Manka and Other African Shorts

Lum

Today was the day. Lum had been waiting for this interview for days now. It was quite literally the interview of life and death. The one she was praying to all things holy went well. Cause she was two steps away from sleeping on the streets.

Lum looked up and sighed. Her life was a strange one. She had gone from living luxuriously and lavishly. And all of a sudden, all was taken away from her.

She knew who had done this to her. She knew who had caused all her problems. But she was bidding her time. She was waiting for the right day to strike. And when that day was going to come, they would be shocked.

They had taken away her research. All of her dreams, seized away. So they were going to enjoy her wrath soon.

Lum looked left and right as usual, then crossed the road. It was too late to react when she saw the lorry heading straight at her. She closed her eyes and stood still. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was the escape she had been praying for. And she was going to take it gladly.

The last thing she heard was a woman's scream then darkness.

***

Lum opened her eyes slowly. Then groaned. Her body felt sore. She groaned again. Why was she up? Why hadn't she just died?

She closed her eyes then opened them again to see someone standing over her. The man let out a shriek then composed himself.

"You scared me. Let me go and get the doctor," he added, before Lum could even open her mouth to say anything.

Lum blinked then looked around. She was in a hospital and her body was connected to a series of machines. She didn't know how she was going to pay for a this. Who had brought her here in the first place?

The "doctor" came in, followed by the same guy who had left before. They looked strangely alike. Both had black hair and green eyes and they were almost the same height.

Lum frowned in confusion then shook her head. It was an illusion. They actually looked nothing alike. The accident had really shaken her head up.

She sat up and frowned at the doctor. "What am I doing here? How long have I been here?"

"You've been here for two weeks. But your recovery has been miraculously fast. You had fifteen broken bones and a concussion. But you, Ms. Esmeralda Lum, have managed to stun science," the doctor said and Lum frowned.

What was this man saying?

"So can I leave now?" Lum asked. She really was not interested in staying here any minute longer.

"Ma'am, we've come to the realization that you do not have sufficient funds to pay for your stay here. So what if we made tests on you and the pay is cancelled out? And don't bother. We'll compensate you," the doctor said and Lum stayed quiet for a while, thinking.

She knew that refusing would be a stupid choice. But when he said tests, what did he mean by that. After a brief moment of hesitation, she replied. "Yes. I agree"

The doctor looked gleeful as if they had just announced that he had won the lottery. Lum swallowed. She guessed she was going find out what she had just gotten into.

***

It had been six months. Six long months. Lum had been fed, lodged and tested upon like she was a guinea pig. The diagnosis at the end was obvious.

She had gained superhuman powers. She could heal faster than the average human being. She was extremely strong. And it looked like she wasn't aging anymore, from what the doctors had told her.

Lum was ready to take her revenge. She had waited long enough. And she was going to use her new found powers to destroy him. James Che. The man who singlehandedly had managed to destroy her whole life.

She planned it meticulously. She knew his schedule to a tee. She knew the days he was home and those he was not. She knew when he was alone and when he was not. And tonight was one of the nights he was there.

Lum stared at the mansion for a while then jumped to the window on the second floor and got in, with so much ease. She was going to strike when he least expected it.

She walked stealthily to the bathroom where she knew he was taking his evening bath.

"Hello James," she said, getting into the bathroom.

"How did you get in here?!" James exclaimed, trying to pull the shower curtain closed.

"It's in your best interests not to ask any questions," Lum said, advancing towards him slowly.

He looked so vulnerable, as vulnerable as she had looked on the day he was laughing at having bested her.

James laughed, then dropped the pretense of being scared. He came out of the bath, not ashamed of his nudity. Lum stared at him from head to toe, not bashing a lash, then shook her head, almost as if she was disappointed by what she had seen.

James grew angered at that. He launched at her and held her by the neck. Lum did not bat a lash. She calmly took his hand and put it down.

He was shocked. "How?"

"Did you think you were the only special one here?" Lum asked with a laugh, then kicked him with sufficient force for him to land in the water behind him, shattering the bath tub.

James got up with a violent shout and launched at her again. He held her by the neck and lifted her.

Lum clawed at his hand, her movements getting weaker by the second. But she didn't give up. She kept on trying until he let her go.

Lum fell down with a gasp, trying to take in air. She was not done. She stood and advanced towards James. She knew his weak points. But he didn't know hers and she was going to use it to her advantage.

As she was about to hit him, he held her hand and twisted it, breaking the bone. Lum bit her lip in pain. And kicked him in his crotch. He let her go immediately.

Lum's hand got healed almost immediately and she took advantage of James's distracted state to strike.

She held his neck and twisted it, disconnecting the head from the rest of the body. She let go of him and he fell limply to the floor.

Lum was breathing heavily. She had done it. She had finally done it. She didn't know who was next. But they better not mess with her. Because she had come for the kill. Literally.

***

Okay this is last minute as fuck. And rushed as fuck too. But it's my entry I guess. Hope you enjoyed it!
Love, Essie 🌺