Chapter Seven

Elorm, she would hate me if I went through with this. Even if she knew that I was considering it, I didn't think she'd forgive me. How she and Kofi had gone from hating each other so much to being this much in love, I would never understand.

She was on his lap and they were watching something on Apple TV. She was a small person so she was able to fit — curled into a ball — on him. She was virtually asleep, but it didn't stop him from caressing her cheeks and planting kisses on her forehead. Occasionally, she'd stir and he'd stop kissing her so that she could settle again, and as soon as she was comfortably back in dream land, he'd start kissing her again.

It must've been so nice to have someone love you that way. I wanted that. I wanted it so badly that I could dare say I needed it. That would remain as a dream though because no one would ever love me. No one could.

"Morning Barbara," Kofi said, not looking at me.

I wondered how he knew I was peering at them from the floor above. "How did you know I was here?"

"The stench of jealousy was too strong to be ignored."

It felt like someone had knocked me over the banister and I'd splattered on the tiled floor. "Excuse me?"

"Are you interested in me? Or you're just jealous because we're happy?"

I inhaled and exhaled, relieved, though I couldn't believe that he actually thought I was attracted to him. Although he was very good—looking, he wasn't exactly what I was looking for in a man. I didn't want someone that messed up and scary. I just wanted someone normal, caring and loving. Was that too much to ask?

"You must be mistaken. I'm not jealous. I'm just glad that Elorm is finally happy especially after everything you've put her through."

"Do me a favour and keep your eyes off us, yeah? I don't like how you look at us. If it was up to me, you wouldn't even be living here."

"Thank God it's not up to you."

"That's only because I can tell that you're up to no good, and after you leave, you would've done much damage to us. Growing up with the guardian I had has given me the ability to sniff out your kind. I repeat, stay away from us. If you ever try to harm either one of us, I won't be held responsible for my actions."

He'd turned back to Elorm after talking, resting his chin on her head. If I'd said he still didn't frighten me — not as much as he used to though — I would be lying. How did Wolfgang expect me to frame someone who detested me so much? He knew that I was up to no good.

I went back to my room. I had so much to do to set my plan in motion, but I needed to decide whether to do what Wolfgang asked or to trust my own plan completely.

A dog's wet tongue on my face nudged me out of my semi—conscious state. I'd fallen asleep without realising. I petted the small dog affectionately and he leaned against my face and lay down. He'd made it very clear that he didn't like me before, so I didn't understand why he was providing me comfort. He had stopped licking me and lay half on my face and half on the bed, motionless.

"You don't think I should do it, do you?" I asked him.

He whimpered. The sound shocked me. I lifted my head a little and checked him over, finding a toothpick wedged into his paw.

"Poor baby," I cooed. I began petting him affectionately to draw his attention away from the object in his flesh. When his tail began wagging happily, I yanked it out.

He yelped. He lifted the paw and looked at it, then licked the area. He barked at me and licked my face.

"There, there," I scratched his neck. "You can leave now that you've gotten what you needed, just like everyone else."

I honestly thought he wouldn't, but he did. He scurried off quickly, without even pausing to look at me. I sighed and settled back into my bed, pulling the cover over my head.

I hated everyone. Sometimes, I wished they would all just burn. Everyone except Elorm, and of course, my father, if he had a reasonable explanation for leaving me.

"Barbie?" someone called from behind my door.

I shot up. "Who's there?" I asked.

"It's me, Wolfgang. I... brought you something to eat."

"Coming," I replied, getting out of bed and slipping my feet through a pair of bedroom slippers.

I opened the door for him and he walked past me with a tray in hand. He set it on the table beside my bed.

"You didn't come down for breakfast or lunch so I brought you something to eat," he said and gestured to the tray.

"I wasn't hungry."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for dropping that bomb on you last night. It was wrong of me. If you don't want to do it, don't. I don't want to ruin your relationship with Elorm."

"You're right," I said.

"Right about what?"

"They aren't in the state of mind for a relationship, both of them. They should break up. It would be the right thing to do, but I don't think your method is the right way."

"So what do you propose?" he asked, making himself comfortable on my bed.

"We should talk to them."

"You think I haven't tried that already? They're so in love that they refuse to listen to the voice of reason."

"Look, let's find out what to do about them later. Are you going to help me?" I asked, referring to him helping me to break the rapist out of prison.

He sighed. "I'm a fugitive. I can't jeopardise myself like that unless I'm getting something from it."

"What if I find a way to break Elorm and Kofi up without hurting either of them?"

"That would be amazing, if you could actually do it."

"I think I can."

"Tell me, what are you thinking?"

"I haven't thought of anything yet, but I'll tell you as soon as I come up with something," I said as I went to sit beside him. "But you can start helping me now. I need ideas, I need to know how you did it and how I can also—"

"You won't be able to do it how I did it, so you need another plan. I've been thinking, why do you want to give him freedom? Why don't you rather do whatever it is you want to do with him in prison? What if as soon as you release him, he starts seeking revenge on you rather?"

My teeth gritted angrily as I thought of the man escaping. "Make no mistake, I don't wish to give him freedom. The only reason why I want him out of there is so that I can torture him."

"I see. However, since he's such a high profile criminal and especially after I recently got out, it's going to be really hard to take him out."

"What are you saying?"

"Instead of bringing him out, you should smuggle yourself in."

* * *

I took my concoction from the male youth I'd unfortunately had to spend a night with. At least, his stench was non—existent that day. I scanned the medicine, unsure how such an innocent looking mixture could yield the results I was looking for.

"Just try it once and see," he said to me, smiling deviously.

I nodded. "Thank you."

I went back into the city and waited at a hotel room. Bunny was supposed to meet me a couple minutes past, but he was keeping me waiting and I was getting sick of waiting. He did come eventually, but he made no effort to explain why he was late.

"If you're late one more time, I will drop you," I threatened, watching him saunteer over to me and plop down on the bed.

"After having to sleep with me? I doubt it. Besides, this meeting was impromptu so you can't blame me for being late. I'm still trying to psyche myself for this task. It's by far the most demeaning thing I've ever had to do."

"Maybe you shouldn't have gotten into this type of work," I suggested rather unhelpfully. All I got was a glare. "There has been a change of plans. Instead of taking the man out, I'll go in. We'll go in. We will need to get him into solitary confinement and then we'll have the freedom to do as we please."

He leaned closer out of interest. "This sounds intriguing. Tell me more."

"We'll go during visiting hours," I said.

He shook his head. "Stupid blonde. That's too risky."

"No, it's perfect, considering our escape. You said you had a relative in prison right?"

He nodded slowly, knowing where I was heading.

"Good. Tell him to get him in solitary confinement, and call me after that's done."

He nodded, although quite reluctantly. "Yes, boss."

* * *

so sad that this book is going to end as soon as it's going to.

vote or whatever, see if I care. 🌟