Battles in the shadows

RAYS OF HOPE

Deborah Robinson knew that the girl volunteering at the nursing home was up to no good. She makes coarse jokes about racism and always tried to irritate her or get her upset even t the point of her having nightmares and dreading seeing  hr. She determined in her heart to find out why she was selected among so many others. Her friends at the nursing home all had good things to say about angel Laura but when the popular angel comes to her room, she looks inside her eyes as if trying to expose something.

Why does the girl look so familiar? Why does it seem as if she was trying to expose something? She chose to be in a nursing home rather than staying alone at her country home or with her dear son's wretched wife. It has been over fifteen years they have been married but Faye will never receive her favour and approval. A gutter girl! A nameless nobody that destroyed her precious dream for her precious son. Although Faye came from a good family, the fact that her own plans was disregarded by her once very obedient son gave her a massive shock she was still trying to recover from.

Now some strange creature is stealing her peace as well. With her connections in the nursing home she got details  about Laura and decided that one day she would get her answers. And so she planned and schemed for months until the opportunity came in form of a visit to her son and his good for nothing wife. She had deliberately picked a fight with Faye which sent the latter into driving away from the home. She in turn took the opportunity to take a taxi and left the house alone.

Laura was preparing some snacks to eat before going to study in the library. She had prepared her bag pack and had served herself some snacks and a cup of grape juice when she heard a turn of her door knob. She looked around asking who was by the door. No answer came. She called out once again but before an answer could come the twisting of the door knob had become intense. She quickly grabbed her phone and called Brandon.

"Lauretta..."

"Brandon...someone is trying to open my door...Someone is trying to force themselves inside my room. Brandon, she is trying to kill me."

"Who is trying to kill you?"

"She is getting in Brandon! She's got a knife! Mrs. Robinson is here! Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggg!!!" The line went dead with her scream.

Her heart was beating loudly and loud noise seem to fill her head. She screamed and dropped her cellphone on the floor.  She fell to the floor, her hands shook uncontrollably, tears rolled down her eyes, sweat trickled down her face and her tongue became heavy.

A Caucasian man in his late twenties walked in with Deborah Robinson trailing behind. She was dressed as if she was heading to church or some grand occasion. Laura's heart beat began to calm. She hated surprises.... The door closed behind them.

Laura's guess was correct. Her ex-grandmother was even colder than before. She must have been investigating me.  She stood up abruptly and glared hard at the two intruders. Her heart was still beating hard but so help her God if she allows the wicked old woman to win.

"Put the knife down madam. Crime doesn't suit your Royal highness." She said in sweet mockery.

"Is this the girl? What should I do with her?" The twenty-something vagabond asked in a chilling tone.

Laura who had fully recovered from the shock laughed out loud and picked her phone from the floor. The man suddenly grabbed her from behind, Laura threw him to the ground with a loud thud and punched his lights out.

As the man lost consciousness she walked towards Deborah Robinson wiggling her fore finger at her playfully.

The older woman retreated to the door and said with gritted teeth,
"Who are you and why are you trying to make me go mad?"

Laura sat down on a chair in her room and smiled broadly.

"Isn't it funny how wicked people get amnesia when it is payback time? You really don't know me or you are pretending not to know?" She said angrilly.

Deborah examined the young woman before her. Why did her blessed memory fail her this way?

"Why are you tormenting me?" She barked angrilly.

Laura's eyes darkened and she stood up and walked to the door, opened it and commanded her unfriendly guest to get out. She got a cup of water and splashed it on the face of the sleeping idiot on the floor. He opened his eyes and quickly scrambled to his feet.

"You see this face? Remember it well. You see this house ? Don't ever set your feet here again and that goes for you too Mrs. Robinson. Your sleepless nights are enough punishment and once you remember who I am you will live with a miserable conscience for the rest of your life!"

She looked at them in disgust as their retreating figures. Just as they left two women from her block came rushing in.

"Laura are you okay?" One of them said breathlessly.

Laura covered her face with her hands and faked some sobs,

They held her and comforted her after she told them her room was broken into and that her attackers just left.

"Did they take anything ?" The second woman asked.

Laura sniffed and almost rolled her eyes at the perfectly made up face and tightly folded red bun.

With all my screaming, you are only coming now. Someone might as well die with all of you watching and laughing your pretty heads off.

The security officer for the estate came and looked around. The two women left while the security officer tried his best to regain Laura's trust in their services.

Brandon rushed in at that point. He rushed towards her and began inspecting her. He saw no bruises except some tear stains and worse still, she was as calm as a dove.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Laura on seeing Brandon's sincerity broke into fresh tears...genuine tears. Perhaps because she was in good company...of someone who truly cares for her.

Brandon held her in a tight hug and she rested her head on his shoulder with her arms around him. For the first time, she didn't feel like slapping or beating up someone of the opposite sex or insulting him. She felt safe and maybe...loved.