THE BROODER

EPISODE 21

THE BROODER

21.

**RICHARD**

"What the heck was all that?" He should have warned me about that. I thought it was an ordinary pool.

King Banzi: I don't know what would happen. I had doubts about you but it's all cleared out now.

"Who are those? What is this pool?" Speaking of the pool, I need to get out of this pool, this cave and anything that has to do with this man. I needed to contact my sangoma. This is witchery!

King Banzi:" Son, you need to calm down. Let's talk about this...all these...I.know you have questions. I am also surprised about this revelation. I didn't know what to think. I didn't know I had a son out there..."

" I am not your son! I need to go. I can't keep up." I rush to the entrance to go out, anywhere apart from here. The door won't open.

'" open this door Richard, I want out. Out. Of . This. God.damned place."

He didn't move a muscle still relaxing in the pool.

" You are keeping me against my wish. I will shoot you Richard. I'll fvcken blow your brains up" He didn't move till I shoot the gun. I shoot the gun just an inch pass him to pass a serious message. He was shocked. I know he didn't know I had my little friend. I think the shoot out made him a bit shaken. He comes out of the water and wore his clothes taking his sweet time.

King Banzi:" I did not close the door. I have no hand in the opening of that door. I know you are shaken. This revelation has me shaken too. I found out same time as you did. I missed out on all your life son and I'm in pain too"

I feel so emotional and I don't like the feeling. I want out of these place.

"I need to go..." I can feel my voice breaking. All these years of bottling up the need of the young boy in me. I dreamt of meeting my family and blissful family life but I never got it. I look for my father in every man I see out there wishing and dreaming to reunite.

King Banzi: come here Mcebo, come sit here, close to your father.

My legs were betraying me. I find myself in his shoulders crying out loud. I am trembling and my chest hurts. I heard him too. He was crying too. So unmanly of us, crying like kids. This is not me, I want out of this place.

" I need to go, da... Richard" I move back to the entrance. He followed me there too and pushed the door. It opened and I ran to my car.

I tried to start the car but it won't start. This isn't right anymore. Nothing is right about this place. I keep trying till I give up and buried my face on the wheel.

Jordans call came through.

Jordans: Boss, I came to the house but...

" Can you come get me?" I tried to sound properly but my voice was still low and cracky.

Jordans: sure bafo!

I sent him my location pin and he arrived thirty minutes later. He didn't say anything to me and I appreciate that. I left my car there in the palace and drove home with him. I didn't even see the king till I left.

I was lost in thoughts that I didn't know when we got to the mansion...

***ASHLEY***

I open my eyes to my surroundings and I am in the clinic. My eyes are blurry so I can't make out the persons in the room.

I try to make sense of what landed me in hospital.

Thintiwe:' she's awake ' thank goodness!

She sounded happy like I had rose from the dead.

" How..." What happened to my throat? It hurts and I can't speak well. That bvstard punched me a black eye. My right eye is half closed and my body is in pain.

I see Ruthie, Thintiwe, Ashati and the nurse in the room.

I am given a glass of water with a straw to drink.

Ashati:" you gave us a scare Ashley, two whole days!"

"Two..?"

Ashati:" yes, you were out for two days honey. Doctor Kashmir had to come here himself. They even prepared for a Caesarean section to save the babies and leave you to die. Those bvstards gave up on you. The C-section was scheduled for later today. Thank goodness you woke up right now."

Ruthie:" you gave me a fright Sisi, welcome back "

She looks like she was involved in a man's fight. She's got her lips and brows busted. I don't like the gloomy looks here in the room.

"You look good Ruthie " We all share a short laugh...

Thintiwe:" And the food is back!"

" Really?"

Thintiwe:" The boss himself came down to discipline the bvstards. He whooped their ass and the food is back. There's new rules around now. We are to be treated like queens plus the cook is back. We did it Ash!"

It's great news indeed but I wish it was our freedom that was given to us not food.

"That's good."

Doctor Kashmir:" oh look who decided to join the living today! Welcome back Ashley's stopper knot! I guess there'll be no surgery tonight "

Thintiwe:" oh yes, she's an Ashley's stopper knot. Not even the devil's punch could send her to her grave. My girl is a stopper!

The doctor did his routine inspection and he later gave me medications.

Ruthie:" Sisi, I didn't know you had it in you. You fought more like a lion even with your small stature. I didn't expect it .

Thintiwe:" I like the kick in the groin."

Ashati:" The moron got kicked in the groin and was writhing in pain. I bet he'll forever be useless down there, Nxa!"

For the first time in a long time, I feel alive again. There's light in the dark tunnel. I believe the fight proves to us that we have the upper hand and it is time to buckle up. The fight has only begun!