a taxi and headed straight to the gym. I need tips on how to tackle my enemies.

Few minutes I was hopping out and once I paid the driver I couldn't even wait for change. I ran like I was being chased by a monster.

"There you are Alexa, I thought you weren't coming today" he says and I roll my eyes at the name in the inside. Outside I smiled at him and was like

"Don't say you missed me that much dearest Jim,"

"Aparrently I did, you wanted to learn some karate yesterday are you still in?" He asks

"I never go back in my word honey, you should know that by now," I told him and he just laughs as he leads me to the boxing room.

I can sport some fighting stuff lined up in a glass-like cabinet. From helmets, hand wrappers, teeth coverups, gloves the heavy ones, knee wrappers, bandages etc

Then there is the douche bag. That gets me warmed up and excited. I have always seen this on TV when heavyweight champions work out or when fatma zarika was practicing.

"Girl you look like you can't wait a minute longer. Did someone threaten your life?" Jim jokes and I give him a murderous look.

"Goodness gracious so someone is actually preparing for a war. Okay, do you have change of clothes or you are okay like that?" He enquiries.

"Am good. Now let's get started before you become my douche bag," I tell him sounding murderous and he raises his hands up in surrender.

An hour later am exhausted and sweaty. I have been punching my anger out into the douche and my arms hurts a bit. Am calmer now and I feel I can handle whatever is in store for me tonight. Considering that my schedule is halfway I got to run back home for the rest to fall into place. So I bade Jim good bye and head out. Since I didn't hit the treadmill today, jogging all the way home won't be a bad idea at all. I know I will be kind of exposed but its okay. Just in case of anything I will not use my headphones, listening to anything is part of being cautious. So I spring at that moment and head home.

Twenty minutes later am home so exhausted and I head straight to the bathroom to wash off the sweat. The water is so refreshing and brings a bit of my energy back.

After am done I put on my sweat pants and strapless top. I check my phone and find a text from Ryan. "Ready to shop?"

I think its perfect timing.

"Fashion house, in twenty minutes" I text back

"On my way" came the reply

Half an hour later we are busy looking for the perfect fit. Am looking for a perfect outfit while Ryan is looking for perfect gloves and mask.

I sport a black leather panther suit and I loved it. This is definately what I have been looking for.

"Can I please try this?" I ask the attendant.

"Girl, you have taste and class," she says giving me a genuine smile, "come on let's go this way I will help you try it on," she adds.

Its so perfect, I look at myself in the mirror and I can't help but smile. Everything fits just fine. I guess its my lucky day.

I walk out to show Ryan what I got and he is amazed.

'You look awesome Alexa. That's so perfect and guess I got a matching gloves and mask. Here try them on." He hands them to me.

Click! Click! Ryan just took a picture of me.

I walk back to the changing room to look at myself. I look like shuri in black panther. Am a fighter.

"Wakanda forever," the shop attendant shouts and I couldn't help but laugh. It kind of feels good.

I remove them and hand them to the attendant to take them to the counter and pack them for me as I change back to my sweatpants and stuff.

"I can bet it cost you a fortune," I tell ryan as we walk to his car.

"I was was worth the fortune. Just make me proud tonight," he says as he opens the back door and puts the clothes over there.

"We forgot the boots." I hold my mouth

Argh.. How could we, I guess we got too excited about the suit. Come on let's go back, lucky for us we are just outside," he holds the small of my back and I almost jumped

"Whoa! Whoa! What was that about? Did I scare you?" He knits his brows

"Come on let's get going," I ignore him and went ahead.

"Hello did you guys forget something?" The previous attendant noticed us

"Yes please, can we get boots to match up with the outfit?"I politely asked

"Yes sure, come this way," she gestures us to follow her.

"Which colour would you want? I can bet it matches well with either red or black. But I recommend red if you asked me," she says.

"What do you think Ryan?"I turn to him.

'I don't know so much about fashion but I think she is right," he says

"Red it is then," I say as look around for a perfect red boot. Wedge is comfortable since I will be on stage.

"Over here!" The lady calls out.

She is holding a gorgeous red wedgy boot.

This is it. Try it on.

"Girl you got fashion sense," I praise her and she thanks me.

"Perfect" I tell them as I walk around testing the waters. I love them.

Ryan left with the stuff and I head home to prepare. I only have an hour but I requested Ryan to adjust my schedule a bit to make me more comfortable. Working under pressure right now sucks.

Am home, volume is in full blast as I dance around trying recent moves and dancing styles. Singing at the top of my voice while at the same time cooking supper for Hazel.

My recipe of hot water and lemon almost half of the glass remaining. From a whole litre. I hope my bladder will behave once am at the stage.

"Damn girl! You nailed it for a minute everything came to a stand still when you hit that note. Customers forgot to order and we forgot to serve just to enjoy the moment, and it was so amazing," Lyn excitedly narrated.

I had just finished performing and was heading off the stage to go get myself out of the outfit, mask wig and all. My seconds of fame were over and I was back to being the peasant. The club was still singing and dancing to the after math of performance and were almost causing chaos demanding to see my face. However the bouncers and security detail that Ryan gave me were quick enough to prevent that.

Am back to my uniform and no makeup and as soon as I step out of the room I meet Ryan who is all smiles.

"I was waiting for you. Come you should see this," he leads me to his office. "We streamed the live performance and look at the response," he turns his laptop towards me.

"Are you kidding me? You didn't tell me it was to be streamed," I glare at him then I turn to see the video and the anger I was feeling just vanished.

"Five million views in three hours? Six million comments and likes and still counting? Wow! Unbelievable," I lament.

"You are talented Alexa. Maybe you should come out of the shadows next time," Ryan says and I shake my head so vigorously that it felt like it would break.

"I can't do that right now, my life is quite a mess so I can't add more to it. But when its all over I would gladly come to the limelight in flesh and skin,"I respond smiling like a zombie.

"Great! So as promised your cheque is ready and I added something little for appreciation and corporation. Thank you for letting me down, dear black panther," he smiles and bows dramatically.

"By the way looks like the hash tag in the video has that hash tag. How did it end up there?" I ask suspiciously

"I had posted earlier the picture I took at the fashion house and created the hash tag black panther and wakanda forever."

"What!?" I exclaimed

"Please don't kill me," he says and puts on a scared face. It got me laughing instead.

This night has been my best nights ever. I felt and walked like a queen. And when the queen speaks all the rest sit down. Now I have one final agenda. Making those bitches pay for the damage they have done before I reclaim what's mine. For now i'm'ma be Alexa till the last bitch falls. With that I drift to sleep till morning comes.

"Wakie! Wakie! sleepy head," that's Trini waking me up.

"Its already eight in the morning?" I gasp

"Yeah girl you overslept, we didn't want to wake you up from your beauty sleep, you were tired from last night so why not let you enjoy it a bit huh.."

"Thanks Trini I really needed that beauty sleep. Where is everybody?"I ask

"I can bet they are all home safe and sound. Am also leaving so I suggest you do the same." She says and I feel awful that am the last one to leave despite having all that beauty sleep.

I pick my belongings and pack them into the bag,stepped into the bathroom and washed my face. I look at myself in the mirror and am good

to go.

#########

Today being a Friday and thinking about what's gonna happen to me tomorrow I decided to make use of Mark. My target is Miriam. I fish his card from the many I have collected and made a call. I bought a burner phone earlier just for the sake of my underground operations.

"Meet me at sky park, I have a job for you". I called and changed my voice by putting a handkerchief over my mouth.

I already have a picture of Miriam in my hands and I have written down what I want him to find out about her. All her details actually in general. And I want a photo of her tonight in her house.

At sky park I used binoculars I bought on my way to sport him. Then I loomed around and sported a young street boy sitting by himself and I walk up to him.

"Hey there, how about fifty shillings for a favour?" I ask and he jumps up excitedly

"Here take this envelope and give it to that man over there and don't tell him anything else. Just delivery."

He nods and goes after I hand him the money and I jog past him and made sure the delivery was smooth.

I jogged all the way to the gym. My fighting skills would come in handy soon and I want to be ready for it.

The fight just began.