The Colonial Heart

Chapter 41

                                A M A

I stood frozen in horror, gazing upon  Sir Micheal's lifeless corpse. Flies swarmed around the rotting flesh, intensifying the remorse I felt.

I hastily exited out of the room, my stomach churning with nausea. I vomited my stomach's contents, leaning against the wall for support. I took deep breaths before demanding an answer to all of this
"What did you do?" But only silence and muffled sobs met my question.

I composed myself before turning around and grasping Thema's hands. "I cannot help you unless you enlighten me on what happened," I said, my voice firm but gentle. Thema's gaze dropped to the floor, her eyes wavering as she debated whether to reveal the truth.

The situation baffled me - it wasn't part of our plan to kill any of the guards, well...at least not yet.

"Why did you kill him?" I questioned , speaking my thoughts. Thema's whispered words shattered my thoughts: "He forced himself on me." Her voice trembled, heavy with sorrow.

My mind reeled, my eyes glued to her as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of her revelation. Though unable to process my thoughts,I pulled her close, offering what little comfort I could. I could not fathom her pain, and I could not help but feel responsible for her turmoil. I had chosen them on this journey, leaving them with little choice and now I felt nothing but regret. If I had not forced her on this journey with me, none of this would have transpired.

After a moment of bitter silence, and unvoiced regrets,  I finally spoke, "Do you wish to discontinue this task? she shook her head. "No, they're counting on us," she whispered.

"You must rest", I began,"after all that has transpired, you deserve a break
... from it all." I urged on but she remained resolute. "I won't let this weaken me, after all my soul is at rest for I have taken his life" she replied, her determination inspiring admiration.

"Even so, let me know if it gets too much for you and I will find a safer place for you to reside, a place away from this war, okay?" I said softly and she nodded.

"alas even so I cannot let you reside here any longer." I said, surveying our surroundings. "Where else am I to go?" Thema asked, her voice barely audible.

"I will make a way, do not fret, all you have to do is find me a box of matches and oil, can you do that for me?" I said before sternly locking eye contact with her.

"I have a litre of oil in a cabinet in the kitchen," Thema said, her voice steady. "Shall I fetch it for you?"

I nodded, and she disappeared into the kitchen, returning with the oil and a box of matches.

"Thank you, Thema," I said, accepting the oil. With deliberate precision, I began to sprinkle it around the house, creating a subtle yet sinister landscape. The oil glistened on the floorboards, casting eerie shadows.

Next, I crafted a trail of oil leading out the doorstep, a calculated path for the impending flames. The empty bottle clattered to the floor as I tossed it into the house.

"Now, I need you to listen to me carefully" I said while turning towards Thema.

"I'm going to set this house ablaze, with us inside," I said slowly, ensuring Thema grasped the gravity. "And I need you to get burned, badly. Can you do that for me?"

Thema's eyes widened in horror. "What kind of request is that? Absolutely not!" she refused, her voice firm.

I took a deep breath, explaining, "If the house burns and you're left unscathed, they'll know it was arson, not an accident. They'll hang you for Sir Michael's murder." I paused, studying her shocked expression.

"Listen, Thema, we'll get burned together. I'll claim I helped you escape, but we couldn't save Sir Michael since he was locked in. We'll make it look like an accident." My words spilled out rapidly, urgency creeping in.

Thema's face reflected her turmoil, but I pressed on. "We'll find a way out, together, while the house burns around us."

"And if we don't find a way out?"
She questioned worriedly, and I looked at the box of matches before looking at her before casting a warm smile.

"Then I will see you in the kingdom of heaven"

I said while making my way back Inside the house and to that room with Sir Micheal's corpse, i had poured a generous amount of oil on his corpse, so that it would easily set aflame.

I gazed into Thema's eyes before lighting a matchstick and dropping it on Sir Michael's body, instantly setting it aflame.

"Shouldn't we escape now, while the flames are small?" Thema urged, stepping back, her eyes fixed on the growing inferno. "Our chances of survival will be higher."

"No, we need to get burned!" I insisted, mirroring her retreat.

The flames towered, devouring everything in their path. They licked the walls, and the wooden flooring beneath us began to crackle.

"We must leave this room, now!" I exclaimed, rushing toward the door. But the corridor beyond was a sea of fire. My breath caught as I turned to Thema, her face etched with panic.

"You said we would get burned, not die!" she screamed.

"I know," I replied, "We will run on the count of three."

"I am not running through that!" Thema shouted, recoiling from the inferno.

"One!" I counted, my voice steady.

"Are you insane? We will surely die!" Thema pleaded.

"We will surely die if we stay here, it is either life or death Thema, choose one!!" I retorted, counting louder. "Two!"

"In this situation it looks like it is either death or death!, rather be that death comes for me! Not that i run into my own demise!, I'm not insane!" Thema protested.

"Three!" I shouted, grabbing her hand tightly before dashing into the sea flames.

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Thank you so much for reading, have a lovely day or night!, also I am terribly sorry for not updating sooner,
I will try my best to make a steady timetable and develop a habit, but otherwise I hope you are all doing fine!