THE MONSTER'S MOVE?

“Whatever the case, Gia, we will win. You slayed that monster before, sis. I am sure that even now, you will. We will.” Grace says.

Right!

Did I?

No!

Because if I did, we would not be here worried sick of the beckoning doom. Things would be peaceful. So, as long as that monster is breathing and roaming freely, I cannot count what I did to Ejay as a win. I was robbed of that win.

“But at the expense of what, Grace? I do not want to imagine what Deep is going through in the hands of that monster. And all this is because of me. If something happens to Deep, I will never forgive myself.” My heart is breaking into a thousand pieces at the mere notion of Deep being with that monster. I hope with everything that I hold dearest that I am wrong about this. Everything else can be true. I can handle that. But not this.

“Your problem is blaming yourself for problems in the whole world. You did not take Deep to that monster. If this is true, then it is not your fault at all. It is that monster’s thought.” Grace speaks.

Too bad, because I cannot see it from her own point of view. This is all my fault. I nod slightly, worry gnawing at my insides like a relentless predator. “Yes, it is my fault, Grace. It is my fault for bringing Deep into my dangerous world. I should have known better from the day that I met him. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to fall for him. And do you know what is worse? They are freaking brothers, and Deep does not know. I wish I had a chance to even just warn him about it.” My voice quivers with fear as I look at Grace, hoping that I can get some solace from him.

Grace places a solacing hand on my shoulder, soothing me in an attempt to thaw me to solace. “First, Gia, you have the right to love whoever your heart chooses. Ejay had and still has no right to control you, and second, how could you have known that those two were brothers? And what is more, how were you supposed to know that Ejay held a grudge against his half-brother? You are not responsible.”

I would want to believe that, but the bottom line remains that their feud would never have resurfaced if I had not tangled myself with Deep. Those two would not have crossed paths if it were not for me. And now Deep is in even greater danger than before. If that monster had been holding a grudge against Deep, only heaven knows what he will do to him. Or what he has done.

“Do not worry so much. I am sure we will figure out a way to save him if he is indeed with Ejay. We will surely get through this.” Grace adds.

I slightly nod my head, hoping that she is right. Nothing bad should happen to Deep. He does not fault this at all. He does not deserve the wrath of his psychotic half-brother. He does not deserve to suffer for something that he knows nothing about.

Just then, my phone rings, and I almost break my leg as I collect it from the floor.

“Hello?” I call the moment I receive the phone.

"Gia, it is me, Sheryl. How are you?” Sheryl speaks.

“Ooh, hey, Sheryl. How are you?” I greet.

“I am sorry, dear, but I will have to add to your worries.” Sheryl says, and I almost freeze after she speaks.

Another bad news? What again? Haven't we had enough rollercoasters for today?

“What is it, Sheryl?” I ask with worry and fear.

“We have to cancel our trip over there.” She says it with a huge tinge of worry.

Ooh, that? She should not apologize at all. I did not want them to come here, to begin with. All hell is breaking loose over here. They are much better off in Nairobi. Besides, they have a lot to do in planning for their wedding. “Sheryl, you do not have to apologize. I understand that you guys have a lot to do over there. I had even told Paul that you people do not need to fly over here. So, wedding things?” I ask.

I hear her discharge a deep breath that sends cold tickles down my spine. “No, Gia! Something horrible is amiss!” She says this, almost breaking down into tears.

I throw a confusing glare at Grace as if she knows what is happening. “What happened, Sheryl? Are you okay?” I ask.

“The girls that we recognized, Gia! The girls did not reach their homes!”

A freezing, paralyzing wave slaps me after hearing her words, my heart breaking into a thousand pieces. “What are you saying, Sheryl? How come the girls have not gotten to their homes yet? It has been three days now since they left. What happened?” I ask, recounting the day they left.

At this point, she breaks down into weeping, almost making me join her, but I hug her tight. “The only officer who returned said that they were attacked on the way by a group of strange armed men. They took away the girls and killed all the officers except the one whom they sent back.” She breaks down the shock in between sobs.

My brain spins a series of complete degrees as I digest what Sheryl said while still listening to her sobs over the phone. The girls were kidnapped. “Was the messenger sent back any message?” I ask.

“No. The men just told him that they were letting him go so that he could be a witness to tell about what happened. They did not say why they kidnapped the girls or who they were."

How strange?

How can they be kidnapped?

“Did he describe what the men looked like?” I ask.

“They were all in black attire and masks that covered every part of their bodies. He could not recognize any of them. They rode in black vans too.” She further explains, confirming my fears.

Black attire and black vans?

Just like the men who attacked us this morning?

Coincidences?

No!

“Where is Paul right now?” I ask.

“He is getting ready because he is needed at the station.” She says.

“Please, can I speak to him? I need him to do something so urgent for me.” I say.

This is something no one else’s doing but that monster’s. This means that everyone is in danger. Everyone is in great danger. He just resurfaced, and he has started slaughtering people and taking captives. He is striking in all corners. How could he have known all our moves like that because all his moves seem so calculated?

“Why, Gia? Tell me that what Paul is thinking is not what you are thinking too. This is not about Ejay, right? Tell me that he is dead. That monster is rotting in the grave, right?” She asks.

This news will shock everyone. It will bring terror to every single ear that gets wind of this news, as long as they know the story. God, why? Why do your people—all of us innocent people—have to live under the shadows of fear because of this one monster? What did we do wrong to deserve all this? How could you have allowed him to deceive death?

“You are silent. That means there is a possibility that he could be alive. And that will mean the end of us all.” She wonders about possibilities again.

The end of us? God forbid!