A woman's dilemma - Episode 29

Tina:

 Lying down on this bed that stinks of antiseptic and everything medical, I try not to puke my guts out. I can feel Daniel pacing in front of my bed while Claudia stands  in the corner watching me. She's actually the one making me nervous as hell. I feel like she can see right through my lies and doesn't believe a word I said earlier about burning myself with an electric kettle. I can feel her eyes on me even as I try not to open my eyes. I remain as still as I can in my pretence of  sleep. Deep within my heart, I feel elated that I got my mission accomplished last night without much hassle. Yes it wasn't easy to get into the booth of that evil man's car after following behind him and his wife for long minutes. But I'd done it. At the red light before their huge mansion, I slipped in without notice. And that was all I needed to get my revenge. I try not to let a sick smile cross my lips. 
"Turn up the volume, Daniel." Claudia's voice breaks the silence in the room. I strain my ears slightly to hear what has her interested in the television.
"I would stop at nothing to find the culprit who did this inhumane thing to my family." A cold shiver wracks my body as is my usual reaction to this particular voice. It can't be! My eyes flutter open with open fear.
"Oh no." The man seem to be staring straight at me from the television

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. My body shake violently.
"You're awake." I barely hear my brother's concern voice and feel him touch me.
"The bastard who took my wife from me is surely going to pay. Thank you." The evil man finally end his statement to the press and starts to push his way through the crowd with a little boy on his hips. The camera zooms on his hard features suddenly startling me. A cry is wrenched out of my throat before I can stop it and I jump back in the bed. It's like he's telling me he's coming for me before the screen goes black. I think someone turned the television off.
"Tina, you're screaming! Calm down!" Why is Daniel screaming at the top of his lungs? 
"Hey, listen to me. Snap out of it!" Claudia's voice is just as loud and I realize that's because they are trying to talk above my screaming. I didn't even realize that I'm still screaming in horror. Everything I went through that bloody night of my life is coming back to me and I can't shake them off or repress the memory like I've been doing for a month now. all those girls who got killed in front of me. Now, I consider them lucky to have been given the easy way out. They don't have to go through the memory for the rest part of their life.
"I should have died too." I think I sob out loud. Daniel's familiar scent permeates my nose and I think he's hugging me but I feel nothing.
"Don't say that! Talk to me so I can know how to help you." Daniel tries to hold me down so he can look into my eyes. I push him off me and race to the bathroom when a wave of nausea hit me hard. 
"Tina! Tina!" I slam the bathroom door shut behind me and let the tears fall as I slide down the wooden door.
"Tina?! You're worrying your brother and I. Are you okay in there? You can totally talk to us y'know. We can help you. You are the victim here." Claudia says from the other side of the door. I shake my head at the door and pull myself up to the sink.
"I'm not the victim anymore. I killed her." I say to the mirror as I splash water unto my face. I can't believe I succeeded in setting that house on fire but killed an innocent woman instead. I made a little boy motherless. I suddenly feel dirty and a sudden urge to get clean overtakes my senses. I splash water on both of my hands and scrub hard at them but when I look down at them, I only see blood on them. 
"You killed them. All those innocent people." My reflection in the mirror seems to be screaming at me.
"No!!" I scream and slam my fist into the mirror. The blood on my hands mock me. I think I hear screaming in the background but they get drowned out by my phone's ringtone. For some reason, I know who to expect when I pull the thing out of my pocket with trembling hands. 
"He--llo?" I stutter. There's a brief silence but I can hear hard breathing in the background.
"You should have died that night. I'll find you and complete this." The cold voice says and the line goes dead just as the bathroom door comes off the hinges with a bang and Daniel falls into the bathroom. Claudia comes through the hole Daniel has made in the door and both of them stare at my frozen form.
"Spill." Daniel growls at me and I do. I tell them everything I went through that day but leave out how I burnt Francis's house last night in a rage. I need help and I trust my brother. 

Francis:

"You couldn't get my daughter out! You! You!" Francesca's mom beat on my chest with her tiny hands while I just stand with my head bowed.
"I'm sorry." I keep repeating because I am. Frances wasn't supposed to die like that. She didn't deserve that.
"That's enough, honey. You'll hurt yourself." Her husband takes her hand and thankfully she lets me off and wrap her frail form around her husband.
"She was too young. I failed my daughter." She says into her husband's neck.
"No. I failed her." Senator Mokuro says, his hard glare on me. I shake my head solemnly then lower my eyes.
"I'm the biggest failure. All she ever did was love me. I'm sorry I couldn't get her out sooner. But I promise I'll find who did this." I solemnly promise.
"Woman, can you take Ola and put him to bed? I have a few things to discuss with Francis." I swallow hard at the hard tone Frances' father says this. His wife knows better than to argue and takes Ola from me. As soon as his wife is out of sight, I close the space between us only to have a hard fist slammed into my stomach. I bite down on the pain and only let out a groan. 
"She wasn't supposed to get involved in this." He grinds out at me.
"I know. I'm ---" another fist is slammed into my gut. I lurch forward but catch my breath.
"you took my only daughter from me. I should shoot you where you stand." He says cooly. A little fear creeps up my spine but I stand upright and stare hard at him.
"But you won't. It's too close to elections and you need me. You all need me." I say with confidence hoping I've not overestimated my usefulness. Both of us remain in a stand off for long seconds before he breaks eye contact​.
"Clean up your mess." He finally says and I nod.
"I will." I say.
"You can't kill her." He points his index finger at me and I stare at him confused.
"Her brother is a movie star and he just called the commissioner of police to report you." My mouth hit the floor as I watch all my achievements so far get taken from me.
"It's too close to the election for this but I can't​ toss you out this late. I'll give the police commissioner a call. Find the girl and negotiate this. You must win this election​.

Read " Beautiful Mask " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. My daughter already died for it."
"I'll find her."
"Have my daughter buried before the end of the week Francis. I can't stand a big burial. Make it simple and quiet." His strong voice breaks on the last word. I make to say something to lighten the grieve of the old man but he raises his hand up to stop me.
"That's enough. I don't want to see you anymore." He waves me off. I release a long breath but nod as I turn around to leave.
"And Francis," I stop in mu tracks when he speaks again and turn to give him my attention. 
"Watch your back. You killed my daughter. Never forget that." He tells me and walks off while I stare at his back. 

FINALLY GOT TWO MONTHS BREAK FROM SCHOOL SO I'LL BE ABLE TO POST MORE OFTEN FROM NOW. PS I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES POSTING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ISSUE WITH MY PHONE OR THE SITE. 
ANYWAYS, I NEED YOUR COMMENTS GUYS. THANKS