Robertsport, Liberia
CniDaria-15
The next day we set off for the meeting place in a solemn mood. We couldn't help thinking that this was going to turn sour quickly. The meeting was downtown in the middle of the marketplace so we wouldn't attract too much attention. I stashed my tiny metal spear that I've been sharpening for months in a nearby bush yesterday, along with Ty's metal bat that he kept from the wreckage of home. We had the advantage in setting, with this many people around it would be easy to disappear and escape. Everything was in our favor as far as I was concerned all that was left was wait for our man. We made sure to come early so that we could see him coming and eyeball his every move as he walked towards us. So we waited for him patiently watching the always lively and entertaining market. Barely 5 minutes had passed when we heard a voice behind us.
"Now Thylonius, you didn't tell me how beautiful your older sister was. In another few years of maturing this one will be a genuine diamond." We immediately jumped back, created distance, and turned around from the direction of the voice. What we saw was a tanned slavic man in about his early 40s, he was already greying in his hair and beard, his eyes had this coldness that could freeze hell fire. He was in really good shape for his age and was dressed in a tank top, cargo shorts, and a safari hat, dingy enough that he blended in with the crowd of a poverty-stricken African country. His voice was just as cold as his eyes, calm, deep, with a sense of danger. I immediately reached for my spear in the bush next to us but found that it wasn't where I put it. "I thought it was very intelligent of both of you to come prepared for anything, but this was a little too dangerous for me to let slide with all these people around." he pulled out both the bat and spear. "Oh my, what a menacing look you have there. My dear, that is unbecoming of a lady." I couldn't help myself, my anger towards him was overflowing. Everything about him made my blood boil. I already have very little trust for men but for him to be a step ahead of us and show arrogance about it made me want to beat his face in. I stepped forward threateningly just for Ty to take my hand and give me a silent look. His face told me to be calm and relax, that we still have the upper hand with our escape routes. I stepped back and took a deep breath. "So, I see we finally have a control of our emotions, I guess there's a smart one between the t-"
"Quit the BS and speak! We didn't take this risk for idle chatter!" I had to interrupt him. His voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me. Everything about this man irked me. He looked taken aback at first but then he smiled.
"Straight to business then, I'm here to meet your parents for business. We have been colleagues for over twenty years but it is now time for our relationship to end. I need you to help me take them out…" We stared at him for a moment and then I stepped forward calmly paused and threw a furious punch at him with all my weight behind it. He easily caught it. "My dear there is no way that you will be able to best me in a battle of strength. I recommend speed and finesse next time." Ty snatched his wrist away from my fist that was still in his hands. Ty finally speaks.
"What the hell are you saying right now? And how do you think we would react to something like that? Do you really think we would help you kill our parents; do you really think we would let you walk away from us knowing what you intend to do? Don't get the wrong idea about us, we are not ignorant children, we have killed before."
"Oh yes, I've seen your handiwork, a single blow to the skull with enough force to pierce the brain and stop all bodily functions as he bled out. A little rough around the edges but you are your parent's children." He said, freezing us with his eyes once again feeling unbothered by my brothers grip on his wrist. I snapped out of it and confronted him.
"Stop lying, our parents were diplomats with various businesses around the world. They were respected and loved people. You're inferring that my parents went around killing people for the heck of it on the regular. You don't know my parents."
"And you do? You're just children, you don't know the cunning we have and the games that we adults play. You talk of your parents like they're angels. But why haven't they claimed you yet? Why didn't they come back and look for you after the fire? The whole world knew about the atrocity in your small neighborhood in Sierra Leone. Didn't you guys wait for them to come back? Didn't you guys call them continuously hoping for a response so that they could save you? Didn't you guys ever wonder what happened to your parents, why they never came back?" I paused and looked at him in silence. Almost everything he just said was the truth and the exact thing that has been going through my mind for the past 2 years. However, as far as we could tell the fire WASN'T international news as far as we could tell. It was like it never happened when I looked at papers. We didn't have access to TV maybe there's ignorance to how big the situation was. Ty broke the silence.
"It doesn't matter, nobody knew that incident would happen. I always figured that they thought we died and that's why we haven't heard from them. Please don't try to taint our memories of our parents."
"Hm, that's a very optimistic way of seeing things but what if I told you that your parents knew that slaughter would happen and left y'all out to dry?" He paused and we looked at him dumbfounded that he would ever suggest a preposterous notion. He then continued, "You know what? There's nothing better than solid proof. I'm going to go meet them now at the Empire Hotel. I will give you both earpieces so that you can listen to our conversation and I'll prove it you. I will also give you these guns for you to use as you see fit. You can shoot me as soon as I turn my back if you want but you won't see your parents again. They won't show themselves unless I'm visible and alive. Although if it turns out that I am telling the truth I will still give you the DECISION to either help me kill them then and there or to kill me where I sit. It's up to you, I have a meeting to get to." He left the earbuds and guns in our hands; I quickly hid mines to avoid drawing attention, but Ty immediately pointed it at the man's head. He looked at Ty in the eye, unafraid and unbothered. He turned around and started walking towards the Empire Hotel that was only a few blocks away. I quickly pulled his hand down so that he could hide the weapon.
"What are you thinking you're drawing too much attention to us!" I whispered forcibly to him.
"That bastard is going to kill our parents and you're letting that damn cracker walk away?" he answered furiously.
"Think! This is not like you; I want to see my parents again. If he is telling the truth, then we'll be able to do that. If not we, we have the weapons to finish it quickly. Ok?"
"I understand" he answered grudgingly. We followed him to the hotel but made sure to keep our distance. As he entered, we decided to stay outside and watch him. He sat down in the lobby near the windows where he was fully visible to us. He looked casual as he waited. My emotions were all over the place. Why didn't we do something back in the marketplace? There's no way what he was saying was true, why am I even going along with this bullshit? Maybe deep down I believe him because that's the only thing we have to go on. Ty can't explain to me why our parents abandoned us, but this stranger just did in 3 minutes. My curiosity for the truth overpowered my anger for this man. Five minutes go by, and Ty starts giving me the look that we need to end this once and for all. I hesitate for a moment but then start to get up but as I do so he stands, embraces, and welcomes new companions. My heart drops and I'm stunned. Standing there were our parents looking healthy and beautiful.