Twisted Tangles

Chapter 8, Tick Tock

Thursday, 6th of June 2019

The city was asleep on a cold and silent night, the skies were clear with nothing but the full moon. I couldn't sleep, I was stunned and didn't have anything else to think of but what had recently happened. This was the same way I felt when I was in front of Blake the last time I saw him, the feeling right there was nothing different as the thoughts about Rafael dying soon were everywhere in my mind. It was past midnight, I was gazing my sight right towards the front door, seated on the sofa with a kitchen knife in my hands, awaiting for Big Ben's next move. I've never felt so unsafe that night especially with Ivy sleeping right next to me by my side. She cried herself to sleep ever since the call we both received from the unknown number yesterday, was he Big Ben? We both didn't know who it was, rather we prepared ourselves for the worst. I had to stay indoors the whole of yesterday with Ivy because she was scared and really needed someone to be there with her. Thinking back to myself I wondered, what now? How do I find Rafael without the help of the police? Who do I ask for help? So many questions appearing in my head that it was so mentally frustrating that I couldn't take it anymore, my life was about to become messy. I grew tired eventually as each hour passed by, I could feel my eyelids giving up on me until they fell shut and I was fast asleep.

The night had turned into day as the sun rose up from the horizon, I was asleep until I felt something pressing against my shoulder, repetitively calling out my name. "Julien, wake up, breakfast is ready." a soft voice spoke out, I tried opening my eyes slowly but they kept closing shut a few times until she shook me. "Julien!" Ivy spoke aloud, "Mmm, I'm up, I'm up. What's wrong?" I said finally opening up my eyes looking around for any signs of danger. "I swear you wouldn't qualify to be a security guard if you're that much of a heavy sleeper." Ivy said as she stood right in front of me folding her arms.

"Exactly, that's why I'm not one. Who do you take me for?" I replied rhetorically looking up to her furrowing my eyebrows, she rolled her eyes and walked back to the kitchen, "Your jungle oats are going to be cold if you keep looking at me walk while my backs turned." she said reaching out to her bowl of oats before she sat down to eat. "I'll be there in a second." I said shaking my head as I pulled out my phone from my pocket, to my surprise I saw a message from Ajax appear across the screen. "Hey man, I know Rafael has been avoiding my calls and texts. Please let him know that we need to talk.", my face dropped, I didn't know how to go about in responding to it. I put my phone away on the couch and walked to the kitchen to have my breakfast.

I sat down and looked into the bowl of oats, my appetite definitely disappeared because of that text, "What's the matter? Don't you like oats? You've gotta eat more healthy Julien." Ivy said seated besides me, I ignored her and stood up and walked away from the kitchen to the bathroom. I entered and locked the door behind me and stared my reflection in the mirror as tears formed in my eyes, Ajax's text was a painful reminder on what just happened, I could still hear Rafael's cry for help as fresh as it was from yesterday. I felt so useless because I didn't know what to do or who to seek to. It was not long until I shed a tear, followed by more tears rolling down my face as I looked down into the basin holding each side, looking away from the mirror. I tried sobbing quietly so Ivy wouldn't hear me but I couldn't. I felt alone in a deep hole with nobody to pull me out of it, I was hurt with no clue on how I was going to rescue my best friend or find Blake's money.

After a few minutes, I managed to pull myself together. I washed my face and looked myself in the mirror one more time, "Be your own man that your father would want you to be." I said out looking straight into my eyes. I then dried my face and unlocked the door on my way out. I opened the door to see Ivy seated on the floor besides the door frame, "Where you seated there the whole time?" I asked looking down at her, she looked up and nodded her head before standing up to give me a hug. "You could've told me you don't like oats you know that? There's cornflakes too.", she said as we hugged each other, I giggled at her "I have to go meet up with Ajax. Do not leave your apartment alright? It's not safe for you anymore, in fact you need to book a flight to Johannesburg today." I commanded looking at her. She looked to the side and nodded her head, "Just promise me you'll try to be safe.", she said as she placed her hand on the side of my face, I held it and squeezed it softly, "I promise.", she then stood up higher on her toes to kiss my forehead. "Good, off you go now." She said with a smile as she let me go.