Entangled in vengeance

Chapter One

HALLOW

"It is a new day, another shiny morning in my little bubble ", I thought to myself as the sunlight broke through my tiny purple window covers. "Hallow!!" my mother's voice came splashing through the hallway. I immediately knew what she wanted to ask of me. Immediately, I jumped off my bed and began arranging my room making sure it was nice and tidy, just the way she liked it.

Holding a pile of clothes in my hand, the door of my room flung open and there stood my mother. My ever-precious mama, her petite body stood and the entrance of my little room, the rays of the sun shining around, making her chestnut hair appear as a burst of precious and expensive fur. She makes my world full complete each time. "Hmm, you're just getting up aren't you?", Mama asked. "Oh Mother, " I said trying to distract her from the matter at hand.

She helped out in cleaning my room as we sang, laughed, and talked. After the arrangement had been completed, my mother asked "What are your plans for today". Sincerely, Mama, I planned on staying home today and spending time with you and father. There was silence in the room and a little bit of tension.

"Your father is out", mama said, and" I want to be out before noon as well my dear Hallow". I was conflicted and surprised about how Mama sounded. I wasn't surprised either that my father was out as well. He was never around, well almost felt like it. But Mama? She has always been around and always wanted me around, so what has changed today? "Okay Mama, I will go over to Zoey's place after breakfast I said". She smiled and patted my head in response.

I got all ready and dressed up for breakfast, walking into the dining room, I could perceive Papa's scent. "Why is he home so early" I thought to myself. Breakfast was already set and all I had to do was to help place each plate on our little table. Walking into the kitchen, I found Mama talking to herself, all sweaty and looking burnt out. It must be a sunny day, I thought to myself. Grabbing her arm, I turned her around wiped the droplets of sweat off her round face, and said "Go have a sit Mama, I will take it up from here ". She nodded, pecked my cheek, and said " I will always love you, my little girl, thank you for being in my life and for showing me what it feels to be a mother". She walked out of the kitchen immediately before I could utter another word.

Since Father's scent still roams around the room, I decided to place his favorite plate and cutleries at the head of the table. Though we didn't have a lot of cutleries or serving dishes to pick from, Father loved eating from a little white round bowl with a silverware spoon. Mr. Ivanov the neighbors would always call him. A tall, huge man who kept to himself most time, he was out before the cock crows and comes back when the bat has almost retired from its nocturnal journey. He walked into the dining room, pressed a light kiss on Mama's head, and patted my back before taking his seat. Mama went ahead in dishing the meal, it is something she does not allow any other person to do. She would say "I love the feeling of placing meals on everyone's plate, it gives me joy to know I feed the ones I love "

We ate silently until Father cleared his throat and said, "Hallow, you should be out of home by 11:50am, I hope your Mother passed the message across". Confused, I answered "Yes, but Father-", Papa raised his hand, signifying he didn't want to hear more or indulge in any further conversation. I shook my head and ate quietly as well. After breakfast, I did everyone's dishes, and while standing in front of the sink, I kept thinking, "Why would Mama want me out, and now Papa is placing a time for me to be out of home" "Why is Papa home this early, shouldn't he be out?" I kept on thinking. "Well maybe they want to have their alone time together and not feel like holding their selves back since I'm home," I said and giggled.

Going on to the pathway that leads to my room, I heard Papa and Mama whispering, almost felt like Mama's voice was at the point of tears. I wanted to knock on their door to check on Mama but decided to walk along as Papa didn't like to be disturbed. I grabbed my phone once I got to my room and put a call across to Zoey to inform her I would be coming over to hers before noon. "Hey girl," Zoey said on the other end of the phone, I smiled and responded to her ever-high-pitched voice. I have known Zoey since third grade, while others complained about how high-pitched her voice was, I don't because I have listened to her speak more than I have heard myself speak. "Be expecting me before noon girl, and make sure there are enough snacks to munch on as we play our board games ", I said. " Count me in " Zoey giggled and we said our goodbyes.

Preparing to go to Zoey's, I wore a yellow sundress that hugged my arm, placed my hair in a loosed bun, and decorated my arm with accessories I got on my 11th birthday from my Mother. " I wonder what I'd get this year, my 12th birthday " I squeaked. I glanced at myself once again in the mirror, twirled, and smiled. I was happy with how I looked. Checking the time it was 11:46 am and I had a few minutes to leave before Papa's stipulated time. I grabbed my purse hurriedly and got out of my room. Shutting the door of my room, my eyes met with Mama's, she stretched her arms towards me, inviting me for an embrace and I walked right to it. "You look beautiful Hallow, ever so, " Mama said. I smiled and said thank you. "I should be on my way, Mama, I don't want to disobey Papa, you know how he can be," I said to my mother as the time was now 11:48am. She laughed, shook her head, and responded "Okay sweetheart, don't stay out so late " " alright Mama, I love you" I said " I love you my lovely daughter" she responded while waving at me.

Chapter 2

I walked out of my home, walking further into the street. Aunt Trish, a popular woman in my neighborhood, who is known for selling iced soft drinks called out my name "Hallow, where is ya off to" I responded, "To Zoey's aunty". She has always looked out for me and Mama, especially when Father was away for too long. She nodded in response and waved, I waved right back blowing her kisses. The walk from my home to Zoey's was quite a distance but I walked either way, I had no choice. There were boys who filtered around the neighborhood calling out to girls. They were either drinking, chatting, or laughing so loudly that they could be heard from miles away. One tried grabbing the hem of my sundress and I grasped it before he could get to it. His friends laughed at his failed attempt at me. I giggled silently as well as I was able to stand up for myself. I walked on and on and for what finally felt like forever, I could see the roof of Zoey's home.

Unlike myself, Zoey lived in a large home, with a waterfront, trees all around, and a white-painted glossy structure of her grandfather. She comes from wealth, smells like a bag filled with fresh currencies, and has a room wide enough to be mistaken for a mall. I walked down further and checked my bag for my phone to inform her I was close by so she could tell her security to come stay at the gate in order to await my arrival. Searching my bag further, I couldn't find my phone and I knew I had to return home to get it, as it was the only way I could gain entry into Zoey's house. Without prior communication with Zoey, the gate won't be opened for me. With a deep sigh, I walked back to the streets, roads, and highways I had just passed minutes back. I wondered what the time may be.

Making my way back to my neighborhood, Aunt Trish saw me and yelled "You back so soon? Hope ya and Zoey got no fight happening" I smiled and replied "No Aunty, I forgot my phone" She nodded in response. I smile most of the time when Aunt Trish talks because of her little accent slipping into her words. Taking each step one at a time, I got to the doorstep of my home and heard voices, unfamiliar, angry voices. The door was slightly opened and I peeped into it. I saw men, huge men just like Papa wearing nothing but black from head to toe. They sounded furious and at the same time controlled their tone, in order not to alarm the neighbors. I continued looking until one of the men said " I have had a lot of this back and forth, we gave you a job, and you fumbled and misplaced a large sum of the returns" Looking at Papa, he pointed a gun and said " I never thought I'd be able to do this to you after these years together, but the rules are the rules " He then shot Papa straight in the head. Papa's body fell creating a loud thud sound on the fall and I could hear Mama's little sobs. The man moved to Mama, held his gun right at her temple, and said the same words to Mama. Mama kept on shaking her head from left to right. In the notion of movement, Mama's eyes and mine locked in the small door opening and Mama blinked her eyes twice at me, which signaled no. She has communicated that way to me while we are out in the market or at a gathering and I want to get something or go far away from her. She blinked twice again with tears rolling down her eyes and the man shot Mama right in her temple as well.

I covered my mouth with both hands and whimpered, tears rolling down my own eyes. I ran, and I continued to run not knowing where my legs would take me, I ran with the wind blowing through my hair, my hair was now loosed and flowed down my shoulders, I ran with the hope that what I had just witnessed was nothing but a bad dream. That mama's eyes were still open, looking at me, that papa was still standing strong and not laying in his pool of blood. I ran with the hope that the wind would hit my face and I'd wake up from this deep slumber. But that didn't happen. The further I ran, the more my heart felt heavy. I hadn't realized that Aunt Trish had been calling my name since I ran past her stall, crying and unresponsive to her call. She is now running behind me, trying to catch up with me as I'm trying to drift away from this agony that has now become my reality, the burden that plays its role as a heavy baggage. She kept on chasing me and I kept on running as far as the wind could carry me. Until she finally caught up with my arm and swung me over, my face turned towards her, covered in tears, sweat, and despair. " My gal what's wrong with you," she said "Speak to me, what is the matter", she shook me back and forth, trying to wake me up from my agony "Hallow speak up!!" she yelled and that's what it took for me to blurt out the words "At home – Papa, Mama, blood, guns, men, they are gone," I said before my eyes went shut and my world fell dark.

"Hallow, Hallow my little princess", I heard Mama's voice calling out to me. "Mama" I responded, "is that you Mama?" I saw her, my ever-beautiful mother, with her eyes shining like the midnight star, her hair silk just like expensive leather, her petite figure standing firm in an immaculate white dress. Oh! She looks so beautiful. Flashing her pearl amazing dentition to me, she said " I will miss you, my dear Hallow. I'd watch out for you in every way. Whenever you see a butterfly, I'm always with you my precious one". Confused I asked, "Why are you saying this Mama, I'm coming with you". She blinked her eyes twice as she always did to refuse my proposal, and blew a kiss across to me. I felt her scent hit me and with that, I jerked up from my long slumber. " Mama" I yelled, "Mama where are you" I screamed and that's all Aunt Trish and the nurses needed to come rushing into my room.

There and then, I recollected all my eyes had seen earlier. Filmy memories run through my mind, pictures I do not want to remember appearing so vivid, graphic images I would love to wipe out of my mind find its place to stay, and feel nothing but comfort. Looking up at Aunt Trish, with my eyes so teary and hers so pitiful, she came up to me, handing over the warmest hug I could ever ask for. "Hush my gal," she said. "Do not cry no more. I'm here for ya, I'm here for ya" She repeated those words like it was a form of affirmation, she wanted me to believe her, needed me to trust her. On the other hand, I kept on nodding, trying to find a way to believe that she was. " Could anyone treat me with so much love as Mama?" I thought to myself. One day at a time, all I could find out about this tragic happening would be unveiled one day at a specific time.

I underwent various scans and tests to ensure I wasn't going into shock as I did earlier. The doctor who attended to me gave me his condolence and advised me to take life easy and not overburden myself with thoughts of what had happened. He offered me medications at a discounted price and surprisingly when I asked about how the bills would be cleared because I have no parents to oversee my healthcare bills. The doctor answered, "Don't worry about that Hallow, your aunt over there has seen to it ". With teary eyes, I turned to Aunt Trish and saw her taking out my belongings from the room. When she was out, Hallow ran out to meet Aunt Trish and give her a hug, mouthing "Thank you so much, Aunty". Aunty Trish hushed her and said, "No dear gal, never thank me, ya know I'm ya guardian now. It is my duty, all my duty my little gal". I felt warm-hearted ever since the incident of the previous day, the day I last saw my Mama and felt my Papa's little pat on my head.

Walking back into the same neighborhood, the neighborhood I grew up in, the neighborhood I ran around as a child and hid away from Mama's punishments when I'd stay out late. The same community has held a lot of parties and Mama attended each one. Papa not so much because he was never home. But Mama partook in each planning, each festival and we attended each one hand in hand. Walking down the street, Aunt Trish placed her hand on my shoulder, breaking me out of my thoughts once again. Ever since I witnessed the death of my parents, my mind has often been distracted, taken away from reality, far and far beyond. I had always wanted to know how it felt to escape reality, but not in this way.

Aunt Trish and I got to her door, she searched her bag for the keys and made a little mess. As she searched for them, I looked around, watching people pass by, and the ones who sat, across the road. I watched how their eyes wandered and how they stared at me. Some looked at me with pity, others couldn't even hide their fear, I heard some whisper "If Mr. Ivanov and his wife were killed, how much are we safe here".

Within I knew what they meant by that statement. My father was scared by many, he spoke less and was seen by a few. This made him feared by many. If one is scared that half of the neighborhood was killed, not just him but his wife, how much more could they feel safe? I heard Aunt Trish call out my name, and I answered "Yes Aunty, be right there". I walked into her apartment, and the scent smelled different, the décor felt different, and I felt out of place. Like mice placed in a tropical forest, prone to a lot of prey. Aunt Trish must have noticed how I felt, she looked closely at me and watched how I took in each and everything happening. Her voice broke out once again and said " You don't need to do so much my gal, feel at peace here, do not be tensed, this is your new home now baby, I'd appreciate it if you accepted it and acted like it is". She spoke all of this within one breath and all I could do was nod in response.

She led me to my now new room and said "Hei Hallow, you are going to settle down here, ya new room ya know. It belonged to my son until he moved out, now it's yours " "I had a son and now I have a daughter". She said it with so much joy, I could see her eyes sparkle with little tears and watched how she said a silent prayer over me. It's said that Aunt Trish is quite a religious lady, right here in her home, I could see and confirm that indeed she's a religious woman. I responded "Thank you, Aunty" as that's all I could say to her. She has been a constant lady in my life, I grew up eating sweets at her stall, and my mum dropped me off at her stall whenever she was out. Aunt Trish has always been there for Mama and me when Mama was alive. Now Mama is gone, and she's still here for us, I know Mama would be glad she found solace in her choosing Aunt Trish as her sister down the road. " Freshen up sweetie, have some rest. I would go right down and whip up some quick dinner," Aunt Trish said. I molded and sat down on the bed watching her leave.