Marriage Of Deceit And Convenience

Rachelle’s POV The sound of rain against the old zinc filled our small apartment space, and the smell of damp wood wafted through the air alongside the noise. Clothes sprayed everywhere and so were iron buckets on the floor to prevent water from staining the wooden floor boards. “Rach baby, I'm home!” The sound of my father's voice rang through, causing me to come down from the chair which I stood on in the kitchen beside my mother as she prepared salads for dinner. “Papa, Papa!” I ran to him, my arms extended in the air. On seeing him, he picked me up and hugged me close, my chuckle reverberating through the house. “Dinner's served!” My mom sang, and the sound of a glass chinaware was heard. “What you're going to do is, wash your hands and serve the food, okay, honey pie?” I nodded and climbed down my father's body and ran into the kitchen, while he knelt down and kissed my mother's overgrown stomach. The sound of water from the tap got louder as I rinsed the dishes and finally my hands. “Where is my money Thompson?!” I squinted my eyes at the sound of the unfamiliar voice that sounded angry. “You'll get it, I promise. I didn't gather it because I thought it was given to us for free, please forgive me and give me more time” I cleaned my hands on the towel and walked into the living room. “Father. Father what is wrong?”. I asked, seeing my father and my mother on their knees with dangerous looking people in front of them. But what caught my attention most was the woman who had her hair in a pin, and her eyes looked like it burnt in hell. “Don't worry, dear. Go back inside”. My father said, shooing me away. I went behind the door and stood there listening to their conversation. “Thompson, the Hilton’s empowerment scheme is not for people like you. Even if we give people like you, you'll have to pay–in cash or kind” The woman continued, her voice as equally as icy as her eyes, as she scanned around, her eyes furrowed in disgust. “And.. judging from..all these leaking holes, you have no kind to offer, so I'm here to take my money back” Her eyes finally met my father and I saw something flash in them, like the situation brought her much joy. “Like, like I said, I don't have it, at least not yet. But, but I'll pay, I'll pay” My father pleaded and I could hear my mom's wailing next to him. “Too bad. Since you don't have cash or anything of substance, I'll take what I wish” With a signal of her hand, she walked off and a man amongst her dangerous looking entourage came to take her position in front of my parents. “Rest in peace” “What–” Bang. A gasp fell from my lips and a thud was heard. With one flick of his head, they all left, but my father was still on his knees, unmoving, while my mother laid on the floor. Immediately I heard the door shut, I ran to them both, and knelt beside my mother. “Mama, mama, wake up. They're gone!” I shook her body but it felt colder and colder each second, as red liquid flowed from her stomach. I sniffed, my eyes going to my father who slowly stood on his feet. “Papa? What's happening?” Silently, he walked to the window wide open, and stood there looking down. His shoulders rose from his inhale of a deep breath and he slowly turned to look at me, eyes meeting my mother's still figure. “I failed you, child. Please forgive your father, hm?” I nodded, my cheeks already feeling sticky, and my eyes blurry. “Okay, papa. But why are you up there?” A sad smile played on my father's lips and he turned back to the window, sprayed his arms out and then, fell. A shrill scream left my lips as I ran to the window, only to see my father on the floor, next to the garbage can, face up, but eyes empty and lifeless, as his bright brown hair turned dark. I blinked severally, as I felt my chest tighten. I wanted to move, so bad but my father's lifeless eyes had me stuck. Suddenly a frightened scream erupted and I tore my blurred vision away and looked at the lady who looked like she had seen a ghost, as she picked her phone up, and looked at me. Minutes later, the sounds of the sirens could be heard, and something in me told me to run. So I did. I put my already waist length brown hair in a messy ponytail and rushed to get my backpack. It was then the reality dawned on me, My parents were dead. As I packed my bags, tears flowed more from my eyes, my chest felt tighter but I couldn't slow down, I couldn't stop. Packing everything I needed, I knelt down in front of my mother, her hand holding her overgrown stomach, while a dried tear stain nestled at the corner of her eyelids. Her chest didn’t rise. Not even once. “I'm so sorry, Mama. But I promise, I'll be alright, I'll be fine” I sniffed, swallowed, trying to fight back the intense urge to ball my eyes out. “We are at apartment 14 and going in!” I blinked, the male’s voice sounded ruled, and I knew that was the police. I swung my back, taking on look at my mother, I dashed out through the back door leading to the emergency staircase. “....Hilton's empowerment scheme” The name rang in my head, and I felt my insides recoil as my fingers turned into fists. I never thought parents could just die like that. Like they didn’t matter, and all for an empowerment scheme. As the sun hit my face and the wind danced in my hair, I began walking on the street, a ten years old girl with no money and nowhere to go. But deep inside, all I felt, all I could feel growing was anger, rage and a little emptiness. And I knew that although I didn't know who she was, I wasn't going to rest till I brought her down. Killing three people in a day wasn't human, wasn't kind, and if it means bringing down the so called Hiltons, I would do it… They'll pay for taking my parents away from, for taking everything that I know of, away. Even if it's the last thing I do. I will make them pay.