Mira's Return

The cold breeze I felt as soon as I stepped out of the plane reminded me of the rainy night I escaped from Free city two years ago. It was the most unforgettable night of my life. After a few steps, I felt very uncomfortable in my stomach. It was exactly how I felt when I fled this city. It was the feeling of doubt and fear for a change.

The cold weather gave me goosebumps as I battled with my heavy luggages. It wasn't just the luggages that felt heavy, my heart was heavy and filled with revenge. I pushed through with my burdens and luggages from the plane area to the terminal area where I bumped into something hard. 'Oh my goodness' I hissed as I tried to pile up my scattered bags back up on the carrier.

"I am so sorry ma'am, I wasn't looking". Everything in the city remained the same. Nothing had changed. The busy terminals, the cold weather and a familiar voice that is always following me around. I needed no second guesses, I could recognize this voice anytime, anywhere and any day. He helped me with my luggage and attempted to take the carrier from me when our hands touched.

That touch! It was the softest touch I have ever felt. He paused as soon as our hands met and looked at me with all curiosity. I looked at him weirdly but it didn't stop him. He looked at me with all the care and attention in the world and touched me again. "Hello!! What's going on?" I pushed him away slightly.

He shook his head and quickly looked away. "I am sorry ma'am, you just look so much like somebody I know" he apologized and helped me with the carrier. He added his luggage to the carrier and pushed it towards the exit. I walked behind him slowly as I tried to fight all urges to hug him. He looked the same apart from his hairstyle that he had changed.

His new hairstyle made him more attractive, unlike his hairstyle two years ago that gave him the features of a nerd. His glasses were fashion glasses now, two years ago he had medicated glasses. He hasn't changed his perfumes in two years, his smell was the same, with just one sniff, my brain recognized him. He was my savior, my advocate, my very own Harrison and my brother in law.

He stopped a taxi and waited for me to walk closer before he asked me; 'Where are you heading?". I was almost led to tears by his act of kindness. All my life, he has been the only man that has genuinely cared and looked out for me. This was his nature, a soft gentle man. "Queens hostel" I replied. He nodded and helped the taxi driver with my luggage. He opened the door and waited till I was sitting in the car.

"I am really sorry ma'am. I mean for bumping and for behaving like a psycho. It is just that you look so much like my ..." he hissed. "You look so much like a woman I know. Same height, same smell and touch. I am sorry if I scared you" he apologized sincerely. It was so hard to not cry and hug him but I held myself. I nodded and gave him a soft smile. I knew it was needed and necessary.

Harrison has a problem with hiding his feelings. He is always like an open book, easy to read and accessible to others. Revealing myself to him out of pity would only jupatize my chances and set me up for failure. I looked at him and we exchanged glances for a few seconds before he looked away. In those few seconds, I could see hesitation and confusion in his eyes.

He paid the taxi driver and stood as watched the car zoom off. I kept looking at him till he was out of sight. I closed my eyes and exhaled. It was just day one in Free city and I was about to be rattled off. Forty minutes later, I was standing in front of Queens hostel with my bags. The hostel staff helped me with them and waited at the reception with me till I got a room.

As I collected the room access card from the receptionist, I saw a familiar figure. '308'. It was the same hotel and room number Harrison and I spent the night two years ago when I first escaped from doomsday. Memories flooded my mind as soon as I entered the room. From the interior designs and blue sheets that looked like they haven't been changed in two years but neat. They created a flush of heat waves in my chest.

I tipped the hotel staff that helped with my bags. He bowed slightly and shut the door behind him as he walked out. I fell on the bed with my back and closed my eyes. It was a long flight of eight hours and my legs were aching and my stomach still had the uneasiness of doubt. I freshened up wrapped myself in a towel as I searched one of my boxes for pajamas. After three minutes of unboxing, I got one.

I stared at Free City from the window with a cup of hot ginger tea and a black pajamas. It felt so unreal but it was. I was in the same city I was threatened with death and abandoned. I chuckled at the accident scene I had just witnessed from the window. 'Serves whosoever right!' I hissed. I closed the curtains and sat on the sofa in front of a round table and dropped my tea.

I picked my diary on the table and flipped through the pages till I got to today's date. I picked my pen and started writing.

"Dear diary, today I left Bombay city for Free city. For two years, I have dreamed of just one thing, 'Revenge'. Today I made the first step to the journey of a thousand miles. It was a boring flight and a tempting arrival. On my first day, I bumped into the most unexpected person. The only man I had wished to be heated to, Harrison.

It was almost as though he could see through my soul despite how unrecognizable I had become. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for me".

I dropped the pen and flipped my diary to the last page and read out the names of everyone that made my life a living hell. I had written the list a year and eight months ago. It was written in the order I wanted revenge.

Gerald

Mr Fernando

Rubby

Mom.

I ran my fingers through the list and my heart dropped as the pictures of how my body was covered in bruises flashed through my mind. "It is time", I concluded.

The first person on my list was no other person than Gerald, my husband. He was the main reason I fled the city in the blasting weather. I closed my eyes and the memories of that night played back in my mind like I was in a cinema but the difference was that I was watching my life on a screen.

It was on a Tuesday morning and I had just finished scrubbing Gerald's bathroom floor when he walked in with his mistress. He tapped her ass and she giggled in response. I looked away and quickly made steps to walk out when he called me. "Mira". My heartbeat was loud enough for the whole world to hear. I was scared for my life. His voice was terrifying for me,it was my biggest nightmare.

"When is this?" He asked, softly. I slowly turned around and my eyes started getting ready for tears. His soft tone was only a sham, he was nothing like that. He moved away from his mistress and bent down to pick a strip. As he raised it up, my whole body trembled. "Are you dead?" He asked, gently. Anytime he spoke like this, his next reaction was either yelling or a hard slap across my face.

"I am sorry Sir, it might have fallen out of my pocket " I replied sincerely. I tried to explain when his mistress walked towards him and took it from his hand. "Baby, it is a pregnancy test strip and it is still packed" she examined it. She looked at me and laughed like I was a joke. "Seems like your wife is having daydreams" she laughed harder. Gerald looked at me without words and looked at the pack in his hand.

"You think you are pregnant?" He asked with all seriousness but his mistress laughed hard. I was ashamed and scared for myself. This wasn't the first time he had yelled at me or embarrassed me In front of his mistresses. I had lived and endured every torment, humiliation and pain for six months of my life with a man I knew met and knew till we got married.

"I am sorry sir", I avoided his gaze. It was a very terrible thing to do but I took the bull by the horn. I walked out without his permission. "One more step and you will be sorry you have air in your lungs " he spat. I stood immediately and held myself from tearing up. "You bought this in my house without my consent. Have you been stealing from me?" He asked, walking towards me.

I held myself from running away because I knew what accompanied his question. Just as I expected, he didn't fail. He came behind me and held my neck forcefully. "Have you been a little thief?" He asked with his breath hot against my neck. "No sir!! I swear. I didn't steal from you and I haven't stolen anything from you or anyone in my life. Please sir " I begged for my life.

He held my neck tighter and sniffed my face down to my hairs. "Cheap shampoo, " he scoffed. I was extremely careful with how I was breathing so I didn't offend him. "How did you get $5.67 to buy a strip?" He asked, breathing hard on my neck. I couldn't bear it anymore. I struggled like an entangled cat and tried to flee his grip but I couldn't till he left me. I fell on the floor and tried to crawl away from the bathroom but he stood on my overflowing dress.

"I asked a question, " he said with the devil's eyes. "I swear, you can ask my mom. She got it for me after I complained of my missed period and my weakness and nauseousness" I wiped my tears as I explained. Gerald was disgusted for no reason. He stepped away from my dress and ordered me to do the most ridiculous thing. "Get up! Take the test here ". I couldn't understand what he was talking about till he yelled it out.

"Take the goddamn test here!! You want to confirm your stupid imaginations right? Take the test here! Right now". I was shaking, I stood up and the mockery from his mistress was enough for me to fall down. I missed my steps. I got up again and searched the bathroom for a mini container but there was none. I was too scared to ask Gerald to give me privacy or permission to go get a mini bowl.

"What are you waiting for?? Get on it!" He lashed out. I sat on the toilet seat and gently pulled down my old underwear. I had bought them two months before I got married to Gerald. I unpacked the strip and silently prayed that it came out negative. I was scared and as a result, the strip dropped. I hurriedly picked it up in fear and started peeing on it gently. I had quickly improvised to save my face.

In two minutes, I was done and I was waiting for the strip to give a result. I flushed the toilet while Gerald and his mistress stood and watched me like I was an actress in a stage play. The tension in the room was becoming too much and the worst happened. It was positive, I was carrying the child of a monster. At the second glance on the strip, my fear took the best part of me and I passed out.

I woke up in an extremely cold bath. As I managed to open my eyes, I saw my husband's mistress laughing as she added ice to the bathtub I was in. I sneezed twice and she clapped her hands giggling. "I told you sugar,it works like magic". My head was spinning, my mind was trying to guess what was happening and what I had done again to deserve this. I was still thinking when Gerald held the strip in front of me. Immediately, my memory came back.

To confirm my fear, I looked at the strip keenly and it was true. I had a monster's baby inside of me. "Mira, I am going to ask once! What games are you trying to play?" he asked,coldly. I shivered from the tone of his voice and from the freezing tub I was sitting in. I swallowed my saliva as my throat had dried up. I had no words, just tears. Gerald bent down in front of me and the next thing I felt was a hard slap across my face.

I held my face and sobbed quietly. "I won't ask again!" he yelled. "I am not playing any games. I promise", I begged, stretching my two hands in front of him pleading. "There are two things here, it is either you got this bastard from somebody else or you are thinking like a maggot. Carrying my child would not make me treat you any better. I will ask for the very last time, what madness is this?" he threatened to hit me.

"Please' I begged for my life. "I am not playing any games and I didn't cheat on you. Please" I sobbed out my eyes. His mistress laughed, "cheat? Do you even think any man would find you attractive enough to lie with you? Even the bumps wouldn't. Sugar, I don't know why you still fuck her, I am here for you" she held her breasts seductively. Gerald ignored her and fixed all his attention to me. "Mira, you are dumb. Too dumb for somebody with a degree. Why the hell should I believe this thing in you is mine? The pills Mira! They are for what?" he yelled.

"I obviously do not want children bearing your genes that is why there is a pill at the end of every session with you. It is either you did this for pity or you are carrying a bastard! You slut" he hissed angrily. I shielded my face with my hands because I felt he would hit me again. I had no explanation, I shivered in the tub hopelessly thinking about how I was going to get out of the situation when his mistress added gas to a burning fire.

"Sugar, don't get deceived by all her drama. Did you forget that she ran off to her lover two months ago? Your men found her in Queen's hotel. That is enough explanation for this" she hissed. This was the last stroke for Gerald. He concluded and went crazy."You ungrateful slut!!" He pulled my hair and I screamed in pain. I got up from the tub gradually, following the pace he dragged me with.

Gerald gave me multiple slaps as he dragged me out of the bathroom. "How dare you!!" he pushed me out of the room to the hallway. The maids and other domestic staff looked away and returned to their duties. This was no news to them, they had watched him throw me down the stairs before. "Please sir, I didn't sleep with another man, please sir, believe me" I pleaded because my life depended on it.

Gerald paid deft ears. He took me to a room I nicknamed doomsday and pushed me hard till I fell on the floor. Quickly, I supported myself with my hands to protect my baby. It was an instinct and reflex. Gerald brought out a whip and lashed it on me. He gave me several strokes till I started tasting blood in my mouth. "Did he fuck you good? How dare you" he pushed me against the wall.

This time,my hands failed me, I dashed my abdomen against a casted frame on the wall. Gerald didn't stop till I started feeling uneasy. My anus tightened like I was having a contraction, in a blink of an eye, I saw blood. This was what dropped the whip from his hand. He hissed and walked out Irritated. I was in pain, bleeding with sore skin.

I pushed myself through the stairs, bleeding all over the floors till I got to my room. Gerald made sure I lived outside his mansion. I shared the mini space behind the garage. As soon as I opened the door, I fell down weakly. I laid there for an hour before Gerald ordered his men to take me to the hospital.

"She had a miscarriage. She needs all the rest she can get". From my sleep, I heard the doctor's voice. I opened my eyes and checked out for Gerald, luckily, he was nowhere in the room. It was my savior, Harrison. He looked disturbed as he spoke with the doctor. The doctor walked out and I slowly whispered his name, "Harry". He held my hand softly and almost had tears in his eyes. "Mira, I am sorry. Gerald sent me here. I can't believe he did this to you" he apologized.

I was least interested in what he said, this was the last time I promised myself. " Two months ago, you offered me an opportunity to leave this city. I want that opportunity now!" I asked with a cold voice. He looked at me without finding the right words. "I mean now!! Get me out of here" I maintained my pace despite the tears flooding my cheeks. Harry left the room without a second glance at me.

When I felt my whole life was coming to an end, he entered the room dressed as a cleaner. He handed me a cleaning outfit and asked me to change. This was the opportunity I had waited for, dreamed of and prayed for. Despite the pains all over my body, I changed. He wrapped my hair in a face cap and gave me a nosemask. I immediately looked like one of the hospital cleaners.

We walked through the hallway without getting noticed. We were about to get through the staff exit when I heard Gerald's voice. "I want her death!!" He said loud and clear to the doctor incharge of my case. I stood and turned back to look at him. I felt like comforting him, I have been nothing but a submissive wife to him. Harrison pulled me away.

We used the back door where a car was waiting for us. We got in immediately and that was the end of my suffering. Harrison and I got out of the car after 52 km. We were on the outskirts of Free city. He held my hand and directed me inside an abandoned apartment. "It was my mom's, " he said, handing me my travel documents and a ticket.

"At 6am, your flight leaves Free city to Levino. Gerald won't get access to Levino, his business rival and enemy stays in Levino, he will be shot at first sight the moment he gets there" he explained. "Mira, I want you to take care of yourself. Be happy" he said weakly. I had tears in my eyes as I hugged him and bid him farewell.

Harrison left immediately and I was all alone in the apartment. It was hard for anyone to know I was inside. I didn't blink all night, I was eagerly anticipating the next morning. At 5am, I freshened up. The injuries on my body ached when cold water touched my skin. I changed into a baggy sweatshirt and joggers with a face cap Harrison had left behind. I walked all the way to the train station before I got a cab that took me to the airport.

It was a rainy morning and the traffic was almost invisible. Getting to the airport was easy. At 5:45am, I got to the terminal. I was granted access and at 6:02am, I was leaving Free city. It was an emotional moment for me, I wiped my eyes as I looked outside the plane's window. I had gained my freedom.

The moment I landed Levino, I searched my mini purse for my phone but I couldn't find it. It was at that moment I remembered I never had it all these while. I stood at the terminal clueless and confused. I had nothing but $450 with me. I had no luggage, no food, no phone, no contacts, no friends or relatives.

The fear, confusion I had on my face was too visible and it attracted the attention of a cop. "Hello madam, is everything fine?", he asked as politely as he could. I nodded and tried to walk away when he held me back. "Hey!!". As he held my hand, my sleeves folded and my bruises were revealed. He looked at me strangely and looked around in reflex. "You are coming with me!" he said, pulling me along.

I was tired and too weak to fight, my body had started shaking, I knew I was in trouble. He took me to the car and started asking me questions.

Cop: "What is your name?"

Me: Mira.

Cop: Where are you from? Where were you kidnapped? Are you in any threat?

Me: (weakly) Free city, please. I need to get to the hospital.

Cop: We are used to these tricks. You are not getting away till we carry out proper investigations.

Before I could defend myself, he called some of his team members and in no time, we were driving to the police station. I was sitting in between two cops who looked at me judgefully. In the heat of the moment, the cop from the airport noticed my hands were pale. He held my hands and at one touch, he yelled for them to stop the car.