"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Ariana asked, storming her way through the crowd that was gathered, in front of her house, and pushed the angry woman off Grace before she could hit her another time.
It was obvious that she had hit Grace the first time, because there's a red fingerprint mark on her face. The anger that swept through Ariana seeing Grace's face was uncontrollable, had it been the woman wasn't an elderly lady, she could have returned the same treatment to her too.
"What?" The angry woman, Madam Sophia asked, looking at her hand that was seized in a tight grip by Ariana, then she looked at the young lady from head to toe, before jerking her hand away from her. "Who are you? Do you know this swindler? If you do, pay back my money since she's not willing to do so!" Mrs. Sophia yelled as the other women who were in support of her affirmed her words.
Ariana looked back at Grace who was shedding real hot tears, she herself hasn't been able to understand what was going on, after hearing the news about the company folding and her boss was nowhere to be found.
She shaked her head in denial. "I did.,didn't take their money, Ariana. You have to trust me." Grace said, holding onto Ariana's hand but Mrs. Sophia scoffed at her words.
She already has a bad temper which she was popularly known for around the neighborhood, the part that her money was involved and she was scammed too made things bad for Grace.
"If you don't have any idea where that boss of your is, who else will?" The woman said, pointing accusing fingers at Grace. "Stop with the act and pay me back my money, unless you would be spending the rest of your life in jail."
Grace was appalled at the mention of involving the police in this, she had no money to settle any lawsuit case since everything she had too, she had invested in a self-com apartment that she has secretly kept away from Ariana. She wanted it to be a surprise since it's been a while they had lived here, in this dangerous neighborhood.
Ariana wasn't happy that Mrs.Sophia was taking things too far either, it's not like Grace would knowingly scam them. If she had done that, she wouldn't be here either.
Today is the worst day of her life and to worsen the condition of Grace losing her own job too, like she did, Ariana was truly assured that there was some supernatural being somewhere that had cursed her.
She has no idea what crime she has committed in her other life, to be punished right now, in this lifetime, but she's tired, really tired of everything.
Ariana was no dummy, she had already figured out what exactly happened, which it wasn't Grace's fault that they were all duped, but whereas Grace was the middle man in the business, that is why they were here antagonizing the young girl.
But it wasn't entirely because Grace was the middle Man, Mrs.Sophia was a big time bully, who always liked looking down on the poor. There was this certain rumours she was involved in, she has snatched a woman's husband away which led to the other lady commiting suicide.
People have accused her of being the reason why the other lady died, but all she could come to the conclusion was that her husband left her, because he couldn't bear being childless and at the same time being poor.
Till date, no one has seen either Madam Sophia or her lover, hence, she had abandoned him the moment the case got serious and she was arrested. She easily won the lawsuit because she bribed the lawyers and judge. So, what's happening right now wasn't because of the anger that arose from losing her money, it was abject wickedness.
She knew that Grace doesn't have the money to pay back, a reasonable human would give the girl time to sort herself out and her money too. But she's just being an attention seeker.
"Madam Sophia ," Ariana called, coming closer to help calm her down. It was obvious that she's the ringleader of their little group, the other women who are also here haven't said anything but only reacts when she makes any statement.
Everyone was scared of her since she runs a big supermarket at the neighborhood, she was a widow. Her children were all studying abroad, hence, she's the only successful lady that lived around their poor neighborhood unlike the others.
Hence, she has money which also means that she has power.
"We can resolve this without having to involve the police.." Ariana said, trying to calm her down. If she's okay, the other women will be okay too. She disliked the fact that they are the object of attention, as everyone in the neighborhood all had their head out their window, while some actually came out of their respective house to know exactly what's wrong.
The woman jerked her hands off hers, looking at her from head to toe as if she was carrying some contagious disease. "Settle what exactly? Do you know how much money i invested because of your stupid friend?" She yelled, going direct to hit Grace again, but in a haste to prevent that, Ariana pushed her aside and she landed on the floor.
Shocked gasps filled the air, including that of Ariana because she didn't expect that she has no stamina, yet she wants to fight. It was really funny, had it not been that the situation was serious she would have burst into laughter right now.
"Madam Sophia." Her minions went ahead to help her up, with a murderous look on her face it made Ariana know that this case had passed her capability to get everyone to come to an agreement.
"I'm so…"Ariana said but before she could finish her statement, she was knocked over by madam Sophia.
"You stupid girl!" The woman said, pushing Ariana to the floor, before she attacked her with the other women who were trying to get her off the young girl.
Grace has to cover Ariana, to take some beatings too from Madam Sophia, it was total chaos that at some point Ariana allowed herself to take the beating.
Maybe, just maybe if she ends up dying as a result of this, she would surely forget her meaningless life and get some rest.
"Stop it, please." Grace cried, trying to get madam Sofia off Ariana, she looked around to see that some of the neighbors were already taking a video of what was happening.
Their landlady stood aside with a disappointed look on her face, before Gracslooked at Ariana who's teary face gave her the sign not to do anything.
If she was trying to die, Grace had no idea but she would rather die than to let Ariana take the fall for what has happened.
She thought of an idea on how to stop the fight, but couldn't come up with any good ideas until her eyes landed on a big stick lying on the side of the apartment building.
"How dare you touch me with your filthy hands, you poor wretched bitch!" Madam Sophia said, she pushed off the other women that were trying to get her off Ariana, who's face has scratches as a result of Madam Sophia's long nails.
Without thinking twice, Grace hit her with the stick and watched her tumble over Ariana, and fall to the side holding the back of her head. The moment she saw blood on her hands, screams filled the air, likewise the siren of the police getting closer to where they were.
"Call 911!" A voice yelled.
"What have you done, Grace?" Ariana asked, looking at a trembling Grace who was still holding onto the stick, knowing fully well that their situation has turned out for the worse.
So much for trying to go to work today and ended up getting handcuffed, and being pushed inside the back of the police vehicle.
"Am i going to go to jail?" Grace cried, holding onto Ariana, while looking at the police drive away from the scene of the accident.
"It's alright, everyone saw what happened. It's not your fault." Valerie tried assuring her, but she was scared too. What will happen to them?
They were only young, dumb and broke.