PREYS AND PREDATORS

"Best cook, right? I totally agree." "No one survived, I'm sorry." "Good work, officers." "We're doing it my way now so stay back i want a word with Serpent." "We made a mistake." "We are gonna die." "I want everything." "Send all the men you've got, ASAP!" "You'll never be free from the pain." "It doesn't matter because we would face it together. No matter what happens I'm not letting you out of my sight." "I love you so much. Tell her I love her. Protect her with your life." "Rita!" "Who do you think it was behind it all along?" "You think I'm gonna shoot you? Not yet, there is no pain that way. I'm gonna watch you lose everything." "They have your daughter. What do we do?" "I thought that was obvious." "How do you win a war with over eight billion people?" "You don't." "I love you." Back to how it all began. The prologue. "Adeola Berenson?"I heard her say for the third time. As though I just did i jerked my head up to a pair of prying eye. For those times i heard her call me by my name but frustration restricted me from giving a retort. I had been thinking. Cogitating about everything i was told. Few moments back the doctor had me acquainted of my pickle which transpires to be a mystifying one at that. I had cancer. How could anyone take kindly to that at first? Moreover she described it as a fast developing sort which was factually capable of damaging most of the portion of the victim's body. Inwardly and Outwardly. At first I didn't comprehend it let alone believe what she meant. Truth be told,i didn't want to, hitherto i gawked, dumbstruck. I couldn't point out what exactly put cancer in me. Was it something i ate,drank,or touched? I couldn't make head or tail of the situation. Perhaps i could but was merely afraid. Many times I've cheated death. Why was there an exception this time? At a point i directed my questions to my maker. What have i done to deserve this? "Yes?"I heard myself say after a short while staring into my sister's prying eyes. Stella sighed letting a few seconds of silence."Like i exclaimed earlier, it's a fast developing sort aggravating by the hour. Henceforth we should begin to manage it." As soon as she was done speaking i looked away as if spaced out and returned my gaze at her face. From the look on her face she seemed to marvel at my taciturnity and calmness. Normally by now i was anticipated to lose it or at least be rasping. But the truth was that i genuinely didn't know the right way to react. In one word-nonplussed. Thank God I'm not a victim of hypertension, could've been a different story entirely. But hold on,even so,am i not still going to die? A part of me pointed out. After a while i canted forward,my arms placed on the table before me and looked her straight in the eye."Are you sure?" She had reasons to be offended by my doubt of her brilliance. However she had long learnt that patients ask very silly questions especially when there have been bad reports concerning their health. Therefore there was always a need to be cool under pressure."Yes, I'm. The result of the tests are right there." She extended a hand towards two envelopes on the table and eyed the irritation in my eyes."If it's any comfort you can check it." What's there to check? Haven't you said it all? I was rasping in my mind. But instantly i found sagacity in what she uttered. There's a possibility she gave me someone else's test results so i picked up the first envelope and pulled out the files. None of it made sense to me. Two things were although certain. First off it was my name on it so it was mine. Second,i noticed the word cancer between sentences. To me it was appeared to be the most discernible word, perhaps because i detested the word,plus it was one of the only things i understood. Trust me to try seeking for errors. In the end nothing contradicted my having cancer. I sighed,shaky. She was right after all. I had cancer. Reluctantly to free myself from all the maybes and perhapses in my mind i took a look-see at the test result file in the other envelope. With that i dropped them disorderly on the table. Stella only kept mute giving me time to disgest the information and watching my movements. "Am I going to die?"I asked my all-important question. "Adeola,are you okay?"For some reasons which i didn't know she evaded my question. Okay? After all that had occurred does she really expect me to be fine? I thought and lied after she iterated the same question."Yes I'm. Am I going to die?" She was slow to speak."Well if we start the medications now we could be able to prolong..." I couldn't cope with the suspense anymore and heightened my voice cutting her short."Am i going to die, Stella?!" Still she wasn't offended but saddened when she exclaimed."You still have a few more weeks." I only nodded and swallowed,then stood and turned to leave. "Will you tell Sonita?"Her question stopped me in my track. To be frank i didn't know for sure. Sonita,my foster daughter,most times never cared and i doubted if this would matter to her hence i gave her an innocent shrug which she understood. "Thanks sis."I appreciated my sister and took the door. The actuality was that she feared i would hurt myself,at least it was feasible. Though she had known me to be strong and stout-hearted since we were little. A few of my feats was beating a lad twice my size when I was fourteen. At sixteen i always triumphed in a boxing match with my dad. My father wasn't a boxing expert to be clear but happened to be a huge fan of it. He'd never miss a boxing match especially one of the top ones. The poor house would be full of loud urges. He'd chose it over food if it were possible. He liked it like that. I on the other hand,as unlikely as it seems never for once reclined in a chair to watch it. To be frank i wasn't interested much. Except that i knew i personally needed to learn how to fight better in the near future. Picking some tactics and boxing skills for myself would surely do me some good since i aimed to become a C.I.D officer,in full words a criminal investigation department officer. As luck would have it this same highly demanding individual combat sport had saved my ass on several occasions. At times dad would strictly instruct me with those angry glints in his eyes, to be back home from wherever i went at a particular hour. I'd arrive a few hours late feeling shaky and gripped by fear and found him sitting in a sofa watching the usual with a gaze, I'd then sneak right back into my room trying not to make even the slightest sound along the way. When he confronted me later I'd boldly exclaim that i had been back even sooner. No way he wouldn't have had his suspicions. As for mom,she was merely occupied,doing one thing or the other,to perceive anything. Either at work or in the kitchen or doing the laundry. She was a busy woman. In addition to my feats,i once won a famous marathon race competition for my high school, conveying the golden trophy that i deserved above my head as the audience hollered my name. Notwithstanding cancer was wholly different. It never mattered how strong or forbearing the sufferer is. One thing was sure. My doomsday was close. Please do not hesitate to follow and vote. I'd need a sign of encouragement. Extend your love and support that way. Calm your tension, it's only just started. Love y'all! @ All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright owner.