SURVIVAL GAME

CHAPTER NINE

She was waiting. Was this payback from Kofi. She sighed and looked around. It was cute- the decoration. The restaurant was reserved, just for her and him.

She looked at the tables, the tale setting was fabulous. She liked it all, except the fact that he was late.

Ava has been waiting for two hours. It was already getting late, she looked at her phone. It was 11pm. She stood up angrily. Kofi bailed on her, what a jerk? She walked out of the restaurant. She was frowning. And angry.

She looked around, she didn’t bring her car, and the bus stop was not nearby. She took the shortcut. The path filled with trees. She wanted to go home fast.

She stopped when she saw someone coming. The person steps was not balance, she stayed behind a tree and looked at the person approaching. The person walked somehow, like he had been beaten up. It was a male. It was obvious. The person walked closer.

Ava widened her eyes in surprise. It was Kofi. He was bleeding from his head, he has been beaten up so badly.

He fell down close to the tree Ava was behind. Ava looked at Kofi, he was unconscious. She think. He was breathing hardly. She walked slowly, closer to Kofi. She stared at him and put each leg at the side of Kofi, making Kofi body to stay in the middle of her legs. She bend down slowly, she was trembling. She held Kofi’s neck with her palm. Holding it tighter every second. Kofi tried to remove the hands that were chocking him. He opened his eyes a little. Ava saw his eyes open she held his neck tighter.

He has to die.

Kofi couldn’t fight back, he was already weak. Ava smiled a little, she was going to do it. She stood up anxiously, someone was coming. She went behind the tree and watched Dare pick up Kofi , Dare said something but she couldn’t hear. Ava watched Dare carry Kofi home.

Ava stared at her palms, they were trembling. She could feel the tears coming out of her eyes.

She almost killed him.

CHAPTER TEN.

Ava entered the building, only to see Miriam watching TV. Or obviously waiting for her. Ava didn’t want to see anyone, she just wanted to be alone and get her s**t together.

Miriam looked at Ava and smiled

“ how was the date?” Miriam asked is a not genuine tone. Ava sighed

“ how did you expect it to be?” Ava said sharply. Her patience were getting thin.

Miriam frowned and looked at her wristwatch

“ isn’t the date too early?or was there even a date” Miriam asked seriously. Ava swallowed hard. She shouldn’t have come home this early. Gosh she just made a mistake. Ava formed a little smile

“ Kofi didn’t want to keep me up all night…and moreso I was getting sleepy” Ava said slightly rude.

Miriam scoffed. Then stood up. Ava knew she didn’t buy it, but she didn’t care. She had a lot to think off. Like her tying to murder Kofi, and if Kofi saw her try to murder him. Ava was about to leave when Miriam decided to annoy her

“ you have a job to do” Miriam said flatly. Ava turned around and stared at Miriam.

“ what do you mean?” Ava asked getting confused.

“ I need a file from a client…in order words, I need you to help me get that file”

Ava scoffed. Now she’s retereiving file. She won’t be shocked if Miriam ever ask her to kidnap kids.

“ who and what file?” Ava asked annoyingly. She was getting frustrated and she wanted Miriam out of her sight.

Miriam smiled wickedly

“ Kola Wole. You will get the job done this weekend.” Miriam paused. She looked as if she was going to say something that will hurt Ava and please her “ you will take the place as his reserve client” she smiled widely, still with a wicked grin “ or should I say … his reserve p********e”

Ava widened her eyes and staggered back a little. The look on Miriam face was clearly stating I- enjoying- this. Ava squeezed her palms angrily

“ I’m not doing that s**t. You are the devil’s slut. Not me” Ava said angrily. Miriam chuckled then frowned.

“ I only stopped you from visiting your father in the hospital…” Miriam said darkly as she walked closer to Ava “ but if you continue to dare me, I will banish you from visiting your father …in his grave” Miriam said wickedly.

Ava wanted to cry, you wanted to break down. But she had to hold it in. She wasn’t the vulnerable type, and she wasn’t going to be vulnerable in front of this mistake created monster- Miriam.

Ava sighed resigning. Then scoffed

“ you are a psycho” Ava said painfully and forcefully. Miriam scoffed lightly and proceed to give Ava a small pat on her shoulders

“ you don’t have a choice anyway. I’m the queen and you are the slave” Miriam said harshly and chuckled lightly. Ava frowned

“ you are not the queen of this castle. You are just a monster under the bed. Nothing more, nothing less” Ava said harshly and rudely, making Miriam frown.

On a normal day Ava would have loved too see the frown she created on Miriam face but she was still trying to control herself. Ava walked to her room angrily and slammed the door. She rested her back on the door and stared at her palm which were trembling. She tried to speak but her mouth trembled. She almost killed him. And she failed. And he might have seen her. Ava was confused, petrified and distressed.

Ava slowly sat on the floor. She was slowly turning to a monster. A monster like Miriam.

Ava could do nothing. But cry.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

He opened his eyes slowly. He observe the room and sighed. he was in his house. He sat upright and groan in pain. He was sore almost everywhere. He remembered the beaten. Those long and painful beaten.

Dare entered and saw him

“ are you awake?” Dare asked warmly and walked closer to him. Kofi frowned

“ no I’m still sleeping” Kofi replied rudely with sarcasm. Dare frowned

“ whatever.” Dare paused “ what happened?” Dare asked worried.

Kofi scoffed

“ what else. Dark shadow was teaching me a lesson for wasting time with Ava” Kofi said getting angry.

Dark shadow , the guy he has never seen is his boss. And just like his name he is brutal and dangerous. Kofi hasn’t gotten what Dark Shadow wants from Miriam. And this beaten was a warning from Dark Shadow that he is wasting time.

Dare sighed. They was nothing that could be done. Dare couldn’t say anything. Nothing can help Kofi. Dare stared at Kofi and saw the mark around Kofi neck

“ I thought they didn’t want to kill you” Dare asked getting confused. Kofi stared at Dare

“ they didn’t” Kofi said

“ then why did they try to strangle you? Your neck is all red”

Kofi touched his neck. He could feel the mark. Especially the finger nails mark. Whoever did this , has sharp nails.

He could remember walking and getting choked. It wasn’t Shadow’s men . it was someone else.

But he just couldn’t remember.

***

Ava smiled in relief. He wasn’t in school. At least she can get a little piece of mind. Ava sighed in depression. She remembered that devil’s words. And her threat.

Miriam has always been the biggest. Really biggest problem in Ava’s life. Ever since Miriam took her in, her life has been worse than living hell. She remembered the incident that led to that.

She was in the United States with her mum. She didn’t even know she had a father, until after her mum died. Until they killed her mum.

Her dad was trying to protect them by pretending he doesn't have a family. But I guess his protection wasn’t enough. Her mum got killed.

Her dad took her in. Took her to her real home. Africa . But Africa never felt like home. The hiding. The fake identity. The lies - Never made her see Africa as her home. But she felt secured, because her dad was with her.

Well not anymore. Not until…

“ hey, Ava” Femi said snapping Ava out of her thought.

Ava turned around and saw Femi, she smiled a little. Femi walked closed to her. He looked friendly. Like always.

“ how is it going?” Femi asked.

Ava hid the frown that was about to show in her face. She wanted to shout ‘ MY LIFE IS A f*****g MESS, AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO HELL. AND WHEN I MEAN HELL, I MEAN MIRIAM’S PLOT FOR MY LIFE.’

Ava didn’t say it, she just smiled

“ great” she replied to Femi. Femi paused he wanted to say something.

“” emm… where is your boyfriend?” Femi asked cautiously. Ava frowned

“ who?” Ava said quickly before realizing what she has said.

He meant Kofi, you fool.

Ava quickly formed a smile

“ Kofi is at home. He told me he wasn’t feeling well.”

Femi knew Ava was lying, her expression told him so. But he wasn’t going to let Ava know.

“ you must be stressed. Why don’t I take you out…” Femi smiled widely “ don’t forget, you promised to drink with me.” Femi said and winked at Ava.

Ava chuckled

“ are you always this flirtatious?”

“ are you always this all-knowing?”

Ava rolled her eyeballs. Femi was just all she needed to make her smile. But she had work to do. Not fun.

“ maybe next time” Ava said seriously.

Femi frowned then quickly smiled

“ if you change your mind…I’m always available.” Femi said warmly.

“ sure” Ava said and walked away.

Femi watched Ava leave. She was always different in school. Hiding the darker side in her. He needed to get close to her. She attracted him. Soo much.

“ we have all been there” Precious said dramatic to Femi. Femi faced Precious, she was standing beside him

“ what?” he asked confusedly.

Precious smiled a little

“ being rejected by Ava” Precious paused “ we have all been there” she said softly.

Femi chuckled lightly

“ so I guess I’m not the only one, that nice to here”

Precious smiled then sighed

“ only Kofi was able to get into her heart” Precious said, a little envious.

Femi frowned, this time he didn’t hide it. Precious wasn’t even looking at him. She was watching a girl , who was standing by her locker. It seems like Precious was engrossed in her observation about the girl , so he just left.

***

She didn’t know why she was here. She was still very unsure.

What if he knows?

What if he don’t?

Those where questions that linger in her ears. She need to be sure. So she was outside his house with a box of chocolate- spoilt one, checking whether he knows what she did. Ava plan was to give the chocolate to Dare, Kofi must be in the hospital. She will find out the truth from Dare expression. Dare can’t lie. That was his weakness and she was going to use that.

The door opened and Ava dropped the box of chocolate , apprehensive. The eyes that was staring at her was dark and threatening. It was Kofi.

Kofi frowned and stared at the chocolates on the ground. Then stared at Ava.

“ what are you doing here?”

Ava composed herself and stared at Kofi

“ emm…the KMA kept asking me why you are not in school…” Ava looked away from Kofi, she wished he could stop staring at her “ that’s why I’m here”

Kofi sighed, then smiled a little

“ I’m not feeling well. And I’m sorry for missing the date”

“ sure, no problem” Ava said quickly. She just wanted to leave.

“ why don’t we reschedule?” Kofi said a little nicely. Ava stared at Kofi

“ what? Reschedule?” Ava asked getting frustrated.

“ let’s do it today. Now” Kofi said seriously.

Gosh . He is so unpredictable. From friendly to annoying.

Ava wanted to say no, but she knew it was just a waste of time. Her opinion, to Kofi is bullshit. Ava just sighed in annoyance.