Icelamb

Chapter 10

Mobo comes in almost immediately. I wrap my arms around Titi protectively even though I can't defend myself.

"What have you done to her?" I shout angrily, not minding the consequence.

"I don't know, what do you think," he says with a wide grin on his face.

"Be grateful that your sister is still alive. You are one of the lucky ones, so lucky". I desperately want to smack the grin off his face, but I don't even want to think of the consequences of doing that.

He moves closer to me. I cower in fear and expect the worst. I have caught Mobo licking his lips and looking at me in a weird way since I arrived here. 

The way he looks at me the couple of days I have spent here when he thinks no one is watching makes my stomach queasy. Thankfully, he only brings out a First Aid kit.

He hands me bottles of medication and herbs, and leaves. I repeatedly punch the wall beside me after he goes until blood seeps out. I cry at the pain.

Titi is bleeding from every part of her body. My sisterly instincts kick in as I go to the bathtub and turn on the tap. I move the switch to lukewarm water.

I take a bottle of massage oil from the cabinet in the bathroom. I pour a few drops into the water. I carry Titi. She is so tiny; it is easy to take her because she feels like a newborn baby in my hands.

Due to her curvy body, Titi was heavier than me in our high school days. Now she felt like a sack of feathers in my hands.

"Titi, what did they do to you? Tell me who hurt you," My sister doesn't reply. She just stares into an empty space.

"R-run. F...familiar enemy," she drawls her words slowly.

"What do you mean, Titi? Who is the familiar enemy?" I pester her a bit even though I know she should rest. When she doesn't reply, I ruminate on how to ease her pains.

I don't bother to remove her clothing. She whimpers gently in pain as I carry her. I drop her slowly into the warm water, and she yells out. I drop the herbs in the water.

She calms down, and I pour the water on her body. I then removed her clothes and placed the soiled clothing in a bucket.

I fill the bathtub with water, wash my sister's hair with shampoo and try not to cringe as blood runs out of her hair. I wrap her with a towel and carry her out to the bedroom.

I place her on the bed, but she dozes off immediately her body lands on the bed. I listen to her breathing as I ruminate on whatever 'Aye' must have done to her.

There are also bruises on her hands and legs. I see a scar on her ankle. The door handle turns, and I see Naade walk in.

I catch a glimpse of confusion, hurt and remorse on his face before he masks it with an emotionless look on his face.

"What did your father and his 'people' do to my sister," I ask through clenched teeth. He doesn't answer.

"Tell me!" I say, and he still doesn't budge. "Please beg your father to leave us alone and set us free," I say as I tear up and grip his shirt.

He doesn't flinch, and I fall to the floor and just let the tears fall. We look at each other for what seems like forever.

He finally moves his mouth like he wants to say something but stops. I see the image of the man who runs this organization that hurt my sister in Naade.

I can't stop the hate that rises from my throat. We both sit on the bed in uncomfortable silence, my sister's breathing resounding through the room until he stands up and heads for the door.