Chapter 2 Fragments Of Memories: A Wicked World
After crying, Zeb quietly wiped his tears, trying to cheer up, he turned to Sagewood, "So Elderly Sagewood, how did you end up here in prison, Were you also framed?, He asked, forcing a thin smile on his face.
Sagewood looked at him with a funny look, "well I wasn't framed, but it's not far from being framed".
Zeb looked at him in confusion, giving him a what's he talking about look,
"Fine I will tell you, The thing is .... he hesitated not knowing how to put it.
"Did you kill someone?" Zeb asked, allowing his curiosity to take over.
"Far from that, it's the other way round"
Sagewood replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Zeb unable to contain his curiosity, gave him a go on look.
"The thing is I'm a time traveller, I time travelled to this place. when I landed, I found myself lying on the railway tracks, the sound of an approaching train echoing in my ears. As I opened my eyes, panic surged through me. I quickly scrambled to my feet, frantically gathering my belongings. But it was too late, people had already seen me and rushed to my aid. They called the police, convinced I was attempting to take my own life. That's how I ended up in prison. I tried to explain that I had time travelled, but they dismissed my claims, believing I had lost my mind, and locked me away" Sagewood explained, trying to keep a straight face.
"Zeb, unable to contain his disbelief, burst into laughter. 'You mean to tell me you were locked up because they thought you wanted to commit suicide?' he asked, still chuckling at the absurdity of it all, looking at Sagewood with a mix of amusement and incredulity."
"Funny right? I know you will find it funny" Sagewood replied, recounting his ordeal.
"But if you're a time traveler, doesn't that mean you're also a magician?
What am trying to say is that, since you can time travel, why haven't you time travelled to another place, and free yourself from being held captive here in prison?. Zeb asked.
"I haven't completed any of my missions" Sagewood replied him.
Zeb unable to understand the whole scenario, burst into laughter again.
This time, The other inmates couldn't take it anymore at the way Zeb was laughing.
Drake, furious, stood up from his spot and marched over to Zeb, who was oblivious with his back turned . Suddenly with a swift motion, Drake knocked him hard, causing Zeb to scream in pain.
Sagewood, furious with what happened stood up, with a quick move he lifted Drake off his feet and threw him down on the hard floor. Drake landed with a heavy thud, and winced in pain.
The other inmates who were planning to launch their attack on Zeb, all sat down immediately.
"Next time, don't look at them in fear, return the favor to them, they are just empty vessels", Sagewood warned Zeb.
" I can't feel my head, I think this place is spinning", Zeb said while holding his head,
Are you okay? Sagewood asked.
My head is about to explode, My ears, I can't take it, I can't, he cried,
"The knock must have triggered the pain, I think it has something to do with your memories, your memories are returning'. Sagewood explained, sensing the symptoms are always connected with loosing one's memory or regaining one's memory.
"You will be fine" Sagewood assured.
After battling with severe headache and extreme noise. Zeb finally calmed down, looking at Sagewood in tears.
What happened, are you okay now, have you regained your memories? Sagewood asked, with worry drawing thin visible lines on his face.
I think I've regained my Memories Zeb replied.
******
Flashback
On the 28 of January 2024, Zeb was sitting on a chair at the veranda, receiving condolences from sympathizers, concerning the mysterious death of his parents and his two brothers.
Inside the parlour, on the center table was a pile of handwritten condolence messages, from friends, and well-wishers.
The heart wrenching incident which took place on the the 14th of January 2024, has left the people of Eldoria Suncrest kingdom heartbroken and in fear. Their beloved king who treats everyone equally, handles every complains and settles any dispute brought to him, tragically passed away just like that.
Among the sympathizers was Eguapo, the man behind the death of his elder brother and his family.
The worst is that, he cried more than any other person present.
The people of Eldoria Suncrest has a tradition of burying their people within one week of their death, but in honour of their King, they choosed to bury him in two weeks, to give him a befitting funeral.
Meanwhile, all the preparations were made by Eguapo, the happiest wicked man alive.
With heart full of revenge and hatred, Zeb kept a straight face, while his eyes moved around in observation, with a keen watch, he observed everybody's movement and body language.
Noticing how his uncle was specifically greeting and welcoming the sympathizers, he became provoked, and watched his uncle closely.
While Zeb was so engrossed watching his uncle, his girlfriend Anna walked in.
It was when she walked closer to him and handed him an envelope that he noticed her presence.
Zeb flashed her a smile and opened the envelope, all his thought was that his girlfriend came to sympathize with him.
He looked at Anna who was still smiling at him, unable to understand what she wrote, he asked stood up, grabbed her by the hand, and went to a more secluded place.
"What do you mean you are done with our relationship, is everything okay, why are you sending me this today of all day, did I do anything wrong?" Zeb asked trying his possible best to remember what he did wrong.
"You didn't do anything wrong, there's no spark between us anymore, I just can't feel the connection in our relationship again". Anna replied flatly.
"Anna, you know your explanation is not making sense right now, I don't understand anything from what you said". Zeb replied calmly, But deep down, he's almost loosing his cool. Trying to stop his tears from falling, he looked up to the sky, as if he was asking the heavens what he did wrong.
"Just accept it, However you want!"
"We are done" Anna replied aggressively and made to walk out.
Wait Anna, did anyone threaten you? Zeb asked, looking directly into her eyes.
Just then, a message buzzed in on her phone and it read " Do it Anna, this is a perfect time to strike, what are you waiting for?" Anna tusked back her phone inside her purse, slapped her cheek hard and started screaming.
Ouch! Help me! He's hitting me!,
Zeb oblivious of the situation held her hand, are you okay, why would you slap yourself like that, He asked in concern.
Before he could get an answer, three men rushed towards him, 'get your filthy hands of her, lazy fool, how dare you hit a woman, one of the men said giving him a death stare.
Before he knew what was happening, people started gathering. He could hear the crowd murmuring, "How could he hit a woman, is she the cause of her family's death?" someone among the crowd said, "because he's royalty he thinks he can do anything and go Scot free, another woman added.
So this was a setup all along, he thought to himself.
The people of Eldoria Suncrest has a strict rule about hitting women, they believe, women are their second god, because they are the people that gives birth, which increases their population and productivity, and because they have to go through pain to deliver, while some of their women even die while giving birth. They came to a strict law that any Man that hits a woman, be it his wife, girlfriend, sister or mother, will be jailed for 30 years.
Zeb who has fallen for Anna's wicked trap accepted his fate, "this must be the doing of one person, "His uncle Eguapo, he thought to himself.
"Zeb, I know you're sad, concerning the death of your parents and two brothers,I am sad too. But that shouldn't be enough reason for your action, you know the consequences of hitting a woman ,That's too extreme to hit your girlfriend, just because she doesn't want to be in the relationship with you anymore".
Take him to the police station, I don't support evil, Eguapo said, secretly rejoicing in his mind.
"I didn't hit her, Zeb said trying to defend himself. We were just talking few minutes ago when she...
Before he could complete his sentence he was cut off immediately "Go and explain it to the officers, one of the men said, before he was dragged away by the three men.
"While he was being dragged, people looked at him in disgust and continued murmuring. If looks could kill, Zeb would have died on the spot.
The people who were once sympathizers, are the same ones giving him a death sentence look.
What a World!
"From people he knew, to people he don't know, Zeb thought In his mind and smirked at the thought of it.
"Am sure Eguapo had a hand in my family's tragic death", he thought to himself, then suddenly shouted, "Everyone, am very sure Eguapo is responsible for my family's death, he shouted on top of his voice.
What's he talking about? "Don't listen to him! Take him away; he's loosing his senses! Eguapo shouted.
"I will get back at you, Eguapo! I will get back at you, Anna! Get ready for me! I must get back at you people! Zeb yelled, trying to break free from the men dragging him.
Just then, the police arrived and took Zeb into their van, while he kept shouting that he was innocent. The police turned a deaf ear and threw him into prison upon arriving to the police station.
However, Zeb couldn't stop yelling and banging on the door, which made the officers to forcefully inject him with a drug that made him fall asleep.