A tale of Aladdin

"Many years ago, there lived a man," Iyare started telling her story looking at Cece casually like she did not just slap her. She looked like a peaceful angel.

Cece felt petrified by her sudden transformation. Everyone else in the room had complex emotions; they were unsure about what was going on or what Iyare had in mind. But there were all curious about her story. "You can call the man Aladdin since he was a thief just like in the fairy tales." She continued her narration.

"Did you watch Aladdin when you were a child?" Iyare asked Cece, giving her a warm smile. Iyare's smile sent a shiver down Cece's entire body. She was at a loss on how to respond to the sudden question.

"Unlike in the fairy tales," Iyare continued her narration without waiting for Cece's responses. "He was an assassin. A very good one at that. The type that never missed his target.

His boss was a drug lord. He was dealing with cocaine and illegal weapons. Aladdin was his boss, right hard man. He always delivered a perfect result on any task given to him.

Like Aladdin in the movies, he meets a girl. She was not a princess or an heiress. She was just a common girl, but she was his princess.

Aladdin fell in love with his princess, and the need to keep her safe became his ultimate priority. Before he met her, all he cared about was making money and spending his night with random women.

He knew the nature of his job was a significant threat to her safety. So he decided to quit his job. Of course, his kind of job was not the type to drop a resignation letter. He knew the only way out was death, but he was willing to risk it all for her.

He stole from his boss and travelled to a faraway land. He wanted to state afresh and give his princess the peaceful life she deserved. He stayed for so many years without contacting her. It was for her safety since he knew his boss would try to find him. After staying away for so many years, Aladdin decided to reunite with his princess, but he couldn't find her. He was later informed that his beautiful princess was dead. Aladdin was heart broke but lived on in his newfound life.

Years passed, and Aladdin grew old and lonely. He never touched another woman again; how could he? He was not able to protect his princess from death. Maybe it was because of the lifestyle he had lived, so even his pure love could not keep her safe

Then one day, Aladdin got the shock of his life. He found out that his princess, who should have become his queen, was alive, and they had a little princess together.

A princess that lacked the love of a father. He was shocked, but he was too ashamed to approach them. He felt he was too late and hated himself for giving up his search so quickly.

Then just like in the fairytale, Aladdin's friend betrayed him, and he was embarrassed by the cold hands of death. Poison by the hands he trusted.

When the little princess discovered her father, she was excited to meet him; she thought about the possibility of finally having a father to love and protect her. but all that welcomed her was his cold and lifeless body." Iyare finished her narration.

Tears were running down her eyes. She was not sad but angry. She was mad at life for being so unfair to her. Angry that those selfish people have won so many times already.

"Do you know who the Aladdin in my story is?" She asked Cece, her voice becoming frightened like before.

Cece's lips moved to answer, but no words came out. She suddenly had a lop in her throat. She was petrified, and her head was blank, losing all rationality. She could already guess who the Aladdin in the story was, but she did not want to believe it. She and Charles had covered their trace; she did not think that Iyare, who was not at the house at that time, would discover the truth a few days after her arrival.

"I will give you a cue", Iyare said, half smiling. "Wait! Why don't I just tell you the name of his trusted friend, the one betrayed him? I am sure you will get the cue better, right? Iyare asked dramatically.

"The name of his friend is Charles," Iyare announced, and her eyes turned red again.

Cece's body immediately felt weak when she heard Charles's name. She had expected Iyare to call her name since she was her late boss's most trusted steward. 'How did she know so much?' She asked herself. Her hands were shaking, and she lost the last bit of composition she had gathered.

"Did you feel powerful when you poison your boss for your lover?" Iyare asked. Her voice was calm, but it was scary at the same time.

Cece gathered all her courage together again. She tried to convice herself that Iyare was only making speculations. How could she discover the secret that was supposed to follow her to her grave? Cece thought

"I don't know what you are talking ab... Ahhhhh* a loud cry escaped her mouth before she could finish her statement, feeling the slap she had just received. Iyare did not stop at one slap; Cece's head moved from right to left following the rhythm of Iyare's hand. Cry of agony filled the entire room as Cece could not bear the pain.

Her delicate face was beading so much, tears running down her cheek that could not be controlled no matter how much she tried.

"Did you feel proud of yourself for a job well done? So you decided to play the same trick on me. Did he not tell you about the fire in NG? Iyare asked with a smirk.

Cece was totally dumbfounded. How did Iyare know this much in such a short time? How was it possible.

"Did you not feel the least scared of a person that escapes fire without scares?" Iyare asked. Her eyes were as red as blood, and the hand she was not using to hit Cece tightened into a fist.

The others in the room were too shocked by the revelation to do anything. Like Cece, they did understand how Iyare had so much information.

"What would you do if you were the little princess? What would you do to those that took away the only opportunity you had to have a family?" Iyare asked as she stopped slapping Cece. She used her right hand to lift Cece's head so she could look her straight in the eyes. Iyare looked like someone who had gone out of her mind.

Cece kept quiet; she believed that silence was her best option. She was sure Iyare was trying to make her talk. If she does not say anything, Iyare will keep her alive, hoping to get information from her.

Josephine felt cold sweat running down her body. Iyare was not talking to her, in fact, Iyare had not spared a glance at her since she entered the room, but she felt scared by the sound of Iyare's voice.

Iyare picked up a keen knife and played with it. She was passing it from one hand to another. Cece was frightened. She could see the murderous grin on Iyare's lips

"It's true what they say; the dead don't talk," Iyare said out of nowhere. Before Cece could understand what she was saying, Iyare walked to her, bent down to be the same height as Cece, and whispered in her ears.

"Do you want to hear a secret?" she asked, and without waiting for her (cece) response, Iyare said. "I died in the fire." Cece's eyes widen in shock. Her eyeballs almost fell off their socket.

No one in the room heard what Iyare whispered into Cece's ears, but the horrifying looks in her eyes spoke volume.

"What did she mean by that?" Cece thought, 'was she talking figuratively?' but before Cece could put her thought together, Iyare stabbed her in the heart. "Say hello to father," Iyare muttered, standing up straight.

The face of everyone in the room turned into that of horror as they watched Iyare push Cece's chair, which crashed to the floor, and blood oozed out of her like a flowing tap.

None of them anticipated Iyare's action, they were shocked to their bones, and they all fell into a daze watching the scene that just unfolded.

Iyare took a deep breath as if nothing had just happened. She felt satisfied watching Cece struggle to live. "Abel get me Cece's secret phone," she ordered.

They all snapped back to reality, and Abel stepped out to do as he was told.