Just Listen

Chapter 30

KP's POV

That same night, Uncanny went downstairs, like a creep in the night. "Uncanny where do you think you're going?" Michael asked as he watched his former lover tiptoeing downstairs, heels in hand. Her breath hitched. "Out."

"Out?" Michael folded his arms, eyebrows rose. "Where specifically?"

"To her lover."

Both Michael and Uncanny's heads snapped in Amandla's direction. "Am I lying sis?" Uncanny's eyes dropped to the floor in shame.

Michael rubbed his temple, his eyebrows creasing together. "Kamilah mentioned something that had me thinking. Did you kill Nana?"

The words shattered Uncanny. She teetered backward, astounded. Her lips quivering. Her hands sweating. The heels she had in hand slipped off, as one hand rested upon her chest in a motion to calm her unsteady heart.

"I-I-I," she chimed. "I-I didn't mean for it to happen," her voice quavered. "So you admit it." I emerged from the shadows.

"No!" She shrieked. "It wasn't me. I-I shouldn't have..."

"Shouldn't have, what? Killed her?" I pestered.

Her nose flared. Her jaw clenched. Breathless with anger, she stood up straight and headed for the door. "Oh hell no!" Dad refused, racing downstairs. Blocking her from leaving.

"Move." She seethed.

"Not until you tell me what's going on. I can't help you if I don't know." Dad shrugged.

"I never asked for your help Michael!" She spat.

"Why did you kill her, mommy?" Even a deaf person could hear the loathing inbetween the lines.

Her head swiftly turned to me. Eyes taunting me. I crossed my arms. Giving her a lopsided smile. "She died. Because of you!" She pointed at me. I faked surprise. Darting my eyes between dad and Amandla. "Don't pin this on me."
"Oh yeah? She knew of my pregnancy. And when she ran her big mouth to him, he killed her. I was too late. I couldn't save her. Instead, I saved your unborn a**."

"Him? Who is him?" My dad asked, seemingly pissed that she'd mention another guy in his house. His arms crossed. Eyes narrowing. At that very moment, the door behind him swung open. Revealing a furious looking Mira, a.k.a Mrs Donna and this man who shared similar features to her. The colour from Uncanyy's face quickly drained. She was paralyzed to the spot, the menacing aura holding her in a tightening grip. I saw her hands shaking in an odd trembling rhythm.

Strangely, the feeling of dread quickly crept up from the pit of my stomach. Why was I feeling this way? Moreover why was the feeling, directed towards her?

"Ain't this a party." The blatant looking man said. He made me feel agitated.

"Javan?" Auntie gasped from the indoor balcony. Oh, so she had been here this whole time huh. "Who?" I asked. The man casted his eyes upon auntie and didn't seem fazed, like he didn't even know who she was. Aunt Veronica looked disheveled. "You little skank, you stole my man!" Mira shouted, throwing a fit.

"I thought my brother would have kept you busy enough in order to allow me to have Michael." She swerved like a hurricane and slapped my mother. I felt unbeknownst rage rise from within me. "Skank? You're the skank! You almost killed your own daughter!" I shouted, my hands balling into fists.

"The ones whom were supposed to be Michael's. It's all her fault. Isn't Javan enough for you?"

Auntie gasped in horror. "You've slept with him? You're still together?"

Uncanny hadn't said anything since these two barged in. "Oh, yes. And the fact that she has been with another man instead of me, angers me." The guy whom I picked up as Javan looked dangerous.
"You're sick. Both of you." Mom choked, in between sobs.

"I can't believe you Uncanny! How could you!" Auntie fumed.

 "Would you shut up Veronica! It's because of me you're still alive. Be grateful." She rubbed her temple, only then did I notice the bags under her eyes.

"Grateful? You stole-"

"Enough! Uncanny you're coming with me." Javan stated as a matter of fact.

 Uncanny shook her head no. I saw Javan's jaw clench. His eyes squinted. His chest was rising and falling, signaling his rising temper. "Kamilah go!" She cried out to me, fear evident in her eyes. "PLEASE!" She begged with her eyes. I was completely appalled.

Everything that I feared would go wrong, literally did. Like a tornado Javan hurled over my mother. He attacked her. I covered my ears as I heard someone screaming. Petrified to realize it was me. "UNCANNY!" Daddy intervened. Instead of being a hero, he became a victim as well. I couldn't move, my feet were frozen on the spot. Uncanny was coughing out blood on the floor. Thankful that she was still alive. Worst part? Mira pounced like a lion on her. Attacking her as well!

I cried my lungs out. Auntie rushed out to Amandla and they called for help. Minutes later, the police came flooding in. Fascinating how they managed to get here so soon. They fought to remove Javan off of daddy. He was badly hurt. Mira on the other hand was taken out of the house kicking and screaming. These two shouldn't be in jail no, they should be in an asylum. Daddy lay unconscious on the floor, probably bleeding to death.

The paramedics came flooding in and took him away. I wanted to go with him but I couldn't, he lied to me before. He could do it again. Some time later, after the police had taken the two psychos away, daddy hospitalized and Uncanny given special care. She didn't receive much painful blows as daddy took the hits for her. She limped to where I stood. "Don't touch me. If my father dies, it's all your fault!" I wailed, sliding down the wall and brought my knees up to my chest. "You're just a problem, Uncanny. I wish I never knew the truth. Daddy wouldn't have faked his death for you!"

I don't know how long I stayed in that position until Amandla came and covered me with a blanket. I rose my chin up to see Uncanny seated across from me with a tear-stained face. Auntie was on the other side; Amandla was next to me. I had finally calmed down. "It's midnight. We should get some rest." Amandla reasoned.

"I'm sorry," Uncanny began, staring at her blood-stained hands, probably dad's. "I am so sorry I'm not perfect. Onica, I'm sorry that I stole the guy of your dreams. I saved you from a lifetime of regret. What he did to me tonight; is all he has done all those years to me." We all gasped. Uncanny wiped her tears off, making herself void of any emotions.

"I liked him back then, but I would have never dreamed of him fathering my kids. I fell in love with Michael, and we had an affair. He showed me what love was supposed to be and feel like and not what Javan did, force himself onto me, and hit me. Javan was and still is abusive. In my defense, I was only protecting you. And Kamilah. Hence, I never left him. Even if I did; he'd hurt you. Like he did to Nana. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She sniffled. I was numb.

"I wish I had known. Forgive me for adding pepper to your pain." Auntie apologized. Uncanny didn't respond. "So, who's this?" I pointed to Amandla.
Aren't you sensitive.
"I'm her sister." She responded. My mouth hung open.