Unique's apartment was on the third floor, the last in the long line of apartments. We counted Fourteen doors before we got to hers. The number 'Apt 15' stared back at us, as we stood before it. I hesitated to knock.
My mind now in a conflict of its own. If she had not given me the permission to be here, I would have quickly turned around and walked back home.
Aware of the eyes on me, my left hand lifted involuntarily to place it's claws on the door, I willed it to knock gently. It gave off an almost inaudible knock, initiating a cluster of glances at me. I ignored them and tapped on the door again, this time a little louder.
The door flung open. A casually dressed Unique was standing at the door, with a weary smile on her face. She spoke first, sensing my hesitation.
"Are you going to stand there all day? Please come in." She said and moved slightly to the side of the door, creating a wider opening.
"Thank you." I said stepping into her simply decorated apartment . My friends right behind me.
A lone sectional couch sat at the center of the room with a modest TV right across it. There were no pictures or paintings on the wall.
Everything looked white blending in with the white color of the room. A glass square center table sat closer to the couch.
My team of ten able bodied humans crowded into her apartment. The inclination that this was a visit began to look more like a meeting, and an emergency one at that.
"Anything to eat or drink?" She asked, Snapping me out of my trance. I shook my head.
Six of us eating anything here, would end her food supply for a considerable number of months.
"Remember these guys?" I asked. Pointing at the multitude sitting next to me.
She nodded. "The young ministers from the last NOSWAH?" She asked, documenting their faces.
I nodded and began introducing my friends by name. When I got to Zulema, she asked. "What's NOSWAH?"
"Night Of Strategic Worship And Healing." Diri answered coldly. Sometimes I wondered if the girl shouldn't be in some IT company, writing codes and hacking devices.
Directing my attention back to Unquie, I watched as she moved her left wrist in the air whenever she spoke.
A huge scar tattooed it's self on it. As she made jokes and flowed in the warmed up conversations, I broke the line of conversation and asked.
"What's that on your wrist?"
Shocked, she held her wrist and subsequently covered it with her flowing dress.
"What's what?" She retorted, evading my question.
I pointed directly at her hidden wrist. She shifted uncomfortably, afraid to look at me.
Few minutes later, she excused herself and bathroom. When she emerged, her wrist wrapped was neatly wrapped in a clean white cloth.
I watched her intently, mentally finding my way to her thoughts and memories. She didn't fight. She just let me in willingingly.
I searched for the answers she refused to give. The image that played out before me disrupted my search process. It sent my mind on a journey of fear. I moved from my sitting position and staggered to the window, voraciously gulping up air.
"What's going on?" Jackson asked rushing to my side.
Sensing the weakness in my legs, I lowered myself to the floor. Perplexed, Jackson joined me on the floor, Ezekiel as well. Unique sat back in her position staring off into space.
Ezekiel placed his hands in mine and declared. "Peace!"
YOU ARE READING
UNWITTING VESSELS (sequel To Vessels Unknown)
Mystery / ThrillerWhen she was done, she handed our different assignments to us. It was a list of names, people who were yet to be part of us. My colleagues signed their allegiance with their pierced bloody thumb. I turned to leave after getting my list, bit her voi...
