LEGEND OF DEATH'S ASSASSINS

CHAPTER 8

“Bella?”

Nadi kicked the white door and burst into the room. He was sweating now, with his heart chiming like a steam engine. His thoughts also wandered as he searched the room, calling out his sister’s name. He had messed up again, and he knew it. This was why he wanted to keep his family away from all these. It was also part of the reason why he had quit the Jangos. He wanted everyone to be safe. He wanted his sister to be safe. With the way things had been going, he knew a day like this would come. He had foreseen such, and he had acted quickly by quitting. But now…it’s as if nemesis was about to catch up with him. Every effort was like trying to avoid the inevitable.

“God, this is not happening,”

Nadi stoop, looking under the table, hoping against hope to find the dark hair. He had known Fred to always make empty traits. Even though the man had claimed to have his sister, Nadi did not want to believe him. Not while he was sure the man was bluffing. There was no door here, and he had seen Bella running into this room. There was no way Fred could have get to her. Not without getting to him first. He wouldn’t live with himself if anything happens to her. It was going to break him. But more especially, his parents are going to blame him, like always, of his carelessness and wayward attitude. Maybe his father would push forward and disown him after all. His mother too. She might curse him. But he didn’t care though. He stopped caring a long time ago. All he wanted right now was his sister.

“Please, God. If you are there, I pray you…”

Nadi paused when he heard the noise. It was coming from the far side, just some paces away from the steaming pot. Breathing out heavily, he crawled towards the direction.

“Bel?” He called, but his words echoed widely without anyone replying them.

Nadi held the knob of the small cupboard and pull it out gently. The dark hair that came into view made his stomach lift, but he was engrossed with horror when he saw the face of the person.

“Please don’t hurt me,” the serving girl said amid the clapping teeth.

Nadi hissed and stood up. The disappointment brought more lines to his face. It was hard to keep his focus, but he tried to maintain an open mind. He wouldn’t let his emotion cloud his judgment, not with the life of his sister at stake. Glancing one last time at the girl, he hurried towards the first table and started pulling out their doors. Before now, he didn’t think a human being could fit into the drawer. But with the serving girl, who was almost the same size as Bella, well, anything was possible at the moment.

“She is not here, Nadi. They took her.” The serving girl said

Nadi turned back to her. First, he was surprised about how the girl knew his name. But on a second thought, he just realized that he had lived the last ten years of his life, playing dice with the devil himself. He was among the notorious robbers in the village. It won’t be odd if someone knew his name. Even if he never knew them.

“That’s impossible,” Nadi shook his head and averted his gaze from the girl, “I saw her run into this room.”

“No, Nadi.” The girl said. She was hugging herself now, but had remained in the cupboard, as if that was the safest place in the planet, “She never made it here. One of Jangos men took her. A man with some white crazy beard.”

“Natalia” Nadi gnashed his teeth as the image of the man seemed to form in his mind’s eyes. Just like their master, most of the Jangos crew, likes dying their facial hair with colors that made them stand out. And in this case, Natalia was the only person in the Jangos that had a white beard, or hair.

“I am going to kill him. I am going to kill all of them. I am going to bring down the Jangos.”

“You?” The serving girl asked.

The amusement in her voice made Nadi clench his fist. She didn’t believe him, not that he cared, but he hated people doubting him. Especially in serious matters like this. His sister’s life was in danger. The Jangos just declared a war with him the moment they laid their hands on her. He is going to crush their group. He is going to rain down hell.

“Just try not to get killed, like the others” The girl said and wiped the tear “I can’t believe they killed the others” Despite the fear that held her captive, she chuckled for the first time since Nadi came into the kitchen, but broke into tears afterwards.

“Get your stuff and go home. Stay indoor too, because it is going to be a rough night. Today will never be written off in the history of the village, or that of our country” Nadi said and walked out of the kitchen.

The sun was already hiding on the other side of the world when Nadi walked out of the brothel. Turns out the serving girl was right. The Jangos had killed everyone in the brothel, including those standing outside. They were all lying in the puddle of their own blood. Most of them had been shot on the head, but some had been shot on the stomach. For the ten years he had been with the Jangos, he has never seen such brutality. It was as if the Jangos were trying to send a message to somebody or something. Nadi could not say for sure. He didn’t care. He was going to get his sister back; however difficult it may seem. Even If he dies, let it be written that he tried his best.

That’s the door.

Nadi hurried up the porch and knocked twice before rubbing his palms together as he waited. There was no light in the house. But, it was a trick they had learned a long time ago. Keeping the lights off, kept visitors away.

He landed three knocks on the door again, almost feeling his skin crawling out. The sweat at the back of his head have all dried out, replaced now with a chill that made his stomach gloat, even though he had not eaten anything that day—Aside from smoking and the drinking. Plus, facing the Jangos would need more than courage. He needed weapons. He needed guns.

“Who is it?” Came a voice from inside the house.

“Magic G. It’s me, Nadi.”

“Nadi?” The man sounded surprised.

“Yes, MG. It’s me?”

“What do you want this time. Have they sent you to kill me? I have cleared everything I owe.”

“Just open the door, MG.” Nadi knocked again.

“Not until you tell me why you’ve come.”

“Please, MG. I need your help.”

“Help?” Magic G, asked.

There was silence for some time before the door lock shifted and the door opened slightly. “Hurry,” The man whispered and closed the door behind Nadi.

“I need your help.” Nadi said, biting his fingers.

The only source of light in the room was the little rays of the falling sun. The windows were also closed, trapping the horrid reek of tobacco, which must have been hovering for a day or two.

“This is new.” MG shifted the towel in his pot belly. He was older than Nadi’s father but was closer to the ground, compared to Nadi’s father who was taller. The man was round, and his hanging shoulders held his head, making it difficult to see the little neck.

“I never thought I will hear that in my life time.” Magic G said.

He took the empty seat, and gesture Nadi to do the same, but the boy seemed way too distracted to mellow in comfort.

“They have my sister.”

“They…oh.” Magic G’s brow elevated towards his forehead, “The father has disowned the son.” He laughed.

“This is serious, MG. I need to get her back. She is the only true family I have got.”

“I know. But as always, you didn’t listen to anyone. If you had allowed me to marry her, none of these would have happened.”

“I will break your jaw, MG. Why not pick a day old baby and stick your nonsense into it? This is my sister for crying out loud. Ten years old”

Magic G, shifted in his seat, but remained silent. There were words in his mouth of course, but with the way his eyes flickered and bounces from one side of the room to another, it was obvious. The man was afraid of Nadi or must have decided to keep his distance.

“So tell me, how do you intend to get her back. Negotiation?”

“I wish I had a choice.” Nadi heaved, “They are too many for one man. But I am willing to return his money. Perhaps, Fred would listen and free my sister.”

“Don’t be fooled. You know better. Negotiation won’t work.”

“I know, that’s why I have come here. Just needed to get ready for the inevitable. I hate being taken unawares.”

“Ah,” Magic G’s eyes broaden, “I get it. You want me to give you guns.”

“And money too. I need to pay up my debt.” Nadi rubbed his palms. When he was still a hitman, he had helped Magic G many times. He knows the man would not disappoint him. Not now that he needed his help.

“How much are we talking about?”

“A hundred grand.”

“Phew,” Magic G, stroked his brow, “That’s a lot. But nothing I cannot take care of. With the way you’ve helped me, Nadi. I think I owe you this one.”

The man stood up from the seat.

“Plus, this will be a win-win. If I succeed in bringing the Jangos down, you will have your freedom. Most of the locale will depend on you as their main source of getting weed.”

“Don’t try to bring them down, Nadi. Get your sister and get out. You are not some machine.” Magic G walked towards the door at the western side, “this way please.”

Nadi nodded and followed behind.