Hide and Seek

Ready Or Not, Here I Come...

"I hit Monica Murphy because she was going to tell dad that I was planning to destroy him." Kaiya huffed.

"To destroy him?"

"Well it was the initial plan anyway. I changed it."

"What was the new plan?"

"To take over instead."

"What?"

"I wanted to make sure that no one was suitable enough for that position but me. Of course my other siblings made things easy for me because they are a bunch of incompetent fools. Ezra, on the other hand, was the only uncontrollable variable. An irritating obstacle. So, I had to remove him."

"You're insane to think that your own brother was an obstacle to you."

Kaiya huffed a laugh. "You think I'm insane," she pointed at her, "I think," she pointed at herself, "I just have a stronger desire to get what I want compared to other people. I realised that I've been working for this company for over twenty years, and all the old man ever did was dictate my life. He has to pay me for it. The company is perfect payment for what I had to go through. I lost the love of my life because of that company so I should at least get something out of it."

"And killing Ezra was the only way? He didn't even want it!" Zahara slammed her hand on the table.

"You think Ezra had a say in that? When the old man decides it's final. How you feel about it doesn't matter." She laughed a humourless laugh. "Should I tell you a secret? Ezra lied to you about the wine, it wasn't from dad. I don't know the details but it was a plan to drug you so you wouldn't have to see our father because we all know that he would never approve of you." She shook her head and pouted. "You poor thing, and you thought you could save Ezra. I get it, you're a cop, your strength comes from the idea that you can save people. Well my strength comes from people like you. From proving to all of you that I am the strongest despite the circumstances. I'm willing to do what others aren't. So, I had to take matters into my own hands."

"But killing him Kaiya? Did you have to go that far?"

"Well to be precise, I paid someone to do it. It's not like I did it myself."

Zahara clenched her fists and checked the time on her watch. She had thirty minutes left until Mr Levi would return.
"You are going to rot in prison," she seethed. "You and your evil spirit."

"Not so fast Zahara. Did you really think this was going to just end so easily?" She tsked, shaking her head. "I am always a step ahead, you can't beat me at this game. I win either way."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do your colleagues know why the police couldn't find any evidence or fingerprints on the night when officer Arya was murdered?"

Zahara visibly swallowed, blinking a few times. "What?"

"Don't 'what' me. You know exactly what. You cleaned out the crime scene before your team arrived so they wouldn't find any trace of Ezra. But that also means that you cleaned out any trace of the murderers..."

As Kaiya spoke, Zahara's mind drifted off to that night...

I rubbed my neck and chest, feeling suffocated in that room with lifeless bodies. I didn't have to think and just acted on my protective instincts. Ezra was someone I felt the need to protect. So after sending him out, I ran to the car and grabbed a packet of baby wipes that Arya kept there. I cleaned as much of the worn out furniture as I could before the team showed up. When they did show up, I was sitting next to Arya. Apologising to her as if she could still hear.
When I was done at the station I went home. Ezra was there, sitting on the couch.

"Zahara," he breathed.

"I can't talk to you right now," I gritted moving towards my bedroom.

"No, wait." He held my arm and I used the other one to slap him. He closed his eyes and let out a deep, shaky breath.

"Look at me," I growled, but his eyes remained closed.
"Open your eyes and look at me!" I screamed. His eyes cracked open, tears spilling out of them.
"Do you know what I had to do because of you?" I asked him.

"Zahara, I am so sorry."

"I cleaned out a crime scene because of you," I hiccuped, trying to control my sobs.

"I had a feeling that someone was following me. I was trying to discover who it was when the person actually reached out to me first. So I went there to meet her. I don't know who those other men were but they killed her and then they shot the police officer." Ezra mumbled as he spoke, his voice rising and falling as he tried to control himself.

"Ezra why didn't you tell me that this was happening? I could have helped you. Now look at this mess." I threw my hands and let them fall to my sides. "How will you and I ever make it together? There's too much going on around us."

"Please... please don't say that. Please. I love you so much," he sniffed and took my hands in his. "I never thought that it was possible for me to feel this way, but you do this to me. Don't give up on us because of this."

"Someone died today Ezra and I took away the only chance we may have had at finding her murderers. Do you understand the gravity of the situation? Do you understand the effect this has on my character?"

"Of course I do."

"I don't think you do," I shook my head, pulling my hands away as I took a step back. "Ezra I would rather be alone, than change because of you."

"Zahara," he sniffed.

"Please leave my key on the table." I turned and walked into my bedroom.

"Hello? Earth to Zahara." Kaiya snapped her fingers. "Are you okay over there?"

Zahara wiped her moist face and sat down, clearing her throat. "What's your point Kaiya?"

"My point is that you can't win this game. You lose either way. If you tell everyone that it's me, then I'm making sure that you come to prison with me and that you lose your job. If you don't tell everyone that it's me, then you go to prison for me. I win either way, you just get the privilege of choosing." Kaiya cocked her head to the side and smirked. "So, what will it be?"

The doorbell to the mansion sounded and Zahara glanced at the door.

"Daddy's home." Kaiya clapped her hands. "I'll give you your last few minutes to think it through." She stood up and covered her eyes. "Ten, nine, eight," she peeked between her fingers and giggled as she walked out backwards whispering, "seven, six, five."

Zahara let out a shaky breath, her mask of seriousness breaking. She checked the time with tear blurred vision. She had ten minutes left.
"How do I get out of this?" She whispered to herself.
'You're seeking for the truth hidden behind masks and stereotypes.' She heard Noah's voice in her head.

"She's portraying the 'badguy has the upper hand' stereotype. What's behind the mask?" She scratched her head, glancing at Ezra's journal. "A scared little girl." She smiled to herself, picking up the journal as she stood up.

"Ready or not, here I come."

THE END