16/09/2023
A COSTLY MISTAKE
CHAPTER 19
I don’t know how long I was out. When I came back to consciousness, I found myself tied and restrained to a chair. That was when reality hit me again and I realized how dangerous my situation really was. I looked around and found out that there were two people with me in my living room. One of them was Sandra, and the other was someone who had a striking resemblance to her. However, it was a male.
“You are awake.” Sandra spoke. “I don’t think I need to tell you why we are here. But I know you are a curious person. So, I will satisfy your curiosity. We are here to kill you. We have come to take vengeance on you for killing our beloved sister, Sasha. My brother was abroad when Sasha died. However, he had since come back to the country, and together, we have tracked you for years. Now, we have finally gotten you. So, do you have anything to say before we kill you?”
“Why did it take you so long to come for me? Why didn’t you tell your parents at that time that you knew who was responsible for Sasha’s passing?”
“Because I was very young at that time, and no one would have believed me. It would have been your word against mine and people would have normally believed you since your relationship with Sasha was secret.”
“So, what would you gain from killing me now? It has been many years since Sasha died. I am a changed man now. Why don’t you just leave vengeance to God?”
“Vengeance to God?” Sasha’s brother spoke angrily. “We should leave Vengeance to God. You cut down my sister’s life and you expect us to leave everything in the hands of God. You will die and go and meet her.”
“It may interest you to know that I didn’t kill your sister willfully. It was a mistake. She got pregnant for me, and in the process of terminating the pregnancy, she lost her life. I loved your sister. I really did. I actually still love her even in death. So, I don’t think she would approve what you two are about to do to me.”
“She’s dead and gone and cannot make any decision for herself. We will dish out justice on her behalf.”
I sat there and contemplated if there was any hope of escaping for me. We were all alone at home, just the three of us. It was a Saturday, so, I wasn’t sure of having any guests whose presence could disrupt their plans.
Soon, the phone of Sasha’s brother rang. He picked it and talked briefly with someone. Then, he came to Sandra and told her that something urgent had come up and she should excuse him. He said he had to run to Bonaberi to attend to some urgent business and would be back before she knew it. Sandra wasn’t comfortable with his leaving, but she had no choice. As soon as he left, I took the opportunity, and tried to convince Sandra to let me go.
“You know I love you, Sandra.” I spoke.
“Love? Are you out of your mind? Was it not the same love you preached to my sister that eventually caused her death?”
“You know I loved her. You and her once came to my house when you were much smaller and younger. You saw how well I treated her. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I couldn’t deliberately kill my own Sasha.”
“Stop trying to be sentimental, Mr. Jones. Or should I say sweet Sir?” She laughed. “That was the name my sister always called you. She loved you with everything in her. You were her icon; you were her hero. But you killed her.”
“I am tired of telling you that I didn’t kill her deliberately. I had no reason to.”
“So, why didn’t you confess? You saw how distressed, heartbroken and traumatized my parents were. Why didn’t you come forward. Do you know that my parents have not had closure up until today? They are still at a loss as to who got Sasha pregnant and attempted to abort it. Your confession would have saved them all the heartache they have been through till this day.”
“But you didn’t expect me to confess, did you?”
“Why not?”
“That would have meant a lot of trouble for me. It wouldn’t have been a scandal of epic proportions. I would have been arrested and locked up in a police cell. I might have even been killed. I couldn’t afford to do that.”
“Yes, because you were desperate. The only thing that mattered to you was your freedom. You didn’t care how anyone else felt. You were very selfish and wicked. You even went to the extent of eliminating everyone who knew about your involvement with my sister. I am sure you would have killed me too if you had access to me.”
“How did you know that I had a hand in the other deaths?” I asked, shocked.
“My sister told me. She appeared in my dream and explained everything to me. So, you see that you couldn’t hide your crimes forever.”
I was tired of talking to her. I hated being in a vulnerable and desperate situation. I knew I had to act fast before her brother returned. Once he did, it would be the end of me. I decided to dare her to kill me. I knew it was risky. However, I had no nothing else to say. I was trying to show strength and courage.
“Alright, you said you came to kill me. What are you waiting for? Why don’t you just go head and kill me?”
“Oh! You really want to die. Don’t worry, that wish would be granted as soon as my brother returns. For now, let’s look for a way to pass the time. Mmm! Yes, I think I have thought of a way. Let’s play a small game. You will be the teacher, which of course you are, and I will be the student.” She laughed.
“I despise games and I am not playing any with you.”
“You have no choice, Sweet Sir. You are completely under my control. You will do as I say.”
She came to where I was sitting, undid my zipper, removed my LGA and stroked it until it became strong. She then climbed on me, shifted her panties and let my LGA slid in. She started riding me and laughing hysterically, much to my dismay. If I had my way, I would have prevented my LGA from erecting. But as you know that man has a will of its own, and sometimes cannot be controlled.
“How does it feel like, Sweet Sir?” She laughed wildly. “You are having your last s*x before you die. I could kill you right away so that it would be declared that you died in active service.”
“Please, stop.”
“I will, Sir. You love making love to your student, not so? This is a perfect opportunity. I am giving you just what you want. How do you want it, Sir, hard or slow?” She laughed.
She was interrupted by my phone ringing. She checked and it was my mum. She rejected the call and continued what she was doing. Soon, I released, and she came down from me, smiling.
“I am sure you had a good time. You should be grateful that I had made this day a memorable one. It was like they say, the condemned man drank whisky before his execution.” She laughed.
My phone rang again, and it was my mum calling. She rejected the call again.
“You better let me take that call. It is my mum, and she could get suspicious if I don’t take the call.”
“Alright, you will take the call, but make sure you answer as casually as possible. Sound as normal as you can. If you say anything suspicious, I will put a bullet in your head. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
She handed the phone to me.
“Hello, Mum.”
“Jones, where have you been? I have been trying to get to you.” That was my mum.
“I am sorry, Mum. I have had a busy day.”
“A busy day? But it is Saturday. Where are you now?”
“At work, I mean at home.”
“Jones, you are not sure where you are? Are you sure you are alright?” She sounded worried. You know a mother's instincts.
“Yes, Mum. I am fine.”
“Okay, I want you to come to the house later in the day.”
“Okay, I will be there.”
As soon as the call dropped, Sandra’s brother came in. She and her sister hogtied me, gagged me and dumped me in the boot of my car. He sister got in the passenger side while he drove to where I couldn’t tell. In the darkness of the boot, I prayed my last prayer and asked God to forgive me for all my sins and receive me in heaven.
About an hour later, the car came to a stop. The boot was opene and I was roughly pulled out of it. I looked around and noticed that we were in the outskirts of town. The area was lonely and isolated and there were no houses around. A pick axe and shovel were handed to me.
“Take this and get to work.” Sandra’s brother ordered.
“What do you want me to do?”
“You are digging your own grave, literally. When you are done digging, we will kill you and bury you inside. No one will ever find your co**se. Your parents will never have closure. They will suffer just like my parents have.”
“Please, don’t kill me.” I begged.
“So, you can beg?” He laughed. “I didn’t know you could beg. Now listen to me, one more word from you, and I will blow off your head. Now, get to work.”
I took the tools and was about to start digging when a police car appeared at the scene and three policemen appeared and asked Sandra’s brother to drop his weapon. He knew his plans had come to an end. However, he was desperate and didn’t want to let me go. So, he refused to drop his gun.
“Drop your gun, Sir.” The policeman repeated.
Instead of Sandra’s brother to drop the gun and hand it over, he instead raised the gun and fired twice. Two bullets tore into my heart and I fell down and began the journey of death which was a one-way street. At that same moment, the police opened fire on him. About twenty bullets got him, and he was dead long before he fell on the ground. Sandra was arrested and handcuffed.
An ambulance was called and both of us, me and Sandra’s brother were taken into it. When we got to the hospital, he was taken to the mortuary while I was rushed to the intensive care unit. A team of doctors got to work immediately. The bullets were removed after an emergency operation was performed. However, the damage had already been done. I needed an immediate heart transplant to survive, and since there was none available, I was placed on oxygen and palliative care while they waited for the worst.
At exactly midnight on that Saturday, I died. However, before I breathed my last. I had a lengthy and difficult conversation with my mother, who was at my bedside all through.
“Mum, how did you know I was in danger?” I asked.
“The phone call, my son. It didn’t sound normal. So, I got into my car and came to your place to look for you. As I was approaching your house, I noticed that your gate was wide open. Just then, I looked into the distance, and I saw a car that resembled yours being driven away. There were two people inside. I got suspicious and called the police.”
“Thank you, Mum, for coming to my rescue. Thank you, for being by me to the very end.” I spoke in a whisper.
“End? What are you talking about? The end has not come. We are leaving this hospital together, and we are going back home.” She replied in tears.
“I don’t think I can make it. I don’t think I will make it. I have done some very bad things in this life, Mum. I think my payback time has come. Let me just go and rest.” I spoke weakly.
“What kind of bad things, my son. The lady that was arrested at the crime scene said you killed some people.”
“Yes, Mum. I killed my former girlfriend. She was my student. She died with my unborn baby in her. I killed her unintentionally. I also killed my colleague. That one was intentional. He was going to expose me. So, I did what at that time I thought was the right time to do. Please, forgive me, Mother.”
“But why didn’t you tell me all these before now?” She was shocked.
“I couldn’t. I didn’t want to stress you. Besides, I thought it was all behind me. I didn’t know my past would come after me after so many years. The girl that was arrested at the scene, I know you have met her just once, so, you couldn’t make her out. That was the girl I brought to you as a fiancée. She was the younger sister of my ex-girlfriend whom I killed. I didn’t know because it had been long since I last saw her.”
“I knew it. I told you I had a nightmare about her killing you.”
“Yes, Mum. She came to kill me. I would have listened to you, but I didn’t. Please, forgive me. Tell my son I love him.”
“Don’t worry, my son. Just get well, and we will sort this out, okay?”
“Mother, my heart is getting cold. I don’t think I can make it. I can’t…, I can’t…, mum….
“What is happening? My son, my son!! Jones, Jonessss!!!” My mum shouted, shaking me desperately, but it was too late.
I was buried a week later. I don’t need to bother you about the details of the funeral and my dad’s reaction and all that. It would only break your heart, a least for those people who still had pity for me in spite of all my atrocities. Late at night, after the funeral, my mum was in the living room with some mourners who had come to console her. She had managed to doze off for a few minutes, when suddenly she started shouting in her sleep, asking a strange person not to take her son, me, away.
The mourners who were with her woke her up and asked her what was happening to her. Realizing it was a dream, she fell on the ground and started crying afresh. When she had stopped crying, she explained to them that in her dream, she saw a strange woman taking her son to a distant land. The women told her to calm down and prayed with her.
It might have been a dream, but my mum had seen what was going to happen. That same night, Sasha’s spirit appeared at my graveside and called.
“Jones, Jones, Jones.”
My spirit appeared and went to her. She took me by the hand and embraced me.
“Where have you been, Sasha. I missed you.” I spoke.
“I have been everywhere and nowhere, Sweet Sir. But one thing was sure. I was waiting for you. Now we are together, and so we will be to the end of time. Sweet Sir, I am glad you are with me now.”
“I am glad too, Sasha.”
She held my hand, and like two married couples, we walked away to a distant land.
It is from there that I am writing to you now.
THE END.
