"How could you be so darned Jeff. I think I should forbid you from walking aimlessly around this town . Don't you see you nearly got killed by those blasted hooligans. If it were not for Rodgers you'd be dead ."
My mother's chastising voice booms resoundingly after miss Garie left us there in the ward by ourselves.
I knew it . She would reprimand the daylights out of me and this is what I detest so much , nevertheless I will bear with it for once.
I crunch up my face in feigned remorse and then lie back onto the pillow , eyes implanted onto the ceiling while mother raves on me . That's a sham because internally I'm sincerely thanking Rodgers as if he was right beside me from the . However, I don't quite remember the exactitude of the details of the encounter and can't verify if it's true. If he really saved me then I won't mind visiting him and thanking him because I love building karma.
"Mum it's just out of curiosity. It's no big deal besides I can protect myself." I chuckle as I sneak a glance at her only to see her with a frown.
" Huh! Protecting yourself? Yet you nearly got kidnapped."
"By the way, whassap with Miss Garie. She behaved unusually today." I contemplate seriously trying to change the subject.
"I don't know. She's your teacher you should've asked her."
"It's kinda fishy , the way she left as if intimidated." I muse with a frowning face gesture at Catherine who is also in pensive mode.
"Ok, that's none of my business. I want you to do me a favour . The favour is to recover as fast as possible and by noon I'm shippin you home . There's more we're oblivious of . Who knows what will happen in the future."
" yeah!"
"Alright, I'm going home and by noon I'm back . Remember you're not going to spend yet another night in this desolate hospital. Bye."
Mum leaves the room as I close my eyes trying to induce a nap but to no avail. Avalanche of thoughts keep flooding my mind lulling me into lethargy. I think this is the cause of my syncopes of late.
I feel terribly bored . Stretching my flimsy hands and feets , I take a crumpled newspaper lying on the cabinet stocked with piles of papers next to my steel bed.
The heading jolts me into seriousness and with a grave face I read it.
Two Maimed Bodies replete with deep wounds and livid bruises retrieved from River Siany.
The Oyugis Police claims that they are on the process of investigation and they will seek some witnesses like Jeff Chris. A resident in Athousand street, required to arrive at Oyugis Police Station in a fortnight to answer some questions and no one is to preclude them.
Uh-huh! That's me and mom.
I go on to read :
They will be escorted in a police wagon to evade the interception of any possible threat from the Jakachinja until they are in the station. Meanwhile, Police investigations regarding the crime's vestiges will be coming soon . Stay tuned with Daily Eagle.
I exhale a mouthful of turbid air as anxiety engulfs me tight . Wooahhh! I'm going to report Yesterday's happenings in two weeks time .
What worries me is that how did they know I'm the ideal witness despite the huge number of crowd yesterday .
I can't help but suspect there is a scheme going on in the dark.
I toss the Daily Eagle newspaper onto the cabinet and sit up on the bed . Clearly, I am hellishly bored.
I catapult out of the bed after which the door slams wide open .
The heck ! I nearly throw up my heart in fright.
"What's wrong ?" I frown as a strange able-bodied swanky stands right in front of me with leaps quivering in fright.
"They're coming . Quick get out let's escape through the window , your mother's waiting for you on the other side ."
"Who's comin?" I am befuddled. I try to reconnect his words but they mean nothing at all . It's like trying to solve problems of Calculus . Incomprehensible.
" Quick chap let's get out of here . I'll explain to you once we're out of this hospital. Or are you waiting to be kidnapped?" The boy insists and advances to pack up my belongings and assets lying squarely beside the bed.
"Hey you ! I don't like your pranks . This is a hospital and am damned sick . Play elsewhere. It's unreasonable for them to abduct a patient right in a Government property. Don't you think it's impossible?"
I refute completely angered . Budging in without my consent . You sure have inflated guts I've never seen before.
I don't bother to ask his name because maybe he can be an accomplice of the Jakachinja to lure me into a trap.
I harrumph and sit on the bed but before I lie on the bed , his gruff hand seizes me and drives me forcefully out of the room .
"What's wrong with you?"
I am spleened .
Downstairs, I hear hurried climbing feet and echoing voices as they close in on me . Meanwhile, the boy who had budged in my room and grabbed my hand out escapes through the window.
"See you nagger!"
He blunders away muddled with my belongings.
Shit I should have just listened to him!
I breath anxiously as my eyes ransack the interior of the hospital apartment trying to root out a chink to hide in but it proves futile.
My eyes hover in terror only to land at the window which is sizeable to fit my bonce . The glass is broken after he had passed through it. Without demur, I clamber onto it and jump out simultaneously as the door yanks open revealing torrid voices.
" They've escaped. That boy ,we need to deal with him to prevent future hiccups because if he gets to the Police Station he can reveal that code."
"Do you have any idea where he resides in ?"
A baritone voice trails through my peaked ears as I crouch down to avoid their line of vision.
With a bolt , I scamper home taking the solitary route filled with thickets and bushes to avoid being accosted by the Espionage Mercenaries.
Luckily , I don't get any obstruction on the way and arrive home only to find my mother packing and stuffing baggage here and there.
"What are you doing? "
"Can't you see am packing . Help me stuff this clothes into that big casket ."
"Where are we going to stay now ? They're everywhere."
"We have to leave here as soon as possible because they've already tracked you down and will silence you before you even report to the Police." My mum says with a helpless sigh .
"Do you have any idea in mind ? Any rental house found?"
"Yeah I got one in West Minster Street . Mr Garie bought it."
"She's so kind."
"Ok quick help me stock these stuffs . I don't want any of your rambling now . We have to be fast before they come knocking."
"Sure ." I stoop down to arrange some set of my clothes that lie strewn on the cold floor.
" Another thing . We're going to mortgage this apartment before it's razed down by them."
" Oh?"
"Actually Drake is going to occupy it ."
" I think that's not a wise move . Why can't you just let it be ? Honestly I love this place."
"Ooh sorry but you know the risks."
"Ok." I reply sullenly.
We go on with packing and arranging our belongings in large polythene bags.
Catherine phones a famous lorry driver to come and ferry our belongings to a new apartment in West Minster Street.
I still don't know why I am being chased - or rather we , because my mum has also been mentioned in that godforsaken newspaper.
Were the newswriters doing this to track us down?
Clearly, etching my name and personal info in the newspaper as if they don't give a damn about the consequences.
Now the Espionage Mercenaries has already tracked me down because of their damned recklessness.
I can't help but suspect that the Oyugis Police together with the Daily Eagle is in cahoots with the Jakachinja Clandestine Organisation.
I pack up the things neatly and wait for the driver to pull up by our apartment .
Catherine disassembles her sewing machine and puts it in a large brown box.
An hour passes without the sign of the lorry driver and I begin to feel a bit light-headed .
The sun is retreating into its cocoon leaving a yellow hue that exudes a foreboding aura.
I feel starved and listless after staying in the hospital in a long swoon.
The only meal I had today was a slice of bread and a cup of espresso.
After a long period of time, a resounding knock echoes in the room jolting my mom awake who had dozed off in boredom.
"Check if that's the lorry driver."
" Ok."
I rush to the door in shuffling feet only to be swept off balance by a blasted kick on the door. The cold night wind permeates the room sending chills down my spine
"Where is that SCROOGE?!"
A swashing bellow attacks the cool night air with its viciousness.
I cower back in terror while my mother pales and shakes uncontrollably.
"What do you mean?" My mother regains composure and asks with a steeled face trying hard not to panic.
You know what I mean .
Boy where is your teacher ?" He smirks his lips insinuatingly at me and I shiver when I meet with that hellish gaze
"Honestly I donno what you're talking about." I simper as I sneak a glance at my mother whose eyes are ransacking the whole room .
" I think you have her number . I want you to call her and root out her whereabouts or else don't dream of getting out here alive . Now hop it and get the phone."
He demands with a falcated grin and abruptly turns to face my mother who is standing upright and shivering to the bones.
"Catherine where is your friend . You know you're getting on my nerves with your silence and I can pry out her whereabouts from your mouth right now through force. Jus tell me where she is and I'll absolve you from this morass you got implicated in.
My mother nearly jumps in fright at the sound of her name . Disbelief implanted on her glossy face , she stares at the beast who was dangerously closing in on her.
I realise instantly that the Jakachinja Clandestine Organisation has been deploying their espionage ruffians to carry out cloak-and-dagger missions because I can't think of any plausible reason to attribute to him knowing the name of my mother.
I turn back to face the bedroom door to get my phone and call Miss Garie only to be intercepted by a torrid voice that is laced with threat.
"Boy did you ...get the phone? Ok I see you half-witted brutes don't want to cooperate now lemme teach you how we get things done."
" Huhh!"
I am shocked to see him pulling out a gleaming jack-knife.
"See this . I'm going to dig it in you slowly until your last breath. You have an honour to die in my hands."
I know I have to make a move before he stabs my mother . Without vacillating, I edge noiselessly and speedily to the corner of the room where a smooth boulder is lying .
Projecting my hands while eyes affixed on his back, I pick the boulder.
I tiptoe with swift and light steps and raising the boulder with all my cumulated strength I hurl it on his head.
My mom screams and closes her eyes.
"Thwaaaashhh!!!!"
A deafening sound like a sonic boom pierces my ears followed by a soss as he sprawls on the floor in agony before passing out with his head bleeding and smearing the floor red.
"Ooh , this is scary . Is he dead ?" My mother asks as I recline to feel his pulse.
"I donno let's get out of here. I'm frightened. " I say , my voice tottering in sheer panic. My mother calls the lorry driver again as she pulls the body to the end of the room.
My stomach is groaning in hunger but I suppress it.
Fortunately, we complete arranging our belongings but at that moment a voice of the slattern next door rings.
"Catherine what's with the noise ?"
I freeze but I quickly galvanize into action by cloaking the body with a scruffy voluminous vestment and mopping the blood sprinkled on the floor.
The commotion draws the attention of our neighbors and they stream in our house. In a few seconds they crowd my mother demanding answers from her while I stare helplessly.