Darkness E.10

[Previously on Darkness E. 9]

Bola! Her friend and sister murdered? God this pain is too much for me. Why my Bola? 

Mercy's body shook as the heavy torrent of tears flowing down her face mingled with her running nose and soaked the front of her gown. She knew she looked unsexy but she didn't care. Life seemed to have lost it's appeal all of a sudden. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped off from its root. It felt like a part of her had been mercilessly yanked off, leaving her sad and sore. She buried her face in her open palms while waves of sobs racked her tender body.

"Mercy please, I take God beg you, stop crying like this. You will hurt yourself."

Tunde's face mirrored his concern. He reached down and peeled her hands off of her face as his sad eyes ran over her. She was sitting helplessly at the back seat of his car crying her eyes out. If only tears could bring Bola back to them. She knew she needed to pull herself together and think of how to get home but her system seemed to have shut down. Tunde had had to even carry her back to his car after she totally lost it and collapsed infront of the press briefing venue. He had waded through the small crowd of sympathizers with her in his arms, and managed to settle her down in his car with the help of a colleague after which he cradled her to his chest until she became stable enough to sit up. 

She suddenly felt guilty for taking up his time and stupid for being helpless. A thin smile twitched his lips and Mercy tried to smile back at him but her face failed to respond. She cleared her throat noisily and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hands like an infant;

"I want to say thank you for looking out for me. Y-you have done enough so please go inside now. I will just get to my car and I...I will be fine." Her voice was hoarse and barely audible. 

"Mercy, don't start. You know I can never leave you when you are down like this. I've  not forgotten you hate being mothered but you are like my sister and I really don't mind doing it."

He patted down her hair; "As for the briefing, I've already called a colleague to replace me and your assistant arrived when you passed out. She said she will take your place. So, you have nothing to worry about."

Mercy gave a slight nod. Tunde was still as considerate and genuine as she could remember. "Thank you Tunde. I don't know - I mean , n-nothing matters anymore. I just wish I can die right now," she gasped.

"Don't sound like that. You mean alot to me. To your family and friends. Kitty I can't lose you too... please."

His words triggered fresh tears. Kitty was a name only Tunde and Bola liked calling her, despite her objections. They had a strange theory about her eyes reminding them of a sexy and cute cat. As memories of their happy and carefree years at school suddenly rushed through her mind as if someone had turned on a movie, Mercy bit her lower lip and folded her hands in her lap.

Meeting her bleary eyes, Tunde stood up and extended a bottle of lukewarm water a masked man had dropped off earlier when she first regained consciousness.

"Just take a sip please. It will help calm you down then I can drive you home or to anywhere you wish to go to."

Mercy shook her head at him, declining the water. Although her throat was parched, the sight of the water made her feel queasy. She only wanted someone to stop her soul from aching for her friend and sister. 

Being an only child, Mercy never had anyone but her parents until Bola became her roommate. Initially she was weary of her friendship and kept Bola at arm's length but she had warmed her way into her heart with her ready love, care, tenderness, endless bouts of happiness and general sweetness. Their friendship had blossomed over the years. She eventually became the sister Mercy never had and they were inseparable until Bola got her new job and Mercy got promoted. There was never a good time for them to meet up. She tried to keep in touch but gave up after awhile.

You could have pushed harder for a visit. You could have made out time instead of burying yourself under your work. Now she is dead and you're shedding tears. Its too late. You are too late! You failed her. A tiny voice in her head nagged and triggered fresh violent sobs of guilt.

"Kitty please. Bola won't like this. She won't want to see you hurting like this." He bent forward and dabbed at her face with a tissue he pulled out of the box in his car.

"I'm sorry. It just hurts. I failed her." She sniffled and taking the tissue from his hand, she swiped at her tears.

"No you didn't!" He bent down to meet her eyes; "only God knows why this happened and you shouldn't blame yourself. Bola was an angel and I still love her. After all these years no lady was able to take her place in my heart. It has been impossible to move on and if it's any consolation, I was a wreck when I heard she was gone, so there's no reason for you to be sorry or blame yourself for the poor security structure we have in this country." Tunde explained calmly.

"Bola would never hurt a soul so I don't understand why anyone would hate her so much as to - to..." She faltered, unable to say the words.

Tunde stood up straight and ran a hand over his face; "According to the reports, it might not be an assassination or hate crime. Probably some crazy armed robbers and a shit load of bad luck. They are still investigating though."

Mercy grabbed his free hand, her blunt nails dug into his flesh and she knew they would leave marks; 

"They are investigating? How can you fall for that when we both know how that works here!" She exclaimed, meeting his moist eyes.

"That's a tale spun to impress the press. Nobody gives a rat ass about a NOBODY! The social media uproar will abate once another story hits the headline. The Police will eventually ditch her file due to lack of mobilization or any ready excuse and when she's laid to rest, it will become history until another innocent person gets hacked down. That's our system Tunde. That's how we got killers roaming our streets and the operatives acting like it normal to be murdered in your home!" 

She made a choking sound in her throat, her body shook with grief and pain as fresh tears streamed down her pale face. Tunde cursed under his breath and pulled her up, his arms enfolding her. 

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