Crimson Mists

17. Payback and gratitude

Quote will be added soon...

Chikamharida's POV.

We were both in the car, this time a different one and it was black, basic.

I was staring out at the windshield in thought. I was staring out at nothingness.

"You must be in a deep thought," Henry said, with a patronizing smile.

"I am." I replied while studying him. He was trying to help my life but he brought me into a very complicated situation, one I just found out has been going on for years. One which I couldn't just leave cause I'd promised myself that I'll make it big.

As I gazed at him, Henry rolled his eyes and chewed his lips, then I felt him sigh as he returned his gaze to me. "Stop staring, it's not nice."

"You're just... I-" I stammered, a blush pushing up my face.

I noticed a scar by the side of his cheek, same color as his skin— barely distinguishable.

He rolled his eyes again, but a smile softened his jab.

"You know what an information is right?" He asked me and I nodded, confused with where he was going.

"Information is useful knowledge. When you hand it over to the wrong person, it may be used against you but when you give the right person, it becomes an asset. I'm about to give you a very important information, Harida and whatever you do with it would determine the type of person you are."

Without waiting for my reply, he turned the ignition and the car breathed out life. Leaves whistled outsides when he rolled the glass down and I was somehow unable to concentrate on their gentle shuffling, like a scarecrow on wheat.

"You know," he said, putting the car on reverse. "When you asked me what I wanted from you, I didn't tell you all of it. While I want you to be happy and to achieve something great, I also need your aid in delivering justice."

A part of me knew what he was hinting at but I had to hear it in his words.

"Justice? How? On what?" I asked.

"You'll see," he said and stepped on the gas. Then the vehicle sped off down the driveway while I was left with a quizzical expression and more questions.

~

"We need something darker," he said. "And please make her bulky."

Immediately those words escaped Henry's lips, I felt a pair of thongs grab me and whisk me into the dressing room where another black attire was ripped from me from the hundredth time that day. The complain? it was too light. I swear I wanted to faint but I kept quiet ...and let her tug and toss me.

"Please be gentle," I said to whatever her name was while trying to itch my hair. Trust me, it was hard. I couldn't even raise my hand cause of the weight of the clothes pulling it down and it was all his plan to let "she's not my sister" dress me up cause he wanted to show me something important and I don't mean it in a romantic way.

She was quiet to my request and finally I realized why when I was pushed out of the dressing room and into Henry's view.

He was fighting a laugh but I wasn't.

"Please," I said after managing a step. "Leave us alone."

Then I went and sat next to Henry on the bench. It creaked and I barely fitted in.

"Henry, I don't understand all this. How am I meant to follow you if I can't even walk properly in your costume and why on earth will you inform her of our supposed break in?"