14/15.
LOVE AND JUSTICE
EPISODE 14
Queen…
I was still feeling so weak, the torture I had gone throu-gh in almost a week had left me broken, not to talk of the hunger. Makasa made sure I was given only a hand full of food every day and he had vowed to punish me till I was able to tell him where Steve was hiding.
“If at all I knew where he was, I still wouldn’t tell you, you know why?” I looked at his face as he stood there to intimid@t£ and punish me for being stubborn.
“Trust me, I have been where you are, held up and beaten, everyone gives up Queen after some time, so will you” he responded instead with a hateful smile.
“I will tell you” I ignored his utterance.
“I love him, he makes me feel like a woman, he loves and respects me too and that is more than what you and your stupid goons are going to do to me” I spat in his face and he pushed me to the wall hitting my head I held it in pain.
“I will show you how to respect me you stupid b***h!” he yelled and he was about to hit me when a voice st©pped him.
“That’s enough Makasa! Do not treat a beautiful woman that rou-gh” the man who just saved the moment walked in and squat next to me wiping my tears and smiling softly.
“I like women, these people are what makes us men.” He looked at me and smiled the more.
“Do you want to get out of here?” he asked softly for a moment I believed he was a good person and was out to save me.
“Yes plea-se, let me go” I responded desperately hoping he was not teasing being nice.
“I know love, I see how these men have treated you badly, I would love nothing more than seeing you go home and be happy. But” he paused looking at Makasa and back at me.
“There is something I want you to do for me” he grinned
“I want you to tell me everything I nee-d to know about Steve, where he is hiding, who he is working with, where he has been and every little detail, then am certain I will see to it you get back to your house and get a nice bath and take a long peaceful rest” he smiled ru-bbing his foref!nger on my arm. I flin-ched back realizing the game he was pla-ying with me.
“Am sorry I can’t tell you a thing, like I have been trying to tell this man here, I know nothing about Steve or anything else” I uttered seriously looking at him. I was still trying to ascertain whether he was listening to what I was saying or not when I felt some piercing light in my eyes and I fall back down my entire head cracking with pain I held my face as I realized what just happened.
“Stupid b***h! How long do you think you will endure in here?” He raised his hand again to sl@p me and I lifted my hands to my face to shield myself. He sl@pped me twice more and I could bet he was worse than Makasa, I tried to look into his eyes as I cried in the hope he would have compas-sion but I realized his eyes were red and the stare he gave me made me swallow ha-rd in fear. I l@ydown flat expecting another beating but he stood up and nodded his head for Makasa to leave with him.
“Tomorrow get rid of her, she is wasting our time. We will use someone else to get to him” the man spoke as they both walked out I remained crying my hopes of seeing Steve again fading with each pas-sing minute.
The following day moved slowly, I bet it was because I had fed my mind that I was going to die. There was no more fighting spirit in me. I really wanted to stay alive to see my man again but my b©dy had given up I let my mind sl!pthrou-gh the hopelessness. I was laying there weeping softly as I waited for someone to come for me when I heard a lot of noise outside, it was some gun sh0ts and I crawled to the corner of the room holding my ears as the noise grew louder. I had no idea what was going on from behind the closed door, but whatever it was ma-king the men around the place scream and cry out in agony and in anger, the loud gun sh0ts blocking my ears I held them shut wimping like a dog.
I was still shoved in a corner when I heard a gunsh0t to the door and the door opened wi-de open. He walked in his gun pointed out and then st©pped, staring at me my heart st©pped.
“Here it comes” I sighed shutting my eyes and crying, h0t tears we-tting my cheeks.
“Queen?” his de-ep mainly voice mentioned my name I had to look up sharply to make sure my mind wasn’t pla-ying games for me.
“Steve?” I whispered weakly and he run to me holding me in an embr@ced I could feel his heart race and hitting strongly.
“Am here, you are safe now” he whispered k!ss!ngme as he held me on. I couldn’t hold him firm even though that was what I wanted to do because I was feeling really weak and broken, I felt like every bone in my b©dy was broken and I could not stand on my own.
He was still holding me as I closed my eyes crying on him when I heard a gunsh0t and surprisingly he pushed me down and covered me. I was so scared the worst had happened but then someone called his name and we left the building in a rush, he had to carry me as I could not feel my legs.
Seeing him walk back in the building made me want to scream for him to come back but I was too weak. I tried to st©p him with my hand but he waved me and run away as the man I didn’t know drove the car at a great speed.
I was attended to by the same guy, he lifted me like I was a piece of paper and took me in a strange house laying me flat on the be-d. He gr@bb£d a cu-p and poured some water for me and I gladly took the water thanking him with a sigh after I had finished the glas-s.
“He is coming, one of the guys was still inside and him and my boss have gone to help him, don’t worry you are safe now” he spoke softly and I whispered,
“Thank you” before watching him leave the room. I tried to look around the place but I couldn’t see anything familiar, only a pair of p@n-ts hanging by the small closet that I identified belonged to Steve. I let myself to rest and surprisingly I felt peaceful in an instant I was fast asleep.
I had no idea how long I had sle-pt but when I woke up I felt some pres£nce near me I startled p@n-ting.
“Hey, easy, it’s me love, am here” he whispered holding my forehead I opened my eyes to see his face.
“Steve?” I tried to move to look at him but my b©dy was so heavy, my voice only c@m£ out in a small wimp even when I so much wanted to say things to him. I think he noticed my struggled and he held me looking at me closely.
“you are going to be alright my love, don’t push it, I have called someone to check on you, am sorry they did this to you, it’s all my fault I could have not put you in harms away. You have no idea how much I regret bring you into my messed up life he spoke sadly and sincerely I could see his eyes tearing.
I slowly lifted my weak hand to his face and he moved it closer re-ading my moves, I slowly ru-bbe-d his cheek and the tears fall on my hand. Shaking my head I tried to st©p him.
“St©p” I managed to whisper after a lot of struggle.
“they will pay for this, I swear on my mother`s soul, I will not let anyone that did as simple as l@ytheir hand on you, go scot free.” he nodded his head b!tt!g hisl-ips in anger.
A few minutes later a man dressed in some clean formal clothes walked in and started checking me. Opening my mouth, my eyes and checking everything about me.
“She is dehydrated, she has been expo-sed to harsh conditions and obviously beaten I can see bruises on her b©dy. “The man I figured could be a doctor spoke softly
“Can you help her?” Steve asked looking at me.
“She nee-ds to be taken to the hospital, she is too weak, she seem to have low blood too, she is too pale” he shook his head.
“I paid you a lot of money so that you can help from here. I want her well don’t give me the bullsh*t of taking her and my men to the hospital man, do your job dammit and make sure she is up and kicking in no time” he raised his voice.
“Hm.” the doctor sighed
“I will do my best, clean her up and I will be right back to connect her to a drip of water and bring some antibiotics and pain killers.” He instructed and I felt Steve`s strong hands lift me up.
“am going to take care of you my woman till you get better, soon you will be as good as new. So what do you say I bath you huh?” he chuckled removing my clothes I simply looked at him, I had no strength in me to say a thing so I simply let him work.
After an hour I was well cleaned up and laying on be-d a drip of water connected to me. I was fade some soft porridge and I felt much better as I fall asleep again. All the time, Steve never left my side he kept whispering how he would avenge me for what they had done to me. He would hold my hand and as-sure me all would be well, and inside my heart I believed him. I knew right that minute the man before me loved me beyond what I had ever imagined, in fact I doubted he knew he was so much in love with me himself. It seemed he felt obliged to take care of me but I could see it in his eyes. That pure love and concern. I prayed I got better soon to tell him how much I loved him and appreciated his care and for saving my life.
I woke up feeling stronger, I looked around and he was not in my room.
“Steve!” I called his name but it was silent. It seemed he wasn’t nearby so I tied to lift myself from the be-d surprised I could at least stand though my legs where still shaking a little. I walked to the door and st©pped in my steps seeing who was standing there watching me as I st©pped instantly glaring at his serious face.
“plea-se don’t “I let a small scream but before I could run back inside he stepped forward holding my hand.
EPISODE 15
Steve….
I had gone out for a few minutes, I figured Queen would nee-d new clothes as all the previous clothes she had, burnt together with everything else from the previous house. I had her dressed in one of my t-shi-ts and I knew the moment she was up and running she would nee-d something decent to wear.
“Make sure you watch her man, I don’t want to as-sign this to anyone else but you” I told Scar before leaving and he smiled a little standing by the door to my room.
“Am right here man, am not leaving this sp©t till you come back” he giggled smoking his cigarette.
“By the way get rid of that hood from your head, you might scare my girl” I tea-sed as I trotted out ma-king a mental note to be back as soon as I could. I went round a few shops picking what I could and drove right back, looking at my watch as I approached the house, I noticed I had taken half an hour. I quic-kly parked my truck and rushed inside just to find Queen laying in Scar`s arms on the floor.
“What the hell happened?” I ran to them throwing the plastic bag I had in my hands.
“She c@m£ out and just fall down upon seeing me, she is okey I guess, I was trying to help her up” Scar quic-kly explained.
“Are you okey my love?” I asked taking her from him.
“Yeah I think so, just weak” she looked at me and back at Scar.
“He sacred me, I thought he is one of the guys with Makasa” she responded as I led her inside.
“What? You know Makasa?” I asked forgetting I had not made any comments on the fact that she was able to speak clearly again.
“Yeah” she nodded as I sat her on the be-d sitting next to her and she leaned her head on my shoulder I pushed her hair off her face looking at her.
“He told you his name?” I asked surprised.
“Can we talk about something else for now plea-se” she looked at my face and I held her closer.
Yeah sure, am sorry love, am just trying to figure out a lot of staff at once, you are right though am glad you feel better and I promise not to talk about anything else you don’t want to” I k!$$£d her hands and she sighed de-eply.
“Thank you” she whispered pushing her f!ngersinto mine I felt her warmth.
“For what?” I raised my eye b!ows
“Saving my life from those animals, for taking care of me and for loving me” she listed them out and I smiled k!ss!ngher gently.
“No. am sorry for subjecting you to this, I”
“Shshshs” she st©pped me holding her slander f!ngerson my mouth
“it’s not your fault Steve, plea-se st©p blaming yourself for all this” she looked into my eyes.
I so much wanted her to be okey, I could not tell her my plans of attacking Makasa that night. I felt I had to spare the details. After giving her some food and staying with her the whole afternoon, I noticed she was getting better and I told Scar and the other guys to guard her that evening after I had left. She had refused to tell me much about what happened to her and I let it pas-s for that day, I didn’t want to pressure her into saying anything.
I was about to leave after ma-king sure Queen was fast asleep when my phone rung.
“Who is this?” I asked immediately the other person said halo back at me.
“It’s Ackim” he stated and went silent again.
“What do you want?” I asked bluntly, the guy had disappeared on me for some time and I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. I recalled he told me himself to never contact him till he did, but I had expected it to come earlier. I hated that he was not coming in to help me.
“The last time we…” I almost told him off but he cut me.
“Listen Steve, am in Solwezi right now, but will be heading to Lusaka. I had hvge Intel on the divergent (our enemies and those working for them). Am coming to fill in everything” he explained but the sound of his voice raised some concern in me. Ackim would usually as me how things were going, he would try to find out how I was before jumping into telling me what he was about to do. My heart beat raced for a couple of minutes as he spoke and I knew the coldness in his voice was either something he was hiding or wanted me to figure out.
“Are you okey?” I asked after letting him explain whatever he was telling me.
“A little tired man, but yes” he sighed
“Tired, what the hell have you been doing?” I asked quic-kly.
“I told you am coming your way man, prepare for me. Will meet you up tomorrow old meeting place” he added and cut the call. I looked at my cell and shook my head.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked myself but decided to brush off the thoughts. I had to see Makasa and put an end to him. As I drove to his residence disguised in a Police uniform, I was informed he wasn’t home.
“Where could he be?” I asked one of the guards who couldn’t allow me into his resident.
“He was moved to some place for security reasons” the guy told me and I smiled at him knowing so well what they were doing.
“Anything funny officer?” the soldier asked me.
“Yeah, am surprised, is there any such kind of threats in our country to make a man like him to move out of his house with all his family members?” I chuckled and the man pushed me away telling me it was none of my business.
The following morning I woke up slowly opening my eyes as I could feel someone watching me.
“Hey “she smiled as I fully opened my eyes.
“Hey” I quic-kly sat up holding her hand.
“Are you okey? You nee-d anything?” I asked her panicking, she chuckled a little at my gestures.
“What?” I asked looking around.
“You look so cute when you do that” she laughed ru-bbing her hands on my face.
“And you look extra beautiful my Queen this morning, are you feeling better?” I asked pu-lling her close real sing she was still in my t-shi-t though looked fresh her hair tied in the middle of her head revea-ling her long beautiful face I kept my eyes on her sliml-ips slightly patted. In the moment I wished I could hold her and make her mine again but my inner voice scolded me reminding me of her current health status.
“I love you my…” I could not finish expressing my feelings to her when my phone rung and she stood up gr-abbing it for me.
“Paula?” she handed me the phone more like asking than telling me.
“Yeah” I sighed without re-ading her voice tone.
“Wait” I paused before answering
“Are you jealousy?” I chuckled and she looked into my eyes
“should I be?” she asked without any slight expression on her face.
“No, give me a moment” I shook my head and she leaned her head on me as I spoke stro-king my che-st ma-king it ha-rd for me to pay attention to the call.
“What?” I asked the moment Paula mentioned about Ackim being dead
“What do you mean what happened before he died?” I asked now sitting up even Queen moved up looking at me.
“Steve, I just found your line in one of his things here. I recalled he had written this line in one of his books and I decided to ask what happened to my husband. How did he die, my father has not told me anything s-en-sible and I nee-d to have a clear mind before travelling back tomorrow, I don’t want to stay here without mourning my husband even though dad is insisting, that is why am calling you now” she went on shocking me the more.
“Okey, calm down and tell me everything from the start, you are confusing me right now” I st©pped her as she sobbe-d on the line I could almost feel her pain.
She went on telling me what her father told her and instead of rushing to tell her I just spoke to Ackim that morning, I simply as-sured her I would find out what had happened and would call her later on.
“I think for now it’s better you take your father`s advice and stay there Paula, wait for my call okey?” I told her before hanging up.
“What happened? Who is dead?” Queen asked me looking worried.
“Apparently my friend Ackim is dead” I sighed without looking at her.
“What? When? How?” Queen panicked shaking her head.
“It’s okey love, I know he is not dead, at least not yet but someone wants his wife to believe he is dead” I held her hand but my mind was still somewhere else. I was so much trying to figure out what had really happened and make s-en-se of the call Ackim had given me that morning.
“Excuse me love” I k!$$£d her walking out of be-d in my bo-xers and pu-lling on a pair of p@n-ts and t-shi-ts.
“I nee-d to talk to the guys. Someone is trying to mess me and my men around and we have to figure what the hell is going on before it’s too late and we are caught unware” I spoke leaving her seated watching in silence she just nodded her head.
“Coming soon” I waved before closing the door and she let a weak smile waving me back.
“Gather everyone in the living room” I told the guy I found standing outside on guard.
“Something serious has come up” I added pacing around as I waited for them to gather
To be continued…
©Tisa Phiri