EGO & VENGEANCE

Chapter 35

Kelani

There's a weight around my ankles and arms that I don't understand. For some reason I can't recall what happened leading up to me going to bed- I remember falling asleep normally in my hospital bed, now I'm waking up on a cold metal chair in a room that I can't make out.
I feel my heart race in my chest, fear pounding throughout my nervous system.

I don't know if it's because it's dark or because of my vision- or both... but I can't see my surroundings no matter how hard I try, causing my anxiety levels to sky rocket.

I groan, trying to lift my arms only to feel sharp pains shoot up both my arms. My hands and wrists haven't healed yet, I can barely move them without feeling a severe aching pain through my nerves.

I hear footsteps echo down the room, slowly approaching me. I stop my struggle and freeze, lifting my head to see a large dark figure approaching.

"Who are you" I'm acting as though I don't feel my heart pounding out of my chest right now. It's this thing I do that I don't realise. This facade I put on that I'm absolutely fearless. I have to be, if I embrace my fear instead, I'll just end up burying myself; alive or dead.

"You can't tell?" The man speaks. His voice croaky and irritating, also familiar. "Oh right. You're blind" he laughs, a tone of vileness that twists my stomach.

Blind? My vision is definitely better now compared to how it was at first. I guess he doesn't know that.

I fix my posture, sit up straight and scan my eyes around the room, trying to make out where I am, before I look ahead of me to see the figure stop about 6 feet away from my chair that's uncomfortably rubbing against my bare thigh.

And it's just occurred to me that I'm in my underwear and my plus size T-shirt I've been wearing to bed. I remained beneath the sheets in a private hospital room, so I was okay. But now they're exposed. I'm about to spiral to a until I hear Alaiyahs voice each in my head.

refuse to show fear Lani. Keep your head up.

So I do. At least I try.

"Those are some nasty scars you've got there" the man points out, likely referring to the ones on my legs.

I inhale the smell of polluted smoke and bad meat and ignore his comment. "Who are you?" I repeat through my teeth, demanding an answer.

"A father. Looking to avenge his son" hits me to realisation. James. I feel my posture weaken.

"You know a thing or two about vengeance right?" He's pacing around me, the thought of his old ogre eyes on my almost half naked body makes me want to throw up right between my feet.

I scoff a minimum response "sure". He's trying to instil fear, it doesn't work. Because at the end of the day he's trying to avenge two paedophilic rapists. He's a joke. How can I take him seriously.

"I think it's time the tables were turned on you". Moron doesn't know that I've already gone through the pits of hell and back. They've been on me already.

"Do as you wish asshole" I shuffle in my chair. "Oh I will" he says as if through a demonic grin "and it's going to be fun" he enunciates grossly.

Something just  falls off my tongue. A laugh. A laugh that says I truly don't give a fuck what he does to me. I don't give a fuck what happens to me anymore either. May I drop dead right now in this fucking shed or whatever this place is. I don't care. It doesn't mean I'm not scared, I can't help but to be terrified, I just don't give a shit anymore.

"What's so funny" I hear his steps stop behind me. "You."

I feel a hand suddenly clasp around my neck from behind "listen bitch- I'm not fucking around here"