Lelani Sat in her convertible bmw outside her front door. It was dark but the street lamps on her street shone brightly. She checked the time on her car’s digital clock. It had just gone 11pm. She had given a brief excuse to Rees as to why she was running late but she knew she would have to give a more detailed explanation when she entered the house. This time of night was too late to be returning home on a school night without a valid explanation. Things had turned crazy at Oscar’s flat. A number of people had turned up unexpectedly. People who she wasn’t prepared to mingle with under those circumstances. Lelani had stayed within their company for as long as she could manage but then she had left. Even on her way home she wanted to go back to him, be in his presence, just without the other people to be there. Lelani’s hands tightened around the wooden grip of her steering wheel and she pressed her forehead against it.
What am I doing? She thought to herself.
Her warm home waited for her. Inside she had a faithful husband and two beautiful children. She had safety and security. However even though her current life had provided her with everything that she thought she wanted, something else was missing. Something that couldn’t be vocalised into words, screaming from deep within her. Life right now was textbook, she had achieved everything written down on paper that she wanted. So why was this new friend so appealing? Why did Lelani find herself increasingly drawn to him? The more she thought about him ignited a spark in her that she hadn’t felt for a very long time. A spark that had continued to burn and grow brighter and hotter with each thought and glimpse of him. Lelani knew It was dangerous to keep feeding the sensation burning inside her. There was a feeling that if she kept fanning it, it would grow into an uncontrollable fire which could rage out of control, burning the hand that stoked it.
Sometimes the dream is better in fantasy than it is in reality. Lelani thought.
She turned her head to one side on the steering wheel and sighed. Her eyes looked out the driver’s side window and drifted over to her house. The boys would be fast asleep in bed by now and Rees would be eager to find out about the events which had kept her away all evening, not out of suspicion but out of genuine curiosity. Lelani closed her eyes and sighed. Sitting up after a brief moment she looked to her side where her handbag sat in the middle of the passenger seat. Her gaze glanced past the seat to the floor where a large number of fries lay. Lelani shook her head while leaning over to tidy the mess. She picked up the cold hardened potato slices with her fingertips. It seemed as though her young student had managed to drop more food onto her car floor than he was able to shovel into his mouth. Lelani reached her hand underneath the car seat to feel if any remnants of food had strayed under there, wishing to stay in the car overnight. As suspected there were a few and she collected them all, opening the passenger side window and throwing them out. She reached back under the passenger seat, running her hand over the floor, searching for any missed remnants using her finger tips. The final scan alerted her to the presence of something else, something smooth, a texture that was foreign to the consistency of the flooring. Lelani pinched it up to see. It was a business card. Lelani’s memory suddenly flashed to earlier when she had suspected Alpha had dropped something from his pocket.
That’s why we couldn’t find it. She nodded her head to herself.
As she flipped the laminated card around in her hand a puzzled expression shifted onto her face. She recognised it instantly. It was Rees’ business card. Lelani continued to twirl the card, as if doing so would disclose something new and suddenly reveal itself to be something other than what she knew it was. Lelani wanted to be certain by investigating both sides, making sure every detail was familiar, searching for the slightest hint that indicated it was not Rees’, an almost identical just belonging to someone else but there was no mistake. It was her husband’s. Lelani reached a searching hand back under the passenger seat. There was no longer any trace of anything foreign under there. Her fingernails clawed against the carpet, trying to eject anything that had been embedded into the fabric. Nothing. She leant over and tucked her head down as far as she could to see under the seat. Although it was awkward she could clearly see that nothing else rested under there. Sitting up in the driver’s seat she held the card infront of her, resting on the steering wheel with both hands. Lelani started to create different scenarios as to how Alpha had come into possession of this card.
Maybe he picked it up when he came in?
This seemed to be the most believable answer. The one that repeatedly came to Lelani’s mind. The concoction evolved into the card being dropped by her husband while he himself had been seated in the car and Lelani had not noticed it, Alpha had grabbed it upon entering, intending to give it to her but then forgot and pocketed it. Thus falling out when the boy had tried to show her his video. Almost on queue her phone vibrated in her handbag, pulling it out, she went directly to the incoming notice. It was a video sent by Alpha. Lelani sighed with a smile on her face remembering what her student had tried to show her previously. She opened the video, and sat back to observe, amusement and surprise surged through her as she watched the recorded events unfold as the swarm of boys set upon the car. Lelani jumped up, mouth wide open. That was Oscar’s car. Lelani watched until the video came to an end. She instantly called back the number Alpha had sent the video on.
“Mrs Martins.”
“Lemar, that video you sent me earlier, who was the owner of that car?”
“Hmmm I don’t know, Miss, some guy who lives in Lily’s block.”
“Why did you and your friends do that to his car?”
“It wasn’t my idea, Miss. We don’t know the guy. Apparently he’s a gay basher.”
“Who told you that?”
“The guy who paid us to do that to his car.” Lemar started laughing over the phone. “We got his car good didn’t we miss?”
“Who’s this guy Lemar? What does he look like?”
“Hmmmm short, stocky Mixed race guy, smart looking. He’s a Doctor. He gave me his business card to…” Lemar’s voice trailed off.
“What’s his name?”
The laughter died down.
“I ….. I can’t remember…”
“You’re lying. What was his name Lemar?”
Lemar didn’t answer. Lelani heard the rustling of clothes in the background. She knew he was searching for the business card which he had dropped in her car.
How does Rees know where Oscar’s lives? Does he know what I’ve been doing? He must have followed me. WHy hasn’t he said anything? Maybe he wants to catch us together? No, it’s a tall building. He can’t know the exact flat he lives in. Rees wouldn’t go up and knock on his door.
All these ideas came flooding through Lelani’s mind.
“Alpha.”
“……….”
“Alpha.”
“LEMAR.”
“Yes Miss.”
“Tomorrow before class starts you make sure that you come and see me first thing in the morning.”
“ Ok Miss.” Lemar agreed reluctantly.
Lelani ended the call, dropped the phone into her handbag and left her car. She moved rapidly towards her front door. Stopping wasn’t an option. If her feet stopped moving, even if only for a moment, she would not enter her house, spin around on her heels and head straight back to Oscar’s place. Lelani unlocked the front door, closing it swiftly behind her and bolted all the locks. Escape had to be made difficult. She quickly made her way through the front passageway which led to a large staircase. Multiple doors branched off the inner corridor. a shiver of light peaked out from underneath the first door she came to. Lelani pushed the door open, entering the living room. The lights were dim, the television had been left on but the sound put on mute. Lelani scanned the large room but it was empty. Her hand reached for the remote control resting in the middle of a well worn coffee table and casually switched it off. Placing the remote back she made her way out of the room and through the last door which led to the kitchen. Entering the large kitchen space she scanned the room. It too was empty. Her mouth opened to call out her husband’s name but the summon fell short. Lelani told herself that it was late, her boys were fast asleep and she didn’t want to wake them but that wasn’t the real reason she hadn’t called out his name. A sudden sound of movement came through the ceiling. It was from their bedroom. It was Rees. Regardless of what currently crawled through her mind about what he might know or might not know she needed his expertise right now. She needed him to find out what these pills were that Lemar had in his possession. She slowly took off her shoes, holding them in her hand and made her way upstairs where she knew to find him. As she entered the bedroom she found Rees standing in front of a set chester drawers.
“Hi darling.”
Rees, startled, pushed the top draw closed and spun round.
“Jesus.” He panted with his hand on his chest. “You startled me. When did you get home?”
“I literally just came through the door.”
Lelani approached him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He kissed her cheek back simultaneously.
“What happened today?”
“Oh babe it’s a long story. I had an incident at school, I had to take one of my students home and then I bumped into……”
“Into?”
“Into an old uni friend.” Lelani looked at his face seeking traces of lie recognition.
“Wow you’ve done a lot today.” She noticed Rees leaned against the chester drawer. “Who’s this friend that you bumped into?”
“Ohhhh ummm Marissa. We were in the same classes together. Tall, black beautiful amazing hair, Babe…….” Lelani knew an effective lie was always mixed with some truth. She diverted from the subject. “I promise I’m going to tell you all about it but I need you to take a look at something for me.”
“ Take a look at what babe.” Rees’ face became puzzled.
Placing her shoes on the floor and opening her handbag Lelani rummaged through it looking for the few tablets Lemar had packaged into a napkin and presented them to Rees.
“Babe take a look at….”
“Jesus Lelani, I’m so sorry.” Rees interrupted her before she could start snatching them up from her hands.
“Wait, why are you….”
“I must have dropped them somewhere. Where did you find them?”
Lelani paused while watching Rees’ face. Her mind was trying to sort out what was going on.
Rees thinks that these are his tablets. Why would Rees think that these were his? Lemar. He knows Lemar.
“I found them on the floor. In the living room with the Tv still on. Babe that is so dangerous. What if the boys got hold of them and swallowed them.”
“I know I know. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.” Rees inspected the tablets inside the napkin. “Darling, did you touch these?”
“Did I touch them? Only for a second before popping into the napkin.Why?” Lelani’s eyes narrowed. She remembered Lemar getting high from his exposure to these drugs just from touching them. “They’re just simple tablets right?”
“Hmmmmmm.” Rees looked distracted. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have long exposure to these drugs. Some people can have a bad allergic reaction to them.”
Lelani continued to look deeply at Rees’ face. Now she was the one who had recognition of lies.
“What kind of drugs are these Rees? That’s such a dangerous thing to leave lying about. Imagine if the boys….” Lelani wanted to pressure him. To see what else splattered from his mouth.
“Lee I ‘m so sorry. I don’t even know how I would have dropped them.” Rees’ eyes searched the unseeing air. Trying to recall how these pills escaped from him.
“Well what drugs are they?”
“These ones. There. These ones? Psychotropic medication.”
“No, I don’t care about what they do. What are they called? So if an accident happens and you’re not here I know what information to give.”
“These one’s.” Rees paused under Lelani’s watchful eye. “This is Called Citalopram but don’t worry this won’t happen ever again. I’m going to put them away somewhere secure.”
“Citalopram?”
“Ummm Hmmmm.”
“You never leave medication lying around in the house, Rees, is everything ok?”
Rees hesitated again. His funny behaviour made Lelani feel very uneasy. Rarely did Rees try to lie to her and she felt a lot of tension in him.
“I’m fine Lee. I’m fine, I promise I’ve just had a busy few days. One of my clients has had a relapse. The boys were being difficult this evening. I’ve just got alot on my plate at the moment but don’t worry.” Rees attempted to pocket the pills inside his trousers however a number fell out the side of the napkin and scattered onto the tiled kitchen floor.
“Reeeeeeeees” Lelani called out.
Lelani pointed to a few that had tried to run away towards the corner of the room while throwing her handbag by the bedroom door. Rees set out for them. One had settled right by Lelani’s foot. As Rees turned his back she quickly snatched it up and popped it into her bra through her shirt.
“Darling don’t hold them for too long ok? And make sure you wash your hands afterwards.”
“Since when has Citapram been so strong that you can’t touch them?”
“Normally they’re not but these are an experimental batch that was made specifically for my client who has been unresponsive to her previous medication. So its allot higher dose”
Again another lie but a better one this time. Lelani thought. She noticed that he was becoming more comfortable lying to her.
“Hmmmm.” She answered with a slight nod, trying to not give any hint that she didn’t believe him.
Lelani watched Rees pick up the last tablet on the floor.
“Ok, let me lock these away in my safe.”
Rees left the bedroom, Lelani could hear his footsteps moving through the house. She knew where he was headed, moving closer to the bedroom window that overlooked the back garden. Rees soon came into her view, marching towards the garden outhouse he had built some years ago which he now used as his private office. Lelani had only been there a few times. It was stylishly decorated. Lelani never felt like snooping around inside however she now wondered what secrets he kept locked away inside the out house. As Rees reached for the door he paused. Lelani hid to one side of the window frame to avoid him spotting her. She sensed that he knew she was watching him but there was no backward glance, then he entered the outhouse.
Lelani darted to the dresser and opened the drawer that Rees had quickly slammed shut. It was his underwear drawer. A white envelope and a white box lay on top of some of his boxers. She picked up the envelope and peered inside. A collection of bright pink £50 notes fattened the inside. Lelani didn’t count it but there was a lot of money inside. Lelani leaned over to check outside the window. The out house lights were still on.
What would Rees be doing with this amount of money in cash. She thought.
She closed the envelope and dropped it back into the drawer. It was unusual for Rees to have that amount of money on him. Their financial situation was extremely good and Rees could access thousands if he wanted to but a few grand in an envelope wasn’t like him. Lelani picked up the small box. She shook it in her hand. The box rattled with its loose contents. Assuming its contents Lelani took out the tablet from the inside of her bra and opened the box. She held it in his fingertips and poured out the loose tablets into her open palm. 7 identical tablets fell out. Lelani put the box down and compared the tablet in her fingertips to the others in her palm with a magnifying glass stare. They were all identical.
What the Hell is Rees involved in giving these drugs to my students. Lelani thought.
She knew all too well that these tablets were not Citalopram. Rees worked very strictly with his medication and she knew where he kept his supply. Over the years Lelani had become familiar with the different types of medication, their names and what they were used for. She knew without a doubt that these tablets were not what Rees stated. She poured the tablets back into the box except for the one between her fingertips. Hiding it back into her bra. Closing the small rectangular box she twirled it around in her hand. The box was clear. There was no labelling or branding of any kind. The thud of the kitchen backdoor startled her. Lelani looked back through the window to the out house. All the lights were turned off. The sound of Rees’ footsteps came panting up the stairs and into the bedroom. Spinning round to face him, the envelope of money in one hand, boxed tablets in the other, she held them up in front of him. She was going to get to the bottom of this.
“What the Hell is this?” Lelani extended the envelope. “And you’ve already lied about these.” She presented the white box.
“Ok…I… the…ok those..” Rees thumbled over his words.
“Where did all this come from and why are you trying to hide it from me?”
“I didn’t try to hide it.” Rees protested
“Yes You did. You’re lying and you’re a liar. Don’t bloody lie to me.”
She watched him as he started to nervously pace around the room.
“Stop pacing around the room. I know your plotting. You know when you rub your face I know that you’re going to lie.”
Rees stopped rubbing his face with both hands.
“Can you please calm down?”
“I am calm but what pisses me off is that I know you’re trying to feed me some rubbish.”
“It’s not….”
“I’ve caught you red handed. What are you involved in where you’re trying to hide things in the dresser and….” She kicked the dresser standing behind her. “This isn’t flipping Citalopram.”
Rees started to look pale in the face.
“How do you know that’s not Citalopram?”
“I’m not a fool, Rees. I pay attention to things.”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like I’m doing something dodgy.”
“Ohhh a box full of unlabeled tablets and an envelope with…” Lelani pressed the long rectangular white paper envelope open in her hand and ran her thumb over the top of the notes making a quick tally of the amount.
“ Almost £3k in there.”
“Ok just calm down and let me explain.”
“Yes, Rees, explain?” Lelani closed the envelope and threw it down onto their bed. She held onto the box of tablets.
“Ok Ok Ok, I got paid under the table to test that sample you’re holding in your hand and report back the results.”
“What are they?”
“Well that’s another reason why I’ve been offered so much money I’ve been asked not to ask questions.”
Lelani raised her hands in the air and started to pace around the bedroom.
“I don’t believe that you’re this dumb.” She shook her head at him while pacing. “Don’t ask questions means that they’re not supposed to be doing what they’re doing.”
“I know but how could I refuse? They pressured me into it and the offer….” Rees trailed off not wanting to say anymore.
“How much did they offer you?”
“Allot.”
“Don’t Piss me off Rees anymore than I already am. How Much did They Fucking Offer You?”
“£1.5M in the first year of the trial period and another £1.5M if I use my contacts to help push this drug into approval.”
Lelani stopped pacing and looked at Rees then looked at the box in her hand.
“One and a half Million before and after.” She leaned back against the large dresser she had found the money in. “Thats alot of money.”
“I know.” Rees slowly walked over to their bed and sat down. “And every now and then they sweeten the pot. I got this on the wknd.”
“That’s why you went into work.”
“No, I went into work because I had a report to write and one of my clients had a melt down. It just so happened my contact came to pay me a visit and dropped this off.”
“The one with the split personalities.” Lelani nodded her head.
Rees nodded back.
“You did say.”
“That’s a lot of money, Rees.” Lelani blew out a deep breath and thought for a moment. “Well I mean this makes some kind of twisted sense. Test a new drug on people who are already classed as menatlly ill so if there is any adverse reaction to it you can blame it on their preexisting health conditions.”
“Exactly…” Rees gestured with his hands.
“But that is still a pretty shitty thing to do, you arsehole.”
Lelani threw the box of tablets at Rees which hit his chest and landed in his lap.
“How could you abuse your patients like that?”
“Oooh, it’s not abuse Lelani. They’re never going to get better.”
“What?”
“They won’t. Well most of them won’t.”
“How can you say that? What’s the point of you working with them if you think like this?”
“Mental health isn’t a disease Lelani, it’s a choice, a state of mind. These people don’t need drugs. They need a good kick up the backside.”
“What?” Lelani’s eyes widened.
Rees put the box on top of the envelope next to him on the bed.
“These people, all my clients suffered some kind of trauma in their lives. A trauma which they have become unable to deal with and because they are so damn mentally weak they’re minds create some kind of coping mechanism to protect them from the things which they don’t want to reason with. That’s it. They don’t need years of counselling, they don’t need psychotropic medication to help them cope, they need to make a decision and stop running from what’s eating away at them.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing you say this right now?”
“Why. I’m helping them. This is clearly some kind of psychedelic. My clients are going to spend all their lives if not years in therapy. At least this way I can give them some kind of relief.”
“Who are you right now?”
“Oh shut up. Lelani. You do the same with your students.”
“What. How do I?”
“Come on. You get all dressed up to go to work. We wear tight ass dresses that show off your figure. You have any cleavage but you make sure everyone can appreciate your fat arse and all its juiciness. You’re not dumb Lelani. You act dumb but you’re very clever.”
“How dare you. I worked hard to get into shape. There’s nothing wrong about showing it off.”
Lelani had never seen this side of him before and it made her feel sick to her stomach.
“Oh shut up Lelani, How do you think you got your head of year position?”
“What are you talking about you arsehole! I worked hard for that position.”
“Yes you did and you have been working hard for that position for 4yrs now.” Rees rubbed his knees while he sat on the bed. “But you still weren’t able to get it on your own.”
“No one helped me to get it. I don’t have that kind of pull in that school.”
“That’s right. But it’s funny how you recently got promoted after your swim suit video got leaked and who do you think leaked that video to the principal.” A smug smile slowly emerged onto Rees’ face.
“You….. know about that…….”
“Ofcourse I know about it. I’m the one who took it and I’m the one who posted it all over social media.”
Lelani’s mouth formed into words but no sound came out. She blinked rapidly to try and wipe away the tears that were forming in her eyes.
“You did that.”
“Yesssss I had to.”
“You had to?”
“Do you know how hard it is seeing your partner try so hard and get nowhere.” Rees wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “And it’s a well known fact that you’re principle likes to get some from his faculty. It was only a matter of time.”
Lelani’s eyes grew wide. She watched Rees through a blurred vision while she squeezed her hand together. She couldn’t tell if it was pain or rage making them shake.
“He’s been trying to get some from you and Mrs Afia for the longest time. I’m not blind. You think I didn’t notice last year at the christmas party him rubbing you up.”
“You saw that?”
“Of Course I saw that. The brazen bastard practically did it right in front of me.”
“Well why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you protect me.”
“Protect yourself.”
Lelani fought hard to see Rees more clearly. Tears ran down the side of her cheeks.
“You can get a man anytime you want. It’s about time you use that arse to get what you want.”
Lelani shook her head. She was shocked at how calmly Rees was speaking to her during all this. It was as if he was unloading on her all the things that he had wanted to say to her for the longest time.
“Come on Lelani. That’s how we get ahead in this world. We use our gifts to our advantage. Stop making it out like you don’t do that already.”
“How….how do I…” Lelani swallowed back more tears.
“Come Onnnnn. You get men anytime you want. You love the power and men come buzzing around you like bees to pollen. You can get it anytime you want outside and come home to peace and quiet. Why else would you marry a gay guy.”
Rees’ uncomfortable laugh blurted out and he covered his mouth to stifle it. Rees leaned backwards on the bed, setting his arms behind him to prop him up. He sighed a deep sigh as if he just set down a painfully heavy burden.
“It’s so good to let this all just come out.”
Lelani’s heart boiled over. She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed a large picture frame that cased a photo of herself, Rees and the boys and hurled it with all her strength at the Rees on the bed. The large metal frame hit him square in the face. Rees whelped out in pain clutching his face. She flew on top of him snatching up the frame. She held it in both of her hands and brought it crashing down on his head. The frame bent inwards. Rees whelpt again and threw his arms over his head to protect himself. He didn’t fight her back. Lelani screamed as her rage flowed through her. She wanted to continue hitting him until he disappeared, pummel him until he was sorry.
“Mommy what’s going on?” Her eldest son pushed the door open and walked in half asleep while rubbing his eyes.
Lelani froze in her assault, quickly throwing the picture frame off the side of the bed.
“Oh sorry darling. Did we wake you? Daddy and I were just play fighting.”
“Well it’s too loud. You wake me up.”
Rees faked a laugh while covering his left eye. Blood trickled past his hand down the side of his nose and the corner of his mouth. Lelani leaped up, wiping away the tears on her cheek. She caught hold of her son, ushering him back out the door. She didn’t want her son to see any of this.
“Sorry darling. We’ll be quiet. Go back to bed ok.”
“Ok. Can I get some shortbread biscuits.”
“No go to bed.”
“But I’m hungry.”
“I said no. Go To Bed.”
Lelani kissed the top of his head and closed the door gently behind him. She spun on her heels to face Rees again. Seeing the rage in her eyes he jumped off the bed and scrambled around the opposite side trying to create distance between them. He looked at the hand which had been pressing against his eye. Lelani looked at the hand too. She saw the blood. A deep gash had opened up under his left eye just by his cheek bone. It was deep and it would need a few stitches.
“You are a piece of shit. You think you’re so clever. Smarter than everyone else. Using people for your nasty social experiments. Well I’m not going to let you. Lelani pounced forward. Rees jumped back into the corner of the room however her lunge was not intended for him. She scooped up the box and envelope from the bed and then to the dress
“If you want to feed this crap to your patients in some kind of deluded ideal that you’re actually giving them some kind of escapism. That’s up to you but you do not give this shit to my kids.”
“I’d never give that to the boys, are you crazy.”
“My school kids.”
Rees looked confused.
“Oh those boys that you got to vandalise Oscar’s car. They were some of my students.” Especially the one who you gave those pills to”
Panic came over Rees’ face.
“Yeah you prick. It’s a small world isn’t. And I’ve seen the video.”
Lelani turned to head for the bedroom door. As she turned Rees lurched forward and caught hold of her shirt.
“Wait. What are you going to do?”
Lelani furiously pulled away but Rees held her fast. The back of her shirt tore wide open exposing her naked back and bra strap. Lelani spun on her heels to face him, mouth wide open. Rees’ face matched hers as her looked at her then looked at the piece of ripped clothing in his hand. A nervous laugh blurted out and he covered his mouth.
“Reeeeees.”
“Sorry.”
Lelani snatched up her handbag and darted through the bedroom door, slamming it shut behind her. She scampered down the first few steps on the staircase but then composed herself into her normal walk as she noticed her eldest son walking up carrying a glass of milk and a plate of shortbread biscuits. Lelani bite her lip in frustration.
“Mommy I just got a few….”
Meeting her son on the stairs she tucked what she held under her arm and snatched the late night snack from her son’s grap.
“ Mommy…..” The boy wailed
“I said No, now get to bed.”
A hard firm smack was planted on the boy’s rear which sent him sprinting up the stairs into the unsuspecting legs of his father.”
“What are you doing?”
“Mommy smacked meeeeeee……” The child wailed. Throwing his arms around Rees’ legs and clinging to him tightly, stifulling his pursuit. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs Lelani cast a quick glance back up hesitating.
Is this really something that we can’t fix. He’s my best friend. Is this the beginning of the end? She thought.
Maybe they could but she needed time to clear her head. Lelani dashed through the front door, milk and biscuits still in her hand. She emptied out the milk in the front garden bushes and dumped the glass and plate of biscuits into her handbag, rummaging through the mess while looking for her keys.
Just as she reached her car a hard force slammed her into its side pressing her down against it. Lelani tried to scream out for help but a hard rough hand clapped over her mouth. She could smell a man’s scent flow over her. A strange but popular fragrance. It was Old spice. Lelani pushed away from the edge of her car with both hands, trying to force her way backwards but her attacker easily pinned her back to where she was before. His free arm slapped her hands away from the parked vehicle and held her tight around the body. Lelani knew that it wasn’t Rees. Her attacker was taller than she was.
“Mrs Martin.” Spoke an older, more raspy voice than her husbands. “I suggest you think very carefully about the next few decisions you’re going to make. It could affect your life, the life of your husband and the life of your children.”
The man spun Lelani round to face him. One hand clapped over her mouth. Lelani punched and frailed as much as she could but she couldn’t break free of the man’s grasp. She tried to scream through his hand but the sound was muffled. She tried screaming louder, as loud as she could. Eventually someone would hear something.
Where’s Rees. Why hasn’t he run after me?
As loud as she tried her muffled screams couldn’t quite break through the man’s clasped barrier. Bearing her teeth she sunk her front incisors into the man’s flesh. The man deeply whelped withdrawing his hand. Now she was free to scream as loud as her throat would allow. As the first peep of a scream erupted from her mouth a hard rough open hand came crashing across her face, knocking the scream out of her. Lelani felt her legs buckle. A prickly pain shimmered from the side of her face down through her body. Her body suddenly felt heavy and she wanted to drop to the cold floor but the owner of that hard slap held her up.
“You really do like it rough don’t you Mrs Martin”
A sudden gasp of air filled her lungs while new tears streaked down Lelani’s face. She mouthed the words help but no words came out. She pushed harder and her mouth was able to expel a squeaky noise.
“hhhHHHHHH.” Came tiptoeing out. “Heeeee……”
The second call for aid was batted down with another strike. This time on the opposite cheek with the back of the attacker’s hand. Deep tears blurb Lelani’s vision as she gasps deeper in pain. Her tears fell down onto the concrete pavement. The weight of her body felt like it had doubled but still her assailant held her up. Her tears had now completely blurred her vision. She wasn’t able to see the man’s face. She forced in another deep breath. The Man quickly changed his position. Wedging his forearm across her throat, both pinning her back against the car and holding her up at the same time.
“Mrs Martin, If you try to scream one more time, I’m going to make it so that you’ll never be able to scream ever again.” The attacker’s free hand went inside his pocket. With a click of a button the blade erupted from its concealed position and he brought the sharp point to Lelani’s throat. He ever so slightly pressed the tip into the corner of her jawline.
Lelani winched as she felt a sharp sting by her throat and something wet and warm trickled down her neck. As the knife bit into her flesh Lelani abandoned her final attempt to scream. The Man smiled.
“Nice Mrs Martin. Real nice.” He released her from his grasp but held the knife to her throat.
“Heyyyyyyy. HEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYY.”
Called out an angry voice from behind them. Lelani recognised the caller. It was Rees. She signed a breath of relief. She knew that Rees would come to her aid. Whatever this man wanted from her Rees would not allow it to happen. He would not allow this man to have his way with her.
“Mr Gaphabi, what the Hell, You’ve got a damn knife to my wife’s throat.”
Mr Gaphabi waved his hand at Rees like that of someone waving away an annoying fly.
Lelani watched Rees slowly approach. She watched him as he looked around the barren street making sure that nobody was around. She steered at him wide eyed. He was taking his time to approach her and he wasn’t coming to her aid.
“What are you doing?”
“Cleaning up YOUR mess Mate. Since You can’t handle things at Home.”
Rees started to protest but Mr Gaphabi raised a single finger to his lips, silencing him. Rees kept quiet. Lelani stared straight into Rees face. Although she had been warned not to speak she wanted him to see the horror in her eyes. The disbelief that she had about him right now. Rees avoided her gaze. Mr Gaphabi slowly pulled out the wedged box and envelope caught between Lelani’s armpit and passed it over his shoulder. Rees slowly took them from his grasp.
He slowly raised his index finger back to his lips warning Lelani to keep quiet then slowly reached his hand towards her. His hand softly caressed her left breast.
“Mr Gaphabi…….”
“SSSSSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”
There was no further protest.
Lelani dared not move with the knife tip still at her throat. She didn’t want to risk it. She couldn’t believe that this man was fondling her in front of her husband. Then she noticed his fingers running around the edge of her bra. She bit her lip in realisation.
He’s not trying to touch me up. He’s looking for something.
Lelani suddenly realised where she had hidden the tablet that had fallen on the floor from earlier on.
How does he know were they are?
Just on que Mr Gaphabi found what he was looking for and he pulled it out from its temporary home. He held it between his index finger and thumb in front of Lelani’s face.
“Mrs Martin, You’ve had a stressful evening I can see. Your doctor recommends taking one of these pills and everything will be alright in the morning.”
Mr Gaphabi opened his mouth wide. Implicitly instructing her to do the same. Lelani shot Rees a pleading glance but Rees continued to look away. She felt helpless. She wasn’t able to put up a fight. She copied Mr Gaphabi. He slowly poked out his tongue and waited for her to follow at which he gently placed the pill onto it, and mimed closing his mouth and swallowing. Lelani looked at Rees once more. This time he was looking straight at her. His eyes were blank, like that of a boy in the presence of a dangerous beast that knew if he made the wrong move he would be devoured. Then in a sudden motion he turned and made his way back to the house. He had left her all alone. More tears ran down Lelani’s face as she copied Mr Gaphabi and swallowed the pill.
“Now that wasn’t so bad. Mrs Martin.”
“Don’t call me that. My name is Lelani.”
“Oooh oh dear.” Mr Gaphabi glanced over his shoulder to the house. The front door had been left open but Rees was nowhere to be seen. “Don’t blame him, Lelani. He’s under considerable pressure.”
Mr Gaphabi pulled the knife away from Lelani’s neck. Locking the blade back into its hidden safety position and dropping it back into his pocket.
“A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t cry Lelani.” Mr Gaphabi gently wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m all bark and no bite. On a plus note.” Mr Gaphabi revealed a second pill in his hand.
“You can experience the wonders of this thing.” He placed the pill into his own mouth and swallowed it.
Lelani blinked in rapid bewilderment. She had not expected that to happen. Mr Gaphabi smiled.
“Go and enjoy the rest of your evening.” Mr Gaphabi winked.
“Maybe you can crash at a good friend’s house. Maybe not a friend friend, but a special friend.” He winked at her and came up close to her ear even though there was no else around who could hear them.
“Making Love on this thing. Wooooooooooo.” Mr Gaphabi mimed an explosion with his hand and with that he turned and walked slowly off down the road.
Lelani looked after him for a while. She suddenly started to realise that her feet were hurting. She looked down and for the first time realised that she ran out of the house without any shoes on. Looking at the front door which was still open she killed the idea of going back into her home to grab something for her feet. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Rees at the moment. But his house wasn’t far away. If she walked quickly she could be there within the hour, maybe even quicker if she ran, 15min if a bus came. She suddenly started to run in the direction of his flat. That’s the only place she wanted to be at this moment. The only place she could think of where she felt safe.