Monster Unleashed - Season 1 - Episode 31

4 years ago

Monster Unleashed - Season 1 - Episode 31

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“Why do I have a feeling something’s gonna go wrong tonight?” I warily said, my eyes focused on the dark path before me. I was in a black van, Lydia was seated besides me.

“If Marcus heard you utter those words,” said Lydia matter-of-factly, “he’d cut your tongue and feed it to the dogs!”
Both of us burst out laughing. “Well,” I said, lighting a cigarette, “he won’t hear me utter them cause I’d be insane to do that in his presence!”

It had been a year since that fateful night when I had been initiated into this gang. I had no option but to join as it was a matter of life and death.

The gang had become my family now. It consisted of five members, me inclusive. All the members had weird names and I doubted they were their real names. There was Marcus, the boss. Jojo, Joni, Lydia and I. I hadn’t told them my real name. To them, I was Jezebel.

I recall Marcus had burst into laughter the day I had told them that was my name.
“What’s funny?” scowling, I had asked.
“Nothing, baby.” he had replied, caressing my scarred cheeks. “I love the texture of your skin.” he added, his stale tobacco breath hitting my nostrils.
“Why?” I asked.
“Cause it’s so rough.” said Marcus flatly. “Like your name and attitude!”

The main function of this gang was to rob shops, houses, factories, warehouses, just name it. But today, we had gone a bit farther.
Tonight, we were robbing a bank. Yes, a bank! The Chilenje FNB Branch to be precise. Well, we had been devising this plan for months but I had had a nagging feeling it had a loophole somewhere and something was gonna go wrong. Of course I wasn’t gonna stay in the gang for good but in order to survive, I had to do this shady business a bit longer.

Of all the gang members, Lydia being a female, was my closest friend. I felt we shared a lot in common even though like me, she had refused to tell me her past and how she had joined the gang. And like me, she had an ugly scar on her cheek but mine was still worse than her’s.

So here we were, parked under a tree in a dark spot, waiting for Marcus, Jojo and Joni. It was past midnight. The guys had decided to do the robbing tonight excluding us saying it was too dangerous. And so we just had to wait and wait and the anticipation was literally driving me crazy.

Lydia sighed. “You seem to be lost in thoughts,” she said, getting the cigarette from my firm grip, “what’s on your mind?”

“Why did we decide to do this ai? This is too big a risk.”

“Relax, hun.” said Lydia, patting me on the shoulder, “this ain’t the first time this gang’s pulling something this huge. Have some faith huh? This night will be over soon. And when it’s over, all of us will be stinking rich!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

And then I’ll be able to leave the goddamned gang and get on with my life. I thought. Which is to make my sister, cousin, ex-future husband and ex-brother in-law pay for all that they did to me. It’s also because of them that I am here tonight.
“Did you hear that?!” asked Lydia excitedly, snapping me from my reverie.
“Hear what?”
“The signal!” she exclaimed. “Drive!”
Marcus had told us that he’d blow a whistle when they got the money and I was to revv the engine so that they’d jump in.
“Oh, yes!” I said briskly, revving the engine.