Father, Pleaaseee!

CHAPTER 3 FIRST TIME ON YOUR BED

ADEN

** 'come on shoot Aden shoot. We don’t have much time. Either you kill that man or your brother falls. So who is to going to be?’ I stared at my stepdad and wondered what to do. Since his arrival life has been benevolent to us. Taking his life would be the greatest mistake to ever commit. He is the only one standing between me and my wretched uncle- dad’s brother.

Dad-no that sperm donor was nothing short of a monster. He was a drunkard and a womanizer. A perfect combination for a failure. Truth be told I don’t know what mum saw in him but then again it wasn’t a marriage that she consented to. Her adopted parents having taken her in just for the monthly government allowance sold her off for more money as soon as she was of age. She went from a filthy home to held double ganger. Father treated her like Merchandise. Since he bought her he felt the need to tame her as if she was an animal. Having married into a family of gangsters mum had no voice. She couldn’t seek help and anyway, no one would offer it. Not that the people don’t suspect what was going on it’s just that they felt powerless and crossing their line would mean joining the misery. They had families and loved ones to protect and so turned the heads to what was going on.

Being a drunk he was constantly in debt but his elder brother, having a soft spot for him always bailed him out. To him, he was capable of no wrong. Anyway, he was the same flock as his family one can only expect so much from him. He was just a little better. If his family’s souls were deemed black then his was navy blue. Every night dad would come home drunk having fought at the bar and let it all out on mum. Blaming her for everything that went wrong in his life. He would constantly hit her and r**e her. It didn’t matter to him whether she was willing or not.

When I was born mum things were a little better. For a while, she was pampered. At the age of ten, dad and uncle would often take me with them when they were punishing people who they considered wrong. They claimed as the blood I should carry the 'pride' of the linage. The more brutal I was the better. Good thing that when they weren’t watching mum always taught me the right morals – humanity. This though, came at a price. Dad and his family were furious and accused mum of cheating on their son. They claimed no blood of theirs could be that soft.

Mum and I were kicked out of the house after being heated to a pulp for refusing to admit what they thought was true. We lived in the streets for about a month before we heard of father’s death and I swear I didn’t remember when last I was that happy. Even today I might be a changed man but there is one line in my prayer that I’ve remained true to – may my dad’s soul rest in hell.

Uncle started looking for us after then having spread rumors around that we used witchcraft to kill dad. I knew better though. He just wanted me back. Not being young anymore and having lived carelessly he knew in no time he will be joining his brother. By then their parents left alone and old would most likely be attacked and killed by the people to seek justice. See uncle has never had kids of his own. He had put all his strength into taking care of the family. That’s why among all, he had the hardest time dealing with the reality of the demise of their family tyranny.

Mum and I resorted to living in the dirtiest streets eating from garbage where we knew uncle would never think to check. That where Aaron and I met. He was fending for his family though I have never met them and I was fending for mum. As time went by we heard of their deaths one by one until only one uncle was left. We met my stepdad after three years of living in the streets. By then the filthy sewage under the bridge felt like heaven. At least they provided a roof over our heads when it was raining. Nice and all sorts of bugs became family. Anyway, on our usual hunt for food in the garbage, we found his body dumped and covered in dirt. Seeing that he was barely alive no one wanted to help out. Having gone through a similar ordeal we took it upon ourselves to ensure his survival. We had no money to take him to the hospital. However, our past came in handy. His knife wound wasn’t that deep but was badly infected. I used fire to sterilize the pocket knife that I always carry with me and sealed his wound. It was damn painful but effective. Besides, that was how dad treated mum after abusing her to make sure she lived long enough to be his punching bag.

When he got better he took us with him. Turned out he was a millionaire and some of his partners had ganged up on him to finish him off and take complete ownership of one of his businesses. He survived, turned the tables around, and married mum. Adam is the fruit of their love.

One lesson I learned is that one can never outrun his roots. After living in bliss for a long time the past finally caught up with us. Uncle found us and kidnapped my stepdad and Adam. He was furious that mum and I had successfully begun our lives afresh without his support. Worse is, karma was catching up on him. His voice no longer held the ferocity it used to. He was now a common scumbag who anyone can get back at when he crossed the line.

Stepdad was tied like the savior on the cross. His body filled with bloody whipping marks. At the corner of the room was a TV in which I could see Adam. He was not hurt but I’m not sure for how long. He was tightly tied to a seat; fire surrounding him and a bucket of petrol tied to a rope hanging over his head. At his side was a man holding on to the rope. If he lets go Adam my beloved brother is roasted literally. So there. I had two choices. Either of which will turn me into a monster just like my dad. It’s either I shoot my stepdad or I watch Adam die the ball is in my court. If I choose my stepdad he would never forgive me. He keeps shouting at me to save Adam instead. If I shoot him Adam will never forgive me. I’m not sure he can hear our voices from this end but he clearly is watching us. No matter the angle I will be his dad’s murder. My beloved stepdad. A timer on the other hand was set. If I fail to meet the demand on time then I lose them both.

Heavy sweat beads covered my face hiding my un-shed tears. Today uncle was taking everything from me; family to dignity. I refuse to let him have my tears. I’m I scared; hell yes. I feel like peeing my pants but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me breakdown. I know him very well by now. If I lose this challenge then this is just the beginning of the terror he will unleash on my new family. He will become like glue to our lives. If I succeed then I will remove him from our lives forever. The hard fact is right now I can’t think of any way out and begging never works on him.**

I woke up from the dream gasping for air my throat hurting from the scream I have just let go of. Every time I close my eyes it’s the same dream over and over again. Only it wasn’t a dream but my past. A past that I would rather keep locked but is haunting me mercilessly. ‘Damn when will you ever let go of me?’ I murmured helplessly.

I was just reaching for the glass on my bedside when it hit me. I haven’t finished the dream yet and I always remember it to the end. Something else must have woken me up. Then I hear it again. It wasn’t my scream that awoke me but Aurora’s.

Tucking my misery at the back of my mind, I got off the bed put on some pants, and headed for her room. When I got there she was still asleep tossing and turning. Crying. I don’t know what she was dreaming of but even from a distance, I could smell her fear. Her desperation.

Whatever it was I pray it was just a nightmare and not a memory. One of us has to have had a beautiful past. We can’t all be engulfed in pain. Soothing her while rocking her hair, I sang the lullaby that mum always used to get me to sleep. It was our song. Our morale piece. It didn’t work though Aurora was getting more and more agitated. I was left with no option but to wake her up.

Upon opening her eyes Aurora pranced to my arms sobbing hysterically. I silently sat with her until her cries demised. When she was calm enough I put her back in bed. I didn’t question her about the dream. I couldn’t. Doing that will make me heartless. Whatever it was it was better left off till morning. Besides I have my own demons to slay what she is feeling, I face it every day. Being questioned immediately after being haunted leaves a distasteful taste in one’s mouth.

I stood up ready to leave, to give her space when she held me back.

'Please don’t leave me alone,’

‘Shh it is going to be okay,’ I say patting her back

‘Please stay. I’m scared,'

'Fine. I’m not going anywhere,’ I identify a suitable position and make a move but she immediately grabs my hand. ‘I am just going to sit on the sofa and watch over you. Okay? Now hush and go to sleep.’

'No please stay with me on the bed. I don’t want him to catch me,'

'Who?’

‘I don’t know. I couldn’t see his face. Please, Aden.’ How could I refuse her plea? If my nightmares terrify me to that extent then it must be worse for this frail girl. Having no memories and fear filling her in abundance, she must really be strong not to go insane. I know a man and a woman sleeping on one bed is not ideal but I trust her and myself. If I know nothing unthinkable is going to happen then why worry. It’s a piece of cake. No different from soothing a sibling. Besides I’m going to be a priest soon. This is an area that was a complete no-go zone.

‘Okay. Scoot over.’ That night we ended up sleeping together till morning with her safely tucked in my arms.