The Cure

Chapter 1 Zeno I turned back and gave one last glance at the place that has been my home for the past four years. Four years of torture, misery, and pain. This place has memories I would do anything to keep and cherish forever and memories I’d do anything to forget. Exactly three years ago I came to this place thinking my father and I have sorted out our differences. I thought he was bringing me here for a holiday. Foolish me, who can be more naïve than I am? This is no time to dwell on the past I have to get going. My friend Zara did all she could to help me escape this place. The strip club and the life of being a p********e. I should be doing my best way possible to meet her halfway. I met Zara the second day upon arriving at this hell hole that looks beautiful on the outside. The ones outside wish to come in and the ones in wish to come out. The difference is that once you are in, there is no way out. I arrived here late at night, only to wake up to the beautiful lady, Zara who told me to freshen up and get ready for my first day of work. I couldn’t understand what she meant. I mean I came here to spend my summer holidays. What do summer holidays have that has to do with working? “Where is my father,” I asked her still half asleep. “My name is Zara, I am the one responsible for showing you around, teaching you the rules of this place, and training you to be the best at your field of work” that was her response, totally not about what I have just asked her. A smile cracks on my face. Zara and I have gone a long way from where we started. I remember how she used to be serious and strict all the time. Poor Zara she seems like she is caring about the whole world on her shoulders. “I’m Zeno,” I told her and she smiled. I went to take a shower and she handed me clothes that were not mine. The outfit looked new and smelled new, only it was not what I preferred to wear. The clothes screamed gay and my father and I always had an argument when it came to my sexuality. He blames my sexuality for my mother’s death. That is a story for another day. Fine, that was enough, Zara taught me everything I know at this place and now she is helping me leave this place. I am not about to stand here and waste her efforts. I’m not sure why but I feel a pinch of pain when the thought of leaving this place crosses my mind. I think it has to do with leaving Zara and her daughter behind. I hurried, took my bags, and, walked down the corridor that leads to the back exit. This isn’t leaving Scott free kind of departure but it is an escape. With one wrong move, three lives are at risk, Zara’s, Zara’s daughter's, and mine. The corridors at the back side are not busy, it’s rush hour every worker is tending to the clients. Zara said she took care of the security guards on duty. I didn’t ask her how but believed she really did. By the looks of it, I bet she did. I fastened my steps and walked out of the gigantic building down to the forest at the backside. Zara was waiting for me there. As soon as I came into the forest she crushed me into a tight hug. We both cried, I think it is because we both don’t know what the future kept in store for us. We both may be seeing each other for the last time. I pray that ugly Tom doesn’t kill her when he finds out she helped me in this. “Zeno, I always thought of you as my younger brother. I love you. I wish you the best of luck in your new journey. Be careful.” Said Zara under her breath as she break the hug and wipe both our tears. For a minute I regret my decision, but this is it. I’m finally leaving this place. “Take care of both you and my niece. I love you both. Goodbye,” I responded, emotionally racked. Zara tells me to repeat the plan which was to run past the forest towards the city. She handed me a stack of cash and a small bag I assumed it has food inside. She is the strongest woman I ever met after my mother’s death. We said our goodbyes and I started running in the forest. It was dark and the twigs kept stripping me down. By luck, I haven’t fallen down. I run for what seemed like forever with my feet now protesting. I can’t risk resting before reaching the city. The plan is to use my fake identity documents to book a room and sleep there. The next morning I will carry on with the run, at least then I’ll take public transportation. While running I notice the sound of bushes as they are getting crushed by something that steps on them. I stop running and stand still to listen carefully to the sound. Hearing no sound I assume it is me who steps on them and make them make the sound I hear while running. Seeing the lights merging in a distance, a smile is plastered on my face. Thank God I will reach the city in one piece now that I have managed to be a few minutes away from the border without any complications. My moment of joy didn’t last. The Security guard wearing the uniform I would recognize anywhere appeared in front of me, lining the borderline. Tom’s security guard! I couldn’t make out what was happening in front of my own eyes. How could Tom do this to me? He gave me hope to succeed on this mission only to crush it right in front of my face. I felt tears breaking down my eyes, I lost control of myself and broke down, kneeling on the mud crying while trying to get away from the men who came forward. They came to drag me back to the hell hole. I did what came first in my mind, I screamed and screamed for help in a helpless place. We were in the middle of nowhere, and my calling for help was of no use. The guard did not bother to make me keep quiet, they knew my screaming was of no help to me. I couldn’t go back to the club without a fight, at that instant, I got in flight mode. I started kicking and biting the guard’s arms while crying. The guard made a circle around me, all of them charging at me at the same time. My stubborn self kept fighting even when I felt that I was then floating, they managed to lift me off the ground. It was already over. The more I protested going back the more the guards tightened the hold on me, manhandling me and it was getting painful each time they tighten their hold. My limbs were bleeding. Seeing all my attempts of escaping the guards were fruitless, I stopped fighting and accepted my fate. The fate of being the p********e. The guards complimented me for making the right choice of stopping the fuss I was making when I got caught. “Good boy, now you will go back and continue your good job. Don’t worry we will all still buy spending time with you on our day offs.” I snorted, and they talked as if that is supposed to make me feel proud. “Put him down,” slowly murmured the cold strong voice from behind us. They all froze on sport, I looked around by saw nothing except the shadows of the trees. The man from behind continued to say, “Put him down before I lose my patience,” he said this with malice in his voice. “Who are you to tell us what to do in our territory?” responded one of Tom’s respected guards. He is too full of himself, he thinks everyone is beneath him. That changes as soon as the bullet lands in between his eyes killing him before anyone could react. While Tom’s guards were still in shock, men in black emerged from nowhere and charged for them. The fight got messy in a few minutes. Seeing that Tom’s guards were at the losing end, I used the opportunity to escape. At that moment I felt something hitting my head with great force. I used my hand to touch the sport, it was wet. Putting the hand in front of my face, I smelt blood. That was the last thing I saw before the darkness engulfed me.