Authors: Janet Adeyeye
I rushed back outside and hastily climbed the stairs till I finally busted out of the underground basement. I slammed the door shut almost immediately then started running, in through the back door and then out through the front door. I rushed to my car and inserted the keys in the ignition. I started the car almost immediately, pushed the gear to D4, and then drove away his apartment in a haste. In no time, I was back on the main road my heart banging ferociously against my rib cage. I murdered someone. I made another turn hurriedly. I murdered someone. The tears in my eyes blinded me mildly, while the noise that kept echoing in my head almost made me mad. "No, no, no, no. Stop! Stop!" I screamed at myself begging the noise to stop. And then I suddenly had the idea to call Angel. I started going through my purse in search of it with one hand on the wheel. I didn't even know I had passed the stoplight. I brought the phone out and searched for Angel's number and dialed it. It started ringing...then more ringing...then even more ringing
"Hello? Baby is that you? Where are you?"
In the mist of tears and fear, "I killed him... I don't know what to do anymore. Help me!" And then out of nowhere, a trailer appeared in front of me and before I could hit the brakes or turn to divert the car, I smashed right into it.
"Hello! Kayla! HEY!"
Angel's voice echoed out of the speaker, but then I was just way too weak to say anything. Maybe it's finally time to go join my parents and baby. Maybe this is God's way of repaying me for killing so many people. Or maybe I just wasn't willing to go on fighting anymore. When I get to heaven, I'll tell my mom the whole truth, so she knows who her true enemy is. I closed my eyes, then exhaled the words: I love you.
I didn't breathe in again.
Chapter 18
I couldn't say for sure if I was now dead or not, but it felt different. Like life or death didn't matter anymore. I slowly opened half of my eyes but could see absolutely nothing but whiteness. Am I in the hospital? Had they found me? I opened all my eyes now and tried getting up from the bed I laid on but couldn't. What's going on? Where am I? Help! Why can't I talk? Why can't I move my lips? Somebody help me!
Then out of nowhere, I saw my mom.
Mom! Mom is that you? Mom over here. Quickly, help me up. I think they want to kill me. Mom... Mom? Come. Hurry.
My mom stood there, still watching me as I tried getting up with no avail. Then my dad appeared at a far distance
Dad. Dad? Dad, you're alive! It's you. Dad, come. Mom isn't answering me. Why? Dad, come. Come help me. Dad. It's me, Kayla. Kayla, remember?
He also wasn't moving from the spot. I tried reading the expression on his face but it was indifferent. He was smiling at me. His eyes glittered in the whiteness. His attire was completely white. Wait, am I in heaven?
"Yes. It took you long enough to figure it out."
A loud voice echoed above me, startling me at first.
"Don't be scared."
"Who are you?"
"The question should be who are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you here? I didn't call you, did I?"
"I gave up. I don't want to keep on going. It hurts so much."
"I decide that, not you."
"Why can't I open my lips and talk? Why aren't my parents hearing me? Why can't I move?"
"Here, we are known as brothers and sisters. They can't hear you because you are an outcast. I didn't send for you. You shouldn't be here."
"Who are you?"
"I died for your sins on the cross of Calvary. I gave up my life to give you yours. What baffles me most is why no one acknowledges that. But despite all you've done, it still isn't your time to join us here."
"Please don't send me back to earth. It's wicked there. I won't be able to do it. Just let me stay here with you."
"NO! You have a lot of people waiting for you on earth already. And just so you know, you died a sinner and don't belong here. Go now."
"Please no. Let me stay. I want to. Don't send me away. I was sent away from earth as well. Don't reject me too. Please..."
I heard a beep beep noise in my head now. It was only a matter of time before I was back on earth. I opened my eyes now and looked around. I was surrounded by nurses and doctors.
"The patient is awake."
I looked outside now through the small opening in the door and then my gaze rested on Angel. He kept pacing around, peeping inside at intervals. One of the nurses had even stopped him from coming in when he saw I was now awake. He loves me. And to think all this while I'd hated his family. I wanted so bad to get discharged and set things right again. I wanted to start over again, with Angel.
Then I had the sudden urge to get up. Why can't I move my legs!! I raised my eyes sharply to look at the nurse beside my bed. "I can't feel my legs!! Why can't I feel my legs!!" I kept trying to feel something. To feel my toes or pulse or anything. Right from my knees down, I could feel absolutely nothing. "Help... What's happening to my legs?"
Angel flung in and rushed to me. He wrapped me in his embrace almost immediately. "It's okay, honey. It's gonna be okay?"
"No, no. You don't get it." I reached out for my legs. "I can't feel my legs."
"We’ll have to sedate her." One of the nurses said coming closer with a tray. I fought against it but as soon as the sedative was injected, I felt dizzy and lost any will to fight.
"My legs... Why... Why can't I feel my legs..." I murmured out of my subconscious. "I don't want to die... Angel, I saw my mom in heaven," I said in a hush tone even as I fell asleep.
I woke up hours later and found Angel beside me. I burst into tears as I fell against his body. This was my price. For all the innocent people I killed. For all the bad things I did. This was God making me pay.
"It’s alright. I promise you'll walk again. I swear. "
I looked at him. "How? I'm a murderer. I deserve no mercies. Not from you or anyone."
"No, Kayla. I'll always be around. Okay? And together we'll find a solution. Because of you, my mother is alive. "
I smiled now. Well at least I did one good thing.
"I have a surprise for you." Angel added then got up and moved towards the door. I followed him with my eyes not knowing whether or not I was interested in getting any other surprises.
The door opened up and there stood in between it my twin. I froze. Alex was right. Mom lied to me. I was really a twin. If mom was alive right now, I would have loved to see the look on her face.
"Alex found her," Angel said bringing her close. I couldn't help staring. It was like I was looking at a reflection only that she could stand and I couldn't. "I'll leave you two alone for a sec."
I still didn't take my gaze off her. She looked so beautiful. Was I really this beautiful?
"I can't still believe it." I shuttered
"Neither can I. When I learned about you and how critically injured you were, I couldn't stop praying. Praying to God to bring you back to me. Praying to him to save you. To not take you away again. And he answered me."
Truth be told, the Kayla I was before would have out rightly said that God didn't exist and it was all just a lie. But no, not this time. Not when she spoke with him. Not when I know it was because of him I was still alive.
"Oh, sister." She fell over me now like she couldn't wait any longer. I slowly wrapped my hands around her, not knowing what to do next.
"What.... What's your name?"
"Mimi." She said hurriedly, "Mimi Chambers."
"I'm Kayla," I said then sighed, "I'm sure you know that already."
"Well, yes," she chuckled. "Alex told me quite a lot about you."
"Did he also tell you I was his lover in college?" I asked.
"Yes. And that's something Angel should know about."
I raised my eyebrow.
"I didn't tell him," Mimi added.
I sighed.
"You should."
"I know. It has not been easy. Mom lied to me. She made me believe the Moreroes were our enemy. I married Angel out of revenge. Not love."
"I grew up in an orphanage. I lived off the streets of Las Vegas. I felt abandoned and jinxed all my life. But still, I knew seeking for revenge never resolves anything. I believed in God. And now, I am finally reunited with my family. I am sure wherever mom is right now, she is regretting her decision"
I nodded. Angel entered back. "The doctor says we can leave."
A nurse came in now pushing with a wheelchair. I froze.
"Honey, it's going to be okay? The doc assured me that it is temporary. You'll walk again."
If I wanted to get out of this, I should be strong and prepared. I allowed them to lift me from the bed to the wheelchair without a word.
"Let me," Angel hurriedly said before the nurse started pushing. I let out a wry smile, one that wasn't from the heart as I was wheeled out. The look on people's faces, the sympathetic display of affection from my family, each one of them broke me further. And to think just a few hours had gone by.
The drive home took forever... But I spent it talking to Mimi. We had lots and lots of catching up to do, and it was fun. I never really thought I'd open up so easily to someone I only just met, but with Mimi, things were different. We had a connection from the very beginning, in fact we've had that connection since forever and we just never knew.
I watched from a distance at dinner, Alex and Mimi. They were perfect for each other. Or maybe I felt that way because it would make me at peace knowing he was with someone like me. The way they laughed, stared at each other, everything reminded me of something I could have had with Angel but didn't. I suddenly felt bad until my gaze fell on Angel. I didn't want to ever let go. I suddenly had the urge to set things right. I might have become handicapped, but I still had a heart. A heart that saw the best in a person. A heart that knew Elizabeth wasn't a bad person. A heart just like an angel.
Chapter 19
If anyone had told me beforehand that I would once again be attending a church mass, I would have knocked the teeth out of that son of a bitch. But not anymore. I even waited to see the priest for confession, something I haven't done in years. And if that wasn't good news, then I don't know what is. Elizabeth was due to fly back to LA tomorrow. Angel was able to get an extension from the bank to repay the loans, and me, Kayla White, or rather, Kayla Morero was a changed person. And no, not just because I paid a price for my reckless decisions, but also because I realized getting revenge on someone wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
"Cool night, right?"
I turned my gaze to Angel as he approached behind me. I was in the veranda, admiring the beauty in nature once again, thanking God for saving me and giving me another opportunity. Angel wrapped his hands around me from the back and kissed my neck.
"I love you," he said with all the sincerity he could summon.
I smiled and gestured at him to move to my front. He did.
"I have one request," I said in a baritone voice.
"What?"
"Promise me, that when all this is over and done, we'll go on a second honeymoon together as a couple."
He blushed like a baby that was being given candy. "I promise."
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet lives in Lagos, Nigeria. She is presently undergoing a professional examination, ICAN (institutes of chartered accountant of Nigeria) and wishes to become an Accountant. She has a wild passion for writing, and she writes mainly paranormal thriller, crime stories, mysteries or adventure with a touch of romance.