Sam wakes up and turns off the alarm clock with fluid motion, a genuine smile adorns his face as he recalls the events of the previous day. "She talked to me , she was walking beside me, Darla Martins , talked - to - me, me?" he exclaims with elation, a hint of disbelief evident in his voice. He repeats the words as he goes into the bathroom, converting them into a jolly song as he turns the shower on. He then shuts his eyelids , enjoying the feel of warm water on his skin.
He bumps into a solid figure as he comes out of the bathroom. Its his father, wearing a grin on his face.
"Hey buddy , I saw you walking with the girl from next door yesterday, " his father whispers to him.
"I think she's a good girl" he adds, sending him a wink.
Choosing to ignore his father, Sam rushes down the stairs towards the dining room.
"Do kiss and tell now laddie !" Morgan shouts to his son , mimicking a British accent, the grin still plastered on his face.
Just then, the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it!" Sam insists , ham sandwich in hand , the other hand holding his trousers. When the door slowly opens, utter shock overwhelms him , such that the hand holding his trousers drops to his side and let's his trousers drop to his feet.
There ,standing at his doorway, a hideous yet chubby man , who looks to be in his early forties holds an axe in his left hand, a malicious toothy grin adorns his face. Sam remains rooted to the spot. He gulps as he takes in the man's unpleasant features . It is when the man raises the hand holding the axe that Sam begins to move. Just as he attempts to get away from his attacker, he trips on his trousers and falls face first. He doesn't miss the hint of amusement in the man's eyes.
"Now , forgive my harsh mannerisms" the man finally speaks, playing around with the axe , shifting it from one hand to the other, " but is Morgan Blake home? I have, as they say in movies , unfinished business with him."
Sam crawls away from the man, who keeps coming his direction in slow , constant footsteps.
"D-Dad are you home?" Sam calls out. His father obviously can't hear him from upstairs , the constant sound of the shower drowns his voice.
"S-see , he ain't home" Sam answers the man's question.
"Now we wouldn't want blood spilled on this quiet little neighbourhood now would we?"
the man asks, expecting no answer. He places the axe dangerously close to Sam's neck before adding "Next time I won't be so kind , Samuel"
With that , the man disappears as if he never came. Sam is terrified beyond belief. Moments after the terrible man's departure, Sam can't but bring himself to believe what has just transpired. He tries but fails to convince his mind that this is all a terrible nightmare from which he shall soon awaken. His mouth goes dry like sandpaper, a lump forms in his throat. His eyes appear to be almost popping out of their sockets. His father instantly notices this as he descends the stairs into the dining room.
" Jesus Sam! You look like you've just seen a ghost ! " he exclaims
"I might have " Sam finally speaks after a brief moment of silence , his voice barely audible.
What horrifies him the most is that the man knows his name.
' Next time I won't be so kind , Samuel ' the words replay in his head, sending shivers down his spine.
" Talk to me buddy, what did he look like?" his father jokingly asks.
Sam gulps before answering "Like an ogre"
His father then gives a hearty laugh , not noticing that his son finds no humour in the matter.
************
Sam's eyes search through the crowd of teenagers in the hallway , looking for one in particular, Darla Martins . Relief washes over him as soon as he spots her. They exchange smiles as their eyes meet. The events of the morning instantly vanish from his mind when Darla intertwines their hands, momentarily startling him.
"Cold day isn't it " Sam says as a way of greeting.
"Hello to you too Samuel Blake" Darla says with a chuckle.
"Oh pardon , good morning Miss Martins , how are you doing?" Sam says with a slight bow.
Darla can't help it but burst with laughter.
"I'm doing fine Mr Blake" she responds after composing herself. They then enter the classroom.
****************
"Apparently the douche bag wasn't home, the retarded kid almost peed himself when he saw me" Brad Michaels reports, giving a hearty laugh but composing himself upon realising that two humourless eyes are staring at him.
" The kid could have been messing with you,and you didn't even bother checking for yourself did you?" Claire Martins the face to the humourless eyes asks , fury evident in her tone.
At this Brad nervously fidgets with the hem of his shirt,
" I ...uhm , I kinda.." he stutters.
" Outa my face!" Claire bursts
out amidst Brad's stuttering. The bearded chubby man does as told, heading out the door with an indifferent expression on his scarred face. Four other men , all sporting large beards and great muscular builds stand around the table on which she rests her elbows with her hands supporting her face. Despite their intimidating appearance, all four seem to be quite intimidated by the woman before them, to which she draws amusement.
She clears her throat before addressing them.
" The big man will not be happy , hell I'm not happy .I see now that I overestimated Brad's capabilities, he has been a great disappointment. But don't worry , by ten o'clock tonight he shall be yesterday's news. Now , lest you want to be met with the same fate as your friend, I suggest you carry out, with precision, the task he failed to accomplish." As she utters these words she keeps sending each man a deathly glare, to which all four gulp one after the other.
"I shall brief you up tonight on the specifics as to how I want his handsome head removed from his sexy body" she adds before dismissing them.
***********
"Samuel, do you believe in love at first sight?" Darla asks as the two of them, amongst numerous excited teenagers, walk towards the school gate. Sam gulps before answering .
"Never heard of such , I've never been loved , have you Miss Martins ?
" It's kinda complicated"
" Wait, I've heard someone give such an answer to a question before, and if I can recall, there was a hint of gloom in their tone, are you perhaps feeling a bit gloomy Miss Martins, because if you are ,we can....."
"I'm fine Samuel, really " She reassures him with a slight chuckle. There is a peaceful silence between them , until Sam breaks it.
"Uhm, Miss Martins"
"Uh-huh?"
" What is love? Is it when two people kiss, or is it when they...."
"OK lemme put it to you this way , love is when you feel a strong attraction to another person. You feel that they are a part of you and that without them , you're just not.........happy. You just feel that you wish to be beside them for the rest of your life and......"
"My word , that is exactly how I feel about you!"
"Y- you mean that?"
" Every word "
"Well, I feel the same way about you too."
Only the sounds of chirping birds and distant laughter can be heard as the two stand under the giant tree which is a few metres off the school gate. Most of the teenagers have already headed for their homes, leaving the two of them and a handful of others on the park just outside Brenwells High. Sam's brows are knitted in confusion as he looks at Darla. "Well uhm " he starts , "what do people do after confirming that they feel the same way?" he slightly lowers his eyes as he asks this.
To his surprise , Darla pulls him into a brief kiss before answering him.
"Well they then take things slowly and see where life takes them."
"Uhm, life takes them both so that they are not separated from each other, right?"
"If they stick with each other , yes."
*******************
The booming voice of Claire Martins fills the room as Brad Michaels sits on the centre of the room, strapped to a chair. Fear and despair are clearly evident on his face.
"You failed Michaels, and failure, cannot be tolerated for it shows weakness" Claire walks in circles around the quivering Brad Michaels, sharpened blade in hand, a deadly look in her eyes.
"Ma'am, I , I ,please believe me I ..." his voice comes out as a sob.
"Oh the time for words, has come to an end. As of now my blade shall speak for me, and I fancy it is really fond of your head, Michaels."
Michaels' high-pitched scream then fills the room before an object hits the ground with a soft thud. Upon realising what the object is , the three other occupants of the room involuntarily vomit.
A/N
Please vote and comment. Give advice where you feel it is needed. I love writing and wish to improve on it. Your input is most vital.
Cheers
-Mlekeleli
