Chapter Fifty-eight

Chapter Fifty-eight

“I’m going to continue my story now.” Roland Bones said gruffly as he sat on a stool watching us from red, sagging eyes. He had me and mom tied to a chair each and some of his men pinned my dad down, holding his hands to his back after of course, a great deal of struggling and fighting. Trust dad to never give in so easily to anything that tries to oppose him. We had no idea that he had come with company - a battalion rather, and when he appeared at that front door, all alone, we thought, maybe there was a little hope right? We’d be able to escape him at least if he was not having a gun?

But before we could find a means of counterattack, his men fell on us like angry wolves just released from some restricted forest, snorting and grunting and groaning as they attacked and bound us in place according to the instructions given to them by Roland. It was a well planned attack on their part, and their leader of course, had a really good strategy up his sleeves.

“Where was I? I think this old man lost track.” Roland said with a croaky voice before letting out a very hoarse laughter. 

My dad tried to break free from the grip of his men once again, but they found a way to pin him down once more. I could see the pain in his eyes, that of helplessness and frustration for not being able to protect the ones he loved. If he had his way at that point, I’m pretty sure he would’ve broken Roland’s neck in bits before throwing him off the bridge.

“Roland, I told you not to involve my family in this mess. Fuck!” he cursed frustratedly through gritted teeth and defiance in his voice. His face and hands had gone all sweaty from his struggling, until droplets of sweat dripped from his face to the floor. My dad was in pain, but not just the physical pain of being held down captive and pinned against his own will, but the pain of watching his family suffer for something they had no hand in, something he could not control… and he could not stop it from happening. He could not save them from the consequences of the sins of his past… he could only watch it get smeared on his face, everything happening for the wrongest reasons. I could feel his pain.

“Like you did, huh?” the cold, grim voice of Roland came. It was filled with pain, hatred and anger. What exactly did my dad do to him? I had even forgotten to ask my dad to complete the story… or maybe there was no such perfect time for that.

I could feel the rising tension between my dad and Roland Bones. Their eyes both held a lot of mystery, pain… and maybe not hatred, but uncurtailed grievances between them. Unresolved differences, malice springing from old, old wounds. My dad bowed his head resignedly, pulling his eyes away from the fierce eyes of Roland. I could sense that he had a lot to say, but maybe, he didn’t know how to say it or where exactly to start.

“Bones. Can we just… go outside and talk?” my dad asked in a frustrated voice, almost desperate.

Bones gave a cocky, dry laugh at my father’s words. He seemed to be amused by my father’s desperation.

“Look how he says it. “Bones can we just go outside and talk?”” he said mockingly, mimicking my dad.

“Talk?” he repeated with a scoff. “I never knew you were into this talking thing, I thought you were an action man, Mr Fields.” He said as his eyes narrowed at my dad. My dad was silent. He just shook his head painfully and clenched his teeth tighter as the sweat kept trickling down from his face and body, whilst Bone’s men pinned him down still to the ground.

“Bones, please…” my dad was saying, but he got interrupted by Roland Bones.

“I wonder if you had a heart when you shot that little girl.” Bones said stoutly. “My girl.” he added more painfully, and the whole world around me seemed to have gone on a standstill. What did I just hear him say? 

“You know, all my life… I just, I just prayed to God for one thing.” he said thoughtfully with his eyes raised to the ceiling. “Derrick, I think God loves me so much. You know that right?” He turned to my dad and asked as his eyes narrowed at him a little.

My dad shook his head, maybe not negatively, but in terror and anguish… because he knew what those words meant when they came from Roland Bones.

“Derrick, tell you what? I believe in God, and I know he loves me so much.” He turned to my dad and gave him a sad smile. “Everything I asked for, everything, he gave it to me. Oh, I’m such a lucky bastard, man.” He said with a weird grin that doted his old wrinkled face. Man was so old, way older than my dad. I wonder if he had always been this way… then how did he and my dad get along so well?

“Do you know what I have been praying for all these years?” he asked again, turning to my dad.

“I’ve been praying for you Derrick. I’ve been praying for you, that God should keep you safe and sound, give you a beautiful family, and most of all… give you a daughter.” he said, turning to face me this time with a ghost of a smile playing on his face.

“Bones. Stop!” My dad protested as he tried to raise his head up, but was pressed down again by the fierce men who pinned him down earlier.

“I watched her grow everyday, and I must say, I’ve been really proud of her just like I would’ve been with mine.” he said with a sad smile. What was this all about?

My mom on the other hand was crying profusely, as she sat there tied up, watching me helplessly. If she could change the hands of time, I was very sure she would have done that for me, no matter the cost.

“And you know the rule Derrick. Our old rule.” he added darkly.

“No! No! Don’t do this, Bones!” my dad screamed struggling to break free from the grip of those strong men, but Bones just sat there, chuckling darkly at him.

“A bella for a bella Derrick.” he said grimly with a smug smile playing by the corner of his lips, and when my dad tried to charge away from the grip of those men, they hit him so hard that he grunted and crouched down in pain. I could feel the tears stinging the back of my eyes as I watched my dad helplessly.

“Don’t you think you owe your daughter a li’l confession, or maybe… a story?” Roland Bones asked gruffly as he folded his hands together.

“What story dad?” I turned to my dad and asked with tears streaming down my already reddened face.