For the code of Promise

Unlucky Ghosts

Jaxon’s POV

As usual, I woke up early in the morning to go for my training. I wore my simple white shoes and a blue vest. Cassie was still asleep, and I chose not to wake her because I knew she would stop me from going for training, as she always did. Most of the time, I lied to her, saying I exercised only to keep fit. She often suggested that I work out indoors, just like I used to do when we were in Gwanda.

I opened the door and exited the bedroom, closing it very cautiously behind me. I walked slowly, tiptoeing, until I reached the dining room. When I finally exited the house unnoticed, I sighed and walked toward the gate, where I usually waited for Killer. Our wives were very strict at times. When I reached the gate, I found Killer already waiting for me. It seemed he had woken up earlier than I had.

“Today you are earlier than me,” I said as I walked closer to him. “It was very difficult for me to get outside today.”

“Maybe for you it was,” he paused, looking at me. “Amanda was already awake, and my son was crying, but I managed to leave while she was distracted.”

“I wonder when they’ll let us do what we want,” I said, pressing my stopwatch as we started jogging toward the rivers. It was still a little dark outside, as the sun was just about to spread its colorful rays over the surrounding vegetation.

“They will never agree. They don’t know how many enemies we have,” Killer said. “Have you ever thought of opening that letter from your father?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” I asked, slowing down. “Cassie burned it to ashes.”

“What?!” he exclaimed, stopping abruptly. He looked at me in disbelief. “Jaxon, how did you allow that to happen? I thought you needed time.”

“I know I was supposed to stop her, but I couldn’t. I don’t know why,” I said, staring at his serious face.

“You were supposed to read that letter. Your father really wanted you to read his words,” he said, shaking his head.

He resumed jogging slowly, leaving me standing behind.

Killer looked outraged, judging by his gestures, and I realized I had made a serious mistake by allowing Cassie to burn the letter. I had never seen him that angry. He was always the one who supported everything I said. He was already far ahead, so I ran to catch up with him. When I reached him, he didn’t speak.

“What do you think was in the letter?” I asked, breathing heavily. “You look angry, and I assume you have your own thoughts.”

He stopped running and bent forward, resting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. I stopped beside him and watched as he slowly straightened up.

“Jaxon, I respect you. You have done things that are extremely difficult in this world,” he said. “But I don’t understand why you failed to see how important that letter was. We are preparing for an unknown fight. We have many enemies and no clear place to start, yet you allowed your wife to burn the only letter that might have given us insight.”

“Why do you believe there was something important in that letter?” I asked again.

“You may not trust your father, but I do—and you should too,” he said, patting my shoulder. “He saved our lives. If he were the man you fear he is, we would be dead by now, or in prison. This needs to change. Amanda and Cassie have controlled enough. We should stop them now.”

I let Killer’s words sink in. He was right. We shouldn’t have allowed our wives to control us. We were training in secret simply because we were afraid they would yell at us after forbidding us from doing so.

We stood there talking for a few minutes, but instead of proceeding to the river, we turned back toward the house. It was getting late, and I needed to go to work.

When we reached the house, we found Cassie and Amanda already dressed, with a suitcase beside them. We were surprised—they hadn’t mentioned going anywhere. Moments later, Cathy appeared, holding Killer’s son. They looked like they were heading out for a picnic.

“Where are you all going?” Killer asked calmly.

“Where are you coming from?” Amanda replied.

I looked at Cassie, but she avoided my eyes. Cathy came to me and handed me Killer’s son. I held him in my arms. No one spoke. We just stood there staring at one another.

“We were jogging outside in the bushes,” Killer said, wiping sweat from his face.

“No, I don’t believe that,” Cassie jumped in. “You are both coming from training, and we don’t want that. We are giving you space to decide.”

“We’ve already decided, Cassie!” I said loudly, anger rising inside me. I stepped closer and stared into her eyes.

“Killer was talking to his wife, not you. You are not going anywhere. Take your suitcase and go back to the bedroom—now,” I said, furious. I was shifting the power in the house, just as Killer had said we should.

“You can’t stop me, Jaxon. You should change first!” she shouted. “I told you to quit training. There is no war coming here! I don’t want to be in love with a soldier who trains himself to kill. I want the man I once knew—the Jaxon I knew!”

She continued screaming. “How many times have you almost died, yet you keep chasing the same thing? This is not a game, Jaxon. Cathy needs her father.”

I looked into her eyes, and they were filling with tears. I almost gave in, but Killer’s words echoed louder in my mind. Cassie and Amanda weren’t supposed to control everything. I glanced at Amanda; she clearly supported Cassie.

“I said take your suitcase back to the bedroom,” I commanded, looking at Amanda. “No one is going anywhere.”

I walked toward Amanda. She took her son from my arms. Then I grabbed Cassie’s suitcase from her hands and dragged it toward the bedroom.

“What’s your problem, Jaxon?!” Amanda shouted.

I didn’t respond.

My phone rang. Cathy ran to pick it up from the table and handed it to me. I froze when I saw Mary’s name on the screen.

“Hello, Mary. Is everything alright?” I asked. Everyone stiffened when they heard her name. I immediately feared something had happened to Cassie’s mother.

“Jaxon, turn on the news. It’s live,” she said breathlessly. “You’re exposed. Everyone knows you’re alive.”

My heart skipped. Blood drained from my head, and dizziness blurred my vision. Cassie and Killer rushed to hold me as I nearly collapsed.

“What happened?” Cassie asked, panicked. They helped me sit on the couch. Amanda hurried over with water.

“Turn on the TV,” I said quietly before drinking.

The news was reporting on me—the great tutor at the University of Dodoma. Every student I taught had passed, breaking every previous record. The entire class earned distinctions. I had been named the best tutor, and the story was airing live on an African channel.

Killer switched off the TV and sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. He clutched his head, staring blankly. Cassie and Amanda stood frozen, their hands pressed to their dry lips.

“It’s too late,” Killer said quietly. “Everyone in Gwanda knows we’re alive. Our enemies will hunt us. We are unlucky ghosts. We knew this day would come.”

The University of Dodoma had exposed me without knowing it would cost me my life. They believed they were honoring me. Instead, they crushed me. Killer had warned me to change my name, but Cassie had disagreed—and I listened.

I looked at my daughter. She was confused by the tension in the house. When our eyes met, she ran into my arms. I held her tightly, and she clung to me.

It was starting again—and this time, it wasn’t just the drug dealers. The Scouters were involved. They were powerful. And if we continued to stand divided, they were going to kill us.