CHAPTER SIXTEEN

My breath came out in clouds of smoke before me as I jogged down the empty streets, I cursed Neil for forcing me to go running in this cold weather, but I also thanked him as it gave me some time to think on how to deal with Lizzie.

I had timed her for the past three months; from the time she enters the school grounds to the time she leaves them. She is mostly with her friends during school time, then the only time she’s alone is when she either goes to the bathroom or during her tutor lessons.

I decided to choose her as my tutor so I could silently kill her, I was to start my tutor lessons on Friday and then I would leave the next day before anyone could notice her missing and I. But I just had petty obstacles in the way, like; Lindy, Neil and Nwosu. And I cursed myself for getting attached to them, especially Nwosu who stilled hadn’t said a thing to me.

A scream echoed through the empty streets making me slow down, one thing I had come to know about this area is that devils resided here. People looked all high and mighty, painting the image of a perfect world, but I have seen what they put in that paint that is used to paint their perfect lives; stealing, murder, rape and fraud. But I wasn’t the one to judge, I mean I am not a saint myself.

“Please…don’t” a female’s voice pleaded and me like the naïve brat I was, I walked towards that same alley and what I saw was something I could not relate with but that didn’t make it any more pleasant; a man probably forty years older than me with thrusting into a girl who looked like she was constipated. And just then my heroic side decided to grace them with her presence.

I pulled the man off the girl and without a thank you or a bat of her eyelash, she ran naked out the streets “Ahh…” the man groaned as he tried to stand up but failed miserably, I effortlessly tsk at him as I walk towards him, I was eager to try out the new moves I forced Neil to teach me “Well, I was just looking for some fun…but you will do” I said.

He coughed and looked up towards me, his eyes lingered on my chest more than on my face, but I brushed it off and pulled my arm back before I pushed it towards him in a punch, and I felt like someone was invading my thoughts causing me to quickly pull back.

The man laughed and I frowned but omega’s voice rang in my mind “His power rank is nine, he is able to read people’s thoughts and go through their memories. He has gone through all your memories” it said and I looked shocked at the man who was laughing like a mad man, but I did not miss the way his hands trembled in what I knew was fear.

“You laugh at me yet you shake in fear” I stated causing his laughter to die out, he looked at me and sadly smiled “I’m going to die at your hands of course am afraid” he said as he willed himself to sit up straight “unfortunately” I mumbled and pulled a crate to sit on, I sighed not liking this one bit. I was just going to beat him up but now that he knew everything about me, he needed to die.

He sighed as well “The path…” he started and I waited patiently for him, I was in no rush neither was he “the path you have created for your self involves a lot of things that you do not know, things that will leave you with scars so deep that not even stitches can close them. This path is bound to cause a river made of blood to flow, screams and pain to echo and be engraved on the ground, everyone will be a possible target; no one can be trusted and no one is to be kept close. I have complete faith that you will get through everything, but that is what scares me. It scares me that fate had to do such cruel things to you and you were able to meet them head on, it scares me that you can easily lie and act happy when you feel like the entire world is against you, and it scares me that you can do what you do and be so eager to move on,” he trailed off and looked at me “you scare me” he finished.

I looked blankly at him, he spoke the truth, but knew nothing and no one would save him. I wasn’t ready when the beast of the man opened my eyes to the cruel world, but I promised myself that I would get myself ready. Every time the beast of a man came to torture me, I was afraid and braced my body to be prepared until it remembered the type of pain of whatever he used on me. My body embraced the pain like a starved child ravishing food. Pain became my only friend.

“I pray you change your ways and become happy” he whispered and I laughed at him “like that’s easy” I said standing up as I started hearing people getting ready for the day “and for your information, I will be happy when I see all of them dead” with that said I grabbed him by the neck and sneezed him with my Malien strength and bionic arms before he could even fit.

I walked out of the dark alley with a heavy heart as what the man said echoed through my mind. And I remembered the rules I set out for myself; trust no one, depend only on yourself, don’t get attached, and don’t forget who you are. I repeated them as I made my way back to the apartment.

I was in a daze the entire day, but I manage to keep my smile intact though everyone could see right through it, even Neil wondered what was wrong and I could have sworn Nwosu was about to ask the same thing, but kept quiet. And Lindy was a loud and cheerful as ever, that she did not even notice because she cared about no one but herself.

It was Friday, the day I was going to kill Lizzie and the last day I would see Neil, Nwosu and Lindy. That day I did not smile nor laugh, I felt like I was under water that I did not even pay attention in class. By the end of it all, I was going to the class where I would have my tutor session with Lizzie, but a muscular milky hand was placed on my shoulder and the familiar warmth spread through my body, I already knew who it was but right then I just wanted to be alone, drown myself in my thoughts and kill a girl.

He dragged me to an empty class and I willing went along with him “why are we here? Is something wrong? Wait! Don’t answer that, you won’t even talk to me!” I rambled which was like a norm every time I was alone with Nwosu, I hated how he made everything seem normal when it wasn’t, but I could not deny that I had grew a liking towards him.

He smiled knowing he had an effect on me and I nervously chuckled taking a step back but only for my butt to meet a table, he took a step forward caging me, not like I was held hostage but I liked been close to him, in that moment I couldn’t help myself and I hugged him, hiding my face in his warm muscular chest causing him to tense but eventually he relaxed in too my touch.

I do not know what in the devil’s name caused me to open my mouth but I wish I knew “I’m leaving tomorrow” I said and he tensed again forcing his arms to fall to his sides as he took a step back, he frowned at me like I caused him physical pain, I never wanted to cause him any pain but there I was doing exactly that. But I told myself it was for the best.

I spoke what I had practiced for four days “I found my biological brother and father in Area sixteen, they did not know that my mum had me, but I got in contact with them and they want to see me” I scared myself when I said that with a face of pure agony, again I had to tell myself that it was for the best “how long will you be gone?” a deep yet gentle voice said and I looked up like I saw a ghost. He talked. Nwosu talked.

I opened and closed my mouth like a mother finding out her daughter is pregnant, whatever rational thinking flew out the window when he spoke those six words, his mouth moved again and I could not withdraw my eyes from them but even in my daze I was magically able to hear what he said “Pay attention boo, this is serious”.