Chapter 70

CHRISTOPHER'S POV
"We have to do what we have to do, don't let it hinder us. They will not be here if we are no more." I heard a very familiar voice say those words but I was unable to place who it really was.
"Let's hurry then, we should be there in no time." Another one said and I struggled to wake up but it was as though something was holding me back. That instant, I began to feel touches all over my body and the more I tried to get up on my feet to get out of their grip, the more I failed as it felt like my bones were all broken.
"I don't think we can don't this alone. Let me go get help." The first person stated again and I was able to open my eyes. I looked closely and it was Emily, my younger sister.
"Emily! What are you doing?" I screamed but she obviously did not hear me as she ran out of the room at the sound of my voice.
The other person sitting beside her was Louise and I also tried to talk to her but she also didn't respond.
I wondered what could be going on as I walked to where she was seated and sat beside her.
I touched her but she didn't respond even to my touch. She just kept staring into space and her eyes were filled with tears. It got to a point she could no longer hold back the tears and she let them all out.
Then she turned to her right and as I followed her gaze, I got the shock of my life. I saw myself lying on the bed, helpless.
I jumped off from where I was seated and rushed to see my replica who was lying on my bed. I tried to wake it up but it was just still and could not even move. Emily walked in that minute saying that someone is coming to help them carry me.
Where could they be possibly taking me? I thought to myself as I paced about the whole room thinking of what to do.
Emily joined Louise on the bed and they both had tears running down their cheeks. It told me just one thing, I was dead and they were mourning.
Then, I thought of how life will be for the both of them afterwards. A whole lot is about to happen and I have already left them. I was so angry that I started screaming out but no one heard me.
In that anger, I began to hit the wall with my fist and leg shouting at the very top of my voice.
Suddenly, someone hit me from behind and that was it. I no longer saw myself.
It took a very long time before I was able to open my eyes again. This time, I was lying on the bed all alone. I tried to look around to see if I could see another me but nothing was there.
Then I became confident and stood up to my feet. I walked out of my room and down to the living room where I met Emily, Louise and two strange faces.
"Who are they?" I printed at the two strangers standing in my living room, each carrying a bag and a box.
"Don't worry about them, please sit down." Louise said with smiles on her face as she walked to me and dragged me to a couch. I wanted to object but I decided against it so I just followed her and kept my cool.
Emily spoke with the strangers while Louise sat beside me, rubbing my chest with her right hand.
After they had left, I reminded them of my question again and I was told they were doctors. I wasn't sure I had met these doctors before now. I only allowed one doctor to attend to me and he wasn't any of them.
"What were you thinking, Chris?" Emily asked me and I was getting more confused. What does she mean by what I was thinking?
"Look, I don't understand what you are saying." I told her and she shook her head and I stood up to leave since none of them said anything reasonable.
I felt footsteps behind me and as I turned, it was Louise and Emily.
"Why are you following me?" I asked them but they kept quiet and continued walking behind me.
Louise and Emily started having a chat although I could not hear what they were both saying.
We entered my room and Louise picked up the drug I had taken the other night and sampled it before me.
"Why did you take this? Were you thinking of killing yourself?" Louise yelled and I began to wonder what role this played in everything.
"And what about them? I needed to sleep so I had to take them. They are nothing but sleeping pills." I responded to her, also at the top of my voice.
"They are expired!" Emily shouted and I became quiet. I swallowed the response I wanted to give to them and sat still.
"Before you do something this dumb next time, think about the people around you." She added as she walked out of my room.
I looked at Louise who was still sitting beside me, expecting her to also yell and walk out but she did not. Instead she held me closer and kissed my cheek.
"Let me go get you something to eat," she said underneath her breath that I could barely hear her and I nodded.
She walked out and I laid on the bed thinking about everything. Suddenly my door opened and I sat up thinking it was Louise who had just come in with the food but it was not. It was Emily who came into my room trembling and I tried to ask her what it the matter was but she became dumb.
So I ran out of the room to go check what was going on myself. When I entered the living room, I saw an envelope lying on the table. It was nicely wrapped as red ribbons were used to decorate it. I picked it up and held it in my hand for a few seconds then dropped it back on the table.
I went back to my room and there was Emily lying on the floor. She sat up as she saw me walk in.
"Did you meet them?" She stuttered as she panicked and was really scared.
"I met no one. I only saw a letter lying on the table." I replied as I sat on the bed eagerly waiting for Louise to come in with my meal or call me to come to the dining area. I was famished and badly needed something to eat.
"What did the letter say?" Emily asked me and I was beginning to find her questions annoying so I did not respond. But she wouldn't stop bothering me.
"Go get the letter yourself. It's on the table." I screamed since she would not let me have some peace.
"They are the rebels, I think it's the notice of their arrival." She said and my eyes widened.
I knew they were close but I never expected it to be this fast.
"We will handle them." I told her but she could not let go of the fear on her face. It was so glaring that I thought she needed therapy.
"You have to calm down Emily. I understand that facing them was traumatic but you have to put yourself together." I bent down close to her and tried to make her still but she wouldn't stop shaking.
"Would you rather stay back here?" I asked her and she nodded. As I stood up to leave, she grabbed my leg so I bent down again and pulled her into my arms.
"You can't defeat them alone,you need help." She said with a shaky voice and I gently pushed her away to look at her face. I saw that she was sobbing.
"I know I can't handle them alone, but that shouldn't bother you, there will always be a way out." I assured her and moved out of the room.
On my way down, I met Louise coming up with my food in her hands.
"Seems you are already coming down." She said and turned back.
"Yeah," I responded, following her.
"Here you go." She dropped the food on the table in the living room and picked up the letter on the table.
"I think this is for you." She held out the letter and I nodded. I also told her that I have seen it, although I haven't read it.
"It's from the rebels. It is a notice of their attack." I announced it to her and she used her hand to cover her mouth in shock.
"They are here already?" She asked as she carried herself to one of the couches and sat down.
"Closer than you can ever imagine." I added as I opened the plate.
I started eating and with the way I was hungry, I thought the food before me would not be enough. But before I ate half of the plate, I was full and I dropped the spoon.
"You don't like it?" Louise, who acted like she was surprised that I didn't finish the food, asked.
"It's great, and I enjoyed it but I just lost my appetite. I need to think." I got up from the seat, picked the letter and walked to the exit door.
"Where are you going?" She asked and I turned to look at her. She was already on her feet, probably thinking of stopping me from leaving the house.
"I will be outside," I smiled at her and opened the door.
I walked to the pool side and stood at the edge and looked into the water.
The water was so calm and tranquil. As I concentrated my gaze, I saw myself clearly in the pool. I smiled at the sight and walked out abruptly.
It was as though someone asked me to move even though I did not know where I was going.
As I got to the gate, I stood and stared at it for a while before opening it and walking out even before the gateman came out to do so. Seeing I was out already, he closed the gate and walked inside.
I stood in front of the gate for a while thinking of what to do. Looking down at the letter in my hand, I thought of opening it. So I tore it and a little piece of white paper flew out. The wind blew it away so I ran after it and I was able to get it.
All that was inscribed on it is 'WE ARE READY,'' all in capital letters. The ink used to write it was as thick as blood and fear gripped me immediately.
I moved back to the gate and before reaching it, I heard my name.
Turning back, I saw Micheal walking hurriedly towards me so I didn't stop.
The gateman saw me approaching so he opened the gate even before I got there and I walked in.
"Don't let him in." I instructed him, pointing at Michael who was already very close to the gate.
With that instruction, the gateman locked the gate and denied Micheal entrance. I didn't move into the building immediately, I walked around the compound admiring the gigantic building and the thought of losing it to the rebels occupied my mind.
Michael on the other hand refused to leave. He kept on banging the gate and screaming my name. The gateman threatened to call the police on him if he didn't leave but he was adamant on coming in.
"I need to speak with you Chris, it's urgent." He screamed out but I kept a deaf ear to what he was saying. I didn't want to even see his face or have a conversation with him.
"I don't want to see you Micheal, the best you would do for yourself right now is leave." I responded just so he would be aware that I don't want to speak to him but he kept hitting the gate and screaming.
Louise and Emily walked out of the building. They probably heard the noise and came to find out what was going on.
"What does he want?" Emily asked as she stood behind me. I turned to look at her and my eyes caught Louise standing in the veranda.
"I have no idea what he wants." I replied, still looking at Louise.
Emily followed my gaze and smiled at me, then she walked inside. Louise stood there for a while looking at me without even a smile on her face and I was becoming disturbed as I longed to know what was running through her mind.
That completely distracted me from Micheal as I could barely hear his noise.
Minutes later, she walked inside the house elegantly and I was just amazed at her beauty.
As though a veil was lifted, I became conscious of Michael but was not bothered about him. I will just ignore him and I am sure he will leave when he is tired. I began to walk towards the garden when his voice came again.
"I saw Miriam." He shouted and I stopped. Several thoughts ran through my mind instantly and I was completely lost in thoughts for quite a while.
It was Louise that snapped me out as she held my hand in her arms.
I looked at her face and yanked my hand out like we were quarrelling.
"Are you okay?" She touched my cheeks and arranged my beards at the same time.
"Go inside!" I commanded with a very low voice and she left my presence as soon as the words came out of my mouth.
Then I turned to the gate and looked at Micheal who felt so relaxed because he had gotten my attention.
I walked to the gate and opened it myself. The gateman looked at me like someone who didn't know what he was doing. I just smiled at him and gestured to him that everything was fine.
Michael tried to control his breath as I came out and stood beside him. He was panting and breathing really hard.
"Do you need some water?" I asked as I stood an arm length away from him.
"I'm fine." He responded, declining my kind gesture.
"Where did you see Miriam?" I went straight to the point and he didn't say anything for a while.
I looked at him and I felt he had just deceived me just so he would get my attention.
I asked him again, this time with an unfriendly tune and he looked straight into my eyes.
"At the silver moon pack," he responded and I was surprised because I never thought she would be anywhere close to the silver moon pack.
After giving it a quick thought, I concluded she must have gone there to get the protection of the most powerful and feared alpha.
"Is that where you also ran to?" I asked him but he said nothing.
"The rebels are at the top of their game and you must brace up too." Those were his last words and he walked away. I thought of calling him back but my pride would not let me. I felt he should be the one always coming to me and not the other way round. So I walked back through the gate as it was still open.