THE SHADOW OF SLEEP

CHAPTER TWO—What is Justice?

He reminded me of my elder brother, who loved Justice. He loved justice so much that he died for it. He had the same sleek body build, expansive upper chest, and slim waist. He then had other traits that set him apart. Traits that disconcerted me immediately I set my eyes on him, I tried to look at any other thing aside him, and I discovered that I wasn't the only one who noticed. Ladies were batting their brows at him, and one or two would call out at the same time for his attention, which he was not loath to give.

I was looking at the male section just a little away from us. They had a different trainer. A bulwark and stern-faced man. The atmosphere there was more serious and intensive.

“You are not getting the pose.”

He was standing close where I sprawled on the ground, trying to balance my whole weight on my right hand. I had been on it for over 20 minutes and had yet to accomplish it.

I looked up into the most silvery eyes I had ever beheld. He had a charming smile and a square jaw. His eyes seemed to turn liquid as he smiled at me.

Did we know each other somewhere that I couldn't recall again, or was he simply smiling at my inability to get the pose half of the ladies had already gotten?

Maybe it was just a polite smile?

“I'm trying the best I can.”

He squatted down and pointed at my belly. This is not how you position your trunk when you are trying to lift your body with your hand.

“Here, there! Let me help you.”

And before I knew it, his strong arms were touching my belly.

“Breathe in and squeeze it in.” “ Okay, bare yourself up again.”

I tried lifting myself and missed the balance once more, toppled on him as he tried to hold me still, but it wasn't to be so. I apologized quickly and met a few hostile and incredulous looks.

Calm down, y’all ladies. I'm married here. I'm not in this with you guys. You could call me devotion.

Is that so? A quiet voice asked. I recognized it, Clarence.

A voice that had never stopped haunting me ever since that day.

I could recall that day perfectly—it was just like seeing my reflection in a calm, clear stream, knowing exactly what I looked like.

It had been like any other day. The sun rose from the East, and as I drove my children to school, turning into Witforth, I wished the harmattan season could come quickly so that I would not have to be driving my beautiful Toyota into swamps and stagnant water.

Then I was sitting in my office minding my business when I got that treacherous call.

“Florence, Florence” He was breathing heavily. “I’m in trouble.” I could sense the fear, and even though I couldn't see him, I knew he was shaking all over. The fear was just too palpable.

“Clarence, calm down,” I said while my heart thumped heavily against my chest trying to pump enough air into my lungs.

“What is wrong?”

“I wit- ne-ssed a uhm..” He breathed in “ A man”

“Ehen” I urged him on.

He breathed in again “being killed”

“Okay,” I said quietly.

“I have it all on tape.”

“Okay, where are you?”

“I'm...” The line went dead.

I flared up from my executive seat.

I didn't call him back. I called his friend, Jude.

“Hello”

“Jude, Clarence is in trouble” I said quickly. “ He witnessed a man being murdered. Go to him quickly”

“Where is he?”

“I don't know” I nearly shouted. They were friends for God's sake, in the same line of work and province. He should figure that out.

I quickly called my assistant. Page the cybersecurity.

“I don't know how you guys do it. Track this number. Tell me the location. The last call was in a restaurant.”

“Ma’am, it has...” I cut the call. There was no time.

“Honey, an emergency came in. I need to be in Notton.. Please take care of the children.” That was the message I dropped for my husband as I hurried out to catch a flight to Notton.

Had I known, I would have started deploying all the connections I had at that moment, but I kept calling Clarence whose line wasn't going through all the way to Notton.

Clarence worked for our government, and our dear country, Jira. He was a top security operative. He walked and guarded the top officials of the country. If he had witnessed a murder. Perchance, it might be what I was thinking.

I arrived in Notton and started tracing Clarence. He had been to one of the prominent judges’ residences to divulge the crime, thereby endangering himself more.

By the time I deployed all my contacts and found my enigmatic brother. He was lying with his eyes closed, not moving, in a gutter, gone from me forever.

He was betrayed by the people he trusted the most. I ought not to have called Jude.

One of his messages to me was,

“He said, I will kill you, and nothing will happen.”

They did kill him, but I made sure everything happened.

Is that justice?

When I couldn't even save him.

I might not be able to save my precious kids this time around if I weren't cleverer. I had no power here. I couldn't even find out where they were. If they were still where I left them. Would Matthew protect them in Jira?

Clarence worked in the halls of injustice. What hall is this?

“Try again." I looked into the dogged face of my Trainer. He was still squatting. His blond hair fell across his right eye. It was short and trimmed.

If I didn't...

As if he read my mind. “We do not quit here till we get what we want.”

I had never been athletic in my life, though I had the body of one. I never pushed myself beyond walking, but the run in Jira made me discover limits I never knew existed.

I pushed myself up. If this and many more are what it took to find a way out of here to Jira. I would gladly oblige and overcome.

I was panting. Sweat was dripping from the blue uniform overalls I wore onto the tiled floor.

He was gleaming. His teeth shone. I could see he was satisfied.

“Is this what you people want?” I managed to ask. Waves of electricity were passing through every fiber of my body just as I felt like the hand I used in supporting myself would soon snap and break.

“Yes,” He was still smiling. “ This is to build your strength for when we start training.”

I lost my balance and fell. He laughed.

He found it funny. If I could, my legs would have lurched into his abdomen.

“Get up, Get up, everyone!” He clapped just as he went to stand at the front. “Let's do another simple one. It won't be like this from tomorrow. It would be harder. I heard gentle mmmmms, even some happy giggles. They were gushing with affection, none took note of the implication of what he said. Were there still some that had their brains intact, or had his body and face mesmerized everyone?

I can't be deceived. I had just gotten a glimpse of his interior from our mere interaction. He was just as formidable as that bulwark trainer teaching the males over there, if not more.

Who knew what other things he kept hidden under that shiny exterior and smiling visage?

For one thing, wickedness would be in the list. He loved to see people suffer.

And what better person to use than him? But I had to be careful not to get burned.

A little mistake is all it took for a life to be gone, just like Clarence.

“What is your name?” A lady in front with long dark hair quipped. “ I'm Elizabeth Kart” She offered excitedly, only for Silvery eyes to douse it.

“I will give you my name tomorrow when you win the game” He corrected himself, “Anyone who wins the game tomorrow will get to know my name” He announced.

Everyone started murmuring, “What game?”

I added pride to that list quickly. He has quickly become a prize to be won. Very convenient for him. I wonder how many will exert themselves tomorrow. I sneered and chuckled.

“This one will be hard to win over. Anyways, Pride comes before a fall. He would fall right into my hands.” I joined the sea of murmurers.